jfr@locus.com (Jon Rosen) (11/22/90)
I am interested in people who are using Microsoft Word x.x (pick the version that you are using) on both the Macintosh and the IBM PC (ugh!)... I have to justify acquisition of a Mac at work and the bottom line is that I can do so if the Microsoft Word files are compatible across both machines. Interesting questions: 1. How compatible are the actual file formats? 2. How compatible are the various style sheet and format specs? 3. Do I need to use Apple File Exchange to convert the files? 4. Is there a simple way to move the files across a network (assume FTP)? 5. Which versions (on both machines) are useful for this? You may reply by posting or E-mail, thanx a lot in advance... Jon Rosen Locus Computing Corporation
boris@world.std.com (Boris Levitin) (11/25/90)
jfr@locus.com (Jon Rosen) writes: >I am interested in people who are using Microsoft Word x.x (pick the version >that you are using) on both the Macintosh and the IBM PC (ugh!)... I use Word 4.0B on the Mac constantly (only weenies don't stay current), and occasionally get documents in Word/DOS 5.0. >I have to >justify acquisition of a Mac at work and the bottom line is that I can do so >if the Microsoft Word files are compatible across both machines. > >Interesting questions: > > 1. How compatible are the actual file formats? Very, unless you use outdated versions. > 2. How compatible are the various style sheet and format specs? From the MS Word/MacOS 4.0 manual: "[The 'Microsoft Word MS-DOS' file format, selectable from the File Save Formats dialog box] saves your document so that comparable character and paragraph formatting can be interpreted by Microsoft Word for MS-DOS version 4.0 or earlier. To save documents for use with Microsoft Word for MS-DOS version 5.0, select [instead, from the same dialog box] the Interchange format (RTF) [Microsoft Rich Text Format] option. Because of differences in the programs, some features may not be transferable, including outlining levels, styles and tables." Microsoft has recognized that having current versions of the same program on different platforms which are not 100% format-compatible is a problem, and intends to solve it starting with the very next release of Word. MacOS and MS-DOS versions will be brought out nearly simultaneously and be virtually identical, or so Microsoft assures us. Microsoft also claims that it has given up on waiting for System 7.0's public release before shipping the next versions of Word and Excel, but I doubt we'll see them before the end of the first quarter. I suggest you go to a store that sells both Macs and DOS boxes, and make a few tests. Anyway, damn the styles to hell (if indeed they're incompatible). If you don't buy a Mac, you will regret it every day. I have worked successfully on systems much more arcane than DOS (you've got to see IBM's mainframe OSs), and am certifiably not a technophobe, but I find DOS inexcusable in 1990, and a national embarrasement. > 3. Do I need to use Apple File Exchange to convert the files? No. > 4. Is there a simple way to move the files across a network (assume FTP)? These are binary files, so they should survive ftp and up/downloading (provided your comm. software is not set to strip any characters) but not most electronic mail methods. For this latter means of transmission you would have to use uuencode or BinHex 4.0. Let me know how it goes. Boris Levitin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WGBH Public Broadcasting, Boston boris@world.std.com Audience & Marketing Research wgbx!boris_levitin@athena.mit.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily coincide with those of my employer or anyone else. The WGBH tag is for ID only.)
aland@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Alan D Danziger) (11/27/90)
In article <1990Nov25.110735.18341@world.std.com> boris@world.std.com (Boris Levitin) writes: > 3. Do I need to use Apple File Exchange to convert the files? No. But unless you have some file-sharing across the network, you will probably have to use a program such as Dos Mounter from Dayna Comm. or a DaynaFile (the first is to use 3.5" MS-Dos disks in a Mac, the second for 5.25 &/or 3.5) to physically transfer the files to the Mac. Word 4.0 will automatically convert them. > 4. Is there a simple way to move the files across a network (assume FTP)? These are binary files, so they should survive ftp and up/downloading (provided your comm. software is not set to strip any characters) but not most electronic mail methods. For this latter means of transmission you would have to use uuencode or BinHex 4.0. Or, just put the file into RTF format which uses ASCII and tags to transfer the styles. -- ---=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--- Alan D. Danziger, | 753 South St,Waltham MA 02154 | "Licensed aland@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu | MB 3130 / Brandeis University | to (617) 894-6859 | PO Box 9110 Waltham MA 02254 | Program" ---=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---