How to Open a Wordpad Document in Microsoft Works

There are two basic text editors in Microsoft Windows. Notepad saves files as an unformatted text file, while Wordpad saves files in Rich Text Format (RTF) by default. Microsoft also includes a basic office suite called Microsoft Works with its operating system. The word processor in MS Works can read a variety of basic file formats, including RTF. You can open Wordpad files directly into Microsoft Works, or you can use the Microsoft Windows "Open With" feature to accomplish the same task.

Instructions

Opening in Microsoft Works

1. Open the Microsoft Works word-processing program. Usually, this can be done using the Microsoft Works folder on the "Start" menu, but some computers may have slightly different installations.

2. Click "File" on the menu bar and then click "Open..."

3. Click the arrow on the "Files of type:" pull-down at the bottom of the window that appears. Select "Rich Text Format (RTF)" from the list. It should be the third option.

4. Navigate to the folder where your Wordpad file is located and select the file. Click the "Open" button.

Opening using "Open With"

1. Open the "Start" menu and click "My Documents." Navigate through the directories until you find your Wordpad document.

2. Right-click on your document's icon and select "Open With" from the pop-up menu.

3. Select "Microsoft Works Word Processor" from the list of programs in the sub-menu. If it is not in the list, click "Choose Program..." and select it from the expanded list, then click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• If you have never used Microsoft Works or if you rarely use it, "Microsoft Works Word Processor" may not appear in either list of programs when you're using the "Open With" method. If this is the case, you must open the file directly into Microsoft Works.