Microsoft Works is a discontinued office suite by Microsoft. Works is smaller, was less expensive, and has fewer features than Microsoft Office or other major office suites. Its core functionality includes a word processor, a spreadsheet and a database management system. Later versions have a calendar application and a dictionary while older releases included a terminal emulator. Works was available as a standalone program, and as part of a namesake home productivity suite. Because of its low cost ($40 retail, as low as $2 OEM),^[1] companies frequently pre-installed Works on their consumer-grade machines.

History [edit]

Microsoft Works started life as Mouseworks, an integrated spreadsheet, word processor and database program, designed for the Macintosh by ex-Apple alumni Don Williams and Rupert Lissner.^[2] Williams was planning to emulate the success of Appleworks, a similar product for Apple II computers. However, Bill Gates and his Head of Acquisitions, Alan M. Boyd, convinced Williams to license the product to Microsoft instead.^[3] Initially it was to be a scaled-down version of Office for the (then) small laptops such as the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 which Microsoft was developing. As laptops grew in power, however, Microsoft Works, as it was to be called, evolved as a popular product in its own right.

On September 14, 1987, Microsoft unveiled Works for DOS.^[4]

Through version 4.5a, Works used a monolithic program architecture whereby the Works Word Processor and Spreadsheet/Database documents ran in windows of the same program interface. This resulted in a small memory and disk footprint, which enabled it to run on slower computers with requirements as low as 6 MB of RAM and 12 MB free disk space.^[5] Works 2000 (Version 5.0) switched to a modular architecture which opens each document as a separate instance and uses the print engine from Internet Explorer.

Version 9.0, the final version, was available in two editions: an advertisement-free version, available in retail and for OEMs, and an ad-supported free version (Works SE) which was available only to OEMs for preinstalling on new computers.^[6]

In late 2009, Microsoft announced it was discontinuing Works and replacing it with Office 2010 Starter Edition.

Features [edit]

Microsoft Works has built-in compatibility for the Microsoft Office document formats (DOC and XLS), including, but not limited to, the ability of the Works Word Processor to open Microsoft Word documents and the ability of the Works Spreadsheet to open Microsoft Excel workbooks. Newer versions include task panes but do not include significantly updated features. Even in the latest version (Version 9.0), the Windows 95-era icons and toolbars have not been updated to stay consistent with modern application software.

While its utility for larger organizations is limited by its use of proprietary native .WKS (spreadsheet), .WDB (database) and .WPS (word processor) file formats, the simplicity and ease of integrating database/spreadsheet data into word processor documents (e.g., mail merge) allow it to remain an option for some small and home-based business owners. Version 4.5a is particularly noted in this respect. The database management system, while a "flat file", i.e. non-relational, allows the novice user to perform complex transformations through formulas (which use standard algebraic syntax and can be self-referential) and user-defined reports which can be copied as text to the clipboard. A 'Works Portfolio' utility offers Microsoft Binder-like functionality.

By installing the 2007 Office System Compatibility Pack, the Works Word Processor and Spreadsheet can import and export Office Open XML document formats, although they are converted rather than being operated upon natively. The Works Calendar can store appointments, integrates with the Windows Address Book, as well as Address Book's successor, Windows Contacts, and can remind users of birthdays and anniversaries. It supports importing and exporting iCalendar (.ICS) files. It does not however support subscribing to iCalendar files or publishing them online via WebDAV. Up to version 8, using the Works Task Launcher, the calendar and contacts from Windows Address Book could be synchronized with portable devices. In Works 9.0, the sync capability has been removed.^[7]

File format compatibility [edit]

Microsoft makes file format converter filters for Microsoft Word for opening and saving to Works Word Processor format.^[8][9] Microsoft Office Excel can import newer Works Spreadsheets because the newer Works Spreadsheet also uses the Excel format but with a different extension (*.xlr).^[10] There is an import filter for older Works 2.0 spreadsheet format (*.wks);^[11] however it may be disabled in the registry by newer Microsoft Office Service packs.^[12] As far as Works Spreadsheet 3.x/4.x/2000 (*.wks) and Works database (any version of *.wdb) files are concerned, Microsoft does not provide an import filter for Excel or Access. There are third party converters available for converting these filetypes to Excel spreadsheets: For database files (*.wdb) there is also a donateware utility;^[13] for spreadsheet (*.wks) and database (*.wdb) files a commercial solution is available.^[14]

A general C++ library, abandoned in 2007, which has been experimentally published as wps_test,^[15] works for extracting text from many different Microsoft Works versions' documents with rudimentary formatting. It was later published as "libwps".^[16] No mainstream versions of OpenOffice.org, AbiWord, or KWord have included it for various reasons. OpenOffice.org has not included it because of restrictions with the Joint Copyright Assignment (JCA),^[17] but OpenOffice.org variants such as OxygenOffice,^[18] Go-oo, LibreOffice and NeoOffice have included libwps. Also, libwps provides a command line converter. A commercially-available solution for converting to and from Microsoft Works files on the Macintosh platform is the MacLinkPlus product from DataViz. Free online conversion services are also available.^[19] Microsoft Works uses structured storage as a container format for its data. An iFilter for Works file formats to be indexed and searched is not yet available.

Version history [edit]

Microsoft Works 2.0 for DOS.

Works for MS-DOS [edit]

• Microsoft Works 1.05
• Microsoft Works 1.12
• Microsoft Works 2.0 and 2.00a
• Microsoft Works 3.0, 3.0a and 3.0b

Works for Mac OS [edit]

• Microsoft Works 1.0
• Microsoft Works 2.0
• Microsoft Works 3.0
• Microsoft Works 4.0

Works for Microsoft Windows [edit]

• Microsoft Works 2.0 and 2.0a (Windows 3.x)
• Microsoft Works 3.0, 3.0a and 3.0b (Windows 3.x)
• Microsoft Works 4.0, 4.0a, 4.5 and 4.5a (Windows 95)
• Microsoft Works 2000 (v.5)
• Microsoft Works 6.0 - Last version for Windows 95
• Microsoft Works 7.0 - Last version for Windows 98 (Original release)
• Microsoft Works 8.0 - Last version for Windows 98 SE/Me/2000 - Fully compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7
• Microsoft Works 8.5 (Free update for Works 8.0 and Microsoft Works Suite 2006 users)
• Microsoft Works 9.0 - First version fully compatible with all versions of Windows Vista

Works Suite [edit]

In 1997, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Home Essentials, which packaged several of its home productivity titles into a single suite that was sold for a then low price described in a review by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the best bargains ever offered.” ^[20] Home Essentials continued to evolve and beginning with the 1999 edition took the namesake of Works becoming Works Suite. A slimmer version of the suite dubbed Works Deluxe was also offered for that year, but discontinued thereafter.

As the programs within Works Suite were developed separately and sold individually, each had a unique look and feel. They were integrated by a task plane, which picked the appropriate program for the user to accomplish each task. In addition to the core programs, each version of Works Suite also included programs such as FoneSync in 2001, and PowerPoint Viewer beginning in 2005. Later editions of Works Suite prompted users to upgrade to more featured versions of its inclusions at a discounted rate.

In addition to retail sales, Works Suite was included with the purchase of a new PC by several PC manufactures, notably Dell and Gateway. Works Suite was discontinued after the 2006 edition. Works was later bundled with Word as Works Plus 2008, but made available only to OEMs.

Comparison of bundled Works home productivity suites:

See also [edit]

• Comparison of office suites
• Microsoft Office
• List of applications with iCalendar support

References [edit]

External links [edit]