Hi all,

I'm brand new to the Linux world, though I have been using OpenOffice and other open source programs for a while. I've been exploring Ubuntu and some other distributions. My sister is a big Linux fan and I'm very tempted to make the switch, as I'm ready for a new computer. However, I have one favorite Windows program that does two things I have not seen any other word processor do: I do book binding, and WordPerfect allows one to subdivide a sheet of paper into two or more pages (this is not the Columns feature, it is actually called "subdivide"), and then will print perfect booklets, collating and arranging any number of pages properly, automatically, two-sided, so that when off the printer they can be folded and bound. Word of course doesn't do that. OpenOffice advises using brochure printing, but that feature does not work as above: it merely shrinks the pages and prints them in sequence, and does not work for multiple sheets, such as are used to form a quire in bookbinding.

So I have two questions before taking the plunge: (1) Is there a Linux word processing program that can perform the same or similar WordPerfect functions above? and (2) Does anyone have experience with using WordPerfect within Linux via CrossOver Office or any of the Windows replicators? Any problems?

Another program I've spent loads o' money on and would hate to lose is Finale for music publishing. I really can't afford to keep two computers with different OSes, and I don't know that I'm computer savvy enough to run two OSes on one CPU, but any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

xandros but it isnt free and it uses orical i think and that is what windows stole from them years ago. but I am not sure all the way you can buy xandros at office depot or online. it cost money because they use alot of license programs so they have to pay for it and pass the cost on to you. People use it and think they are on windows if they didnt look close. there is alot of linux distros that cost money like mandriva professional and comerecial they will all do this and blow away any free linux systems. but they cost money.xandros and mandriva none free has the stuff you may want.

nopuppy: Unfortunately I haven't heard of "subdivide" before.

I have however run a version of WordPerfect in Linux using Wine, for a few basic tasks (mostly pulling information out of a document in WP format that for some reason wouldn't open in any other program.) I experienced no problems at all for these limited tasks. This version came with a Dell computer purchased in 2004, so YMMV.

If you don't want to install Linux to your hard drive just to check it out, I recommend that you try Virtualbox. Virtualbox is installed in Windows, and then you install Ubuntu (or whichever distro) in Virtualbox, and can see how it works. That way you don't mess with either the hard drive or your Windows installation. It might be a little slower than a hard drive install, but should be fine for testing compatibility of WordPerfect in Wine or CrossOver Office.

You haven't mentioned what version of Wordperfect you are using. I have a fairly new Crossover that has run a very old Wordperfect (actually have several apps from the suite - I like the presentation app better than Impress).

My version of Wordperfect is so old that it also includes a disk for installing on Windows 3.11 although I am using the one especially for '95

I do not see Wordperfect listed in the database at Crossover so you may want to try a trial version of Crossover and just give it a whirl. And if you are that serious into books, why not try out an app specifically for such work? I did booklets in Publisher in the windows days but found Scribus in linux satisfactory.

Just what I was hoping for. I will definitely try the various tests and such suggested here.

Try Latex - it will do even more.

Instead of asking your word processor to do page layout, have you thought about using a full-blown desktop publishing package? Scribus is one of the better ones I've come across in the open source world. It does have a Windows version, so you could take it for a test drive before making the jump to Linux.

I would also second the idea of running Windows in a virtual machine if you really can't do without it. Or you could dual-boot. Most of the modern distros will set up your computer to dual boot automatically if the installer finds Windows.