MS Word Alternative

[HAD IT UP TO HERE]

MS Word is a Rube Goldberg machine.

I write business documents. I don't write pretty party invitations or have
pastel backgrounds in my docs. I can program in 2 languages plus VBA, and
I'm a tax lawyer. Complex I know.

Nevertheless, I spend half of my time in Word mucking with formatting
instead of drafting. My employees are less skilled, and even after
impelmenting the work arounds posted here; they waste more time formatting
than in doing other document processing tasks.

Word is costing me big bucks in lost productivity.

And it's not just me. No one that I know is happy with Word.
Does anyone know of another product that does numbering, doesn't try to make
me design "pretty"; and lets "not so technical" employees get my work done?

signed
HAD IT UP TO HERE

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Microsoft Works 9
http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx


MS Word is a Rube Goldberg machine.

I write business documents. I don't write pretty party invitations or have
pastel backgrounds in my docs. I can program in 2 languages plus VBA, and
I'm a tax lawyer. Complex I know.

Nevertheless, I spend half of my time in Word mucking with formatting
instead of drafting. My employees are less skilled, and even after
impelmenting the work arounds posted here; they waste more time formatting
than in doing other document processing tasks.

Word is costing me big bucks in lost productivity.

And it's not just me. No one that I know is happy with Word.
Does anyone know of another product that does numbering, doesn't try to make
me design "pretty"; and lets "not so technical" employees get my work done?

signed
HAD IT UP TO HERE

 

[HAD IT UP TO HERE]

...hmm
Thank you for the reply, but I think you might have been a little sarcastic.
The first thing Works displays is "Brochure" and "Party Invitation" .

"Business" means headers, footers, and citations. Words does have a lot of
features but it tries to be something to everyone. For a multi-level heading
serious document, it is too clumsy, even in the 2008 iteration.

We are going to make a serious effort to find some that "works", pun
intended, including WP.

Thanks
Don Lowrey

 

[macropod]

Hi Don,

Perhaps if you & your staff learned how to use Word correctly, you'd have fewer productivity issues - indeed you might find
productivity increasing.

Given your work situation, the proper implementation of appropriately-formatted templates for the various kinds of documents you
need, plus training in how to use Styles, Autotext and Word's other productivity features, would be a great boon.

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]

 

[HAD IT UP TO HERE]

I'm sure you are correct, we should learn how to use Word.

Just for fun, try an experiment. Mention Word, numbering and complex
document to any grad student or working professional who gets paid based on
work product output.

Will you get a smile, or a scowl?

-Cheers

Hi Don,

Perhaps if you & your staff learned how to use Word correctly, you'd have fewer productivity issues - indeed you might find
productivity increasing.

Given your work situation, the proper implementation of appropriately-formatted templates for the various kinds of documents you
need, plus training in how to use Styles, Autotext and Word's other productivity features, would be a great boon.

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]

..hmm
Thank you for the reply, but I think you might have been a little sarcastic.
The first thing Works displays is "Brochure" and "Party Invitation" .

"Business" means headers, footers, and citations. Words does have a lot of
features but it tries to be something to everyone. For a multi-level heading
serious document, it is too clumsy, even in the 2008 iteration.

We are going to make a serious effort to find some that "works", pun
intended, including WP.

Thanks
Don Lowrey

 

[DeanH]

Don , you are correct, I tend to get a scowl.... but then a smile after about
1/2hour me showing them the simple ways of getting Word under control.
I also do this on a paid basis but that lasts longer than 1/2 hour! ;-)
Maybe some training for you and your staff by a reputable trainier will pay
dividends in productivity and staff morale.
All the best
DeanH

I'm sure you are correct, we should learn how to use Word.

Just for fun, try an experiment. Mention Word, numbering and complex
document to any grad student or working professional who gets paid based on
work product output.

Will you get a smile, or a scowl?

-Cheers

Hi Don,

Perhaps if you & your staff learned how to use Word correctly, you'd have fewer productivity issues - indeed you might find
productivity increasing.

Given your work situation, the proper implementation of appropriately-formatted templates for the various kinds of documents you
need, plus training in how to use Styles, Autotext and Word's other productivity features, would be a great boon.

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]

..hmm
Thank you for the reply, but I think you might have been a little sarcastic.
The first thing Works displays is "Brochure" and "Party Invitation" .

"Business" means headers, footers, and citations. Words does have a lot of
features but it tries to be something to everyone. For a multi-level heading
serious document, it is too clumsy, even in the 2008 iteration.

We are going to make a serious effort to find some that "works", pun
intended, including WP.

Thanks
Don Lowrey

:

Microsoft Works 9
http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx


MS Word is a Rube Goldberg machine.

I write business documents. I don't write pretty party invitations or have
pastel backgrounds in my docs. I can program in 2 languages plus VBA, and
I'm a tax lawyer. Complex I know.

Nevertheless, I spend half of my time in Word mucking with formatting
instead of drafting. My employees are less skilled, and even after
impelmenting the work arounds posted here; they waste more time formatting
than in doing other document processing tasks.

Word is costing me big bucks in lost productivity.

And it's not just me. No one that I know is happy with Word.
Does anyone know of another product that does numbering, doesn't try to make
me design "pretty"; and lets "not so technical" employees get my work done?

signed
HAD IT UP TO HERE

 

[Graham Mayor]

Would you let your staff drive your car without any driver training? Would
you let them loose on tax law without any training? You cannot possibly hope
to get the best from a complex piece of software without learning how to
drive it.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

I'm sure you are correct, we should learn how to use Word.

Just for fun, try an experiment. Mention Word, numbering and complex
document to any grad student or working professional who gets paid
based on work product output.

Will you get a smile, or a scowl?

-Cheers

Hi Don,

Perhaps if you & your staff learned how to use Word correctly, you'd
have fewer productivity issues - indeed you might find productivity
increasing.

Given your work situation, the proper implementation of
appropriately-formatted templates for the various kinds of documents
you need, plus training in how to use Styles, Autotext and Word's
other productivity features, would be a great boon.

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]

..hmm
Thank you for the reply, but I think you might have been a little
sarcastic. The first thing Works displays is "Brochure" and "Party
Invitation" .

"Business" means headers, footers, and citations. Words does have
a lot of features but it tries to be something to everyone. For a
multi-level heading serious document, it is too clumsy, even in the
2008 iteration.

We are going to make a serious effort to find some that "works", pun
intended, including WP.

Thanks
Don Lowrey

:

Microsoft Works 9
http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx


"HAD IT UP TO HERE" <HAD IT UP TO (e-mail address removed)>
wrote in message
MS Word is a Rube Goldberg machine.

I write business documents. I don't write pretty party
invitations or have pastel backgrounds in my docs. I can program
in 2 languages plus VBA, and
I'm a tax lawyer. Complex I know.

Nevertheless, I spend half of my time in Word mucking with
formatting
instead of drafting. My employees are less skilled, and even after
impelmenting the work arounds posted here; they waste more time
formatting
than in doing other document processing tasks.

Word is costing me big bucks in lost productivity.

And it's not just me. No one that I know is happy with Word.
Does anyone know of another product that does numbering, doesn't
try to make
me design "pretty"; and lets "not so technical" employees get my
work done?

signed
HAD IT UP TO HERE

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Wonder what version of word?
Lawyers. It's always everyone else's fault.

: Would you let your staff drive your car without any driver training? Would
: you let them loose on tax law without any training? You cannot possibly
hope
: to get the best from a complex piece of software without learning how to
: drive it.
:
: --
: <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
: Graham Mayor - Word MVP
:
: My web site www.gmayor.com
:
: <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
:
:
: HAD IT UP TO HERE wrote:
: > I'm sure you are correct, we should learn how to use Word.
: >
: > Just for fun, try an experiment. Mention Word, numbering and complex
: > document to any grad student or working professional who gets paid
: > based on work product output.
: >
: > Will you get a smile, or a scowl?
: >
: > -Cheers
: >
: > "macropod" wrote:
: >
: >> Hi Don,
: >>
: >> Perhaps if you & your staff learned how to use Word correctly, you'd
: >> have fewer productivity issues - indeed you might find productivity
: >> increasing.
: >>
: >> Given your work situation, the proper implementation of
: >> appropriately-formatted templates for the various kinds of documents
: >> you need, plus training in how to use Styles, Autotext and Word's
: >> other productivity features, would be a great boon.
: >>
: >> --
: >> Cheers
: >> macropod
: >> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
: >>
: >>
: >> in message : >>> ..hmm
: >>> Thank you for the reply, but I think you might have been a little
: >>> sarcastic. The first thing Works displays is "Brochure" and "Party
: >>> Invitation" .
: >>>
: >>> "Business" means headers, footers, and citations. Words does have
: >>> a lot of features but it tries to be something to everyone. For a
: >>> multi-level heading serious document, it is too clumsy, even in the
: >>> 2008 iteration.
: >>>
: >>> We are going to make a serious effort to find some that "works", pun
: >>> intended, including WP.
: >>>
: >>> Thanks
: >>> Don Lowrey
: >>>
: >>> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
: >>>
: >>>> Microsoft Works 9
: >>>> http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx
: >>>>
: >>>>
: >>>> "HAD IT UP TO HERE" <HAD IT UP TO (e-mail address removed)>
: >>>> wrote in message
: >>>> : >>>> MS Word is a Rube Goldberg machine.
: >>>>
: >>>> I write business documents. I don't write pretty party
: >>>> invitations or have pastel backgrounds in my docs. I can program
: >>>> in 2 languages plus VBA, and
: >>>> I'm a tax lawyer. Complex I know.
: >>>>
: >>>> Nevertheless, I spend half of my time in Word mucking with
: >>>> formatting
: >>>> instead of drafting. My employees are less skilled, and even after
: >>>> impelmenting the work arounds posted here; they waste more time
: >>>> formatting
: >>>> than in doing other document processing tasks.
: >>>>
: >>>> Word is costing me big bucks in lost productivity.
: >>>>
: >>>> And it's not just me. No one that I know is happy with Word.
: >>>> Does anyone know of another product that does numbering, doesn't
: >>>> try to make
: >>>> me design "pretty"; and lets "not so technical" employees get my
: >>>> work done?
: >>>>
: >>>> signed
: >>>> HAD IT UP TO HERE
:
:

 

[HAD IT UP TO HERE]

Cheap shot.

Wonder what version of word?
Lawyers. It's always everyone else's fault.

: Would you let your staff drive your car without any driver training? Would
: you let them loose on tax law without any training? You cannot possibly
hope
: to get the best from a complex piece of software without learning how to
: drive it.
:
: --
: <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
: Graham Mayor - Word MVP
:
: My web site www.gmayor.com
:
: <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
:
:
: HAD IT UP TO HERE wrote:
: > I'm sure you are correct, we should learn how to use Word.
: >
: > Just for fun, try an experiment. Mention Word, numbering and complex
: > document to any grad student or working professional who gets paid
: > based on work product output.
: >
: > Will you get a smile, or a scowl?
: >
: > -Cheers
: >
: > "macropod" wrote:
: >
: >> Hi Don,
: >>
: >> Perhaps if you & your staff learned how to use Word correctly, you'd
: >> have fewer productivity issues - indeed you might find productivity
: >> increasing.
: >>
: >> Given your work situation, the proper implementation of
: >> appropriately-formatted templates for the various kinds of documents
: >> you need, plus training in how to use Styles, Autotext and Word's
: >> other productivity features, would be a great boon.
: >>
: >> --
: >> Cheers
: >> macropod
: >> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
: >>
: >>
: >> in message : >>> ..hmm
: >>> Thank you for the reply, but I think you might have been a little
: >>> sarcastic. The first thing Works displays is "Brochure" and "Party
: >>> Invitation" .
: >>>
: >>> "Business" means headers, footers, and citations. Words does have
: >>> a lot of features but it tries to be something to everyone. For a
: >>> multi-level heading serious document, it is too clumsy, even in the
: >>> 2008 iteration.
: >>>
: >>> We are going to make a serious effort to find some that "works", pun
: >>> intended, including WP.
: >>>
: >>> Thanks
: >>> Don Lowrey
: >>>
: >>> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
: >>>
: >>>> Microsoft Works 9
: >>>> http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx
: >>>>
: >>>>
: >>>> "HAD IT UP TO HERE" <HAD IT UP TO (e-mail address removed)>
: >>>> wrote in message
: >>>> : >>>> MS Word is a Rube Goldberg machine.
: >>>>
: >>>> I write business documents. I don't write pretty party
: >>>> invitations or have pastel backgrounds in my docs. I can program
: >>>> in 2 languages plus VBA, and
: >>>> I'm a tax lawyer. Complex I know.
: >>>>
: >>>> Nevertheless, I spend half of my time in Word mucking with
: >>>> formatting
: >>>> instead of drafting. My employees are less skilled, and even after
: >>>> impelmenting the work arounds posted here; they waste more time
: >>>> formatting
: >>>> than in doing other document processing tasks.
: >>>>
: >>>> Word is costing me big bucks in lost productivity.
: >>>>
: >>>> And it's not just me. No one that I know is happy with Word.
: >>>> Does anyone know of another product that does numbering, doesn't
: >>>> try to make
: >>>> me design "pretty"; and lets "not so technical" employees get my
: >>>> work done?
: >>>>
: >>>> signed
: >>>> HAD IT UP TO HERE
:
: