Home | Tips | Library | Other Authors | Other WP Sites | Writer's Links | Contact | Site Map
Barry MacDonnell's
Toolbox for WordPerfect

Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2012 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

 Page updated Oct 7, 2011
WordPerfect Tips
Main tips page | Browse tips | Back to the Tips & Tricks section

How familiar are you with WordPerfect?

 Are you used to using Microsoft Word?

The tips on the main Tips page and on related pages are for a wide range of people, from beginners to advanced users. You can simply skip over the more advanced ones until you are more comfortable with the program.

Please note

  • This web site is not a WordPerfect program "Help Desk," nor is it affliated with Corel, Inc.  Its purpose is to offer you some tools and tips for the program. If you have a problem with WordPerfect or need more help with its basic or advanced functions, please read this.
  • Some files provided here are in Adobe PDF format (*.pdf), which requires Adobe Reader to open them. You may already have it on your computer, but if not, click the link to download this popular (and free) software. 
  • Some files on this site are in ZIP file format (*.zip). For more on how to use these files, see here.
  • Some tips below contain -- or point to -- small downloadable macros.
    • WordPerfect 11 users: See information about using macros from any source, not just this website, in WordPerfect 11.0.0.300 (i.e., WP11, Service Pack 1) or later "builds" of WP11, here.

More

If you are using a WordPerfect program that was set up with Microsoft Word compatible menus, toolbars, and/or keyboards you might find some program tips or advice puzzling if they refer to menu selections, toolbar buttons, or keyboard shortcuts that are absent from these three features. The features have not actually been removed from the program; they are merely hidden from view (probably on the theory that they might confuse long-time Microsoft Word users who are new to WordPerfect).

  • The menu options discussed on other pages on this site are always available on a WordPerfect menu. If you don't see them, right-click on the top menu bar (the "main" horizontal menu) and choose a <WordPerfect> menu from the pop up list.
  • Later versions of WordPerfect (version 12+) have a Workspace Manager (see Footnote 1) on the Tools menu that allows users to quickly set up WordPerfect to simulate a MSWord environment (it does not actually run MSWord, and in any case it was designed to be used temporarily). Unfortunately, this feature hides many standard WordPerfect functions and, in the case of keyboards, it hides many useful keyboard shortcut assignments. However, the Workspace Manager lets you quickly flip back and forth between various WordPerfect and MSWord environments to help Word users adjust to WordPerfect. [See WordPerfect's Help (F1) feature, Search tab, and search for "Simulating the Microsoft Word workspace".]
  • Later versions of WordPerfect have help available for MSWord users who are using WordPerfect: Click Help, Microsoft Word Help.

Need help with basic program features?

Need a User Guide? Reference book? Upgrade?

Consider getting a good book on WordPerfect, such as those on various Internet sites. Such books usually pay for themselves many times over by decreasing frustration and increasing productivity. You'll get "up to speed" much more quickly when you have a general overview and reference handy.

[Microsoft Word users might want to read a short summary of the basic differences between Word and WordPerfect here. This small bit of information can save you a lot of time. The two programs are not mere clones of each other, so understanding the main differences between them will keep you from trying to do things the "wrong" way.]

More
  • Retail (boxed) versions of WordPerfect come with User Guides
    • WordPerfect X5 has a new Reference Center (Help, Reference Center, WordPerfect section) that can display a PDF User Guide as well as tutorials, help topics, etc. (Much of the help in WPX5 has been updated.)
    • WP12 - WPX4 users can also access Guides in PDF format from the Windows Start, All Programs, WordPerfect Office menu, but if yours does not have one you might be able to purchase one from Corel. See the Corel Support Database Answer ID 754347 for Customer Service telephone numbers.
  • Here are some tutorials and tips on the Corel site:
    WordPerfect Office Tutorials     | WordPerfect Office Tips & Tricks | WordPerfect Expert Newsletters
  • Third-party books on WordPerfect can be found on many online bookseller sites.

Searching for something in particular?

Just browsing?

Footnote 1 - The Workspace Manager

See also Are you used to using Microsoft Word? above.

[The following is from "000003692 - What is the WordPerfect® workspace manager?" at www.corel.com, Support Database.]

With the advent of WordPerfect® 12, Corel has included a new workspace manager which allows the application to switch between common environments. This is useful for users who are not familiar with WordPerfect or prefer to use a working environment from an older version.

The workspace manager includes environments for Microsoft Word, WordPerfect v5.1 and WordPerfect legal mode. It's important to know that WordPerfect does not actually run these applications (e.g. Microsoft Word ) but rather simulates them by re-arranging existing Menu, toolbars and shortcut keys to look similar.

WordPerfect Office mode - displays the default WordPerfect workspace.

Microsoft Word mode - simulates the Microsoft Word workspace by positioning the WordPerfect features, including toolbars, keyboards, and menu items, where you would find the equivalent features in Microsoft Word.

WordPerfect Legal mode - exposes the WordPerfect legal features, such as tools that let you create specialized legal documents such as cases and pleadings.

WordPerfect Classic mode - lets you work in the familiar visual environment of Corel WordPerfect 5.1 and use its keystrokes.

Limitations

With the exception of the WordPerfect workspace, Microsoft Word, WordPerfect 5.1 and WordPerfect legal mode workspaces cannot be modified and are hard coded into the application. While it may appear that a toolbar within Microsoft Word mode can be modified its settings will revert to factory defaults as soon as the application is restarted.

TIP To access the Workspace Manager, go up to the Tools menu and select 'Workspace Manager'

[755826]

 [Back to the Tips & Tricks section]