OpenOffice to the Rescue

Subscriber Helen wrote about a software problem:

Terry, while my computer was being worked on I was told I had word pad but needed the code to be able to open it. Can you help me open it in order that I might be able to use it. I do not like notepad which I am able to open. Helen

I responded to Helen, hoping to clarify the problem.

The computer repair person probably told her that she had Word installed, meaning Microsoft Word, rather than saying Wordpad. Wordpad is included in Windows at no extra cost.

Word, on the other hand, often comes as a pre-installed TRIAL verion — that will cost you full price to register. You have to have a Product Key code to run Microsoft Word; you don't for Wordpad.

The Wordpad program in Windows 98 was called wordpad.exe. In some versions of Windows XP, it's name is write.exe. On my computer, it is found in: "C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe"

If you need a full-function word processor, try OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org). The OpenOffice suite includes a wordprocessor that reads and writes Microsoft Word files, a spreadsheet program that reads and writes Microsoft Excel files, an equivalent to Powerpoint that reads and writes Powerpoint files, and more.

Last, but not least, OpenOffice is free!

Related articles:

• OpenOffice.org
• OpenOffice 2 - the Free Office Suite
• OpenOffice - The Free Alternative to Microsoft Office
• Using OpenOffice Calc instead of Microsoft Excel

Copyright © 2007-2008 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.