Opening Appleworks Files??????

Question

Level 1

13 points

Opening Appleworks Files??????

I recently switched from a Mac Mini running OS 10.4.11 to a new iMac running Snow Leopard. To say that the switch has not been without frustration would be to add a good deal of positive spin to the situation.

The latest problem is that if I attempt to open a file created in Appleworks on the Mac Mini I get an error message saying: "Import Error (file name) is not a presentation" When I then tried the "Open With" command to get around this problem Appleworks is not one of the listed applications.

As recently as a few days ago when I opened another file created in Appleworks Appleworks booted and opened the file. Not having loaded Appleworks on the new machine I wondered how it got there and did a search of the hard drive to find out where it was. Imagine my surprise when it didn't show up.

Does anyone know what's going on here? And what is the best way to deal with the problem.

Thanks,
Win

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.2), iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM ATI Radeon HD 4670

Posted on Jun 5, 2010 12:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Jun 5, 2010 1:08 PM in response to WhatMeWorry?

AppleWorks obviously can't do anything if it isn't installed on the machine. Are you sure that it wasn't iWork, maybe a trial version of iWork if you haven't bought a copy, that opened the file? Or TextEdit? Regardless, AppleWorks has not been supported for a while and may not be fully compatible with Snow Leopard. You should be able to open your AppleWorks files with iWork apps.

Reply

Answer 2

babowa

Level 9

78,115 points

Jun 5, 2010 1:30 PM in response to WhatMeWorry?

Appleworks works just fine on my iMac with 10.6.3 - I migrated it along with other files from the previous iMac. So, if you still have your Mini, try to migrate it over (it should be in your Applications folder); the latest version is 6.2.9 and you can also download it here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL617

Reply

Answer 3

WhatMeWorry? Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 5, 2010 2:06 PM in response to thomas_r.

The odd thing is that when I first began attempting to open Appleworks files on my new iMac they did open. And when they opened a message appeared on the screen indicating that they were being opened by Appleworks. Which really puzzled me as I had not installed Appleworks and wouldn't for a thousand dollars. I had more than enough of that application on the Mac Mini and was more than happy to switch to iWork. So I did a search on my iMac and Appleworks did not show up. How the message saying that Appleworks opened the file I do not know although I've begun to suspect that Gates may finally have gotten a mole into Apple :)!

As far as iWork opening the file I thought that it would automatically do so when I double clicked the file in Finder. But it appears that I have to actually boot iWork and then use the Open command within it to open the file.

Anyway thanks for the input.

All best,
Win

Reply

Answer 4

Jun 5, 2010 2:39 PM in response to babowa

Barbara Daniels1 wrote:
Appleworks works just fine on my iMac with 10.6.3 -

Same here, but we like Pages better.

Dale

Reply

Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,115 points

Jun 5, 2010 3:28 PM in response to Dale Weisshaar

Agreed, except for the painting program - I still use that extensively for backgrounds or cool borders when I create my cards from scratch. And I haven't found a decent replacement for that, so I'll keep using it.

Reply

Answer 6

babowa

Level 9

78,115 points

Jun 5, 2010 3:49 PM in response to WhatMeWorry?

Sorry but I didn't realize that you don't like Appleworks; I keep it because of the painting program only. In any case, if you should have a problem opening any of your files, you can still use it.

Reply

Answer 7

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jun 5, 2010 4:27 PM in response to babowa

Note that your link only goes to the updater. Appleworks has to be installed before the updater will work. From the document:

+What’s New in this Version+
+This update to *AppleWorks 6.0 and later* supports mice with scroll wheels and improves the performance and reliability of AppleWorks’ presentation and spreadsheet environments. AppleWorks 6.2.9 also offers improved printing and resolves issues using web based templates and clip-art on networks using proxy servers.+

Reply

Answer 8

babowa

Level 9

78,115 points

Jun 5, 2010 4:47 PM in response to baltwo

oops - thanks for pointing that out, I did not see that.

Reply

Answer 9

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Jun 5, 2010 5:05 PM in response to WhatMeWorry?

I can't explain the message. Perhaps you copied AppleWorks over without meaning to when you migrated from the old machine, and it's hidden away somewhere that Spotlight won't search. Try getting a copy of [EasyFind|http://www.devon-technologies.com/products/freeware/index.html] and searching with that.

As for getting iWork apps to open your old AppleWorks files, select one of the files, choose File -> Get Info and then change the default app in the Open With section. Press Change All to change all similar files to open with that app. Note that, in Snow Leopard, file type identification works by extension, so this may be a bit unreliable if your files don't have an extension.

Reply

Answer 10

WhatMeWorry? Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 5, 2010 6:07 PM in response to thomas_r.

I didn't actually migrate my stuff over. All my files existed on an external hard drive so it wasn't necessary. In addition a Tech guy at Apple warned me that Migration Wizard has issues when it comes to moving stuff from a PPC to an Intel iMac and that it was better to avoid using it if possible.

And thank you very much for telling me how to change the default application for opening files. In truth I've been doing battle with the ever changing world of computers since MS DOS in 1985 and I've just reached the point where I am no longer willing to devote huger amounts of time/energy to relearning how to use my "tools." I can't even imagine what a car mechanic or carpenter would say if you told him that every couple of years he would have to toss his tool box with all it's expensive tools into the dump, spend thousands to buy a whole new set of tools and then spend countless hours learning all over again how to use those tools. Sometimes it seems to me that man is less a "Tool User" than that tools are a "Man User." 🙂

All best,
Win

Reply

Answer 11

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jun 5, 2010 6:12 PM in response to WhatMeWorry?

Your Tech guy is all wet. See Best Practices. Me, I'd wipe, reinstall, and use the setup assistant to migrate on the first boot.

Reply

Answer 12

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Jun 5, 2010 6:26 PM in response to WhatMeWorry?

I've just reached the point where I am no longer willing to devote huger amounts of time/energy to relearning how to use my "tools."

That is simply the reality of using a computer. They change. Software that runs on them changes. Of course, there's no reason that you have to upgrade if you don't want to... As long as your machine works, as long as you can still connect to the internet, as long as you still can print to a working printer that you can still buy ink for, etc., you can just keep right on going with what you're familiar with. If the machine breaks, rather than buying new, you could go to eBay and buy a used one that can run the same OS and applications.

Of course, if you do that, sooner or later you'll be forced to upgrade. Maybe you can't find ink for your printer any more. Maybe some essential component breaks and you can't find a replacement. Regardless, if you wait a long time then upgrade in one giant leap, you've got a major learning curve to deal with. It may or may not, depending on your tastes, be better to try to keep up and learn as you go than to have to make that leap, but it is, of course, your choice to make.

Reply