This document explains word processing document exchange between ClarisWorks on Macintosh and MS Word on PC compatibles, so as to be able to continue working on a document on PC and Macintosh back and forth. The requirements for this file conversion are:

You can share ClarisWorks documents with other applications using special files called translators. The ClarisWorks application comes with translators for many popular software applications.

ClarisWorks uses the translators in the Claris Translators folder to import and export files. (The Claris Translators folder depending on version and type of installation is either in the ClarisWorks folder or in the Claris folder, which is in the System Folder.) Using the translators, when saving a file, you can export the ClarisWorks document in a required file format, for other applications. In the same way you can import documents created in other applications in ClarisWorks application, by selecting the appropriate format when opening the document in ClarisWorks. This list of current translators in the ClarisWorks Translator Are:

Most of the above export/import argument is correct when you export and import documents between different applications in Macintosh computers only. However, using the translators it is also possible to exchange documents between, Macintosh and PC and solve the PC/Mac cross-platform issue.

The requirement for the Mac/PC document exchange is:

• A PC formatted floppy disk if you have a Power Macintosh or higher. For lower Macintosh systems (i.e. A Macintosh system which does not read a PC formatted floppy. I will refer to these Macintosh systems as Macintosh versus Power Macintosh) you need a Macintosh formatted floppy disk and a PC formatted floppy disk. By PC formatted disk I mean you have to format your floppy disk at college on a PC. Power Macintosh computers can read a PC formatted floppy disk, but a PC cannot read the Macintosh formatted floppy unless you have additional software. It is wise to have extra formatted floppy disks for backup purposes.

1. Create your document in ClarisWorks.
2. To save select Save As from File menu. The Save As dialog box opens.
3. Open the Save As: pop-up menu for the file format:
• If you select RTF (Rich Text Format is the best format for cross-platform works), Mswinword, or MS Word 4.0, the document and most parts of your text formats (i.e., font, line spacing, margins). With these format you can open the file in MS word on a PC.
• If you select Text format, the text of the document, without its formatting will be saved.
• If you select Wordperfect to be able to work WordPerfect word processor at college, the complete text will be saved. However, the text format will not be saved completely.
• Do not select MS Word PC. The result is not as desirable as it sounds, for cross-platform issues.
  
  
  
4. Enter a file name for the document in file name text box (Usually reads "Untitled") I highly recommend to use file names up to 8 characters without space between the characters. Avoid using special characters or punctuation marks in your file name.
5. Make sure that you are saving on your floppy disk and not the hard disk drive.
6. Click on Save button. Now depending on the selected file format, you can now open the file in MS word or WordPerfect on a PC.

1. Save your document in ClarisWorks default format on a Macintosh formatted floppy disk (if not possible to use a PC formatted floppy disk), at home.
2. Insert your floppy disk, that contains the document created at home, in the Power Macs at College Computer Lab
3. Open the document in ClarisWorks in the Power Macintosh at Computer Lab at college.
4. If your are using a Macintosh formatted floppy disk
• Save the file on the "Students Folder" on the desktop.
• Eject your Macintosh formatted floppy disk and insert your PC formatted floppy disk.
5. Follow steps 3 through 6 above.

When saving your documents at college to take them back home to continue on your Macs remember the following points:

• Save the file with the same file format that you have opened it on the PC. Do not accept the formats that the Word Processor may suggest.

Power Macintosh or higher systems:

1. Insert your PC formatted floppy disk in your Power Mac.
2. Open ClaisWorks.
3. Select Open from the File Menu.
4. In the Open dialog box, open File Type drop-down list.
   
   
   
5. Select the appropriate file format.
6. Click the Open button to open the document.

1. Insert your PC formatted floppy disk that contains the document created at college in the Power Macs at College Computer Lab
2. Open the document in ClarisWorks.
3. If your Macintosh at home reads only Macintosh formatted floppy disk:

• Save the file on the "Students Folder" on the desktop.

• Eject your PC formatted floppy disk and insert your Macintosh formatted floppy disk

1. Follow steps 3 through 6 above while you are using the Power Macs at the Open Lab.
2. Save the document using Save As from the File menu. The Save As dialog box opens.
3. In the dialog box, locate and open you Macintosh formatted floppy disk
4. Open the File Type drop-down list and select the appropriate ClarisWorks format.
5. Using the same file name click on Save button.
6. Eject the floppy disk. Now you can continue working on your Macintosh at home.

Though this document is based on converting a Macintosh ClarisWorks document to a PC MS Word or WordPerfect document, its principals can be adapted to convert other types of word processing documents from Mac to PC or visa versa.

It may happen that students by mistake trash the "Student Folder" located on the Power Macs desktop, at college Computer Lab. Since you can not save to the local hard drive on the Macs, this is what you need to do to get around this problem if the Student Folder is not available to save work to: (The following is just an example of using MS Word, or )

1. Open the document on the Mac
2. Select all the document
3. Click Edit, then Copy
4. Quit the word processor.
5. Replace your PC and Mac floppy disk.
6. Start the word processor you just quit a moment ago.
7. Click New, if the word processor does not open a new document.
8. Click Edit, then Paste.
9. Now depending on your goal, you can continue with one of the above procedure.

With enough practice and computer experimentation, you can extend the principles of cross platform conversion explained above for word processing document, to other types of document such database, spreadsheet, Eudora, etc.