Microsoft Works is an integrated package software that is produced by
MicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. Works is smaller, less expensive, and has fewer features than
Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
or other major office suites. Its core functionality includes a
word processorA word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
, a
spreadsheetA spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
and a
database management systemA database management system is a software package with computer programs that control the creation, maintenance, and use of a database. It allows organizations to conveniently develop databases for various applications by database administrators and other specialists. A database is an integrated...
. Newer versions have a
calendarA calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
application and a dictionary while older releases included a
terminal emulatorA terminal emulator, terminal application, term, or tty for short, is a program that emulates a video terminal within some other display architecture....
. A 'Works Portfolio' utility offers Microsoft Binder-like functionality.
History
Microsoft Works started life as Mouseworks, an integrated spreadsheet, word processor and database program, designed for the Macintosh by ex-Apple alumnus Don Williams and Rupert Lissner. Williams was planning to emulate the success of
AppleworksAppleWorks refers to two different office suite products, both of which are now discontinued. Originally, AppleWorks was an integrated software package for the Apple II platform, released in 1984 by Apple Computer...
, a similar product for Apple II computers. However, Bill Gates and his Head of Acquisitions,
Alan M. BoydAlan Boyd, born Kilwinning, Scotland, 1951, is a pioneer of the personal computer software industry through the 1970s and 1980s. Leaving Scotland in 1968 he studied Physics and Mathematics at the University of Bath in England and later Columbia University in the USA...
, convinced Williams to license the product to Microsoft instead. 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.
Through version 4.5a, Works used a
monolithic program architecture whereby the Works
Word ProcessorA word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
and
SpreadsheetA spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
/
DatabaseA database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
documents ran in
windowIn computing, a window is a visual area containing some kind of user interface. It usually has a rectangular shape that can overlap with the area of other windows...
s 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.
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 ExplorerWindows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
. "Works Suite" versions bundled personal productivity and entertainment software such as
Microsoft MoneyMicrosoft Money was Microsoft's personal finance software. It was designed for computers using the Microsoft Windows operating system, though versions for Windows Mobile were also available .The last version, released in August 2007, was called Microsoft Money Plus and came...
,
EncartaMicrosoft Encarta was a digital multimedia encyclopedia published by Microsoft Corporation from 1993 to 2009. , the complete English version, Encarta Premium, consisted of more than 62,000 articles, numerous photos and illustrations, music clips, videos, interactive contents, timelines, maps and...
, Streets & Trips and
Digital ImageMicrosoft Digital Image was a digital image editing program created by Microsoft. It is a successor to Microsoft Picture It!.Microsoft Digital Image came in three different editions: Digital Image Standard, which offered tools for editing images, Digital Image Suite, which added Digital Image...
. These "Works Suite" versions also bundled a copy of
Microsoft WordMicrosoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
, although there was never a newer version bundled than Word 2002. A possible reason for this might be that Word 2003 or later does not run on Windows 9x or Windows Me operating systems.
As of 2008, "Works Suite" versions have been discontinued, only the standalone Works software is available at retail; while system builders and OEMs can choose between it and Works Suite 2008 (which includes only Works and
Word 2003Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
).
Features
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 WordMicrosoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
documents and the ability of the Works Spreadsheet to open Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
workbooks. Newer versions include task panes but do not include significantly updated features. Even in the latest version (Version 9.0), the Windows 95Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
-era icons and toolbars have not been updated to stay consistent with modern application software. Version 9.0 which offers Windows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
compatibility, is available in two editions, an advertisement-free paid version, available in retail and OEM versions and an ad-supported free version (Works SE) which is available only to OEMs for preinstalling on new computers.
While its utility for larger organizations is limited by its use of proprietaryProprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
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 mergeMail merge is a software function which allows to create multiple documents from a single template form and a structured data source.-History:This technique of merging data to create gave rise to the term 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 fileA flat file database describes any of various means to encode a database model as a single file .- Overview :...
", i.e. non-relationalA relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
, 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.
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 BookWindows Address Book is a component of Microsoft Windows that lets users keep a single list of contacts that can be shared by multiple programs. It is most commonly used by Outlook Express. It was introduced with Internet Explorer 3 in 1996 and improved in subsequent versions. The Windows Address...
, as well as Address Book's successor, Windows Contacts and can remind users of birthdays and anniversaries. It supports importing and exporting iCalendariCalendar is a computer file format which allows Internet users to send meeting requests and tasks to other Internet users, via email, or sharing files with an extension of .ics...
(.ICS) files. It does not however support subscribing to iCalendar files or publishing them online via WebDAVWeb-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning is a set of methods based on the Hypertext Transfer Protocol that facilitates collaboration between users in editing and managing documents and files stored on World Wide Web servers...
. Up to version 8, using the Works Task Launcher, the calendar and contacts from Windows Address BookWindows Address Book is a component of Microsoft Windows that lets users keep a single list of contacts that can be shared by multiple programs. It is most commonly used by Outlook Express. It was introduced with Internet Explorer 3 in 1996 and improved in subsequent versions. The Windows Address...
could be synchronized with portable devices. In Works 9.0, the sync capability has been removed.
Due to its low cost ($40 retail, $10 OEMsAn original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
), companies frequently pre-installed Works on their consumer grade machines.
Sponsored Edition
For several years, Microsoft considered having an advertising-supported version of Works. In August 2007, it said that it would start piloting a version called Works SE (which stands for Sponsored Edition), but the company gave few details on where or how the product would be offered. Microsoft has subsequently started offering Works SE in a limited set of countries (United States, France, Canada, Poland and the United Kingdom) with little marketing to back it up, due to its being primarily a pilot project as of April 2008. Proof of this is shown in Microsoft Office Starter 2010 that includes advertising.
File format compatibility
Microsoft makes file format converter filters for Microsoft WordMicrosoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
for opening and saving to Works Word Processor format. Microsoft Office Excel can import newer Works Spreadsheets because the newer Works Spreadsheet also uses the Excel format but with a different extension (*.xlr). There is an import filter for older Works 2.0 spreadsheet format (*.wks); however it may be disabled in the registry by newer Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
Service packA service pack is a collection of updates, fixes or enhancements to a software program delivered in the form of a single installable package. Many companies, such as Microsoft or Autodesk, typically release a service pack when the number of individual patches to a given program reaches a certain ...
s. 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; for spreadsheet (*.wks) and database (*.wdb) files a commercial solution is available.
A general C++C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
library, abandoned in 2007, which has been experimentally published as wps_test, works for extracting text from many different Microsoft Works versions' documents with rudimentary formatting. It was later published as "libwps". As of February 2011, no mainstream versions of OpenOffice.orgOpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
, AbiWordAbiWord is a free and open source software word processor. It was originally started by SourceGear Corporation as the first part of a proposed AbiSuite. Development stopped when SourceGear changed their focus to Internet appliances. AbiWord was adopted by some open source developers and AbiWord...
, or KWordCalligra Words is a free word processor, part of Calligra Suite and developed by KDE.The text-layout scheme in Words is based on frames, making it similar to FrameMaker by Adobe. These can be placed anywhere on the page, and can incorporate text, graphics and embedded objects...
have included it for various reasons. OpenOffice.org has not included it because of restrictions with the Joint Copyright Assignment (JCA), but OpenOffice.org variants such as OxygenOffice, Go-ooGo-oo was an office suite which started as a set of patches for the cross-platform OpenOffice.org office suite, then later became an independent fork of OpenOffice.org with a number of enhancements...
, LibreOfficeLibreOffice is a free and open source office suite developed by The Document Foundation as a fork of OpenOffice.org. It is largely compatible with other major office suites, including Microsoft Office, and available on a variety of platforms...
and NeoOfficeNeoOffice is an office suite for Mac OS X. It is a fork of the free/open source OpenOffice.org that implements nearly all of the features of the corresponding OpenOffice.org version, including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, and graphics program...
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. Microsoft Works uses structured storageCOM Structured Storage is a technology developed by Microsoft as part of its Windows operating system for storing hierarchical data within a single file...
as a container format for its data. An iFilter for Works file formats to be indexed and searched is not yet available.
Works for MS-DOS
- 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
- Microsoft Works 1.0
- Microsoft Works 2.0
- Microsoft Works 3.0
- Microsoft Works 4.0
Works for Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Works 2.0 and 2.0a (Windows 3.x
Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0...
)
- 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
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
)
- Microsoft Works 2000 (v.5) (Microsoft Works Suite 2000)
- Microsoft Works 6.0 (Microsoft Works Suite 2001 and 2002) - Last version for Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
- Microsoft Works 7.0 (Microsoft Works Suite 2003 and 2004) - Last version for Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
(Original release)
- Microsoft Works 8.0 (Microsoft Works Suite 2005) - Last version for Windows 98 SE/Me
Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006....
/2000Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
- Fully compatible with Windows Vista 32-bit
- Microsoft Works 8.5 (Free update for Works 8.0 and Microsoft Works Suite 2006 users)
- Microsoft Works 9.0 (Microsoft Works Plus 2008) - First version fully compatible with all versions of Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
See also
- Comparison of office suites
- Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
- List of applications with iCalendar support
External links