# Can I run Claris Works from System 9 on OS X? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865 "2010-08-20T13:31:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/1 "2010-08-20T13:31:10Z")
Well, not me, but PiperDad. He’s had trouble transitioning from Claris Works to Word, since he’s getting up there. If I find an old copy of Claris Works, would it still work on OS X? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/2 "2010-08-20T14:35:51Z")
Yes, but not in Leopard or better - since Apple dropped Classic support in those OSs. If you have 10.5+, you can download a Virtual machine called “Sheepshaver,” which works quite well, although it can be a little difficult to set up. Google for “chubby bunny” (don’t ask…). ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/3 "2010-08-20T14:39:31Z")
When you say Claris Works, do you actually mean Apple Works? The Macintosh that you want to run Apple Works on: does it have an Intel or a PowerPC processor? What version of OS X is it running? See the Wikipedia article on the [Classic Environment](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Environment), a way to run Apple OS 9 applications on OS X. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/4 "2010-08-20T14:58:34Z")
AppleWorks, at least the latest version they put out, is an OS X application anyhow. (Or, to be precise, a Carbon app that will run equally well under OS 9 or OS X). If you’re going app-shopping anyhow, look for that one. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/5 "2010-08-20T16:14:56Z")
Ahunter3, you’re right! I forgot all about that! It’s been so long that I used AppleWorks that I didn’t remember that it runs under Macintosh OS X. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/6 "2010-08-20T19:46:36Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > It’s been so long that I used AppleWorks that I didn’t remember that it runs under Macintosh OS X. Your earlier question is worth asking though, because **ClarisWorks** was not a Carbon app, and therefore won’t run without either Classic mode (on pre-10.5 systems) or an emulator like Sheepshaver (on 10.5 and later, as mentioned). The same is true for AppleWorks version 5, which was what ClarisWorks 5 was renamed to. So, actually, it’s best for the OP if he can get his hands on AppleWorks v6. Also, the update to v6.2.9 is still available on Apple’s website. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/7 "2010-08-21T04:26:10Z")
Wow. I forgot how long it’s been since I was working with Mac emulation. Nice that Sheepshaver finally became a usable product. Back when I was emulating, we were stuck with the 68k emulation. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-claris-works-from-system-9-on-os-x/550865/8 "2010-08-21T06:15:57Z")
Sheepshaver IS nice. It networks. You can run internet apps and connect to & use resources at remote TCP locations. I’ve found it to be a bit buggy with programs that generate their own virtual-memory swapfiles quite aside from OS 9’s built-in capacity for same, one example being Photoshop of the OS 9 vintage. The most annoying non-bug aspect of Sheepshaver is the lack of a fully integrated Finder experience. Having to drill through the Unix directory representing the root directory of OS X can be annoying when you’re used to the Classic environment where Command-D puts you on your Desktop which is your OS X desktop and not the desktop of your emulated OS 9 environment.