Editing Microsoft Works (section)

==History==
Microsoft Works originated as MouseWorks, an integrated spreadsheet, word processor, and database program, designed for the Macintosh by ex-Apple employee Don Williams and Rupert Lissner.<ref>{{Cite web |author=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |date=28 July 1986 |title=InfoWorld |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vy8EAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805231450/https://books.google.com/books?id=Vy8EAAAAMBAJ |archive-date=5 August 2020 |access-date=21 July 2016 |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Williams planned to emulate the success of Lissner's [[AppleWorks]], a similar product for [[Apple II]] computers. [[Bill Gates]] and his Head of Acquisitions, Alan M. Boyd, convinced Williams in 1986<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2019 |title=Discontinued Microsoft Products |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21777891 |publisher=news.ycombinator.com}}</ref> to license the product to Microsoft instead.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Manes |first1=Stephen |last2=Andrews |first2=Paul |title=Gates |page=328}}</ref> Initially intended as a scaled-down version of Office for small laptops like [[TRS-80 Model 100]], which was developed by Microsoft and sold by [[Radio Shack]], Microsoft Works evolved as a popular product in its own right as laptops grew in power.

On September 14, 1987, Microsoft unveiled Works for DOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tina |date=29 April 2009 |title=The History of Microsoft - 1987 |url=http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/History/The-History-of-Microsoft-1987 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002210602/http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/History/The-History-of-Microsoft-1987 |archive-date=2 October 2012 |access-date=11 November 2012 |website=Channel 9 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> The initial version 1.x of Works ran on any PC with at least 256k of memory. Works 2.x, introduced in 1990, required 512k and 3.x, introduced in 1992, required 640k.

In 1991, Microsoft issued the first Windows version of Works, titled MS Works for Windows 2.0. System requirements include [[Windows 3.0]], a 286 CPU, and 1MB of memory. Works 3.x in 1993 requires [[Windows 3.1]], a 386 CPU, and 4MB of memory. Subsequent releases are for [[Windows 95]] and up, and the final version is Works 9.x in 2007, requiring [[Windows XP]] or [[Windows Vista|Vista]], 256MB of memory, and a Pentium 4 CPU.

Corresponding Macintosh versions of Works were released by Microsoft starting with Works 1.0 in 1986.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Goodman |first1=Danny |title=Microsoft's New Works |journal=MacWorld |date=1 October 1986 |volume=3 |issue=10 |page=112-117 |url=https://archive.org/details/MacWorld_8610_October_1986/page/n119/mode/2up |access-date=6 May 2025}}</ref> The version numbering of the Macintosh versions follow roughly that of their corresponding releases for DOS and Windows.

Through version 4.5a, Works uses a [[Monolithic system|monolithic program architecture]] whereby its [[word processor]], [[spreadsheet]] and [[database]] documents run in [[window (computing)|window]]s of the same program interface. This results in a small memory and disk footprint, which enables it to run on slower computers with requirements as low as 6 MB of RAM and 12 MB free disk space. It also provides a mini version of Excel for DOS systems as a DOS version of that program is not available.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135878 |title=System Requirements for Works for Windows 95 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024155136/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135878 |archive-date=2007-10-24}}.</ref> Works 2000 (Version 5.0) switches to a modular architecture which opens each document as a separate instance and uses the print engine from [[Internet Explorer]].

Version 9.0, the final version, is available in two editions: an advertisement-free version, available in retail and for OEMs, and an ad-supported free version (Works SE) which was available only to [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEMs]] for preinstallation on new computers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fried |first=Ina |date=2008-04-18 |title=Microsoft quietly offering ad-funded Works &#124; Beyond Binary - CNET News |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9922750-56.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222183359/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9922750-56.html |archive-date=2012-12-22 |access-date=2013-06-15 |website=News.CNET.com}}</ref>

In late 2009, Microsoft announced it would discontinue Works and replace it with [[Microsoft Office 2010#Starter edition|Office 2010 Starter Edition]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eaton |first=Nick |date=October 8, 2009 |title=Office Starter 2010 to Replace Microsoft Works |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2009/10/08/office-starter-2010-to-replace-microsoft-works/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213182426/http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2009/10/08/office-starter-2010-to-replace-microsoft-works/ |archive-date=2011-12-13 |website=Blog.SeattlePI.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Ways to Try and Buy Microsoft Office 2010 - Microsoft Office 2010 Engineering - Site Home - TechNet Blogs |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/office2010/archive/2009/10/07/new-ways-to-try-and-buy-microsoft-office-2010.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102131557/http://blogs.technet.com/b/office2010/archive/2009/10/07/new-ways-to-try-and-buy-microsoft-office-2010.aspx |archive-date=2 January 2012 |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=blogs.technet.com}}</ref> although it replaced only the word processor and spreadsheet components but not the calendar or the database.