I've now inherited the same problem on my MacBook, after re-installing Snow Leopard. Every time I open an Appleworks file, the program crashes. Previously, before a system crash, Appleworks 6 was working OK, although very slowly (it works much better with the same system on my wife's MacAir - figure that). I have all my family history files in Appleworks 6 - the family history goes back a thousand years and the project goes back 30 years but the software is obsolete after ten. Really great!!! It's not good enough to make remarks about 'old software' as someone in this thread did, as if we're the negligent ones - we're just the victims What are we supposed to do - change hundreds of files every ten years, just because the manufacturer who you've supported so loyally for decades has refused to provide a solution? I'm very unhappy about this but at least it's a stimulus to get on and finish my project and make printed books rather than relying on computer software, which is very much a double-edged sword.
By the way, someone suggested I use iWorks, as they did to you, and after a very frustrating morning I couldn't get the result you/I want.