[Solved] Open MS Works 7.0 files

by **Pepsiboy** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:51 pm

Is it possible to use Open Office to open documents from Microsoft Works 7.0 ? Works has stopped working and Microsoft will not provide any help for this issue. I would be grateful for any help I can get.

by **RoryOF** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:55 pm

Use http://www.zamzar.com to convert the files to OpenOffice format.

by **thomasjk** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 6:32 pm

Libreoffice will open MS Works (.wps) files. http://www.libreoffice.org/

by **Mr.Dandy** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:51 am

https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/v ... php?t=1527

by **Pepsiboy** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 4:33 pm

New here and I'm wondering if Open Office can be used to open documents from Microsoft Works 7.0 in Windows 7? Works in no longer able to open and some of my documents are critical. Thanks in advance for the help.

Dave

by **RoryOF** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 4:38 pm

You can use the online service at http://www.zamzar.com to convert your files to OpenOffice formats.

by **Zizi64** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 4:47 pm

...or you can try the LibreOffice (standard or portable version)

by **Pepsiboy** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 1:37 pm

I have tried BOTH of these with zero results. They both require that MS works be functional. It is not.
Thanks for the help.

Dave

by **RoryOF** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:26 pm

Zamzar should not need the application that owns a file. Try again.

by **Zizi64** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:57 pm

They both require that MS works be functional. It is not.

LibreOffice not require MS works for open a Works-type file... if it is Works-type really.

Can you upload one or two piece of your Works files here?

by **Pepsiboy** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 1:44 am

I would like to attach the files, BUT I am unable to attach a file that I can not open. I keep getting the notice that the file extension listed is not allowed. What am I doing wrong?
My problem is NOT that I can not access the files, I just can not OPEN them. Nothing I have tried will open them.

Dave

by **Zizi64** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:31 am

I would like to attach the files, BUT I am unable to attach a file that I can not open. I keep getting the notice that the file extension listed is not allowed. What am I doing wrong?

Make a ZIP archive from your file(s), and use it as attachement. The file size limit is 128 KiB.

by **Pepsiboy** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:17 pm

Well, I finally got Zamzar to work at converting my files. The only ones they can not convert are the Works Database files. I'm still looking elsewhere for something that will work. Thanks to all for the help.

Dave

by **Pepsiboy** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:39 pm

I still can not find anything for FREE to convert my Works Database files to SOMETHING that is readable. :crazy:

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Dave

by **Zizi64** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:11 am

I still can not find anything for FREE to convert my Works Database files

I never seen Works Database files. Can you upload an example file here?
(Maybe those files are simple structured textfiles with a special extension. Try rename a copy of your file to *.csv, or *.txt, and try open it.)

If those files are not simple structured textfiles, see these pages:
General Information:
http://fileinfo.com/extension/wdb

https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/v ... 13&t=55968
(I recommend to your attention the last post with a link)

by **Pepsiboy** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 2:31 pm

Zizi64 wrote:
I still can not find anything for FREE to convert my Works Database files

I never seen Works Database files. Can you upload an example file here?
(Maybe those files are simple structured textfiles with a special extension. Try rename a copy of your file to *.csv, or *.txt, and try open it.)

If those files are not simple structured textfiles, see these pages:
General Information:
http://fileinfo.com/extension/wdb

https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/v ... 13&t=55968
(I recommend to your attention the last post with a link)

I am trying to attach the .wdb file, but nothing happens. Sorry. I keep getting the notice ".wdb file extension is not allowed."

Dave

by **Zizi64** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:29 pm

As I wrote above: use a ZIP archive to upload your file. The file size limit is 128 KiB.

by **Pepsiboy** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:43 pm

OK, I'll try th

I wanted to attach the other file, but I got a notice that it was too large. I hope this will work for you.

Dave

by **RPG** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:02 pm

Hello

I can read the file without problems. I think it is not good to place here all the private adresses of other people.

Romke

by **Zizi64** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:13 pm

I can read the file without problems.

+1
(I can open it with Libreoffice 4.3.6, and Libreoffice 4.2.2 Portable)

I think it is not good to place here all the private adresses of other people.

+1
(Do you have .wdb files with sensitive data only?)

by **Pepsiboy** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:48 pm

That was the only file I have that was small enough to post. the other 2 are too large. HOPEFULLY I did an edit to remove the file correctly. I am assuming that the problem is with MY computer. I have uninstalled and reinstalled MS Works 7.0 BOTH normally and in "SAFE MODE" with the same result. I still can not open these files. I have tried with Open Office and with Libre Office. Same result. I just don't know what else to do.

Thanks for the help.

Dave

by **RPG** » Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:27 pm

Hello

I did not clearly read that you have installed LibreOffice. As far I knew you can not open the files with Apache OpenOffice. You can open the files with libreOffice.

When you cannot open the files with libreoffice then you may send it to me but I think I can also not open the files with LibreOffice when you cannot open it with LibreOffice.

Did you get any error message? It is possible that you have no right for reading the files. The modern computers do have now most of the time user rights and it is possible that you have no right on your own computer to read a file unless you have the right.

I take care for some Microsoft computers. Those person do have no admin rights on there own computer. Also I do take care for some Linux computers and people do not have root rights.

Romke

by **Pepsiboy** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 9:18 pm

Well, I finally was able to open the files. Bad news is that it open in spread sheet form, NOT database form. Some of the information (such as "Zip Codes") is not able to be seen. How do I get them to open in the database form?

Dave

edit this topic's initial post · by **Villeroy** » Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:48 pm

Getting the raw data into a spreadsheet is more than you can expect.
Insert at row #1 and add column labels.
Create a new directory for a dBase database and save the spreadsheet as dBase (*.dbf) in that directory.
Close the spreadsheet.
File>New>Database...
[X] Connect to existing database.
Type: <dBase>
Specify the directory as source.
[X] Register the database
Save the database.
Add an input form to the database document.
The database document does not store any data. Your addresses are stored in the dBase file.

by **clancysoda** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:46 pm

All of my old Document files were saved on Microsoft Works as wps files. How can I open them in Writer? When I tried to, a pop up box wanted me to select a "filter" and I didn't see anything about Works files in the list.

by **RusselB** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:01 am

This has been asked before, and, to the best of my recollection the solution was to use Zamzar to convert the documents.
Additionally, if I recall correctly, only the word processing documents converted... spreadsheets did not convert... or was it the other way around?

by **clancysoda** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:27 am

Thank you very much! I was getting an ulcer trying to figure out how to convert these files! :bravo:

by **Pepsiboy** » Sat May 09, 2015 11:27 pm

Thanks to all for the advice. I have recovered all my Works document EXCEPT for the database files. Nothing I have tried will convert them to a usable form OR open them.

Dave

edit this topic's initial post · by **Villeroy** » Sat May 09, 2015 11:37 pm

You did not try LibreOffice which dumps the raw database data into a spreadsheet so you can import those data into another database.

by **Pepsiboy** » Sun May 10, 2015 2:02 pm

villeroy,

Thanks for the tip. YES, I did try libreoffice. It did dump the data into a spread sheet. HOWEVER, it was not complete. Some of the data (such as Zip Codes) was not there. Also, other entries, such as "Commemts" were not complete. This left the conversion unusable.

Dave