View MS Office documents without MS Office

[gxsaurav]

I was thinking about good out of the box experience in Windows today, & thought why can't MS bundle a simple word or excel or powerpoint viewer in Windows Vista. Well, it seems they can't due to license restrictions.

However, MS does provides something for those who don't want to buy the whole office Suite & don't need it, but still want to be able to read MS Word, Excel documents etc....Presenting Microsoft Office Viewers from MS itself.

Word Viewer 2003

Word Viewer 2003 lets you open Word 2003 documents and documents created with all previous versions of Microsoft Word for Windows® and Microsoft Word for Macintosh. In addition to Word document files (.doc), you can also open files saved in the following formats:

• Rich Text Format (.rtf)
• Text (.txt)
• Web Page formats (.htm, .html, .mht, .mhtml)
• WordPerfect 5.x (.wpd)
• WordPerfect 6.x (.doc, .wpd)
• Works 6.0 (.wps)
• Works 7.0 (.wps)
• XML (.xml)

With Word Viewer 2003, you can view, print, and copy document contents to another program. However, you cannot edit an open document, save a document, or create a new document.

*img468.imageshack.us/img468/2228/wordviewermc5.th.jpg

Excel Viewer 2003

With Excel Viewer 2003, you can open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. You can also copy data from Excel Viewer 2003 to another program. However, you cannot edit data, save a workbook, or create a new workbook.

Powerpoint Viewer 2007

PowerPoint Viewer 2007 lets you view full-featured presentations created in PowerPoint 97 and later versions. This viewer also supports opening password-protected Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. You can view and print presentations, but you cannot edit them in the PowerPoint Viewer 2003.

To reduce file size, improve reliability, and enhance integration with external sources, Microsoft has added new file formats to Word 2007, Excel 2007, and PowerPoint 2007. To help ensure that you can open files in these new formats, Microsoft has developed a Compatibility Pack for the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.

These viewers are good for those users who are using OpenOffice.org & other such Office suits but can't open some word file or excel file properly in OpenOffice or Lotus symphony suite. They can create word documents for free & even read word docoments made by other the way it was meant to be viewed. Buying legal Office Student & teachers edition solves all problems though.....I just wish these official viewers were available for Mac OS X & Linux too. I in my case don't use a Word Processor in Mac OS X but a MS word viewer would have been better.

 

[infra_red_dude]

IMHO bundling them should be allowed. They are helpful utilities.

 

[gxsaurav]

If MS bundles them, OpenOffice will sue them because according to Din it is good for customers but bad for other vendors cos then people won't need to install openoffice.org to view files , & since it is from MS, people will "naturally" buy full MS Office suite to make apps.

I have given this to two friends who use OpenOffice on Windows (they use legal software only) but are unable to open some documents in OpenOffice properly.

 

[infra_red_dude]

If MS bundles them, OpenOffice will sue them because according to Din it is good for customers but bad for other vendors cos then people won't need to install openoffice.org to view files , & since it is from MS, people will "naturally" buy full MS Office suite to make apps.

It is bad for MS to bundle MS Office or even MS Works with Windows. And people don't "install openoffice.org to view files"!!!!

I have given this to two friends who use OpenOffice on Windows (they use legal software only) but are unable to open some documents in OpenOffice properly.

Sorry, I didn't get what you are trying to say here.

 

[gxsaurav]

It is bad for MS to bundle MS Office or even MS Works with Windows.

Well, yeah. those are other money makers for MS.

And people don't "install openoffice.org to view files"!!!!

I have a new computer & got some doc files to view. I don't wanna buy MS office, how will I see the files then? Either OpenOffice (Free) or these viewers. Again, MS isn't allowed to bundle "Microsoft Office Viewers 2003"

Sorry, I didn't get what you are trying to say here.

In there case, they got some docx files from there office which wasen't opening & rendering properly in OpenOffice.org Writer

 

[infra_red_dude]

I have a new computer & got some doc files to view. I don't wanna buy MS office, how will I see the files then? Either OpenOffice (Free) or these viewers. Again, MS isn't allowed to bundle "Microsoft Office Viewers 2003"

Dude, you are an elite MS software user. You buy everything so you may use OOo just for "viewing" MS Office files, but a lot many use it for their word processing, spreadsheet, prez and database requirements and other everyday work.

In there case, they got some docx files from there office which wasen't opening & rendering properly in OpenOffice.org Writer

OK.

 

[sakumar79]

I use OpenOffice.org for home and office use, and generally it is sufficient... Occasionally, I get documents from others that screw up when viewed on OOo, so I have Word Viewer installed to take print outs... Also, when I make presentations, I need to see how the ppt file looks like, so I also have Word Viewer installed...

Found Excel Viewer a bit unnecessary since rarely I get spreadsheets with complex formulae/macros... Also, ability to edit entries is a big minus for me... So, I dont use it...

@gx, does "Student and Teachers Edition" imply it is intended for students and teachers only or does it mean that some reduced features are provided? How much does it cost?

Arun

 

[gxsaurav]

Dude, you are an elite MS software user. You buy everything so you may use OOo just for "viewing" MS Office files, but a lot many use it for their word processing, spreadsheet, prez and database requirements and other everyday work.

Yup, but if MS bundles these viewers in Windows Vista by default, they will again be sued from other companies with reasons like "MS bundles office viewer in Windows, due to which users are compelled to buy MS office & have no other choice shown to them"

 

[iMav]

thanx for this ... wud be quite useful though i will hav 2 find where

 

[infra_red_dude]

@sakumar
Student edition can be bought by students. It doesn't include all the programs, but Word, Powerpoint and Excel. Here is the comparison: *office.microsoft.com/en-us/suites/FX101635841033.aspx

@GX
So now you see the problem? Since these viewers are not bundled alongwith Windows not many average Joes know about it. Similarly when they bundle IE alongwith Windows, not all average Joes get to know that alternatives (in many cases, better) do exist.

 

[gxsaurav]

@gx, does "Student and Teachers Edition" imply it is intended for students and teachers only or does it mean that some reduced features are provided? How much does it cost?

No reduced features, this edition contains full edition of Word, Excel & Powerpoint 2007 which is all the students need 95% of the times. Any one can buy it. It is available for $149 or Rs 4,500 (real cost in delhi) in India. More info....

It lacks outlook but its not like everyone needs a PIM. You want a mail client, have a look at Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail desktop (better then Windows Mail).

@ iMav

Are this is useless for us MS office users, a Mac OS X version would have been better

 

[infra_red_dude]

Any one can buy it.

No sir, you are mistaken. For a list of who can buy Education Licence refer here: *www.microsoft.com/uk/education/buy/who.mspx

Also, see here:

Are there license restrictions to Office Home and Student 2007?
Yes. Office Home and Student 2007 is licensed only for noncommercial use by households. It cannot be used in commercial (business) situations.

 

[iMav]

infra just 1 question how do u intend download to firefox on a new machine which does not have ie

 

[aku]

well... one can easily use the command prompt along with wget... (though i'm not very much sure)

 

[infra_red_dude]

If you look at all my posts, I've said that there should be an option for the user to install or NOT install IE during Setup OR fully uninstall it after Windows has been installed.

Btw, you don't need a browser to get all the software. You haf various sources: Mag DVD/CD, friends, download managers (which can directly download when the link is given).

 

[iMav]

^^ hmmm so i need to go to a friend or buy a mag or serach the cd if i own 1 or install a download manager to browse the net or dwnld a browser ....

wouldnt it be better if we had a software already in the OS that cud take us to opera.com or firefox.com so that we coudl donwload it set it as default browser and done ..... just a suggestion however if u prefer to call ur fren and ask him to giv u the browser on a cd or pen-drive or by a mag or find it if u have already purchased 1 or write the link on a peice of paper and then go to ur fren for the dwnld manager or find it on a cd .... cool have fun

id prefer to go to firefox.com via ie download it and set it as my default browser fairly simple and easy isnt it

well just a suggestion .....

 

[infra_red_dude]

^^^ Did you read this?

If you look at all my posts, I've said that there should be an option for the user to install or NOT install IE during Setup OR fully uninstall it after Windows has been installed.

Edit: Aren't we drifting from the topic?

 

[iMav]

what harm is ie doing to u if u arent using it its not like its biting u

 

[gxsaurav]

No sir, you are mistaken. For a list of who can buy Education Licence refer here: *www.microsoft.com/uk/education/buy/who.mspx

I have used it, they are full editions. You can use them where ever u want & you can buy it either from Windows Market place or retail. You just can't use it commercial purpose....whats the big deal, u r getting Word, Excel & PowerPoint 2007 for Rs 4,500 only.

well... one can easily use the command prompt along with wget... (though i'm not very much sure)

Sure, how will u find the download link?

I've said that there should be an option for the user to install or NOT install IE during Setup OR fully uninstall it after Windows has been installed.

Removal option During setup will kill the out of the box experience. Again, without a browser how will u download firefox from firefox.com. Oh! wait, u r ready to hunt for Magzine CDs & friends in the night at 2 am too.

Removal after Windows is installed is already available,

 

[iMav]

seems like ur health has recovered