How to open a Works 6.0, a Works 7.0, a Works 8.0, or a Works 9.0 word processing document in Word

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

This step-by-step article describes how to use Microsoft Word to open a Microsoft Works document that was created in Microsoft Works 6.0, Microsoft Works 7.0, Microsoft Works 8.0 or Microsoft Works 9.0. Two methods are presented for doing this: one to use if you have Microsoft Works installed on your computer, and one to use if you do not.

In the first method, you create a document in Works and then save it as a Word document (.doc). In the second method, you use the Works 6-9 Converter to open the Works word processing document (.wps) in Word.

Note The Works 6-9 Converter works for Works 6.0, Works 7.0, Works 8.0, and Works 9.0.

Method 1: If you have Microsoft Works installed on your computer

To convert a Works document to Word, use Works to save the document as a Word document, and then open the document directly in Word.

To convert a Works 6.0, Works 7.0, Works 8.0, or Works 9.0 document so that you can open it directly in Word, save the document as a Word document. To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Works, open the document that you want to be able to open in Word.
2. Click File and then click Save As.
3. In the Save As dialog box, follow these steps:
   1. Change the Save in box to the location where you want to save the Word-format version of your document.
   2. In the File name box, type a new name (if one is required) for the Word version of your document.
   3. In the Save as type box, select Word 97-2000 & 6.0/95 - RTF (*.doc), and then click Save.
      
      Note If you are using Works 8.0, select Word 97-2003 (*.doc) in the Save as type box, and then click Save.
   4. On the File menu, click Close to close the document before you try to open the document in Word.
4. Start Microsoft Word and open the newly created document.

Method 2: If you do not have Microsoft Works installed on your computer

If you have a Works document (.wps) that you want to open and you do not have Works installed, you can still use Word to open the file. To do this, first use the Works 6-9 Converter in Word and then open the document directly in Word.

Step 1: Download the Works 6-9 Converter

If you have previously installed Works on the same computer on which Word is installed, the Works 6-9 Converter is already installed and you can go on to step 2: "Open the Works document in Word."

If you have not previously installed Works on your computer, you must download the Works 6-9 Converter in order to open the document in Word. To download the Works 6-9 Converter, follow these steps:

1. If it is open, close Microsoft Word.
   
   In your Web browser, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=bf41401e-70fa-465d-ae2e-cf44dbf05297&displayLang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=bf41401e-70fa-465d-ae2e-cf44dbf05297&displayLang=en)
2. Click Download. The File Download dialog box opens.
3. In the File Download dialog box, click Save file.
4. Double-click the saved file to start the Works 6-9 Converter installer.
5. Click I accept to accept the terms of the License Agreement, and then follow the instructions to install the Works 6-9 Converter.
   
   Note If you do not accept the terms of the License Agreement, the installation cannot continue.
6. Click Install to install the file converter on your computer. The Works 6-9 Converter Setup now extracts the Works 6-9 File Converter and installs it on your computer. You can now open the Works file in Word.

Note If the file does not download or is installed incorrectly, you can go to the "Next Steps" section for more help.

Step 2: Open the Works document in Word

You can use Word to open a Works document file (.wps), even if the file has not been converted to Word format (.doc) beforehand, by using the Works 6-9 Converter. Follow these steps to open the Works document by using the Works 6-9 Converter:

1. Start Word.
2. In Word 2000, Word 2002 or Word 2003, click the File menu, and then click Open. In Word 2007, click Microsoft Office Button, and then click Open.
3. In the Open dialog box, follow these steps:
   1. Change the Look in box to the location of your Works document.
   2. In the Files of type box, click All Files (*.*).
   3. Select the Works document (.wps) that you want to open, and then click Open.
4. If the document opens correctly, click File, click Save As, and then change the file type to a Microsoft Word document (.doc).
5. Save the document and you have successfully converted the file to a Word document.

Note If the document does not open correctly, or does not open at all, you should go to the "Next Steps" section for more help.

If these methods did not work for you, you can use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find other solutions to your problem. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web sites provide include the following:

• Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
• Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
• Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
• Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.

If you continue to have problems trying to open the Works document in Word, you might want to contact Support: