Hi folks,
I'm pretty green on PocketPC but am helping my wife get one [think we've decided on the HP 4700] but would like to know about PocketWord. We've read that Word documents loose their formatting when opened up in PocketWord. Is this true? Seems unlikely.

So can we write/read/create/edit Word documents on either her desktop or the 4700 and retain all the formatting as they are used on either device??

I was also going to ask about Access, but I see that has been asnwered elsewhere

TIA - Moot out ...

Allo Moot,

Yeah, afraid it's true - Pocket Word loses lots of formatting. I found out the hard way with my CV when I first came from Palm to PPC. I think the only option is a program called Textmaker. It's quite pricey (they ofetn have offers though), but is very good. I have it on my hx4700 and (especially in true vga) it's very good indeed.

The other thing is that when Windows Mobile 2005 comes out late this summer, it will include updated Pocket Word etc. Whether it will be up to the job I don't know. As you probablly know, the hx4700 is upgradable too.

Hope this helps

Lester

The thing to remember, Moot, is that Pocket Word is a cut down version of Word, so there will be some loss of formatting etc.

However, I have just created a document in Word with some bold text, undelined text, indented text, & different fonts. Copying this into Pocket Word kept the formatting, but had problems with some of the fonts (not surprising, as not all the fonts are loaded onto my PPC, but you can add fonts if you need to); I then copied the document back to my PC & when I opened it in Word all the original fonts, formatting etc had been retained.

So if there are any differences it's only in the display - the original settings are kept.

moot, further to this, I also made changes to the document whilst it was on my PPC, & the changes were kept when I transferred the document back to my PC - the big problem seems to be fonts, but like I said, you can load fonts onto your PPC (by copying them to the fonts folder, as you would on your PC).

The big loss in formatting will be if you use tables, embedded graphics, charts, etc - that's where Pocket Word starts to fall over, but if it's just straightforward documents then you won't have any problems.

Thanks Bloney and Sugar Cube. I have several areas to investigate.

Do you know if the Win2005 upgrade will be a free? And is it a simpl download and installed by active sync? Or maybe that should be another thread??

Thanks again - Moot.

Textmaker can also be bought on ebay (from the people who make it!) and is much, much cheaper than the normal price

This week I have been mostly listening to..... Short cummings audio

Life — In Funny, Six-Minute Slices

     

moot, Win2005 is the next Forum down:

http://ipaqhq.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=54

It is very unlikely that it will be free, and it will in all likelihood be a "download & install via AS" job.

Hey thanks guys. I really appreciate your help.

Cheers - Moot.

I think your right: there is a hell of a lot to put right in Windows Mobile 2003:- I do not think Windows Mobile 5.0 is going to be able to solve everything...