Publishing Layout View and Windows PCs

[Downunderdad]

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

Hello Forum,

Word 2007 appears to be the latest version of Word for PCs.

It does not appear to have Word 2008 for Mac's Publishing Layout View.

When will this Word feature be included for the Word for Windows?

As I work in a mixed computer situation, using Publishing Layout is moot until it becomes available for both Mac and Windows platforms.

Cheers
Barrie

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Barrie:

Never.

Microsoft makes a separate Page Layout program for the PC: Microsoft
Publisher. I suspect Steve wants you to buy it

Cheers

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

Hello Forum,

Word 2007 appears to be the latest version of Word for PCs.

It does not appear to have Word 2008 for Mac's Publishing Layout View.

When will this Word feature be included for the Word for Windows?

As I work in a mixed computer situation, using Publishing Layout is moot until
it becomes available for both Mac and Windows platforms.

Cheers
Barrie

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Barrie -

You're right that Word 2007 doesn't support Publishing Layout view, but that
only means exactly that. Word 2008 docs created in Pub Layout can still be
opened & edited with 2007 & 2007 files can be opened in 2008 & converted to
Pub Layout. I haven't pursued it extensively, but it seems to be
surprisingly reliable. You don't stipulate any specific issues so I don't
have any idea what more to offer, but if you've just made the assumption
that you can't work back & forth I'd suggest you give it a try.

Should you encounter any difficulties post with complete details & someone
will try to help you through it.

If you want to actually suggest anything to MS, however, this isn't the
place to do it. This is a user-to-user support news group. If you want to
request anything pertaining to changes in Mac Office software go to that
program's Help> Send Feedback feature & submit it there. You'll also find a
Contact Us link in Office 2007 apps if you go to Office Button>
[ProgramName] Options> Resources. Those routes log the comments in the data
bank which MS does review for meaningful user suggestions & requests.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Downunderdad]

John and Bob, thanks for your replies.

Bob, you say that files from Word 2008 Pub Layout can be viewed in Word 2007, is that on a Mac or PC or both?

When the file is viewed in Word 2007 what view is it seen in, because if it can't be viewed in the same way that it appears in Pub Layout 2008 then editing it in '07 and sending it back to Pub Layout in '08 may not be work, even though the file can be converted to '08 Pub Layout.

This constant converting to and fro could end up being rather frustrating particularly if it leads to errors.

InDesign is my layout tool of choice and MS Publisher and Pub Layout in Word '08 are a long way from matching its capabilities.

The Publishing Layout option needs to be as near identical as possible on both Mac and Windows platforms for it to attract me as a purchaser, I guess I'll stick to Word 2004 until that happens.

Incidentally, using Word as publishing platform is a pain in the backside, but the client requires it so what can one do.

Cheers from down under, (Australia)
Barrie

 

[CyberTaz]

John and Bob, thanks for your replies.

Bob, you say that files from Word 2008 Pub Layout can be viewed in Word 2007,
is that on a Mac or PC or both?

Well, Word 2008 is Mac, Word 2007 is PC.

When the file is viewed in Word 2007 what view is it seen in, because if it
can't be viewed in the same way that it appears in Pub Layout 2008 then
editing it in '07 and sending it back to Pub Layout in '08 may not be work,
even though the file can be converted to '08 Pub Layout.

The Pub Layout doc created in 2008 opens in 2007's Print Layout view

This constant converting to and fro could end up being rather frustrating
particularly if it leads to errors.

There's no "conversion" involved. Both versions of Word use the same .docx
file format. The only real difference is that the doc created in Pub Layout
exclusively comprises text boxes & graphic objects unlike the typical
paragraph text flow you'd normally expect to find in a Word doc.

InDesign is my layout tool of choice and MS Publisher and Pub Layout in Word
'08 are a long way from matching its capabilities.

No doubt about it... Rarely does a $129 program (Publisher) or a "feature"
of one app in a $400 suite ( Office:Mac 2008 Standard Edition) match the
capabilities of a $700 professional app dedicated to the purpose

The Publishing Layout option needs to be as near identical as possible on both
Mac and Windows platforms for it to attract me as a purchaser, I guess I'll
stick to Word 2004 until that happens.

I don't see how that is a solution if the PC Word version involved is 2007.
The native format of 2004 is .doc & the native format of 2007 is .docx, so
2007 would be relegated to working in Compatibility Mode - which means that
most of the enhanced features would be unusable. Otherwise there *would* be
constant conversion involved & restrictions/conflicts introduced each time.
For one thing Word 2007/2008 employ a new & different graphics engine than
prior versions (either platform), so you either can't use them in 2007 or
what you do gets "downgraded" when back-saved to .doc or converted for
opening in Word 2004.

The only way to attain absolute parity would be to run the PC version on the
Macs using Parallels, Fusion, CrossOver or Boot Camp.

Incidentally, using Word as publishing platform is a pain in the backside, but
the client requires it so what can one do.

Only two options: Stand on professional principal or bend over & smile
We've all been down the same path on more than one occasion.

Cheers from down under, (Australia)
Barrie

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[CyberTaz]

Hey John - Guess What: Publisher 2007 imports the Pub Layout .docx to a
*fairly* intact, usable state. Just at a glance I certainly wouldn't suggest
it as a viable option, but it's something worth further investigation for
further reference. Of course the import did take about 5 minutes for a 6
page newsletter based on one of the Project Gallery templates.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Downunderdad]

Well Bob, that pretty much says it all, your expert opinion is much appreciated.

Bit of bending over going on down under - groan.

Cheers
Barrie

 

[CyberTaz]

Not an expert on anything at all - have just had an opportunity/misfortune
to learn a bit from those who are:-

Keep Smilin'

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Bob:

{Sob} I am not sure what is the least savoury option: waiting five minutes
to get a mangled six-page document, or spending to buy the very horrid
Publisher

Actually, someone told me the other day that Publisher has improved a lot in
the ten years I have been refusing to use it

Cheers

Hey John - Guess What: Publisher 2007 imports the Pub Layout .docx to a
*fairly* intact, usable state. Just at a glance I certainly wouldn't suggest
it as a viable option, but it's something worth further investigation for
further reference. Of course the import did take about 5 minutes for a 6
page newsletter based on one of the Project Gallery templates.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

Aw, Pub ain't that bad. It's certainly no InDesign or even PageMaker 4 but
the more recent versions do provide easy ways to do some nice stuff. One of
the major areas of improvement has been commercial printing features. For
newsletters & other short pieces that don't have to be absolute high-end it
gets the job done rather well.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac