Non-Disney Mac question

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I have updated my iMac to OS X (last month) and and have been using Pages and Appleworks both this past year. I have used Appleworks for years and have a few data bases (addresses and recipes) I can no longer open. Is there a app. I should buy that will allow me to mail merge my address on to letters?
Also if I update my iPhoto '09 (iLife) will I have any problems with my photos. I am 90 minutes away from the nearest Apple Store, so any advise would be appreciated. Should I just give up and buy Microsoft Office for my Mac, so I will be using the same thing at home and school. This worries me, since I will be getting an iPad for my classroom this year.

 

[OKW Lover]

Can't answer the first of your questions but on the iPhoto one - yes you'll be fine.

 

[OKW Lover]

Oh, missed the part about Microsoft Office. Since you've been using Pages you probably already know that you can save documents in a format that Office (Word) will open. Pages will also open Word documents.

I will say that I have both on my machine but prefer to use Pages (and Numbers) whenever I can. I just convert to Word format when I'm sharing with somebody that I know does not have that ability.

 

[macman752]

Unfortunately, your Appleworks databases will not be easily converted. There is a way to retrieve just your data, not the layouts, using Bento which is a Filemaker product.

First you have to be able to save the Appleworks database as a .tsv file. If you can find someone who can open your files in Appleworks then you will be able save them in the correct format.

The instructions for converting an Appleworks file to a Bento database can be found at www.filemaker.com/products/bento/appleworks.html

 

[Sadie22]

It has been a long time since I've thought about Appleworks. The kids at the genius bar in an Apple store probably wouldn't be able to help you. You need an oldtimer member of an Apple Users group. Perhaps you can correspond with someone online who can answer your question, or someone on the Macintouch or a similar site might be able to assist you.

 

[dawnhaze]

I used to work at the Genius Bar in an Apple store and I can confirm that they won't be able to help you with anything related to Appleworks unless that specific store happens to have someone with personal experience using it. Apple retail staff are given no training whatsoever in supporting it because it went EOL (end of life, no longer being sold) back in 2007 or around then.

The Bento trick someone posted already is what I've recommended in the past. I've never tried it myself.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Can't answer the first of your questions but on the iPhoto one - yes you'll be fine.

Good, I had problems withe Quicken when I updated to OS X, so I am a bit scared about losing or not being able to access my pictures if I upgrade to iLife '11.

Oh, missed the part about Microsoft Office. Since you've been using Pages you probably already know that you can save documents in a format that Office (Word) will open. Pages will also open Word documents.

I will say that I have both on my machine but prefer to use Pages (and Numbers) whenever I can. I just convert to Word format when I'm sharing with somebody that I know does not have that ability.

I do save Pages files as Word and send them as attachments to my school computer. I like Pages better too and do much of my school handouts and worksheets at home.

I know I am late to upgrading, but I have been using Apple products since 1985, Apple IIe , first Mac.....I used Clarisworks and Appleworks for years put off upgrading until I have too.

So for a solution....
I am thinking I need to upgrade it iLife '11 for my pictures, get Numbers and Keynote and Bento to be able to do all the things I used Appleworks for in the past and just redo my databases on Bento.

I just started teaching again last year after being a SAHM and sub. teacher for 10 years and am realizing how outdated some of my computer programs have become.

 

[OKW Lover]

I know I am late to upgrading, but I have been using Apple products since 1985, Apple IIe , first Mac.....I used Clarisworks and Appleworks for years put off upgrading until I have too.

No excuse for not upgrading. I started with an Apple ][+ with 48K of memory. Got my first Mac in 1984.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

No excuse for not upgrading. I started with an Apple ][+ with 48K of memory. Got my first Mac in 1984.

I guess my excuse was not having the money to upgrade.

As long as everything worked I just kept using the programs. I had problems finding money to upgrade all the time. Now that I am working again I have a little bit more money to invest in my iMac.

I appreciate all the advice

 

[tjevans]

So you've been running OS 9 all this time?

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

So you've been running OS 9 all this time?

Well, when my eMac died, I bought the an iMac in 09 and MacDepot, moved all my files and apps from my old computer, I was using Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard, but my files were from my older OS 9 Mac. My older apps started to give me problem this last year. I updated to Pages and then upgraded to Mac OS X v10.8 Snow Leopard this spring. Now I can not open Appleworks doc. unless I open them with Pages, but I have started to convert many of them over, but my recipes are in a data base and I can not open them.