Site map | Latest news | Quick solutions to common problems | Voluntary contributions | Recent changes (RSS) | Announcements | The reasons for this | New printer drivers | WPDOS under Windows | Windows printing problems solved | Print to any printer or any Windows fax program | Workarounds | Euro symbol | Networking WPDOS | Graphics mode survival guide | Text mode survival guide | Additional and underdocumented features | Arabic and Hebrew WP | WordPerfect-related programs and utilities | Third-party tools | Discussion groups and other links | Obtaining WPDOS | WPDOS 6.2 patch program | WP for the Macintosh | Linux and OS/2 Warp | What Corel should have done | Feedback | Acknowledgments
WordPerfect for DOS can run more or less normally under Windows Vista, but requires additional effort if you want it to run smoothly. If you use WordPerfect for DOS, you should buy a Windows XP computer if possible. But if you must run WPDOS under Windows Vista, you should study this site's Windows Vista page for further information on how to proceed - and on how to buy a Windows XP computer instead of one with Vista.
Before you write to me about the DOSBOX emulator software as a possible platform for running WPDOS, please see the frequently-asked questions elsewhere on this site, where you will see that DOSBOX is not useful for word-processing because there is no straightforward way to print from it. See also a new page about running WPDOS under Microsoft Virtual PC 2007.
For fast access to this site's mostly commonly-requested advice, please go directly to the troubleshooting page. You can also search the complete text of this site with the Google search engine. For an overview of the information available on this site, please visit the site map.
You may also want to read some of the frequently-asked questions about the contents of this site.
Warning: Some Windows XP desktop computers that come with flat-panel (LCD) monitors cannot run WPDOS full-screen. For details, see this site's Windows XP page.
If any of the drivers, files, or suggestions on this site are of value to you or your business, please consider making a voluntary contribution to help pay the costs of maintaining the site. Payment can easily be made in U.S. or Canadian dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling, or other currencies through this link to the PayPal payment service.
WordPerfect for DOS 5.1+ and 6.2 are legally available for sale on CD to licensed users of WordPerfect for DOS. Further details are available elsewhere on this site.
Version 6 of Tame from www.tamedos.com is indispensable for use with WPDOS under Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. This US$20 program speeds keyboard input and improves compatibility for WPDOS and other DOS applications under recent Windows versions. New features include the following: italics and underlines can be displayed in text mode; more than 60 lines of text can be visible in a window; the number of rows and columns on screen can be changed while the program is open; text can be copied and pasted to and from the Windows clipboard without macros or add-ons; a keystroke (Win-Enter) switches between windowed mode and a full-screen mode that uses Windows's fonts but is as fast as - or faster than - WP in traditional hardware-based full-screen mode. A page of further details provides preliminary information on the vast range of customization options available under Tame.
A step-by-step guide to installing WPDOS in Windows XP: A summary version of all the essential installation steps for WPDOS under Windows XP may be found on this site. For further advice on making WPDOS run efficiently, see this site's Windows XP page, especially the list of potential problems and limitations. (Important: If your video card is based on the Nvidia chip, be sure to download the latest version of the XP drivers from the Nvidia web site. Also, if you cannot display WPDOS in graphics mode under Windows XP, the problem may be solved by installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 from the Windows Update site; see further details on this site's Windows XP page.)
How to display the euro symbol in MS-DOS and Windows DOS. This site provides instructions for typing and displaying the euro symbol in full-screen MS-DOS (including Windows DOS) and in windowed DOS boxes.
Appeals for help:
Alternate address for this site: This site can almost always be reached at an "alias" address, http://wpdos.org. It can, of course, also be reached at its real address, http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos.
WordPerfect for DOS, in the opinion of many knowledgeable users, is still the greatest program ever written. Some of its features have not been matched even by the latest Windows software, and its interface remains unequaled for efficiency and elegance. Its support for multiple font formats has not yet been equaled by any other program or operating system, and its support for multiple alphabets, languages, and symbol sets has only been equaled by the latest versions of Windows and the Mac OS.
As a reviewer for PC Magazine and other publications since 1985, I have tested hundreds of programs, including almost every word processor that was ever released to the public, plus one or two, like IBM's Signature, that were never released at all. There is much to admire in WordPerfect for Windows (and every user of the DOS version should own a copy of the Windows version, for use with graphics-rich documents), but I still return to WordPerfect for DOS whenever I want to get any serious work done, and even when I simply want to write a letter and address an envelope. (If there were a truth-in-reviewing law, it would oblige me to add that, among graphics-based word processors, I generally prefer Microsoft Word for Windows to Corel WordPerfect for Windows, but if I were forced to choose only one word processor, and I could choose among all text-based and graphic-based programs, I would unhesitatingly choose WordPerfect for DOS 6.2.)
This site was created as a way to share printer drivers and other files that can be of help to anyone who wants to continue to use WordPerfect for DOS in the twenty-first century. This site exists partly because the DOS "environment" (the so-called Virtual DOS Machine, or VDM) in recent versions of Windows (including XP and Vista) is in many ways slow and awkward compared to the original MS-DOS operating system.
The awkward Virtual DOS Machine (VDM) in current versions of Windows derives from the original VDM that Microsoft wrote for Windows NT. It did not to be as awkward as it is. The old OS/2 operating system, which began as a joint project of Microsoft and IBM, included a superb DOS environment, probably the best ever written, which was the work of a Microsoft programmer. (I believe his name was Ben Slivka.) That same programmer was still working for Microsoft at the time when Windows NT was written. Microsoft had the resources to make a VDM that worked well, but simply didn't use them, and we continue to suffer the consequences.
Note to WPWin users: The most generally reliable versions of WordPerfect for Windows are probably Corel WordPerfect 8 and (unfortunately somewhat less reliable) Corel WordPerfect X3; keep in mind that Corel WordPerfect 8, unlike later versions, is subject to conflicts with scanning and optical-character-recognition software that you may or may not have on your system. Be certain to download and install all update patches for version 8 (or for any later version) from www.corel.com (for recent versions) or from Corel's FTP site (follow the version numbers for upgrades). WordPerfect versions 9, 10, 11, and 12 are notably less reliable than 8 and marginally less reliable than X3. Note that the later updated versions of WPWin 9 (only) have a bug in the WordPerfect Characters feature that causes some European accented letters to be entered incorrectly when you use the Compose feature. This bug is not present in other versions.
WordPerfect is a registered trademark of
Corel Corporation. This site (which was created in Microsoft
FrontPage and is maintained in
Microsoft Expression Web) is not associated with Corel Corporation, PC Magazine, or
any other person or organization. The site is hosted on Columbia University's
web server, but the university is not responsible for any of the site's content.
Corel Corporation does not support or endorse any of the documents or files on
this site, and is perhaps not even aware that the site exists.
This site provides many new printer drivers for WPDOS 5.1 and 6.x:
This site has new WPDOS 5.1 drivers for the HP LaserJet, HP Color LaserJet, and Business Inkjet models. Both PCL and PostScript drivers are available; all 80 internal fonts in the 3200 and later models are supported; and all these drivers support the euro through the printer's hardware or through soft fonts available from this site. Drivers are also supplied for recent HP DeskJet, OfficeJet, PSC, Photosmart and other inkjet models, with euro support where available. Drivers are also available for recent Postscript Level 3 printers, Lexmark Optra laser printers. Special HP LaserJet drivers that "draw" the euro symbol, for printers without built-in euro support, are also available. All these drivers are written by the author of this site, and are not endorsed or supported by Corel, Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, or anyone else. Information is also provided on drivers available elsewhere for some other printer models.
This site also has new WPDOS 6.x drivers for all recent HP LaserJet, HP Color LaserJet, and HP Business InkJet models. Both PCL and PostScript modes are supported; all 80 internal fonts in the 3200 and later models are supported; and all these drivers support the euro symbol either through the printer's hardware or through soft fonts available from this site. Drivers are also supplied for recent HP DeskJet, OfficeJet, PSC, and Photosmart models, with euro support where available. Drivers are also available for recent Postscript Level 3 printers, Lexmark Optra laser printers, and some Canon bubble-jet printers. Special HP LaserJet drivers that "draw" the euro symbol, for printers without built-in euro support, are also available. All these drivers (like all other WPDOS6.x printer drivers) may also be used with Corel WordPerfect for Linux. All these drivers were prepared by the author of this site, and are not endorsed or supported by Corel, Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon, or anyone else. Information is provided on drivers available elsewhere for some other printer models.
This site's WPDOS 5.1 and 6.x driver pages also offer recommendations that can help you to choose a printer that works effectively with WPDOS 5.1 or 6.x.
If possible, I will try to provide drivers for other printers not supported on this site if you are willing to beta-test the results. Some Windows-only printers, however, cannot be directly supported through custom WPDOS drivers; for these printers, see this site's instructions on printing to any Windows printer.
The original WPDOS 5.1 and 6.x printer drivers are available from Corel's driver download page. If you have difficulty downloading files from Corel's site, see this troubleshooting advice.
WordPerfect for DOS can be used without serious difficulties under all versions of Windows, and WPDOS6.x can use many of the fonts that Microsoft provides with Windows 9x, Me, NT, 2000, and XP. Troubleshooting and other tips for Windows users may be found this site's Windows page. Separate pages provide essential information on customizing the WPDOS desktop shortcut, on running WPDOS under Windows NT, 2000, and XP, and on running WPDOS under Windows Me.
Useful advice on Windows housekeeping for WPDOS users may be found on a separate page.
A survival guide for medical transcriptionists provides methods of using WPDOS with abbreviation-expander software under Windows. Advice on using WPDOS on Windows networking may be found on a separate networking page. Brief instructions are also provided on running WPDOS 5.1 on Windows CE and Psion handheld devices.
Information on opening WordPerfect files in Microsoft Word, and on converting Microsoft Word files for use in WordPerfect, is also available.
Extensive problem-solving advice on printing under Windows may be found on a page on printing and faxing from WPDOS under Windows, so you can avoid mysterious crashes and extra pages containing nonsense characters. The same page includes advice on using Windows fonts in WPDOS 6.x, on using WPDOS's fax services under Windows (a separate page is devoted to printing to Windows fax software), and on printing to a printer connected by a USB cable. (If your printer is a Windows-only printer, see the separate page on printing to any printer supported by Windows.) Multiple methods are provided for creating PDF files for Adobe Acrobat from WPDOS. Advice on network printing may be found on this site's networking page. Advanced techniques for accessing characters and symbols in multilingual TrueType fonts in WPDOS 6.x are on a page of their own.
Using a combination freely available software, you can print from WPDOS to any printer supported by Windows, even if no WPDOS driver exists for the printer, and even if the printer is connected to your computer by a USB cable. This site offers a variety of methods for printing from WPDOS to any Windows printer, some of which can be set up automatically, some of which require complex manual setup. After any of these methods is first set up, however, it works automatically with no further effort from the user. A separate page explains how to use a similar method to fax from WPDOS to any Windows fax software.
WPDOS has built-in limitations that will probably never be removed. Perhaps the most annoying is the program's inability to import GIF, JPEG, and other modern graphics formats; this site's WPG graphic format page provides ways of converting such formats into WordPerfect's WPG format. A separate workarounds page offer solutions for minor bugs and other inconveniences. A further page describes minor limitations in WPDOS related to Year 2000 issues.
The euro symbol was introduced after Corel stopped further development of WordPerfect for DOS. However, through the use of drivers, fonts, and other files available from the euro page of this site, the euro symbol can be used in WPDOS 5.1 or 6.x. The most extensive support provided on this page is for HP LaserJet and other PCL-compatible printers, but the euro can also be printed with any other printer that supports graphics, and this site provides drivers for newer HP, Lexmark, and other HP-compatible printers that have the euro symbol in the printer's hardware. Instructions on this site's euro page also make it possible to use the euro as a currency symbol in WPDOS 6.x tables.
A separate page provides methods of displaying and accessing the euro symbol in MS-DOS and Windows DOS, in both full-screen and windowed modes. These methods are designed mostly for users in Western Europe.
Some basic advice on using WordPerfect for DOS on a Windows network and on printing to networked printers may be found on this site's networking page.
WordPerfect for DOS includes a graphics-mode print preview, page view, and graphics view (the latter two in WPDOS 6.x only). These modes require graphics driver files. All existing driver files were written before the mid-1990s, but some can be used with current hardware. This site includes a page with basic advice on which WPDOS graphics driver to use with your hardware, together with tools and techniques for displaying WPDOS graphics at high refresh rates instead of a headache-inducing 60Hz.
The page includes a VESA graphics driver for WPDOS 5.1 that gives 5.1 users the same high-resolution, low-flicker images available under WordPerfect for DOS 6.x. The page also includes a patched WPDOS 6.x VESA VBE graphic driver for new video cards for use with some video boards that will not work with the original driver. (If your board works with the original driver, you do not need the patched driver, and you will not gain any advantage by using it.)
The built-in text-mode font on many recent computers is less attractive and legible than the fonts on older machines. This site's text mode page provides a utility that can replace the text font used by full-screen DOS. The page also includes notes on using WPDOS in monochrome mode.
Some features that have been added to recent versions of WordPerfect for Windows can also be added to WPDOS through the use of macros. among the features available on this site's additional features page are tools for copying and pasting text between WPDOS and Windows applications, "Smart quotes" for WPDOS 5.1, Windows-style block selection for WPDOS 5.1, and a LineBreak code for WPDOS 6.x.
WordPerfect for DOS is so packed with features that some were never described in the printed manuals or help files. They are only known through experimentation or because they were described only in the files distributed with some versions of the program that listed enhancements made in interim versions. Some of the most notable of these changes will be listed on this site's underdocumented features page, together with the original lists of enhancements.
WordPerfect 5.1 and 6.x for DOS are generally free of Y2K problems, and accept four-digit years in almost all dialogs where you can enter dates. Details, and links to Corel's Y2K pages, may be found on this site's year 2000 page.
A page on this site includes notes on using the special Hebrew and Arabic versions of WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS. Please send feedback if you have further information for this page.
WordPerfect-related utilities by WordPerfect and Corel are available either directly from this site or through links to other sites. These utilities include a conversion program that converts recent Microsoft Word files into WP 5.1 and 6.x format, and (on a separate page) the WordPerfect Shell, Editor, and other WordPerfect Office for DOS programs. Another page includes links and compatibility information on DataPerfect, DrawPerfect, PlanPerfect, WP Presentations, and WP Works. For nostalgic visitors, a chronology of WordPerfect software is available for browsing.
This site does not provide support WordPerfect for Windows, but, for the convenience of users, some notes about compatibility with current Windows versions have been provided for older versions of WordPerfect for Windows.
Many third-party freeware and shareware tools have been developed for use with WPDOS. Among those that can be obtained from this site are TrueType for WordPerfect, by LaserTools, the font-installation modules of PrimeType for WordPerfect, also by LaserTools, utilities for repairing and viewing WordPerfect files, and utilities for removing password-protection from WordPerfect 5.0 and 5.1 files (together with links to commercial software that removes password-protection from WP 6.x files).
This site includes a miscellaneous list of links to Corel and other WPDOS sites, including Corel's files and patches for WPDOS, bulletin board sites where WPDOS can be discussed, and other sites of interest.
A note on this site's tools and links page provides a link to a source from whom you can buy legal copies of WordPerfect for DOS 5.1+ and WordPerfect for DOS 6.2. Another note provides a link to any current eBay auctions for all versions of WPDOS.
Some development work continued on WordPerfect for DOS after the final public release of WPDOS 6.2. A patch program available on this site will update the final public version to the final internal version, which was never released, but includes some minor changes that make it worthwhile (and at least two bugs that you may want to avoid).
WordPerfect for the Macintosh (a freely downloadable program) was written for older version of the Macintosh operating system, but works well under Mac OS X (through version 10.4 "Tiger") on PowerPC-based Macs. A WordPerfect for the Macintosh page on this site includes advice on setting up the program, automatically creating PDF files, and other information.
WordPerfect 6.x, 7.x, and 8.x for Unix and Linux all use WPDOS 6.x printer drivers. Older drivers may be found on Corel's website and newer drivers on this site's WPDOS 6.x printer driver page. That page includes beta versions of Ghostscript drivers for use with Unix and Linux systems that print through Ghostscript.
Instructions for running WPDOS under Linux may be found on this site's Linux page. Some suggestions for installing WPDOS in OS/2 Warp may be found on this site's OS/2 page (but if you run WPDOS under OS/2 in order to avoid software written by Microsoft, see the linked page for an explanation of why you should probably try Linux instead).
Corel abandoned a small but potentially significant source of income when it stopped development of WordPerfect for DOS, and it strained the good will of many of its most loyal customers. What Corel should have done (but never will do) was work toward making a slightly updated version of WPDOS available for downloading at a reasonable price; no retail boxes would be involved. One or two of the original programmers should have been rehired to add the following enhancements for WPDOS running under Windows:
These enhancements would have encouraged many law firms, government offices, and others to continue buying WPDOS instead of switching to Microsoft Word. Corel could easily have earned back the small investment required.
I am always happy to receive feedback and questions. Please see the feedback page for notes on the information that I will need about your system before I can provide any help.
Computer and technical support personnel in educational institutions, corporations, or anywhere else should feel free to archive or copy all or part of this site for internal use, and any individual visitor should feel free to download all or part of this site for personal use. Please do not repost anything from this site in public without specific permission.
Many visitors to this site have helped to improve it by generously offering corrections, suggestions, files, links, and other material, and by testing printer drivers and other files created for the site. Niek Campagne, John Gay, Bob Headrick, Robert Holmgren, Mark Lomax, Timothy J. McGowan, Michal Necasek, John Ogden, Lutz Reuter, Don Rolfson, Randy Spurrier, Haye van den Oever, and Richard Wood deserve special thanks for their generosity and ingenuity.
I also want to express my gratitude to Gianfranco Accardo, Tom Aiuppa,
Sherrie Baumann, Keith Bernstein, the late Henk Bok, Jesse Bouma, Chris Butcher,
Juan Miguel Campanario, Chris Condon, Janet Cyford, Douglas D'Angelo, Peter Das,
Geert De Baets, Michael DeBusk, Tony Duff, Hans Olav Fekjær, Barbara Fields,
Mark Fountain, David Garde, John Garziglia, Ian Gay, John Greenwood, Philip
This site has no prejudices for or against any software vendor. I am happy to acknowledge my debt to Microsoft FrontPage, the program that made it easy for me to create these pages, and to Microsoft Expression Web, the program that has made it easy for me to maintain them. (However, the code on this page that displays this site's current RSS feed is from Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 because the corresponding code in Expression Web does not work with the Safari web browser.)
Accessibility statement: This site conforms to most current accessibility standards. Images include descriptive text in image tags, and color is only used to convey information when the same information is conveyed as text. The only JavaScript on the site is a brief script on each page that forces the keyboard focus into the page when the page is opened. Two points should be noted: at the top of each page is a paragraph containing sequential links leading to other sections on the same page; and all links to pages outside this site will open in a separate browser window. If these or any other aspects of the site cause accessibility problems, please contact me.
Edward Mendelson Site Map Last modified 13 Mar 2008