I’m going to be transferring hundreds of .doc files (created with various versions of Word, 2003 and earlier I believe) from 3.5 floppies to CDs. Right now the majority of them are named with such extreme abbreviation as to be impossibly cryptic, so as part of the transfer process I want to skim at least a page or two of each file and rename each to something more useful.
The problem is, I have a slowish computer and it takes an annoyingly long time for Word to start up, call for a virus scan, etc.
Since I don’t need to do any editing of the file, just peak at its contents, I’m hoping there is something small and fast (and, ideally, free/cheap) that can at least hide the Word formating while showing the text.
Sometimes Wordpad can have trouble opening .doc files, if you get trouble try Word Viewer
It’s a quick viewing program that should handle anything strange in the file that might confuse Wordpad. It’s from Mjicrosoft so atleast you can expect it to be a safe download and it’s free.
You’ll have a major speed increase if you don’t stop & start the program each time. Just start your viewer & drop the file on the viewer’s window. When you’re done with that one, close the file, NOT the program.
FWIW, that’s true of most programs that can read multiple files. I am amazed at users who execute a program, then close it before immediately executing it again, each operation taking quite a bit of unnecessary time.
It is often possible (and Word allows it) to execute the program, select multiple files in the Open File dialog (use shift and control key shortcuts), then open them all at once. This might help you to scan multiple files (easiest if they are all in the same folder).
Thanks. I’ll look into it if Wordpad fails me.
As to starting and stopping Word each time: I know you don’t have to, but I’m multitasking this re-archiving project around other tasks. As I said, my computer is old and slow and doesn’t have a lot of memory. It’s a P3 with 128, I think…yes, I should start agitating for a new one.
Anyway, it seems to me that every other program runs a bit slower if Word is hovering around. Maybe that’s just my imagination, I dunno.
Opening and executing a program is about the most intensive thing you can do on a computer with limited RAM. If you are using Windows, the OpSys keeps as much as it can of any active program in RAM and pages less active apps to the HD. Of course, what Win thinks is most active might not be what you want, but the concept would seem to favor a program kept open if under constant use.
Why don’t you try a test? It might be worth your while, or maybe it will show that it doesn’t make any difference given your specific circumstances. Or get some more RAM, even if temporary.
In case you didn’t find it, the easiest way is to hold down Shift, right click the file, hit Open With, Choose Program, and check the Always use this program to open these files box.
I’ll look into it if Wordpad fails me.