| Microsoft Works | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Developer | Microsoft | ||||||
| Initial release | 1988; 37 years ago (1988) | ||||||
| Final release(s) | |||||||
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| Operating system | MS-DOS,Microsoft Windows,Classic Mac OS | ||||||
| Type | Office suite | ||||||
| License | Commercialproprietary software | ||||||
| Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20080912041711/http://www.microsoft.com/PRODUCTS/works/default.mspx | ||||||
Microsoft Works is a discontinuedproductivity software suite developed byMicrosoft and sold from 1987 to 2009. Its core functionality includes aword processor, aspreadsheet and adatabase management system. Later versions have a calendar application and a dictionary while older releases include aterminal emulator. Works is available as a standalone program and as part of a namesake home productivity suite. Because of its low cost, companies frequently preinstalled Works on their low-cost machines. Works is smaller, less expensive, and has fewer features than contemporary major office suites such asMicrosoft Office.
Mainstream support for the final standalone and suite release ended on October 9, 2012, and January 8, 2013, respectively.[2]
Microsoft Works originated as MouseWorks, an integrated spreadsheet, word processor, and database program, designed for the Macintosh by ex-Apple employee Don Williams and Rupert Lissner.[3] Williams planned to emulate the success of Lissner'sAppleWorks, a similar product forApple II computers.Bill Gates and his Head of Acquisitions, Alan M. Boyd, convinced Williams in 1986[4] to license the product to Microsoft instead.[5] Initially intended as a scaled-down version of Office for small laptops likeTRS-80 Model 100, which was developed by Microsoft and sold byRadio Shack, Microsoft Works evolved as a popular product in its own right as laptops grew in power.
On September 14, 1987, Microsoft unveiled Works for DOS.[6] The initial version 1.x of Works ran on any PC with at least 256k of memory. Works 2.x, introduced in 1990, required 512k and 3.x, introduced in 1992, required 640k.
In 1991, Microsoft issued the first Windows version of Works, titled MS Works for Windows 2.0. System requirements includeWindows 3.0, a 286 CPU, and 1MB of memory. Works 3.x in 1993 requiresWindows 3.1, a 386 CPU, and 4MB of memory. Subsequent releases are forWindows 95 and up, and the final version is Works 9.x in 2007, requiringWindows XP orVista, 256MB of memory, and a Pentium 4 CPU.
Corresponding Macintosh versions of Works were released by Microsoft starting with Works 1.0 in 1986.[7] The version numbering of the Macintosh versions follow roughly that of their corresponding releases for DOS and Windows.
Through version 4.5a, Works uses amonolithic program architecture whereby itsword processor,spreadsheet anddatabase documents run inwindows of the same program interface. This results in a small memory and disk footprint, which enables it to run on slower computers with requirements as low as 6 MB of RAM and 12 MB free disk space. It also provides a mini version of Excel for DOS systems as a DOS version of that program is not available.[8] Works 2000 (Version 5.0) switches to a modular architecture which opens each document as a separate instance and uses the print engine fromInternet Explorer.
Version 9.0, the final version, is 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 toOEMs for preinstallation on new computers.[9]
In late 2009, Microsoft announced it would discontinue Works and replace it withOffice 2010 Starter Edition,[10][11] although it replaced only the word processor and spreadsheet components but not the calendar or the database.
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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 openMicrosoft Word documents and the ability of the Works Spreadsheet to openMicrosoft Excel workbooks. In the final version (Version 9.0), theWindows 95-era icons and toolbars are not updated to make them consistent with later application software.
While its utility for larger organizations is limited by its use of incompatibleproprietary native.WKS (spreadsheet),.WDB (database), and.WPS (word processor) file formats, the simplicity 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.[citation needed] 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 that can be copied as text to the clipboard. A 'Works Portfolio' utility offersMicrosoft Binder-like functionality.
By installing the2007 Office System Compatibility Pack, the Works Word Processor and Spreadsheet can import and exportOffice Open XML document formats, although they will be converted rather than being operated upon natively. The Works Calendar can store appointments, integrates with theWindows Address Book, as well as Address Book's successor, Windows Contacts, and can remind users of birthdays and anniversaries. It supports importing and exportingiCalendar (.ICS) files. It does not support subscribing to iCalendar files or publishing them online viaWebDAV. Up to version 8, using the Works Task Launcher, the calendar and contacts fromWindows Address Book could be synchronized with portable devices. In Works 9.0, the sync capability has been removed.[12]
Microsoft (sometime in the past) made file format conversion filters forMicrosoft Word for opening and saving to Works Word Processor format.[13][14] Microsoft Office Excel could import newer Works Spreadsheets because the newer Works Spreadsheet also used the Excel format but with a different extension (*.xlr).[15] There is an import filter for older Works 2.0 spreadsheet format (*.wks);[16] however it may be disabled in the registry by newerMicrosoft OfficeService packs.[17] As far as Works Spreadsheet 3.x/4.x/2000 (*.wks) and Works database (any version of *.wdb) files were concerned, in the past, Microsoft did 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 was also a donateware utility;[18] for spreadsheet (*.wks) and database (*.wdb) files, a commercial solution was available (at least apparently in 2008).[19]
A generalC++ library,libwps,[20] can extract text from many different versions of Microsoft Works, this library is used byCollabora Online andLibreOffice.
One commercially available solution for converting to and from Microsoft Works files on the Macintosh platform in 2016 was the MacLinkPlus product fromDataViz. Free online conversion services in 2016 were also available.[21]
Works Spreadsheet and Works Database are unable to handle more than 500 fonts installed in Windows and throw error messages.[22]
In 1997, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Home Essentials, a home productivity package sold as a low-price suite that aChicago Tribune review described as "one of the best bargains ever offered."[24] Home Essentials evolved to become Works Suite beginning with the 1999 edition, taking the namesake of Works. A slimmer version of the suite, Works Deluxe, was offered for that year but was discontinued thereafter.
As Works Suite's programs were developed separately and sold individually, each has a unique look and feel. They are integrated by a task plane, which picks the appropriate program for the user to accomplish each task. Works Suite includes additional programs such as FoneSync in 2001 and PowerPoint Viewer beginning in 2003. Later editions prompt users to upgrade to featured versions of the programs at a discount.
In addition to retail sales, Works Suite was included with the purchase of a new computer by companies such asDell andGateway. Works Suite was discontinued after the 2006 edition. Works was later bundled with Word as Works Plus 2008, but this was made available only to OEMs.
Comparison of bundled Works home productivity suites:
| Product | Suggested Retail Price | Version | Word | Encarta | Money | Creativity | Gaming | Mapping Tools | Imaging Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Essentials 97[25] | $109 | Works 4.0 | Word 97 | Encarta 97 Encyclopedia | Greetings Workshop 1.0 | Microsoft Arcade | |||
| Home Essentials 98[26] | $109 | Works 4.5 | Word 97 | Encarta 98 Encyclopedia | Money 98 | Greetings Workshop 2.0 | Entertainment Pack: Puzzle Collection | ||
| Works Suite 99[27] | $109 | Works 4.5 | Word 97 | Encarta Encyclopedia 99 | Money 99 Basic | Graphics Studio Greetings 99 | Expedia Streets 98 | Picture It! Express 2.0 | |
| Works Deluxe 99 | $84.95 | Works 4.5 | Money 99 Basic | Graphics Studio Greetings 99 | Picture It! Express 2.0 | ||||
| Works Suite 2000[28] | $109 | Works 5.0 | Word 2000 | Encarta Standard 2000 | Money 2000 Standard | Home Publishing 2000 | Expedia Streets & Trips 2000 | Picture It! Express 2000 | |
| Works Suite 2001[29] | $109 | Works 6.0 | Word 2000 | Encarta Standard 2001 | Money 2001 Standard | Streets & Trips 2001 | Picture It! Publishing 2001 | ||
| Works Suite 2002[30] | $109 | Works 6.0 | Word 2002 | Encarta Standard 2002 | Money 2002 Standard | Streets & Trips 2002 | Picture It! Photo 2002 | ||
| Works Suite 2003[31] | $109 before $15 rebate | Works 7.0 | Word 2002 | Encarta Standard 2003 | Money 2003 Standard | Streets & Trips 2003 | Picture It! Photo 7.0 | ||
| Works Suite 2004[32] | $99.99 before $15 rebate | Works 7.0 | Word 2002 | Encarta Standard 2004 | Money 2004 Standard | Streets & Trips 2004 | Picture It! Photo Premium 9 | ||
| Works Suite 2005[33] | $99.99 before $20 rebate | Works 8.0 | Word 2002 | Encarta Standard 2005 | Money 2005 Standard | Streets & Trips 2005 | Picture It! Premium 10 | ||
| Works Suite 2006[34] | $99.99 before $20 rebate | Works 8.0 | Word 2002 | Encarta Standard 2006 | Money 2006 Standard | Streets & Trips Essentials 2006 | Digital Image Standard 2006 | ||
| Works Plus 2008 | Available from OEM only (free) | Works 9.0 | Word 2003 |
If you are currently using Works 8 or Works Suite 2005 (and for a limited time, Works Suite 2004) you can download the new security upgrade for free.
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