Missing features make iPad Word almost useless

Question

They call it Word but --

• it won't see or save a .txt file
• it won't see or save an .rtf file
• it has no settings, no way to turn off or customize AutoCorrect

I've been using Word since 1983 and, this app hardly qualifies to be called Word.

As it stands iPad Word creates problems for me rather than solving them. I hope someone listens and corrects these deficiencies soon.

Answer 1

There are a range of Word variations for different needs. The version for iPad is intended to be more of a light-duty note-taker. That's one reason for its low price. If you need greater capabilities, please consider moving to a version that has them, like Word 2013.

So, If I get what you're saying there is a Word 2013 for the iPad?

On my desktops, as I intimate, I have, or have had, every version of word going back to version 1. I have always used word as my general-purpose editor, note-taker, whatever because of its ability to open anything. Peter Norton was even surprised when I told him how I used it to edit drice letters that were hard-coded into exes back in 1984.

So, when I'm on the road mith my iPad sometimes I need to edit a txt or an rtf for a variety of reasons. The fact that this version of word is hobbled means that I must keep a whole slew of apps installed to do the things I am used to doing with Word.

Also, I blog about EHR.. I hate it when the iPad version changes that to HER. On the desktop I can edit the auto-correct list and kill of that bad boy.

So tell me again how the iPad version benefits from having been deprived of these dead simple functions, like editing a txt. As it stands it's as bad as Apple's Pages.

Answer 2

OK, we're both old-timers. I learned Fortran at the University of Waterloo in 1970 before it was Microsoft's future employee pool.

I didn't state that Word 2013 was available for iPad. But if you need every capability in Word, you're better off considering a Surface Pro instead of an iPad and running a full edition of Word on it. 

If the platform is more important to you than the software, take a look at UXWrite, it beats the pants off Pages and maybe Word for iPad, too. Plus, at the time of writing, it's free.

I will thanks.

I learned my Fortran at UCLA in 1967 and had the interesting opportubity to write and use interactive graphics apps with light pen that ran from a deck of punch cards. I keep looking at the Surface, but like the MS desktops the fonts are getting smaller with thinner strokes and lighter gray colors all of which give my old eyes trouble. I've gravitating to Mac and iPad just because visibility factor is better. Android is the epitome of text (and widgets that are too small)

Answer 3

Looked at UXedit. Nice but not free any more (not a big deal at $10) and won't edit .md or .docx. It does do txt and rtf so I may pay and keep it available.

Thanks for the tip.

Answer 4

OK, we're both old-timers. I learned Fortran at the University of Waterloo in 1970 before it was Microsoft's future employee pool.

I didn't state that Word 2013 was available for iPad. But if you need every capability in Word, you're better off considering a Surface Pro instead of an iPad and running a full edition of Word on it. 

If the platform is more important to you than the software, take a look at UX Write, it beats the pants off Pages and maybe Word for iPad, too. Plus, at the time of writing, it's free.

Answer 5

There are a range of Word variations for different needs. The version for iPad is intended to be more of a light-duty note-taker. That's one reason for its low price. If you need greater capabilities, please consider moving to a version that has them, like Word 2013.