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From time to time I help my sister with "word" or "spreadsheet" stuff. We both had the Microsoft "Works" suite on our computers, so this was not an issue. She has Windows 7 and I had Windows XP pro, but now I have Windows 8.1. I soon found out that my old Microsoft "Works" spreadsheet would not "print" on my new Windows 8.1. I have no idea how to fix this. It was suggested that I switch to the "LibreOffice" program. I did that. Took a while, but I converted all my previous "word" and "spreadsheets" to the "LibreOffice" program. I'm still learning how to use this program. But at least I can print those spreadsheets.
Now my sister has asked for some help again. On a spreadsheet. If I send her a "LibreOffice" spreadsheet she will not be able to open it. There is absolutely, positively, not going to happen, that I can install "LibreOffice" on her computer and that she is going to learn how to use it. She uses her computer for basic stuff that she needs and that's it.
So I'm looking for suggestions. I need a program that I can install on "my" computer, that is "Windows 8.1 compatible and that then when I send her a "word or spreadsheet" she will be able to open and readily use.
Of course, if I could resolve the issue of why my "works" spreadsheet won't print on my Windows 8.1 that would solve everything. FYI, you get an error message that states: No default printer selected. Go to Control Panel and resolve.
Thanks in advance,
Eddie
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And yes, I had previously checked to see that version 9 was compatible. FYI, everything prints just fine, in LibreOffice. And everything will print in the Microsoft "works" suite, except a "spreadsheet". When you select File / print on a "works" spreadsheet you get a "pop-up": No default printer selected, etc. Again, a "works" word program will print.
Thanks for replying Kees
I opened a new spreadsheet. Typed something on it. Selected file / print and got the same message: no default printer. By the way, I had already gone to the printer website and downloaded and installed the latest drivers for windows 8.1 when this problem first came up. I think I uninstalled and reinstalled the original drivers twice, and since that didn't work, I went to the printer website, got new drivers, and uninstalled and reinstalled "these" drivers "twice" trying to resolve the issue.
By the way, since I had converted all my "works" stuff to LibreOffice, I don't have any "old works" stuff. So when I tried again to use "works", I installed it, copied and pasted a LibreOffice "spreadsheet" into "works" and I was confornted with my original problem, again.
I had previously done a few Google searches and saw a number of people were having this "spreadsheet" printing problem. The "very few" suggested solutions didn't help in my case. I'm assuming that not having found a solution, people did what I did and moved on to a different program.
Eddie
I recalled that on some installations, on windows 8.1, that your told to install the program "as an administrator". On this, maybe the fifth reinstallation, I uninstalled "works" and then reinstalled selecting the option to "run as administrator". Now everything works. I don't recall in my windows xp pro that that was ever an option. You just ran the "exe or msi" and it installed. Obviously, windows 8.1 changed something that requires you to do that on some programs. Of the ten to fifteen other programs that I have installed maybe there was one other.
Anyway, I sent my sister a "works spreadsheet", she got it, was able to open it and print it. Success! Now all I have to do is convert "back" all of my LibreOffice "word and spreadsheets" back to "works". I'm converting back because of all the years that I spent learning "works", I know it.
Thanks everyone,
Eddie
Good job. Indeed, it's new in Windows Vista or 7. One of the reasons of them being more secure than XP.
But it's new to me that some setup programs need it. They should warn you if you don't use it, I'd say. Strange to see that even a Microsoft program doesn't do that.
Kees
In a few cases and since I don't have Works I can't try it but will share nonetheless, I install DoPDF and viola I have a printer that makes PDF files. I make that my system printer then very important, I reboot then try to print the item to the DoPDF printer. Now I can print the PDF to the actual printer.
Yes, what a Rube but for me it's gotten me out of a jam too many times not to share it.
Bob
If you save a document in LibreOffice, you have the ability to change from the native format to something else. I don't have it on the laptop I'm using at the moment, but I believe you can save a LibreOffice spreadsheet in Excel format. Works 9 can open Excel format documents if it's current on maintenance.
If you save a spreadsheet in XLS format from LibreOffice, Works 9's spreadsheet will open it with no problem. I just tested it, and it works just fine.
Good luck.
Just for the heck of it, I went back and opened an XLS format spreadsheet in MS Works 9 on my 8.1 U1 computer and printed it. I have a Canon Pixima IP1600 inkjet and a Samsung ML-191x-2525 laser printer network attached & was able to print to both from Works 9's spreadsheet.
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