MacLink Minus

[Charles Dyer]

On 19 Jul 2007, at 04:11:46, Andrew Brown wrote:

> A long shot this -- I have a complex Windows WordPerfect 5.1 file,  
> which the appalling MacLink (14) converts by substituting _ for  
> anything unusual. I downloaded WordPerfect 3.5e but that can't even  
> see the WP file, let alone open it. Are there any other avenues to  
> explore before we start to correct everything manually?

Errm...

1 I've never used v14 of MacLink, but certainly v12 and earlier did  
translate WP files, including WP 5.1, without complaint. I just used  
that version to translate a bunch of assorted WP files. Worked fine.

2 WP 3.5e is sensitive to file extensions. It'll read WP 5.x files...  
if it recognises them. A .WP5 extension is usually best.

3 some WP 5.x features are not supported with WP 3.5e. There is a  
folder called 'ReadMes' which is installed in the WP 3.5e folder  
automatically. One file in there is named 'About Conversions'. I'd  
have a look at the WordPerfect 5.0-5.2 Import section of that file.

4 warning: the WP 5.x _export_ feature in WP 3.5e is broken. Some  
files, especially files which have graphics embedded, don't translate  
well if at all. Export as WP 4.x or 6 or later. In most cases the  
file will be translated. Graphics may be stripped during the conversion.

5 WP 3.5e is over a decade old. It will never be updated. Corel did a  
truly magnificent job of trashing the reputation of WP on Macs, to  
the extent that they couldn't give WP away. Literally.