I started using Wordstar in 1984. I am a journalist and used it because it was the only word processing program I could use to file my stories directly, modem to modem, with my newspaper's modem.
I wrote hundreds of stories on Wordstar and I still write a few because I have it on my laptop. Does anyone know how to convert those Wordstar files to Word files?
I'm sorry if none of this language is technical. I don't know technical language.
If you have a reasonably recent version of ms-word, you can install the WS conversion filters that it comes with and simply open files in ms-word to convert them. Make certain that the WS files have extensions like .ws3, .ws4, .ws7, etc., to reflect the version of WS they were created in.
Do they have a particularly complex formatting? If they do, that might require something more from you to get a decent conversion. Otherwise, you should be able to just open them in ms-word.
deedee :)
Thanks. I'll give it a shot.
Hi Bob,
Sorry, I moved the topic. Have a look at the conversion FAQ page on this site: http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/pages/convert_faq.htm you'll need to select your version of Word and to download the correct filter from the links provided.
As deedee suggests you can help the converter to decide it's dealing with a WordStar file if you name your files using .ws as the file extension, and more so if you follow that with 3, 4, or 7, for the main versions where the file formats changed. There are no import filters for WordStar 2000! Alternatively, you can tell Word to confirm the conversion (all details are in the FAQ page) as it may sometimes get it wrong and think its a plain text file.
Cheers
Mike
I'm sitting here gnashing my teeth. I went to the website indicated, and took an hour or more to download a file ork.exe.
Nothing happens.
I have LOTS of WordStar 5.0 files that I was able to convert with complete ease from Word 95. Now I have the new, improved Word 2003, and all those dozens and dozens of files are inaccessible to me.
What the heck can I do that I haven't done? I read the readme which starts off mentioning a file Wdsuppconv.exe -- which also isn't on my computer.
I'm pretty clueless about all this stuff, and desperately need some kind of assistance in walking me through it.
Bill,
The page mentioned in the earlier message also covers Word 2003 - which uses exactly the same import filters, for WordStar, as did Word 95.
The page is: http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/pages/convert_faq.htm.
However, as the page has also said for some time now, Microsoft has removed the WordStar import filters from the Converter Pack! So if you download a current version it will be of absolutely no use to you. You either need to get hold of an earlier release (prior to December 2003), or to use the ftp link provided to download just the WordStar filter that was in the earlier versions of the Converter Pack.
This was still available a few weeks ago, but the ftp link sometimes times out, so you may need to keep trying. The ftp link is: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/wdsupcnv.exe.
The FAQ page above tells you how to install and use the downloaded file.
Let me know if you have any problems doing this.
Hi Bill,
Alternatively, if you have Star Exchange with WS5, you can use it to convert your WS files to Word5 (which is dos). Star Exchange allows for batch conversions. Then open those converted files in Word2003.
The main problem will be that the margins are wrong, usually the left margin is absent. Open the page setup in Word2003 for the file, correct the margins (generally make the left margin 1" or whatever you offset the page in WS), and your files should look fine in Word.
deedee
Alas, the ftp link listed above does not work, as was warned about. I downloaded >something< that does show WS files as text, but text loaded with code (little open squares, mostly). I could laboriously remove all that stuff by hand, so to speak, but I'd really rather not have to.
I have no idea how to get Word 95, or any idea if that would actually be of help. Even if I did find a WordStar-to-Word converter program, I don't really know how or where to install it.
This has now become increasingly urgent; I have a MAJOR task in the offing, and must learn how to do this conversion.
I should add that the computer expert I bought this machine from left the contents of my old hard drive accessible in a separate folder. I presume Word 95 is in there, somehow, but I'm not sure. What should I look for if it's there? And if it is, where do I move it?
Bill,
The ftp link is still active! I've just retried it. Drop me an email and I'll email the file to you.
As you have Word 2003 you don;t need to get Word 95 - the import converter for WordStar hasn't been updated for years.
Make sure you follow the converter installation and use instructions on my WordStar file conversion page. You need the Word 95 instructions. http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/pages/convert_faq.htm. The symptoms you give suggest that Word is treating the file as plain text and not using the converter. You either need to go to the Tools menu, then Options..., and set the Confirm Conversions on Open; or to change the file extension of all your WordStar files to .ws5. If you do the first, when Word tries to open a non-Word file it will ask you what it is - select the ws4-ws7 option.
Your other options are programs like the DOS WS-CON. This is also listed on the same page. If you want to try this one and need instructions, let me know.
Well, I TRIED to send you an eMail.....
I've sent you the converter files. Let me know how you get on.
Regards
Mike
Mike,
I have been unable to download the converter from the ftp site. Could you please email me a copy of the file?
Thanks
Ashok Bhiman
bhiman@gmx.net
I don't know what I did right, but I seem to be able now to convert WS files to Word.
Thanks for the advice.
Ashok,
I've emailed the file to you. As I've been asked to email the file quite often recently, and need to rename it to get it past email anti-span blocks, I've decided to post a copy of it on the site. I've asked Microsoft for clearance to do this, but as you might expect, I haven't received a reply. The link is in the conversions page along with the ftp link: http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/pages/convert_faq.htm.
Bill,
Good news! Thanks for letting us know.
Cheers
Mike
QuoteBill,
Good news! Thanks for letting us know.
Cheers
Mike
I have a book in Wordstar and a new computer with Word (and XP). When the book was published, the publisher got the files converted to something they could use, but I didn't get a copy of the disks.
When I've run the converters provided by MS, the text does fine, but the footnotes are lost--and they're about 40% of the book in volume.
I have just tried to install my (registered) 6.0 Wordstar into my computer, but the #2 disk is faulty. Can I get a replacement copy of that?
Has anyone successfully converted Wordstar files with footnotes?
Thanks,
jbb
QuoteThanks. I'll give it a shot.
Please let me know the cost of this program that will convert a Wordstar file to a Microsoft Word file
Try some of the free or evaluation versions of programs listed on the Conversion FAQ page http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/pages/convert_faq.htm.
Hi jbb,
QuoteI have a book in Wordstar and a new computer with Word (and XP).
snip
I have just tried to install my (registered) 6.0 Wordstar into my computer, but the #2 disk is faulty. Can I get a replacement copy of that?
I can't help you there because I don't own WS6. Have you considered upgrading to WS7d? There is an Indian company listed on the WordStar Users Group site (see below my signature) as well as on Mike's site where you can buy that version. I mention it because I use Star Exchange, which comes with it, to do my conversions when I have to and ....
QuoteHas anyone successfully converted Wordstar files with footnotes?
Yes. I get the footnotes.
deedee