Comments on: #9 WordPerfect 5.1

By: Ross Kodner

Ross Kodner — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:36:29 +0000

I have kept WP 5.1 loaded on every primary laptop I’ve ever had – it works remarkably well and is supported by a number of folks who create patches for running it under XP and MOPH (a/k/a/ Vista). Take a look at “WordPerfect for DOS Updated” for all this kind of info: http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/. In a new “less is more” world, the smartest thing Corel could do would be to make a PR splash and release WP 5.1 code into the public domain and then include links for cheap WP Office X4 upgrades.

By: Bobby Mucic

Bobby Mucic — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:21:59 +0000

Wordperfectvery much lives on. I’ve been to several offices where I see mutliple PC’s at an attorney’s desk, with one PC running an older OS and WP. The bluescreen, with the horizontal split at the bottom is always a giveaway.

Users really had to learn to draft documents at a much different level back then. Almost like the days before WYSIWYG html editors.

By: Doug Loudenback

Doug Loudenback — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:13:12 +0000

I, too, was a Wp5.1 lover and macro devotee. A few Oklahoma lawyers put on seminars at Family Law Sections about using the program and how to automate all sorts of things either through merge or macro features.

After begrudgingly migrating to a Windows version (6.0, I think), I put macros down, not wanting to reinvest the countless hours needed to learn the “new” macro language … but, eventually, I picked it up once again and I can easily say that the macro language that matured with Wp6.1 and as it was tweaked through Wp8 (it is essentially unchanged after WordPerfect is vastly superior to Wp5.1 for DOS, as much as I liked it.

And, some of us do still share with the WordPerfect community. My main contribution in that regard is a macros manual which I wrote and which is freely available on-line or for download called, “A Common Person’s Macro Manual.” It can be opened or downloaded here – see a link at the top of the following page: http://www.dougloudenback.com/wp.htm

I still refuse to purchase a copy of MS Word and I’m sure, at age 65, that I never will.

By: Steve Cotton

Steve Cotton — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:17:14 +0000

Our office started with Word Perfect, and I admit I am a 5.1 fan. Like Mina, I learned the macro language and built a lot of forms. Then we joined the MicroSoft Office Suite users. Fortunately, our company has a large IT department.

By: Mina Sirkin

Mina Sirkin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:52:11 +0000

Ok, I’m one of those who will admit WP 5.1 was a gift when it came out. I was so into it that I actually went out and learned the macro language and automated our entire practice that way back in 93′. I’m still a devout WP uses, alas at a much later version, but reallllly miss the old 5.1. It was awesome.

By: David Leffler

David Leffler — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:14:23 +0000

I even wrote a song about it:

Show Me The Codes
(sung to the tune of “Send in the Clowns”)
by David Leffler
(with apologies to Stephen Sondheim)

Isn’t it strange, I can’t reveal
Coding in documents, what is the deal?
Show me the codes!

Isn’t it odd, I don’t approve
No longer “Perfect”, just “Word” – and I can’t move.
Oh where are the codes – show me the codes!

Just when I stopped questioning which
Finally finding the one that I wanted – was ditched
Upgrading my version again with my usual flair
Sure of my macros – no software was there

Don’t you love a farce; my fault I fear
I thought that everyone wanted what I wanted – sorry my dear
Oh where are the codes – show me the codes
I sure need a beer!

Isn’t it rich, isn’t it queer
Losing my word “app” this late in my career
Oh where are the codes – show me the codes
Unseen is unclear!