No way to password a Works document?

[sjt269]

So, I get myself a shiny new laptop, preloaded with Vista and the latest Microsoft Works, neither of which I've used before. The proper PC is running an old version of Works where Word, Excel etc are all seperate programs...the laptop seems to enjoy saving things as .wps (or something similar) and calling the programs 'Microsoft Works Word Processor' and the like. It looks like everything's been more integrated together, which I suppose is progress, but it's a little offputting at the moment. My main problem, however, is that I can't open password protected files on the laptop - it just refuses to recognise them. Moreover, I can't figure out how to password protect Word documents using this new version of Works.


Now, I've searched both the forum and the internet, and it doesn't look like there is any way to password protect a 'Microsoft Works Word Processor' document. My plan B is to stick the files in an encrypted RAR archive, but that seems a bit of a roundabout way of doing it. I've stumbled across something called TrueCrypt, which also sounds good, but seems to take the concept to extremes I don't need. The files don't contain anything particularly sensitive, but I'd like to discourage the casual browser from reading them, just on the off chance anyone's poking through my laptop. Would I be better off just downgrading back to the old version of Works that I know and love, or will this new version become more appealing after a bit more use?



Thanks in advance
tTz

 

[Caged]

Works doesn't / never came with Word, Excel etc. Office does. Works is a pretty crappy suite.

 

[tres]

get rid of Works now

if you need office stuff, download Open Office

don't use Works

It's horrible

 

[edscdk]

openoffice.org has a save with password option and its much better than works.. and its FREE!!!

 

[goujon945]

openoffice.org has a save with password option and its much better than works.. and its FREE!!!

+1

 

[.:MBK:.]

as long as OpenOffice exists there is no justification for using MS Works, such a vile piece of software

 

[sjt269]

Works doesn't / never came with Word, Excel etc. Office does. Works is a pretty crappy suite.

Ah, I thought Works was Microsoft's name for Word/Excel etc all rolled into a bundle. Guess I'm not using Works on this PC right now either then. If there's no benefit in sticking with it, I'll scrap it from the laptop and load up whatever's running on this PC.

as long as OpenOffice exists there is no justification for using MS Works, such a vile piece of software

Tried it a while back, really didn't like it, can't remember why.

 

[tres]

works has a spreadsheet / word application i think, just sheer junk

 

[Ascendancy]

openoffice.org has a save with password option and its much better than works.. and its FREE!!!

 

[Cobertizo]

Ah, I thought Works was Microsoft's name for Word/Excel etc all rolled into a bundle.

In the good old days, Works Suite did indeed include Word. But never Excel.

As others have mentioned, Openoffice.org is a good bet. Though not really quite as good as MS Office. Sounds like you aren't a fan of OOo, so sounds like downgrading to that Works version you liked (or spending the £100 on MS Office Home & Student - would give you the benefit of Excel and Outlook as well as Word) is the way forward...

 

[Burnsy2023]

I dislike OpenOffice, but I dislike Works even more.

As for passwording, put it into an archive and password that.

Burnsy

 

[Supertaff]

If you didn't like Open Office initially and are happy with Beta software try the new Version 3 Beta 2.

http://download.openoffice.org/3.0beta/

 

[sjt269]

As for passwording, put it into an archive and password that.

If I were sticking with Works, I'd do that, but I think I'll drop back to whatever software it is that I'm using on this PC. Maybe it's Microsoft Office I'm using here, and I'm just getting confused with Office and Works, I dunno.