# MS Works vs. Office Question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 27, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779 "2003-06-27T16:04:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@barb\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barb_b)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/1 "2003-06-27T16:04:38Z")
I have a Works database that I created on my old computer, which had MS Works on it. My new computer has MS Office. Is there any way I can open the Db (it’s names and addresses) with Office (specifically Word) so I can use it for a mail merge? Office tells me it can’t open the data source.
If not, is there any way I can access the data, save it in some format that Word could read, and use it that way?
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/2 "2003-06-27T16:33:22Z")
You don’t mention what versions of Works and Office you’re dealing with. What’s the file extension on the database, .wdb? [This article](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;816472) indicates formulas could be the problem, but it only applies to Works 2003.
If you have Access you might be able to [import](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;327147) the database into it.
There used to be an [Office Converter Pack](http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2002/convpack.aspx), but the download page has been replaced by a notice that it has been “retired” due to a possible security vulnerability. There are instructions for installing the Office 2003 [beta version](http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/xp/beta/tools/BoxA07.htm). It includes converters for Works 3.0 and 5.0 text files, but I don’t know about databases.
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### Author:  [@barb\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barb_b)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/3 "2003-06-27T17:19:03Z")
Thanks for the links.
It’s Office xp, Word 2002, no Access, and heaven only knows what version of Works.
I don’t have that computer anymore, so I don’t have the ability to use the program to do anything with the formulae in the db. I didn’t put them there, so I’m not even sure what I’d be looking for anyway.
The “beta version” page you gave me started out with
> [@](#):
>
> 1. Start Word.
> 2. On the Tools menu, point to Address Book Mail Merge, and then click Document Type.
> Note If Address Book Mail Merge does not appear on the Tools menu, see the “More Information” section of this article to install Microsoft Works Suite Add-in for Microsoft Word.
And, of course, “Address Book Mail Merge” does not show up on the Tools menu; so it’s off to “More Information.” The first thing under “More Information” talks about inserting the Works cd. Which, of course, I don’t have.
Maybe I need to start building the address book in word? I just keep thinking there _must_ be a way to extract the data without having to reconstruct it. Or having to buy Works, which I would think would be a waste since I’ve already bought Office.
But thanks again for the suggestions.
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/4 "2003-06-27T17:24:45Z")
You might have better luck trying to open it in Excel instead of Word. A Works database is essentially a spreadsheet with some bells & whistles. I have both but have never tried this so good luck.
Worst case is you could email me the file and I can load it into Works and convert to a spreadsheet file for you.
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### Author:  [@barb\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barb_b)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/5 "2003-06-27T18:26:06Z")
Thanks, **CWG**
Excel tells me that the file format isn’t valid.
I may take you up on the offer to e-mail you the file, but maybe I’ll see if anybody has any other ideas before I bug you.
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### Author:  [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/6 "2003-06-27T18:33:51Z")
Maybe you could import the database into Outlook, specifically Contacts. If that works, then you could export the contents of the Contacts folder to a comma delimitted file and convert the text to a table in Word.
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### Author:  [@barb\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barb_b)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/7 "2003-06-27T19:18:02Z")
Another good one, **JT** , but Outlook doesn’t seem to offer Works as a choice of import file types.
I even went so far as to make a copy of the file and change the file extension to .xls to see if I could fool Outlook into thinking it was an Excel file but, alas, Outlook is too darned smart for me.
But, boy! am I learning a lot about what this expensive paperweight _won’t_ do today!
Thanks again to all of you, and keep those suggestions rolling in!
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### Author:  [@petre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/petre)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/8 "2003-06-27T21:07:36Z")
I’ve often wondered how MS could make a large comprehensive package (MS Office) that can import dozens of file types from a slew of other companies, yet be completely unable to convert files from a similar package they also produce (MS Works, or as I call it, MS Doesntwork). In my experience, the latter is also unable to read anything from the MS Office suite either (though it’s been some time since I’ve used it).
What has worked for me in the past is opening the file in MS Works (find a friend with a copy, dust off your old computer, maybe download a trial version, whatever) and save it to some other format (csv should work) that MS Office can also read.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/9 "2003-06-27T21:25:09Z")
I’ve used Works for some time. Works 6.0 sucked big time. I’m still using 4.5. You can try this, it’s worked for me:
Open your database.
Sort it however you want.
Copy and paste all the records into a spreadsheet.
Save the spreadsheet as an Excel file.
Should work with only few minor glitches.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/10 "2003-06-27T22:27:15Z")
What I used to do back when I had to convert a Works DB to an Excel DB was to open the Works DB, save as DBase file, close it, open Excel, use that to open the DBase file, and finally save that file as an Excel file.
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### Author:  [@barb\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barb_b)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-works-vs-office-question/184779/11 "2003-06-29T14:59:21Z")
Thanks, **Mr. Blue Sky** and \*\* Monty\*\*, but the problem is that I can’t open the database because I don’t have Works anymore. That’s why I’m searching for another way to get into the db.
And **petre** , I’ve been thinking the same thing about Microsoft products and their inability to communicate with each other. But I think I’m going to try your idea about a trial version, if I can find one.