AppleWorks 6: The Missing Manual (Paperback)

by Jim Elferdink (Author), David Reynolds (Author)
Key Phrases: page view, text wrap, field list, Apple Works, Starting Points, Last Name (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Too many writers of books about software let the software determine how they organize the material. If the File menu contains commands A, B, and C, the writers put A, B, and C in the same chapter, regardless of whether they're functionally similar. AppleWorks 6: The Missing Manual is organized more logically, tackling the functional units--including Internet integration, macro programming, and table creation, among others--in separate chapters. It's an approach that makes sense for AppleWorks, in which the spreadsheet module can be used to create tables for word processor documents and all the modules rely on a common graphics editor. For those who want to know what a particular menu command does, there's menu-by-menu documentation in an appendix.

You get the requisite instructions: explicit steps to follow if you want to transpose rows in a spreadsheet, for example, or export button graphics for use in Web pages. Other procedures, like making calculations that refer to cells in multiple spreadsheets, are explained in text. "Workaround Workshop" modules call attention to shortcomings in AppleWorks (such as its two-palette limit when you're working with colors) and explain how to get around them (use a custom palette). Throughout, the instructions are engaging and fun to read. --David Wall

Topics covered: AppleWorks 6, the multipurpose office-productivity suite for Mac OS; the suite's capabilities, comprehensively--including word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, databases, and presentations; how to create documents and databases from scratch, as well as from existing materials.

Review
"Provides the printed manual which AppleWorks so badly needs - not because it's unfathomable, but because it's a powerful suite with many features. MacFormat, May 2002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 453 pages
• Publisher: Pogue Press; 1 edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156592858X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565928589
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #282,822 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Software > Word Processors & Editors > AppleWorks
  #3 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Apple > AppleWorks
  #6 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Apple > Spreadsheets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Recommend, June 7, 2000

By	What if... (Carmel Valley, CA) - See all my reviews

Readable, thorough, useful, clear, and wow, inspiring, this manual will work for beginning and experienced users, and be useful for anyone trying to decide whether to go for the upgrade.

This is a book you can take to a coffeehouse to read even without the computer program in front of you for reference. The writing style is relaxed, clearly laid out, and substantive. It isn't laugh-out-loud funny like David Pogue's writing (the creator of this series), but it has moments of humor and,, most important, has that perspective of taking all things with some humor. It covers everything you want it to cover - all the nuts and bolts how-tos of all the areas of Appleworks. Additionally, the authors anticipate what our problems are likely to be....and answer them so I can understand. (Right off, iIfound the answer to a problem I've had printing out spreadsheets; thank you, thank you). I found the layout to be easy on the eyes and on the mind - I could find what I needed easily. There is a thorough section on installation and upgrade scenarios - which I find most valuable. And there is an excellent troubleshooting section. The authors deal honestly with the problems that Appleworks6 frist presented - its strengths and weaknesses, what was flawed and what was fixed, what was lost, and what is gained. Their honesty, which makes them credible, coupled with their knowledge gave me the info I needed to decide whether this was the right application for my needs. Here is the advantage of buying a manual not written by the manufacturer.

Finally, a womderful dimension to this book, which truly delightes me, is how strongly the vision of possibilities comes across, of how to take this application beyond how I've previously used word processing and spreadsheets programs, to be more creative, more time efficient, more cost efficent, to ways I hadn't thought of or known of...this is exciting stuff and makes the book feel like a two parter - first the part where you master the how-to-use-this-program part and then the mind-expanding-fun-part of "wow, what you can do with this you are only just beginning to know." This is one good manual!

I am so delighted with this book in every way; I hope these authors will continue to write for us; I would look forward to anything they would produce.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Swiss Army Knife of Apple Office Software, July 9, 2002

By	paul gerstenbluth (East Greenwich, RI USA) - See all my reviews

Why is AppleWorks 6 popular in classrooms and small businesses?

AppleWorks 6 has a word processing, graphics, database, web design, spreadsheet, and slide-show functions in a single, integrated application. Plus, it comes free with your iMac and eMac computers.

Like a good Swiss Army knife, AppleWorks 6 has a smart interface design and smooth integration with various AppleWorks 6 modules. Plus, it's accompanied by templates, art libraries, and fonts--and no printed instructions. AppleWorks 6: The Missing Manual is the book that should have been in the box.

Pages Worth Bookmarking

Page 279 - Clippings Artist in a Box

Page 310 Replacing the Font Menu with Buttons

Pages 365-366 MacLinkPlus, importance of RTF and Appleworks 6.1 (in Mac OS X, 6.2) You are eligible for the Missing Manual Discount at 60% off the street price for MacLinkPlus.

Page 394 - Properties, Compact filing card.

Page 395 - AppleWorks 6 Macros under Mac OS X cannot be created or played.

Page 397 - Script Menu

Page 441 - Colophon

The authors regret that they did not write their book in AppleWorks 6. The blame goes to the publishing industry staffers and the mistaken premise that Adobe Pagemaker 6.5 accepts nothing but Microsoft Word.

Personal Observation

RTF (Rich Text Format) is the "Rosetta Stone" needed for translating word documents to Mac OS programs and Windows non word applications such as Microsoft Works. Note: Adobe PageMaker 6.5 for the Mac works very well with RTF (Rich Text Format).

Pro Reaction

The authors place emphasis AppleWorks 6 interface, its Internet hooks, the Starting Points window, and the Presentation module.

Part by part coverage. The early chapters delve very deeply into the six core AppleWorks modules, including 85 pages on the word processor alone.

Power tools. Much of AppleWorks's power comes from its macros, templates, assistants, customizable Button bar, and web-based clip-art libraries.

Document exchange. File import and export transfers.

Troubleshooting. The authors freely acknowledge the AppleWorks's program's weaknesses--and offer work around solutions.

Con Reaction

Missing was a Quick Table of Contents. Also, missing was saving files into Microsoft Word documents as RTF (Rich Text Format).

Missing was the mentioning of Spreadsheet Menus on page viii of the Table of Contents Appendixes (should have between Word Processing Menus and Database Menus).

Final Words

AppleWorks 6: The Missing Manual treats AppleWorks as a serious productive tool. AppleWorks 6: The Missing Manual shows the Mac user how to get the most out AppleWorks. The manual has over 250 illustrations, a 2,000-entry index, and a menu-by-menu explanation of every command.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This manual is invaluable, April 23, 2001

By	Vernon Ramesar "vrpm" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

Having used Appleworks since the days of my Apple IIc I thought that it was an amusing little programme that I had grasped completely. After reading your manual I realize that I had only scratched the surface of the program. I was seriously considering biting the bullet and spending the money for MS Office 2001 but I now see that I can use Appleworks for everything I need to do ( I am a freelance writer).

This is, without a doubt, the best written manual I have ever read ( and I have been forced to read a lot of them !). The humour in this book is downright addictive and I found myself taking the book to bed so that I could get a few chuckles before I fell asleep. The turns of phrase and asides are just plain funny - not geek attempts at humour.

I cannot imagine using Appleworks without this trusty manual by my side. I hope that the writers keep producing works of this quality - I will be sure to buy them.