[Technology] Microsoft Word help please.

[The Clamp]

When I bought my laptop about 3 years ago I got a years subscription to Word with it. It expired and I didn’t upgrade or renew and have not missed it. Now I’m finding I need to use Word again. Does anybody know of a reliable, free download of a basic Word package that will def be virus free please?

I am okay-ish with technology but concerned what I can trust in the way of free stuff on the internet.

Thanks folks.

TC

 

[Sussex Nomad]

When I bought my laptop about 3 years ago I got a years subscription to Word with it. It expired and I didn’t upgrade or renew and have not missed it. Now I’m finding I need to use Word again. Does anybody know of a reliable, free download of a basic Word package that will def be virus free please?

I am okay-ish with technology but concerned what I can trust in the way of free stuff on the internet.

Thanks folks.

TC

Open Office, free. Google it.

 

[father_and_son]

Open Office or Libre Office.

Both free and compatible with Microsoft Office file formats


The only thing you won't get is compatibility with any visual basic or macros embedded in documents... Only an issue with 'intelligent' forms and something maybe <1% of people need.

 

[The Clamp]

Open Office or Libre Office.

Both free and compatible with Microsoft Office file formats


The only thing you won't get is compatibility with any visual basic or macros embedded in documents... Only an issue with 'intelligent' forms and something maybe <1% of people need.

Ah okay, thank you. Yep, def just need a basic package. I shall look tonight. Thank you.

 

[The Clamp]

Thanks folks, knew some of you would be able to help!

 

[Sussex Nomad]

Ah okay, thank you. Yep, def just need a basic package. I shall look tonight. Thank you.

Open office is a safe open source software from Apache. I have it on one of my computers and it works perfectly for your basic needs.

 

[Djmiles]

I use open office too. Can’t remember the last time I needed to use Microsoft office.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Open office is a safe open source software from Apache. I have it on one of my computers and it works perfectly for your basic needs.

I got mine in Arizona..............................Apache Junction.


I did have a little trouble using it on the way to Interlochen


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRG1ADG0VJU

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I use open office too. Can’t remember the last time I needed to use Microsoft office.

Have often, well at least once or twice, wondered is Open Office is open to the point whereby you can write a Word-equivalent document and send it to somebody else and they can access it. Used to be in the olden days that your PC would come with a complete set of 'MS Works' disks. Always assumed they'd be completely useless apart from for personal use.

 

[clapham_gull]

Libre Office is better I understand, has more updates.

 

[Fungus]

Libre Office is better I understand, has more updates.

This. I wanted an Office alternative on a new laptop recently, and reviews suggested that LibreOffice is more frequently updated.

 

[Fungus]

Have often, well at least once or twice, wondered is Open Office is open to the point whereby you can write a Word-equivalent document and send it to somebody else and they can access it. Used to be in the olden days that your PC would come with a complete set of 'MS Works' disks. Always assumed they'd be completely useless apart from for personal use.

Yes, as [MENTION=23289]father_and_son[/MENTION] mentioned, unless you're using embedded macros, it should be fine for Word-type documents; just save them in the MS compatible format.
I have documents in Dropbox that I open in MS Word 2013 on my PC and LibreOffice on my Windows laptop, and OpenOffice on my Linux laptop.
I don't think password-protected documents will open, though.
Not sure about spreadsheets.

 

[Djmiles]

Have often, well at least once or twice, wondered is Open Office is open to the point whereby you can write a Word-equivalent document and send it to somebody else and they can access it. Used to be in the olden days that your PC would come with a complete set of 'MS Works' disks. Always assumed they'd be completely useless apart from for personal use.

Absolutely. I wrote my CV in open office, and needed it printed so used my girlfriends laptop and opened the document in Microsoft office (as she has it for teaching). Same formatting, same font. Marvellous.

 

[clapham_gull]

Yes, as [MENTION=23289]father_and_son[/MENTION] mentioned, unless you're using embedded macros, it should be fine for Word-type documents; just save them in the MS compatible format.
I have documents in Dropbox that I open in MS Word 2013 on my PC and LibreOffice on my Windows laptop, and OpenOffice on my Linux laptop.
I don't think password-protected documents will open, though.
Not sure about spreadsheets.

I've just used it to convert 1000s of spreadsheets into XLSX from the variety of formats Microsoft have conjured up over the years. It supports batch conversion also you to hack it somewhat to work in Windows to do that.

 

[clapham_gull]

Absolutely. I wrote my CV in open office, and needed it printed so used my girlfriends laptop and opened the document in Microsoft office (as she has it for teaching). Same formatting, same font. Marvellous.

That's because the newest Microsoft format is actually an open format.

They are actually zip files containing a number of XML files if anyone is interested. Change the extension of an XLSX or DOCX and unzip.....

 

[clapham_gull]

As I just pinged Clamp, the other option is to get an MS Outlook Email account and use the free online version of word.

There is also google docs, but I have an aversion to google docs.

 

[maffew]

That's because the newest Microsoft format is actually an open format.

They are actually zip files containing a number of XML files if anyone is interested. Change the extension of an XLSX or DOCX and unzip.....

a very handy way to workaround password protected vba sheets (with another step or two) you are probably aware of

 

[clapham_gull]

a very handy way to workaround password protected vba sheets (with another step or two) you are probably aware of

VBA is evil.