How Does Word 7 Stack Up Against WordPerfect 7?

WP vs Word

Compare for yourself and decide which product is for you

by Laura Acklen

Editor's Note: WordPerfect 7 and Word for Windows 95 (version 7) and their successors are both feature-rich, top-quality word processors. The information presented here is as accurate as the author could determine after a thorough review of both products. The opinions expressed here are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Corel Corporation or Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Word is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation; WordPerfect is a registered trademark of Corel Corporation; and all other product names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies. The information in this article is presented as-is and IVY International Communications, Inc. (publishers of WordPerfect Suite Magazine) makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, as to the information's suitability for use in your computing environment.

The Real Costs of Conversion

Often, corporate decision-makers would rather switch to a "free software" package included with the hardware they're buying than upgrade to the latest version of WordPerfect. Corel software is bundled with some hardware systems, but Microsoft is more common since hardware retailers need to bundle Microsoft operating systems with the systems they sell, anyway. Panic strikes the hearts of loyal WordPerfect users when the dictum comes down from the corporate level: switch to MS Word.

Of course, the "free software" isn't truly free. Microsoft wouldn't give their software away--they didn't get so close to monopolizing the operating systems market by being stupid. The cost of the product is factored into the cost of the new system you must purchase to obtain the software.

Then there are the costs of retraining and lost productivity. The new software may perform differently than you're used to, and it may not be able to do some familiar tasks at all without complex work-arounds. You don't have time for that when you're turning out documents six to eight hours a day. When you look at these hidden costs, the upgrade to the newest version of WordPerfect is cheap compared to the switch to a "free" software package.

What should users do when management wants to switch office software? We believe corporate decision-makers simply need to take a look at the real facts. The discussion and tables that follow should speak for themselves in showing the difference between Corel WordPerfect and Microsoft Word.

The Conceptual Differences: Ease-of-Use and Customizability

The conceptual differences between WordPerfect 7 and Word 7 are not only significant, but important. They are the differences between a product that features tremendous power, ease-of-use and customizability, and a product that touts power and ease-of-use but that requires you to conform your work habits to the narrow parameters of the software.

Here are some examples of areas where WordPerfect and Word differ in their fundamental concepts:

Document control. WordPerfect pioneered and still champions the concept of giving users the maximum amount of control over their documents and their working environment. For example, when using Reveal Codes, you can effectively troubleshoot document formatting, then quickly correct problems as they arise. Double-clicking a code in the Reveal Codes window automatically opens the corresponding dialog box, where you can make necessary adjustments. On the other hand, the Reveal Format feature in Word gives you information about the formatting currently in place, but gives you no provision for modifying it. You must locate the one or more dialog boxes that are necessary for you to make your changes.

Customizability. Virtually every aspect of the WordPerfect program can be customized, so you aren't forced into altering your work habits to accommodate the program. This level of flexibility makes it possible to create documents with unique design requirements. Conversely, Word offers very little in the way of customization, the expectation being that you will conform your work habits to fit the software.

A lower learning curve. Some people maintain that Word is an easier program to learn, which is kind of like claiming that Greek is easier to learn than Russian. What is intuitive and easy to learn for one person is not necessarily the same for another. Of course, none of this is relevant unless the "learners" have no background with any word processing software program. It's pretty safe to assume that people familiar with WordPerfect will find new versions of the program easier to learn than any version of Word, and vice versa.

Information for Your Conversion Standoff

The fact that you're reading this article is probably a strong indication that you're already a diehard WordPerfect user. You're probably hoping to find some "ammunition," as some of our readers have called it, to help you mount a standoff against your company's plans to convert to Word. Well, I'm here to give you that information. Not as an attack on a competing software program, but as an honest assessment of WordPerfect's and Word's depth of features, ease-of-use and accessibility.

In an effort to pack as much as I can into a limited amount of space, I'm presenting this information in table format.

Note: If you need information on WordPerfect Suite 8 vs Microsoft Office 97, please see the "New Features" section at the end of this article. You can also contact Corel Corporation for their assessment or search the Web for more third-party comparisons.

How Does Word 7 Stack Up Against WordPerfect 7?

EDITING

Feature WordPerfect 7 Word 7

Reveal Codes/Reveal Format Reveal Codes gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the formatting in a document. Double-clicking a code opens the corresponding dialog box, where you can make your changes. Reveal Format displays a partial list of character and paragraph formatting information that cannot be edited.

Levels of Undo WP has 300. Word has 100.

Undelete Undelete lets you restore the last three deletions. Word has no comparable feature.

Format changes More often than not, you just position the insertion point where you want the change to take place. You must always select text before changing the format.

Relative tab adjustment WP's relative tabs automatically adjust when you change the left and right margins. Word's don't.

Default font point size WP's is 12. Word's is 10.

Expanding Abbreviations You can expand all abbreviations at once. Word has no comparable feature.

QuickMark QuickMark can be set automatically when a document is saved, marking the place where you were editing. When the document is reopened, a single keystroke takes you to the QuickMark. You cannot expand all abbreviations at once.

Shadow Cursor The Shadow Cursor shows you where the insertion point will be if you click in the document window. Word has no comparable feature.

Clipboard pasting You can append text to the Clipboard. The Spike feature copies the selected text into an AutoText entry for re-use.

Tiling documents You can tile document windows side-by-side (vertically) or one above another (horizontally). Word can tile only horizontally.

Customizable Status Bar The Status Bar is customizable. The Status bar is not customizable.

FORMATTING PARAGRAPHS

Feature WordPerfect 7 Word 7

Automatic numbers Automatic numbers can be embedded in the text so there can be any amount of text in front of the number. You can specify text to precede an automatic number, but that same text precedes every number.

Expanding and compressing text Full justification expands and compresses text. Full justification expands, but doesn't compress, text.

All justification All justification lets you stretch a short heading between margins. Word has no comparable feature.

Justification without tabs or tables A single line of text can have left-justified, centered and right-aligned text without the use of tabs or tables. In Word, it can't.

Page/paragraph borders and fills WP has 28 borders and 30 fills (predefined), and allows you to create your own. Word has 11 borders and 26 fills.

QuickSpots QuickSpots put formatting tools for text, graphics, tables, and so forth, only a mouse click away. Word has no comparable feature.

QuickFormat QuickFormat can link paragraphs together so that if you change the format of one paragraph, the rest of the linked paragraphs are automatically updated. Word has no comparable feature.

FORMATTING PAGES
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Page subdivision	WP permits you to subdivide a page.	Word has no comparable feature.
Fit document	Make-It-Fit can shrink or expand a document to fit the specified number of pages. Also, in WP, you can choose which document attributes are modified to shrink or expand the document.	Shrink-to-Fit can only shrink a document by one page.
Headers and footers	WP allows two headers and two footers on a page.	Word allows one header and one footer on the first page or for each section.
Page setting suppression	You can suppress page settings for a single page.	Word has no comparable feature.
Delay Codes	Delay Codes lets you delay the action of a code(s) for a specified number of pages.	Word has no comparable feature.
Automatic chapter/volume numbering	WP has automatic chapter and volume numbering.	Word has no comparable feature.

PRINTING
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Booklet printing	WP permits booklet printing.	Word has no comparable feature.
Paper tray capacity	When printing, WP permits the print job to pull paper from a different paper tray on every page.	Word allows the print job to use just one paper tray for the first page and one other tray for subsequent pages.
Naming settings	WP lets you name settings.	Word does not.
Printer status/history	WP lets you see printer status and history.	You can't do this from inside Word.

TABLES
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Column number	WP has 64 maximum columns.	Word has 31 maximum columns.
Row/column indicators	WP shows row and column indicators.	Word has no comparable feature.
Cell references	WP shows cell references.	Word has no comparable feature.
Name ranges, auto calculation, and auto data fill	Tables permit named ranges, automatic calculation and automatic data fill.	Word's Tables do not.
Number formats	WP has 10 number formats, which can be applied to numeric data or formulas	Word has 7 number formats, which can only be applied to formulas.
Number formats	WP permits you to customize number formats.	Word has no comparable feature.
Number of built-in formulas	WP has 98.	Word has 18.
Joining/splitting cells	WP can join/split cells horizontally and vertically.	Word can only join/split cells vertically.
Predefined table borders/fills	WP has 28 borders and 30 fills. Plus, you can create your own	Word has 11 borders and 26 fills.
Cross-table formulas	Table formulas can function across tables	In Word, they can't.
Style updating	Table styles update as the table is resized.	In Word, they don't.
Justification and text fit	WP Tables with the position set to Full will automatically resize if the left and right margins are changed, but they won't exceed them.	Word tables can exceed the page borders.
Adding rows	In WP, you can add any number of rows to a table, either before or after the insertion point.	You can't do this in Word.
Text rotation	In WP you can rotate text in a table cell to create column headings	You can't do this in Word.
Vertical text alignment	Tables permit three vertical alignment options: top, bottom, and center.	Word's Tables feature doesn't allow these options.
Decimal align	WP permits decimal alignment without setting tabs.	Word doesn't.

MERGE/SORT
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Data and form files	WP permits more than one data and/or form file during a merge.	Word has no comparable feature.
Envelopes with letters	WP lets you automatically create envelopes with letters.	Word has no comparable feature.
Adding table rows	WP lets you automatically add table rows during a merge.	Word has no comparable feature.
POSTNET Bar Code	The Bar Code feature places a POSTNET Bar Code on merged envelopes.	Word has no comparable feature.
Number of copies	WP lets you specify the number of copies to merge.	Word has no comparable feature.
Sort levels	WP has nine levels of sort.	Word has three levels of sort.
Sort Definitions	You can define a sort within a field.	In Word, you can't.

FONTS/SPECIAL CHARACTERS
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Number of fonts	WP ships with 150-1000 fonts (depending on the package you buy).	Word ships with 15 fonts.
QuickFonts	WP has a QuickFonts display from the Font drop-down list in the main document window, showing you how a font looks before you select it for your document.	Word has no comparable feature.
Font sizing	In WP, you can size fonts in increments of .10 point.	In Word, you can only size fonts in increments of .50.
Font attributes	WP permits outline, shadow, and redline font attributes.	Word doesn't have these options available.
Special characters	WP includes about 1500 special characters, including entire foreign language character sets.	Word includes about 150 special characters.

GRAPHICS
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Text contouring	WP allows you to contour text around an image.	Word has no comparable feature.
Moving graphics	WP lets you move a graphic without inserting a frame.	Word has no comparable feature.
Box styles	WP includes styles for box appearance, position and so forth.	Word has no comparable feature.
Caption placement	WP permits captions on any side of a graphics image.	Word only allows captions on the top or bottom of the image.
Image rotation	WP lets you rotate an image by any degree.	In Word, you can only rotate an image in 90 degree increments.
Brightness and contrast control	WP features brightness and contrast controls.	Word has no comparable feature.
Predefined box borders and fills	WP has 28 box borders and 30 fills (pre-defined). You can also create your own.	Word has 11 box borders and 26 fills.
Text rotation	In WP, you can rotate text in boxes.	You can't do this in Word.
Predefined graphics lines.	In WP, you get predefined horizontal and vertical graphics lines. You can also create custom lines.	In Word, you must create your own graphics lines with the drawing tools.

STYLES
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Open styles	WP offers open styles that affect all text following or contained within the style.	Word has no comparable feature.
Graphics in styles	WP styles can contain text and graphics.	Word has no comparable feature.
Updating styles	WP lets you update styles with a single mouse click.	Word won't let you do this.

COLUMNS
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Balanced newspaper columns	WP permits balanced newspaper columns anywhere in a document.	Word permits balanced newspaper columns only at the end of a section.
Parallel columns	WP has parallel columns.	Word has no comparable feature.
Maximum number of columns	The maximum number of columns is 24.	The maximum number of columns is 12.
Predefined column borders and fills	WP has 28 box borders and 30 fills (pre-defined). You can also create your own.	Same as with pages, paragraphs, and Tables, Word has 11 borders and 26 fills.
Drag-to-format guides	WP provides drag-to-format column guidelines.	Word has no comparable feature.

DESKTOP PUBLISHING/TYPESETTING
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Word and letter spacing	WP permits word and letter spacing.	Word has only letter spacing.
Electronic publishing	WP features built-in support for electronic publishing.	Word has no comparable feature.
Hypertext linking	In WP, you can have hypertext linking to other sections of the current document, other documents (even if saved on other file servers), Internet, and Intranet addresses, and so on.	Word's hypertext features are less versatile.
Advance function	WP's Advance function is powerful.	Word has limited functionality through the Advance field.
Drop Cap capabilities	WP permits more than one character in a Drop Cap.	Word's Drop Caps allow only one character.

LONG DOCUMENTS
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Marking text	In WP, you can mark any text, anywhere in a document, for a table of contents.	In Word, you have to use styles to mark certain text in a document.
Footnote style changes	Changes to footnote style can be made without affecting every footnote in the document.	Word doesn't have that option.
Expanding and condensing sub-documents	WP lets you expand and condense sub-documents individually.	Word has no comparable feature.
User-defined lists	WP permits user-defined lists.	Word doesn't.
Table, index and list generation	WP will generate all tables, indices and lists in one pass.	Word can't do this

WRITING TOOLS
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Spell Checker/Thesaurus/Grammar Checker	WP has a combined Spell Checker/Thesaurus/Grammar Checker.	Word's writing tools are more difficult to access and manage.
Editable dictionary	WP's main dictionary is editable.	Word's main dictionary is not editable.
Document-specific dictionaries	WP lets you have document-specific dictionaries.	Word does not.
Customizing replacement terms	WP lets you customize replacement terms.	Word won't let you do this.
Checking within dialog boxes	WP lets you check any text with the writing tools, even within dialog box fields.	Word has no comparable feature.
Thesaurus	The Thesaurus uses different word forms.	Word's Thesaurus is less flexible.
Hyphenation	WP permits you to hyphenate words according to dictionary rules.	Word doesn't.
Grammar check writing styles	WP has 10 grammar check writing styles.	Word has 3 grammar check writing styles.
Automatic sentence rewrite (PerfectSense)	WP has automatic sentence rewrite with PerfectSense technology.	Word has no comparable feature.
Parts of speech	WP writing tools feature parts of speech and parse tree.	Word's writing tools don't have these features

FILE MANAGEMENT
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Dialog box settings	WP lets you customize dialog box settings.	Word doesn't.
File sort fields	WP has customizable file sort fields.	You won't find that in Word.
File actions	File actions (copy to folder, move to folder) are available inside WP.	Word has no comparable feature.
Preview	WP lets you choose from Preview to view only the document content without any formatting, or document content with formatting included. You can also opt to "tear off" the Preview window into its own window, so that there's more space for the content.	You don't have these choices in Word.
Copying text in Preview	WP lets you select and copy text in the Preview window.	Word can't do that.
Tree View	WP permits Tree View.	Word does not.
Document summary fields	WP has 51 predefined document summary fields.	Word has 27 predefined document summary fields.
File indexing	WP supports file indexing for faster searching.	Word features no file indexing support.
Full text search/retrieval	WP has a more powerful full text search and retrieval system (QuickFinder).	Word has no comparable feature.

WORKGROUP/COLLABORATION
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Date and time stamps	WP Comments are date and time stamped.	Word's are not.
Comment indicator	WP shows a Comment indicator in the document.	Word doesn't.
User name and initials	WP Comments include user name and initials.	Word Comments include the user's initials only.
Document distribution	In WP, you can distribute documents via Novell GroupWise 4.1 and WordPerfect Office 3.x/4.x.	Word doesn't have a tightly integrated distribution system like this.
Envoy format	WP documents can be distributed electronically in Envoy format so they can be viewed with formatting intact (without using WordPerfect).	Word has no comparable feature.

INTERNET
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Internet publishing	WP provides built-in Internet publishing.	Word has limited Internet publishing functionality through another application, Microsoft's Internet Assistant.
Web page elements	You can add the following elements to web pages with WordPerfect: background/text color, blinking text, bulleted lists, tables, hypertext links, sound clips, image maps, graphics, horizontal lines and more.	Word has no comparable feature.
Corel Barista/Java display	You can use WP with Corel Barista to publish rich documents for display in a Java window.	Word has no comparable feature.
Internet links	A single click in a document loads the Web browser program and takes you to that location on the Internet.	Word's Internet integration isn't close.
WYSIWYG Web display	WP features WYSIWYG Web display.	Word has no comparable feature.
WYSIWYG editing	WP permits WYSIWYG editing of HTML pages.	Word has no comparable feature.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Language dictionaries	WP has 36 language dictionaries available.	Word has 18 language dictionaries available.
Language versions	WP has 26 different language versions available.	Word has 8 language versions available.
Find and replace	WP lets you find and replace multiple language word forms.	Word has no comparable feature.
International characters	WP supports 2366 international language characters.	Word's support is not as extensive.

HELP
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
QuickTasks	WP features comprehensive QuickTasks.	Word's Wizards are less powerful.
Step-by-step demo guides	WP features How Do I/Guide Me Through It demos.	Word has no comparable feature.
Reference center	WP has a reference center for on-line documentation.	Word has no comparable feature.
Upgraded help	WP has upgraded help for six word processing programs (including Word).	Word provides help for WordPerfect users only.
PerfectExpert	Corel's PerfectExpert can answer questions that you type in your own words.	Word has no comparable feature.

You Should Also Know ...

WP 7 was the first complete 32-bit word processing program available for Windows 95.
Corel has unequaled cross-platform support, and continues to support the Windows 3.1 user base with the release of Corel WordPerfect Suite 7 for Windows 3.1. This is especially useful for installations that are moving gradually to Windows 95.
Corel continues to update versions for other platforms as well, including Apple System 7, VMS, UNIX and others.
WP fully supports major open standards such as SGML (with an integrated SGML editing system), HTML, Java, LDAP, POP3, MIME, HTTP and CGI.
There's no magazine for Microsoft products that's comparable to the one you're holding. If our kind of information is important to you, consider that carefully before making any change.

In Conclusion

As you can see, whether you need all of WP's muscle or just some of it, WordPerfect gives you unequaled flexibility and control over your documents, with a minimum of frustration. It also lets you make the software work that way you do. If you spend the better part of your day "in the trenches," generating documents of every shape and size, WordPerfect is your "perfect" partner.

NEW FEATURES

New Features in WordPerfect 8

Context-sensitive Property Bars. Over 20 different Property Bars that appear when you select a particular object (in other words table, graphic, paragraph).
Standardized menus across suite applications.
The new Application Bar lets you switch between documents and drag and drop information between documents. You can customize the Application Bar by adding, moving and deleting items.
The Shadow Cursor changes to show you if the text you are about to type will be left-justified, centered, or right-justified.
The PerfectExpert combines the best of WP 7's QuickTasks, templates, Help and Coaches to guide you through the completion of a task. The PerfectExpert provides immediate help with a task-oriented approach and the level of flexibility you expect from Corel.
You can now add HTML form fields to make gathering information easier. You can also add Java applets to your web page.
WP's QuickLinks allow you to type key words and phrases in plain English. WP then creates the hyperlink to any standard Web or Internet address.
Corel's Version Control tracks document versions and revisions.
You can now draw graphic objects directly on top of text, a clip art image or a chart. You can group graphic objects and set the order. Create lines and shapes with arrowheads, polygons, circles, and more. Add color, gradient fills, and patterns.
QuickFormat for Tables allows you to copy formatting from cell to cell.
Grammar-As-You-Go checks your document for grammatical errors as you type.
Create and edit SGML documents, mark up text, validate tags and improve how SGML documents are printed.

New Features in Word 97

Let's be fair. Word is getting better, too. It has many improved new features. But if you look closely, you'll find out that a good deal of those improved features are old news in WP 7.

AutoComplete offers to finish the rest of a word or phrase (in other words the current date, day of the week, your name, your company name, and so forth).
AutoSummarize summarizes key points in a document.
Style improvements include automatically creating a style when you apply new formatting to text; the ability to re-define styles to reflect recently applied changes; and a preview of each style from the Style list on the Formatting Toolbar.
The Office Assistant uses natural-language technology to answer questions that you type in your own words. By anticipating where you'll need help, Office Assistant appears with suggested help topics based on what you are working on.
Improvements to editing and proofing tools include: check grammar as you type; smart spelling; natural-language grammar checker; integrated spelling/grammar check; and alternative word forms to choose from when making replacements.
Word has new table tools, including Draw Table tool, Eraser tool, vertical alignment, and an in-table row re-sizer.
Word also has new border and shading tools, including more than 150 border styles; customizable page borders with over 160 art styles; text borders around words or characters; and text shading behind words or characters.
Word has new and improved drawing tools: Office Art (autoshapes, fill effects, 3-D effects); added flexibility to picture manipulation; text boxes and linked text boxes; and contour wrap.
With the new version of Word, you can create hyperlinks to any Office, HTML, or other file on an internal or external Web site, or any file server.
Internet web pages created with Word can include the following: forms, hyperlinks, bulleted lists, background color, clip art, horizontal lines, and tables.
In its collaboration tools, Word now offers versioning, the capability of merging changes and comments into a single document, comments and screen tips, and a new Reviewing toolbar.

To WordPerfect vs Word Centre

EDITING
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Reveal Codes/Reveal Format	Reveal Codes gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the formatting in a document. Double-clicking a code opens the corresponding dialog box, where you can make your changes.	Reveal Format displays a partial list of character and paragraph formatting information that cannot be edited.
Levels of Undo	WP has 300.	Word has 100.
Undelete	Undelete lets you restore the last three deletions.	Word has no comparable feature.
Format changes	More often than not, you just position the insertion point where you want the change to take place.	You must always select text before changing the format.
Relative tab adjustment	WP's relative tabs automatically adjust when you change the left and right margins.	Word's don't.
Default font point size	WP's is 12.	Word's is 10.
Expanding Abbreviations	You can expand all abbreviations at once.	Word has no comparable feature.
QuickMark	QuickMark can be set automatically when a document is saved, marking the place where you were editing. When the document is reopened, a single keystroke takes you to the QuickMark.	You cannot expand all abbreviations at once.
Shadow Cursor	The Shadow Cursor shows you where the insertion point will be if you click in the document window.	Word has no comparable feature.
Clipboard pasting	You can append text to the Clipboard.	The Spike feature copies the selected text into an AutoText entry for re-use.
Tiling documents	You can tile document windows side-by-side (vertically) or one above another (horizontally).	Word can tile only horizontally.
Customizable Status Bar	The Status Bar is customizable.	The Status bar is not customizable.

FORMATTING PARAGRAPHS
Feature	WordPerfect 7	Word 7
Automatic numbers	Automatic numbers can be embedded in the text so there can be any amount of text in front of the number.	You can specify text to precede an automatic number, but that same text precedes every number.
Expanding and compressing text	Full justification expands and compresses text.	Full justification expands, but doesn't compress, text.
All justification	All justification lets you stretch a short heading between margins.	Word has no comparable feature.
Justification without tabs or tables	A single line of text can have left-justified, centered and right-aligned text without the use of tabs or tables.	In Word, it can't.
Page/paragraph borders and fills	WP has 28 borders and 30 fills (predefined), and allows you to create your own.	Word has 11 borders and 26 fills.
QuickSpots	QuickSpots put formatting tools for text, graphics, tables, and so forth, only a mouse click away.	Word has no comparable feature.
QuickFormat	QuickFormat can link paragraphs together so that if you change the format of one paragraph, the rest of the linked paragraphs are automatically updated.	Word has no comparable feature.