Friday, October 02, 2009

The Word of the Day

When I first started typing, I was ten years old and my machine was a robin's egg blue manual typewriter, the kind with the ribbon and the keys and the whole bit. From there, I went electric, and then I went to a word processing typewriter. When I got married, we got an old, sad computer, and I went to Word Perfect. My earliest use of the computer was on Word Perfect.

A few years went by and I noticed that I couldn't open any files anyone sent me. That was really a bummer. When you're a writer and an editor, it's really helpful to be able to open stuff, ya know? So I grudgingly got Word, which was the start of the confusion. You just can't use WP and Word the same way, and I had to reeducate myself.

Fast-forward ... Word and I came to an uneasy truce. I learned where the commands were, and it didn't insult my parentage. We were civil with each other.

And then it happened.

The world went to Word 2007 and I didn't.

Suddenly, files were being sent to me in .docx and I couldn't open them. I'd ask the sender to kindly save the file in an earlier version, and they did, but sometimes there would be a time delay in getting that done and I hate time delays (like, a lot). So I took the plunge ... and I'm now using 2007.

You know what, I fought this like crazy, because all the commands are in different places, but I'm actually sort of (don't tell anyone) liking 2007. I like how the bold, italic, and color options pop up right there when I highlight text. It's really not the horrendous thing I was expecting it to be. Granted, I still haven't found all the commands I use on a regular basis, but I have found the ones I use constantly, and that's a good thing.

Perhaps I allowed my prejudices to be formed too swiftly. Perhaps I should have given the idea more of a chance before I decided to hate it. Things to think about, certainly ...

15 comments:

Stephanie Black said...

I think I've got 2004--I can't open docx files.

Anonymous said...

Okay, the comment about the parentage had me laughing my butt off.

For those who don't want to upgrade, they now have a converter for files in different formats. Just in case.

I'm not sure if I like it yet but I don't hate it like I once did. ;)

Jennie said...

Me too. And sometimes I still long for the good old Word Perfect days.

Cheri Chesley said...

My brilliant computer literate brother had to explain the .docx vs .doc thing to me. I almost lost getting some stories published because the lady I submitted to didn't have Word 2007 and I did. What I think is stupid is Microsoft. They made the .docx incompatible with even their older versions. Duh

Nichole Giles said...

Definitely. I, too, am a new convert to Word 2007. Not nearly as big a transition as I expected. Thank goodness!

Nichole

Britt said...

I still use Works, so I have to open Word docs in notepad and no one can open anything I send!

I love Works, though.

Sigh.

Shari said...

Congratulations and Welcome.

Cindy Beck, author said...

I'm not a Microsoft fan and have even been known to make a few derogatory comments under my breath.

I'm still using Word 2003 ... or is it 2004? At any rate, you can download an update from MS so that you can open the .docx files with no problem with the older Word version.

I was reluctant to do it, because I was afraid the download would goof everything, but it didn't.

So, you might check the MS website and see if you can find the download.

Teri said...

The whole Office Suite for 2007 took some getting used to, but I love it now. I use it for work, 'cause I'm too cheap to get it at home...I use Open Office (equals free software) and just save it in .doc or .docx format. I also use a Mac at home, so I'm not sure of the whole Microsoft thing is the same. I'm glad you are starting to get the hang of it!!

Framed said...

There's a Word 2007??? Off the subject, I watched the special about the San Juan pioneers today and thought about you and your book. I even cheered for Benjamin Perkins. That shot they show of the Hole in the Rock was amazing.

Karlene said...

I have 2007 on one of my computers. It took me 10 minutes to figure out where the PRINT command was. Seriously!

I think I need the instruction manual.

Tristi Pinkston said...

Framed,

Where did you see this special? I wonder if it's available on DVD or online - I don't have tv right now so I didn't know there was such a thing. Thanks for cheering Benjamin on!

Framed said...

It was the one hour special they show between conference sessions with Carole Mikita. It was also quite the plug for Gerald Lund's book (he was on the special) but I really enjoyed seeing that rugged terrain and hearing the story again. Very inspirational.

Keith N Fisher said...

Be careful! you know what they say about flaxen cords.

You do know don't you that you could've downloaded the reader and an update for free?

I used to ask people to save in 97 which is what I use. then I got a file I couldn't have re-done. anyway I've used 2007 at work. its okay, but I love 97.

Tristi Pinkston said...

I tried downloading the update twice, Keith, and each time, it totally messed up my computer. I don't know if I had a virus at the time or what, but it's all straightened out now, thank goodness!

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