Word Pad

Hi

Can SKS tell me if it is possible to change the default font and size in Word Pad? I use it as a generic program since I'm a died in the wool Word Perfect fan and thus do not use Word.

Unfortunately, too few users can handle a WP file even with Word's conversion [although WP seems to be making a comback]. Conversely, WP does a lousy job of converting Rich Text files when special formatting is involved.

Also, how does one set the default margins in Word Pad?

Are there any good alternative freeware programs similiar to Word Pad and that can be readily read by either Word or Word Perfect users?

Thank you.

 

PeteC

I think you're probably right. My preference is Arial but Word Pad defaults to new Times Roman.

Yes, I can change it but I use it so much, it's just a real pain and if I forget, then it's highlight, change font, OK.

As for the Tabs, I constantly forget and to print from Word Pad or to copy and paste contents to a normal 1" margins document, messes up all the lines.

The version of my Word Pad is 5.00.1691.1.

I am using Ver 8 of WP but I've always suspected I'd have to move to a newer version if I had XP... newer versions of many software packages and hardware too.

I think 98 SE will take me the rest of the way.

Thanks for replying.

 

Open Office is a free Office Suite similar to MS Office. It will open MS Office files. I am not sure about Wordperfect.

http://www.openoffice.org/

 

Thanks Sunny. I'll have a look at it.

 

I use Wordpad alot on my Win95 machine so I got curious and did a groups.google search on Wordpad default font MVP and found a post with a link to this workaround :
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,52364,pg,3,00.asp
==========copy/paste============

Start WordPad, and if you have any boilerplate information, such as a logo or a letterhead graphic, type or paste that into a new document. Move the cursor to where you want to start typing your text, and type a space. Select the space you just typed, and apply the desired typeface, size, alignment, and other settings (see Figure 3).

Now choose File, Save As, select a location that is unlikely to be moved or deleted, and give the file a name such as Template. Click Save. Now choose File, Save As again, but this time right-click the file you just saved in the dialog box, and select Properties. Check the Read-only box and click OK. This will protect the file from accidental changes. Click Cancel in the Save As dialog box.

Right-click the Start button and choose Open. Navigate to the shortcut that you use to launch WordPad, right-click it, and choose Properties. Select the Shortcut tab, click the Target box, and press End to make sure the cursor is at the end of the command line. Type a space, followed by the path to your template file. If the path contains any spaces or long file names, enclose the entire path in quotation marks. If the program (Wordpad.exe) is already enclosed in quotation marks, you'll end up with two sets of quotation marks. For example, your final Target command line might read "C:\Program Files\Accessories\wordpad.exe" "C:\My Documents\Template.doc" (your path may differ). Then click OK.

The next time you launch WordPad, it should open your template with the font you prefer. Because you made the file read-only, you won't have to worry about overwriting the template. If you choose File, Save instead of File, Save As, WordPad will still open the Save As dialog box, prompting you to save the file with a new file name each time you start a new document. You can extend this tip to create multiple WordPad shortcuts, each opening a template for a different purpose.

 

Why thank you Alice for all of your trouble. I use Google all the time but I've not turned up what you found.

I've saved your reply and will give this a whirl. Once I've experimented I'll let you know how I make out.

 

Your welcome

 

As a side note, I have also had problems using Word to import WP files. I have had better luck translating WP to Word by using WP's "save as" command. I suspect Corel is more concerned about compatibility than Microsoft.

 

I'm overwhelmed by the level of support. I have tried and tried and tried the `template' suggestion that comes from PC World via Alice but to no avail.

I have set the margins to where I want and the font styple and size `one space in', I've set Properties to `read only' and modified the `path' such that Word Pad's desktop icon will open the template.

Everything works BUT the type face. It keeps reverting to the Windows default or Times New Roman. I want it to open as Arial.

Any suggestions? I sure can't figure out what I'm doing wrong unless the suggestion is not for Win98SE OS.

I forgot to respond early to the one who asked what is `SKS'. Sorry but it simply means `Some Kind Soul'.

FLASH !!!

Ah, correction: I solved it. The instructions are wrong. One must first set the font style and size, then type a space [eg use the space bar once] and then save the file.

Sorry, but the brain wave just struck as I was writing this message. One also must use `page setup' to set the margins/alignment. It doesn't work any other way.

Again my appreciation.

 

Nice to hear that it works, and that you figured it out

 

Wordpad

Wordpad is a fairly good program if you don't have or want to use one of the big boys. In word pad, it IS possible to set and keep the margins (mine are set to .5 inches). The default font, on my work machine is Arial 10pt.

I also use Word2000. I just created a test document in wordpad, using colored fonts, bold, underline, italics, created a bullet list, etc and saved it as a .rtf file. It opened perfectly in Word200, keeping the formatting, the bullet list, colors, etc.