Microsoft Works

Microsoft Works is a discontinued productivity software suite developed by Microsoft and sold from 1987 to 2009. Its core functionality includes a word processor, a spreadsheet and a database management system. Later versions have a calendar application and a dictionary while older releases include a terminal emulator. Works is available as a standalone program and as part of a namesake home productivity suite. Because of its low cost ($40 retail, or as low as $2 OEM), companies frequently preinstalled Works on their low-cost machines. Works is smaller, less expensive, and has fewer features than contemporary major office suites such as Microsoft Office.

Mainstream support for the final standalone and suite release ended on October 9, 2012, and January 8, 2013, respectively.

History
Microsoft Works originated as MouseWorks, an integrated spreadsheet, word processor, and database program, designed for the Macintosh by ex-Apple employee Don Williams and Rupert Lissner. Williams planned to emulate the success of AppleWorks, a similar product for Apple II computers. Bill Gates and his Head of Acquisitions, Alan M. Boyd, convinced Williams in 1986 to license the product to Microsoft instead. Initially intended as a scaled-down version of Office for small laptops like TRS-80 Model 100, which was developed by Microsoft and sold by Radio Shack, Microsoft Works evolved as a popular product in its own right as laptops grew in power.

On September 14, 1987, Microsoft unveiled Works for DOS. The initial version 1.x of Works ran on any PC with at least 256k of memory. Works 2.x, introduced in 1990, required 512k and 3.x, introduced in 1992, required 640k.

In 1991, Microsoft issued the first Windows version of Works, titled MS Works for Windows 2.0. System requirements include Windows 3.0, a 286 CPU, and 1MB of memory. Works 3.x in 1993 requires Windows 3.1, a 386 CPU, and 4MB of memory. Subsequent releases are for Windows 95 and up, and the final version is Works 9.x in 2007, requiring Windows XP or Vista, 256MB of memory, and a Pentium 4 CPU.

Microsoft released Macintosh versions of Works starting with Works 2.0 in 1988. The version numbering roughly follows that of Windows releases.

Through version 4.5a, Works uses a monolithic program architecture whereby its word processor, spreadsheet and database documents run in windows of the same program interface. This results in a small memory and disk footprint, which enables it to run on slower computers with requirements as low as 6 MB of RAM and 12 MB free disk space. It also provides a mini version of Excel for DOS systems as a DOS version of that program is not available. Works 2000 (Version 5.0) switches to a modular architecture which opens each document as a separate instance and uses the print engine from Internet Explorer.

Version 9.0, the final version, is available in two editions: an advertisement-free version, available in retail and for OEMs, and an ad-supported free version (Works SE) which was available only to OEMs for preinstallation on new computers.

In late 2009, Microsoft announced it would discontinue Works and replace it with Office 2010 Starter Edition, although it replaced only the word processor and spreadsheet components but not the calendar or the database.

Features
Microsoft Works has built-in compatibility for the Microsoft Office document formats (.DOC and .XLS), including, but not limited to, the ability of the Works Word Processor to open Microsoft Word documents and the ability of the Works Spreadsheet to open Microsoft Excel workbooks. In the final version (Version 9.0), the Windows 95-era icons and toolbars are not updated to make them consistent with later application software.

While its utility for larger organizations is limited by its use of incompatible proprietary native .WKS (spreadsheet), .WDB (database), and .WPS (word processor) file formats, the simplicity of integrating database/spreadsheet data into word processor documents (e.g., mail merge) allow it to remain an option for some small and home-based business owners. Version 4.5a is particularly noted in this respect. The database management system, while a "flat file" (i.e., non-relational) allows the novice user to perform complex transformations through formulas (which use standard algebraic syntax and can be self-referential) and user-defined reports that can be copied as text to the clipboard. A 'Works Portfolio' utility offers Microsoft Binder-like functionality.

By installing the 2007 Office System Compatibility Pack, the Works Word Processor and Spreadsheet can import and export Office Open XML document formats, although they will be converted rather than being operated upon natively. The Works Calendar can store appointments, integrates with the Windows Address Book, as well as Address Book's successor, Windows Contacts, and can remind users of birthdays and anniversaries. It supports importing and exporting iCalendar (.ICS) files. It does not support subscribing to iCalendar files or publishing them online via WebDAV. Up to version 8, using the Works Task Launcher, the calendar and contacts from Windows Address Book could be synchronized with portable devices. In Works 9.0, the sync capability has been removed.

File format compatibility and other issues
Microsoft (sometime in the past) made file format conversion filters for Microsoft Word for opening and saving to Works Word Processor format. Microsoft Office Excel could import newer Works Spreadsheets because the newer Works Spreadsheet also used the Excel format but with a different extension (*.xlr). There is an import filter for older Works 2.0 spreadsheet format (*.wks); however it may be disabled in the registry by newer Microsoft Office Service packs. As far as Works Spreadsheet 3.x/4.x/2000 (*.wks) and Works database (any version of *.wdb) files were concerned, in the past, Microsoft did not provide an import filter for Excel or Access. There are third party converters available for converting these filetypes to Excel spreadsheets: for database files (*.wdb), there was also a donateware utility; for spreadsheet (*.wks) and database (*.wdb) files, a commercial solution was available (at least apparently in 2008).

A general C++ library, libwps, can extract text from many different versions of Microsoft Works, this library is used by Collabora Online and LibreOffice. NeoOffice (no longer active in 2024) also used the library.

One commercially available solution for converting to and from Microsoft Works files on the Macintosh platform in 2016 was the MacLinkPlus product from DataViz. Free online conversion services in 2016 were also available.

Works Spreadsheet and Works Database are unable to handle more than 500 fonts installed in Windows and throw error messages.

Works for MS-DOS

 * Microsoft Works 1.12
 * Microsoft Works 1.5
 * Microsoft Works 2.0 and 2.00a
 * Microsoft Works 3.0, 3.0a and 3.0b

Works for Mac OS

 * Microsoft Works 1.0
 * Microsoft Works 2.0
 * Microsoft Works 3.0
 * Microsoft Works 4.0

Works for Microsoft Windows

 * Microsoft Works 2.0 and 2.0a (Windows 3.x)
 * Microsoft Works 3.0, 3.0a and 3.0b (Windows 3.x)
 * Microsoft Works 4.0, 4.0a, 4.5 and 4.5a (Windows 95)
 * Microsoft Works 2000 (v.5)
 * Microsoft Works 6.0 – Last version for Windows 95
 * Microsoft Works 7.0 – Last version for Windows 98 (Original release)
 * Microsoft Works 8.0 – Last version for Windows 98 SE/Me/2000 – Fully compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista, Windows 7 and later versions of Windows.
 * Microsoft Works 8.5 (Free update for Works 8.0, Microsoft Works Suite 2005 and Microsoft Works Suite 2004 users)
 * Microsoft Works 9.0 – First version fully compatible with all versions of Windows Vista, fully compatible with later versions of Windows

Works Suite
In 1997, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Home Essentials, a home productivity package sold as a low-price suite that a Chicago Tribune review described as "one of the best bargains ever offered." Home Essentials evolved to become Works Suite beginning with the 1999 edition, taking the namesake of Works. A slimmer version of the suite, Works Deluxe, was offered for that year but was discontinued thereafter.

As Works Suite's programs were developed separately and sold individually, each has a unique look and feel. They are integrated by a task plane, which picks the appropriate program for the user to accomplish each task. Works Suite includes additional programs such as FoneSync in 2001 and PowerPoint Viewer beginning in 2003. Later editions prompt users to upgrade to featured versions of the programs at a discount.

In addition to retail sales, Works Suite was included with the purchase of a new computer by companies such as Dell and Gateway. Works Suite was discontinued after the 2006 edition. Works was later bundled with Word as Works Plus 2008, but this was made available only to OEMs.

Comparison of bundled Works home productivity suites: