Re: Word v.X doesn't print tables properly in Panther

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From: JE McGimpsey (jemcgimpsey_at_mvps.org)
Date: 03/26/04 

Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004 17:45:55 -0700

In article <BC8757DB.3A21D%bethrosengard@earthlink.net>,
 Beth Rosengard <bethrosengard@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Okay JE (and Paul :-),
>
> I take your various points.
>
> Now, how about a compromise.

Nope. Compromise is for wimps. <g>

> Is there some good reason why Microsoft
> couldn't or shouldn't designate (for instance) Word's current version number
> as something like "Word 10.1.4 in Office 10.1.5" ? Adjustments would of
> course have to be made for standalone applications or other exceptions if
> necessary, but this seems like a perfectly workable alternative to me.

Nope - the mere fact that it needs exceptions is problematic to me. When
someone posts a message asking for help, which version do they post? If
they post that they're using Word 10.1.4, do you care whether they've
applied the 10.1.5 updater?

What information does your proposal really provide? Either Word is
version 10.1.4 or its not. It doesn't matter whether Office is 10.1.5.
Well, it does in a very few cases, perhaps (I can't think of any
off-hand), but in that case you still have to ask whether the Office
Component Plugin, or whatever else you're interested in, is updated too.

Rather than kludge something together, I'd rather see a small app that
kept track of all the apps and components, much like Fink Commander for
Mac/Unix packages, which lists the latest version of each app along with
the installed version. Updates would be done on-line if desired,
otherwise the database would be updated whenever an update was run.

> And there would be no need to do the same for every Office file
> installed since it's only where the major applications are concerned
> that this is ever called into question. (Besides, Entourage is
> already done differently than the other apps so there's no point
> arguing that it *has* to be done the same way everywhere; the point
> is to make life easier for the end user.)

If you really want to make life easier for the end user, get rid of
their dependence on looking at version numbers. Use a Software Update
type application that automaticaly configures the suite.

In other words, don't patch the symptoms, fix the system. The average
user should never have to fret about which update version is applied
with its arcane numbering, only that they've applied all the relevant
updates.

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