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Step by step Creating and Opening WordPerfect and RTF Documents with MSWord

MSWord both opens and creates documents for several versions of WordPerfect and Works as well as RTF files. This handout explains how to create and open these documents. Note: MSWord 2003, the library's version of the software, DOES NOT open MSWord 2007 files.

Opening NonWord Documents

1. Windows often refuses to recognize nonWord documents. Don't let this deter you. Open MSWord and insert the disk which holds the WordPerfect or other document.
   
   
2. Click on Open under File.
   
   
3. Word shows you a large box. Click the pull down menu on the bottom of the box and select All Files *.* WordPerfect, RTF, and Works files will appear along with anything else on the storage disk.

   

4. Click on your file to open it. MSWord may ask if you want to convert it. If you are planning to work on this file on a machine that does not have MSWord 2003, then click No.
   
   
5. It is possible to create both an MSWord and nonWord version of the same file. (See below).

Saving/Creating NonWord Documents

If your computer at home does not read the MSWord 2003 or if you are planning to send a resume to an employer who may not have MSWord 2003, you may want to save or create a document in a nonWord format.

1. To do this, first create your document. Then click Save As under File.
   
   
2. MSWord shows you a large box. Click the scroll bar on the bottom of the box and select All Files *.* WordPerfect, RTF, and Works files are available formats for saving on the storage disk.

   

3. For resumes and other documents going to a recipient about whom you know little, rich text formatting, RTF, works best. Nearly all word processing software reads RTF files, and RTF retains much of MSWord's formatting, though not MSWord's resume templates.
   
   For your own use, choose the format that fits your home computer.
   
   
4. You can save your file first as an MSWord document and then as the same document in a different format, by repeating Step 2. This works well when your own computer does not have the 2003 version of MSWord but when faculty or a prospective employer requires it.

A Note about File Formats

The 2003 version of MSWord can only read file formats for software that is older than itself. This means it can not read the newest version of WordPerfect or MSWord 2007.

MSWord 2003 can read, create, and save files in any of the following formats:

a) WordPerfect 5.x for Windows. (There are apparently a variety of version 5's.)

b) Works 6 and 7. This is an older Microsoft program that precedes MSOffice.

c) Word 6, Word for Windows 95, and Word 93. These are all older versions of MSWord.

f) RTF documents. RTF stands for rich text formatting. It is a universally readable format that has more options than raw text. It probably does not support MSWord's templates.

g) Plain text files.

h) Html files and htm files, but it displays them as web pages. To see the actual code for web pages, you need to use Wordpad or Notepad. This is especially important if you plan to code or edit web pages.