With Version 12, it is easier than ever to open a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet or a PowerPoint presentation in WordPerfect, QuattroPro and Presentations. In other words, Corel is admitting that the “office world” belongs to Microsoft but with WordPerfect, there is room for a compatible suite of programs to co-exist within this world.

No more WordPerfect Central. With this version, you have to use MS Outlook’s Address Book to access names and addresses for creating envelopes and labels. With the magazine deadline rapidly approaching, I’ve not been able to figure out how to set Outlook as my default mail client but I’m still working on it.

There is a new Workspace Manager wherein you can customize your user interface, shortcuts and keystrokes to suit your individual needs. Law offices can select the old WordPerfect 5.1 interface, which has always been a favorite.

Drawing Tools have been expanded to create impressive graphics within documents.

You can generate a PDF document from WordPerfect 12 (and Presentations 12) without having to purchase Adobe Acrobat (which is listed at $299 on Adobe’s Website). This is an impressive addition to the suite.

PerfectExpert is back with Version 12. This feature is similar to Word’s Office Assistant and is a great help to attempt a task with which the user is unfamiliar. For instance it will guide you through a detailed project such as creating a resume or a smaller task such as how to insert a clipart image into your document.

A new feature named Wireless Office Suite offers two-way SMS text messaging to a cell phone. Reportedly you are able to send e-mail and instant messages no matter where you are located but I was not able to test this feature (my office is not wireless).

There are over 40 new templates to help the user get a jump-start on projects such as business cards to monthly calendars. In fact, I’m looking at a nice looking calendar on my office wall that I created with WordPerfect 12 (Figure 4).

For those who just need to have a Microsoft Office feel, two clicks will transform WordPerfect, Quattro Pro and Presentations into rough approximations of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The Microsoft Office workspace feature in WordPerfect Office 12 puts features, toolbars and menu items exactly where you would expect to find them in MS Office.

To use WP12, you will need Windows XP, NT, 2000 or Win98. Corel recommends 128 MB RAM, a computer with a 166 MHz CPU, 195 MB hard disk space and of course, a CD drive.

Why would someone want to use WordPerfect 12? There are two reasons:

• Reveal Codes: This feature, unique to WordPerfect, lets you quickly format long or complex documents. The codes are inserted as you add text and other formatting to a document. The Reveal Codes are displayed in a separate window immediately below the active document. Now the mystery of why a line of copy is acting in a strange way can be quickly solved by looking at the formatting codes immediately proceeding the line in question.
• Competitive pricing and liberal licensing agreement: WordPerfect Office 12 is about $200 less than MS Office Standard. The Corel licensing agreement allows the user to install the program on both a business PC and a laptop or home system, as long as it is used on one PC at a time.

Corel’s Website indicates the following pricing: WordPerfect Office 12 Suite — $299.99 in a box. A download version is $239.99.You can upgrade to version 12 for $149.99 or download the upgrade version for $129.99. The download versions are without CDs or printed materials.

WordPerfect Office 12 Home Edition sells for $89.00 which, in my opinion, is the best software deal ever created. If you buy a new Dell computer, it comes bundled with WP Office 12 Home Edition.