MacLochlainns Weblog

While reconfiguring my iMac, it was interesting to note the bumpy road to implementing Code Weaver’s CrossOver Plus 8.0.1 for the whole Microsoft Office Suite. Previously, it had only been used to support Microsoft Visio 2007.

I discovered that a Shutdown and Start operation was required after installing CrossOver Plus because a Restart hadn’t worked. Attempting to create the WINE bottle with a reboot gave me the following error:

The Microsoft Office 2007 package requires CrossOver HTML engine to install and
run properly. Continuing with the install may produce unpredictable results.

I also found that patching the Office product failed. It’s possible that could be the network here, but there’s also no manual way to download *.msi files and apply them against the WINE bottle. It’s possible that a trick was missed and there is a way to do it. Downloading and right clicking on the *.msi file on the Mac OS X side allows you to look for an application to help but I couldn’t find a helper application in the CrossOver Plus folder tree. It may be there, however, where it is eluded me in the time my patience would allow (please comment if you know its location)?

Rather than use Google Quick Search Box I thought symbolic links would be helpful in the Applications folder since I actually also run Microsoft Office 2008. Turning to Chapter 6 in the product documentation didn’t solve the problem. It led me to an incorrect folder location.

They’re not here, as stated in the product documentation:

You can find them in the WINE bottle folders here, the default is for Windows XP:

Within the Bottle folder, you can find the Microsoft Office 2007 links here:

The CrossOver Plus installation suppresses the options dialog to choose a typical, full, or custom installation of Microsoft Office 2007. That means you get typical, which means you can’t connect to a remote database using the JDBC et cetera. This doesn’t meet my needs and means I’ll have to put another VMWare instance together to work with Microsoft Excel 2007 reasonably. Drat!

Holiday Gift from Microsoft

Windows 7 ships. Then, we find it’s really Windows Vista+ (code base 6.1). Now, Microsoft give us a late year present, the Microsoft Black Screen of Death (their original post has been wiped by agreement with Microsoft it appears but only the shadow knows and rumors on the web). What better excuse to rush out and buy a MacBook Pro or use this fix?

Holiday Gift from Apple

Buying a MacBook Pro makes sense if you don’t already have one. Owning one, I’m hesitant to upgrade my MacBook Pro because the battery in the new one requires a service call when the battery wears out. An expensive item because the battery life is generally poor after 1,000 recharge cycles and that number of recharges may or may not occur before your Applecare service contract runs out.

Battery life/replacement is one of the reasons why I’ve stayed on my old MacBook Pro (purchased 16 months ago). The other reason is that I plan on getting by with a MacBook Pro for 4 to 5 years not Apple’s apparent plannned obsolescence of 3 years. While I’m in the gripe mode, the new Apple Cinema Display is attractive but not compatible with older MacBook Pro or MacBook computers. Also, the Altona DVI to Mini Display Port has mixed reviews out there and Apple seems disinterested in helping owners of older machines use the new Cinema screens. There aren’t any other alternatives to the Altona product (at least that I’ve found). I almost feel that somebody at Apple watched the movie Robots too often because it seems my 16 month old MacBook Pro is an outmode and there isn’t an upgrade option (only a new purchase).

Some tips and techniques for Word seems like a good add to the blog. At least, those changes that I run into while writing for McGraw-Hill on my new book projects. This shows you how to enable Microsoft Word 2007 and 2008 readability statistics. Yes, it’s moved in the new release.

Microsoft Word 2007 has the Office Button. The Office Button holds the key to what were once tool options. You click on the Office Button in the upper left hand corner. You’ll see the following options dialog. Click the Word Options button to change options.

Choose the Proofing option in the left column, then check the Show readability statistics check box, as shown. You click the OK button when your done setting Word options.

Microsoft Word 2008 works like Mac OS X applications. You navigate to the Word on the menu and choose Preferences. That launches the following menu set.

Double click the Spelling and Grammer icon, which launches the Spelling and Grammar options dialog. Check the Show readability statistics box and then click the OK button to save the setting.