Microsoft Works, Microsoft Word

Ever face a document saved in a .wps format instead of a .doc format and wonder how you are going to open it? Most of the time when you go to open a file, the computer will automatically pick up the extension and open the file with the correct application. In some cases, this does not occur. This was the situation I encountered this morning.

Typically, .wps files are created using MS-Works. If you forget to save the file with the .doc extension, you may encounter a problem trying to open the file on another computer. Double clicking a file with an extension that the computer does not recognize will give you a list of possible applications you can use. In this case, MS-Word, the application I was looking for, was not in the list and all other "open" options led to gibberish in the file. After searching online, I found MS-Office online help which rectified the problem. Click here for the link. No one had ever attempted to open a Works file from the computer I was on this morning, so the MS-Works to Word converter had not been enabled. Enabling the converter took less than a minute and now when trying to open a .wps file, MS-Word is recommended program in the list of programs to choose.

Microsoft Word 2007 blues...

You haven't upgraded to Office 2007 because you like Office 2003 and are quite comfortable with it. The only problem is, you are now receiving documents in a .docx format that it's impossible for your computer to open. If faced with this situation, download this converter to rectify the problem and you can continue using 2003 without having to worry about compatibility with newer documents!

Uh, I can't get the Header to work on my Word document!

Ok, you're in Microsoft Word 2007, typing up that paper for your BHS class when you realize your instructor has requested, in no uncertain terms, that you MUST include your name in a header at the top of each page.

To further compound your misery, you must also include the page numbers. No problem, except that "1" is appearing on your first page & your instructor probably doesn't want that there.

By this time you're probably ready to put your forehead through your expensive hi-def LCD monitor, right?

Don't panic! Before you commit PC monitor hara kiri, take a look below & you'll see some instructions that should guide you through the process. They're somewhat detailed, so read them through once before you sacrifice your Word document.

And away we go:

1. Click on Insert in the top menu

2. Click on Page Number in the Header & Footer box, avoid clicking on either Header or Footer, you have to access a different function.

3. Click on Top of Page (or the position you prefer).

4. Select the position you’d like the numbers to appear in – Plain Number 3 is the most common choice.

5. The top menu will change to the Header & Footer Tools menu & Design will be highlighted in green.

6. Just underneath the word Design you’ll see Different First Page, put a checkmark in that box – this will remove the page number from the 1st page of your document.

7. Down below, on the document, you’ll see the page number has been inserted on the 2nd page. Click to the LEFT of the page number.

8. Type in the text of your header, typically, your last name only.

9. Hit the space bar once to separate your name from the page number.

10. Click on the red X button on the right to close the Header/Design menu & return to your paper.