My thanks, too, Cynic!
It also works in Firefox.
Like Olychick, who knew? ?

Rusty

Procedure is just the same in Firefox, I switched, but still can't directly copy/paste from Firefox into (free) Microsoft Works, although you can into (expensive) Word. I think this was a coding decision by Microsoft to get more Firefox users to buy Word licenses. C/p from Firefox to Works did work on older versions.

So if you want to be able to copy/pasta from Firefox to Works, get the Copy Plain Text addon for Firefox. Right click, select Copy as Plain Text, paste into Works.

Or if you want to keep the formatting or links when c/p from Firefox to Works, get the IE Tab addon, Version 1 or Version 2 Click the icon and open Internet Explorer in Firefox just long enough to c/p then click back to Firefox.

BTW, this isn't a blanket fix for all the forums. You have to manually do this at each forum you go to. I just did mine.

I use Chrome, so click on the wrench, Tools, Encoding, etc.

It also doesn't stay fixed. I've known this trick for a while, it's been mentioned here several times. I find I have to change the encoding on CF often. It reverts back. Is there a fix for that?

Like barnmom, I've seen it mentioned here several times and I've changed it several times, it doesn't stay changed, no matter whether I'm using IE (here at work) or Firefox (at home). I just keep changing it.....

Annie

I'll look for the suggestion and try it, but like Eileen, none of the fixes I've tried in the past have stuck. Since GW is the only place I've noticed the problem, I think it should be their issue to resolve, not mine.

In the meantime my solution is to go to "view source" if there are amounts I'm questioning.

You're very welcome! Glad to be of help.

When you paste into Works, see if under Edit, if there's a "Paste Special" option. If so choose "Plain Text" or wording close to that. It's been a long long time since I've used Works and I greatly dislike the program for several reasons so I can't be more specific there. Or just drop it into a text file then recopy it.

happyday's examples are (part of) why Firefox has moved down consistently in my browser choices. (It took them 10 years to get Paste & Go as a part of the browser fer cryin out loud! LOL) Back in the early versions it was my backup browser to Opera but I've never found it functional enough to make it my first choice and it went downhill for several versions though they seem to have plateaued a bit. I still stick with Opera as #1. It's far more refined and professional. Even with the mail client and other features built in it's still smaller, lighter and much faster than Firefox. You can configure it in so many ways, skin it if you want and much more. I'm spoiled with the keyboard shortcuts and it drives me crazy when I use any other browser now - I hit X & Z and other shortcuts and of course they don't work. Firefox is too geeky and patched together, being a committee project (where committee members aren't focused) and accordingly it requires constant updates and modifications and you have to add extensions to it to get basic performance though I will say some are interesting for other features. I simply want to use a browser with minimal fuss (Really pretty silly to have to put 25 extensions onto a browser to have it perform as a browser should "out of the box") and I do like the larger screen area on Opera and ability to configure to each user's needs. My second choice is K-meleon, third is Chrome. I've tried Safari but that's a very basic browser too from what I've seen and don't need another of them. I still use Firefox for the webmail check but Chrome now has the same/comparable extension so Firefox might just get retired altogether from my systems. I don't automatically load it on new systems anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I like the open source concept and OpenOffice is proof of what can be done with open source. Just seems like too much bickering going on with the Firefox folks and there's no focus to the project. Which reminds me, instead of using Works, get OpenOffice. Far more functional, it's free and has a lot of compatibility with Microsoft Office that Works does not have. Far better choice than Works. It also has the paste special feature. It's an excellent program. I only use (therefore only set up) the "writer" (word processor) portion since I don't need spreadsheets often or the other items. Whenever I set up computers for clients I remove Works if it's on there to save myself support issues! It's really bad news IMO. OpenOffice, Opera, Comodo, etc are all on the essential list of software and get loaded up when I set them up. But I digress!

Incidentally the encoding thing should work in any browser. I thought I said that but it sounds like I might not have made that clear to everyone. Just to clarify.

Hope your browsing is much clearer now with less extraneous characters!

Whew. It's not just me!

Thanks, Cynic. I use a mac and didn't want any microsoft products on it, so didn't buy Office/Works. But the basic Text Edit is worthless and someone told me about OpenOffice. I LOVE it! What is the paste special feature? Does OO have anything comparable to MS Paint? I haven't seen anything, but my skills for locating things are...ahem...limited.

I'll try Opera; am not familiar with it. I quit safari the first week because the fonts are too small on my laptop and it won't hold the zoom like Firefox does.

Cynic, are you thinking that Works is Word? Works is free and comes bundled, no support issues. Works is a step up from Notepad but not as complex as Word. Word is what Open Office is based on.

You are as free as anyone else to chose your browser, of course, but for those who may chose Firefox because you can turn off flashing ads, etc., and Works because it is free and easy to use and better than Notepad, the addons I mentioned will fix the c/p problem from FF to Works. And the addons are free, they work fine, so no need for concern.

I checked another forum and the character encoding did not carry over, like jasdip and barnmom said. I wonder if using the addon Copy as Plain Text would remove symbols as well as changing character encoding? and it would always be active in the Firefox browser. What symbols are removed by changing character encoding, exactly? Do you mean html coding symbols? If so, using Copy as Plain Text would eliminate that html coding carryover.

I fully understand the difference between Word and Works. The proprietary and limited nature of Works is the primary reason I won't use it and I discouraged its use. Too many issues with people not being able to convert documents, then they lose Works, (which BTW, is not available free to the best of my knowledge, though it comes included on some systems, as does a trial version of Office but that doesn't mean that Office is free! LOL) then they can't access their documents. However if they use a program that lets them save to a more standard format (.RTF, .DOC, .HTM, etc) they'll have much more flexibility in opening those documents if they lose their "free" program. Rumor has it that Works now allows some other save options, though I don't know. I still say that OpenOffice or MS Office are FAR better options than Works. That's my opinion, with which you obviously disagree and that's fine. I know of many businesses who use OpenOffice. I don't know of one who uses Works.

Free can be good, but just because something is free doesn't mean it's good, and doesn't mean there's not something else free that's better. Paying for something doesn't necessarily mean it's better either. Works used to be about $40-$50 and Office a couple hundred. The naive thought it was the same thing so they'd buy it and get stuck. I still say you're far better off getting OpenOffice (or a similar option) and have better standards for document saving, better features and the ability to get support. But some are sold on inferior products and won't consider changing. That's certainly your privilege.

I knew when I pointed out shortcomings that there would be some rabid followers offended and all up in arms and rush to its defense. It's a given in this world. But some things need to be said for those open enough to listen. Nothing wrong with pointing out shortcomings since I believe people should make informed decisions, not just decisions based on someone who "loves" it without knowing why. I offer my advice here for free. You're free to take it or leave it.

olychick, OpenOffice has what they call a Draw package that would probably do everything that MSPaint does and more. It has a word processor (to compete with Word), database (to compete with Access), spreadsheet (to compete with Excel), presentations package (To compete with PowerPoint) and graphics program.

Fair warning: OpenOffice is a *large* download. You need broadband or you'll spend probably days downloading it. AFAIK you can't download modules (for instance just the word processor) so pick a time that you can get it downloaded or if you have dialup, have someone download it for you. Give it a try. All it will cost you is time and you'll learn something along the way! And that's always a positive!

Oops, forgot to include the description:
"Draw anything from a quick sketch to a complex plan. Draw gives you the tools to communicate with graphics and diagrams. Manipulate objects, rotate in two or three dimensions; use sophisticated rendering to create photorealistic images. Smart connectors make short work of flowcharts, organisation charts, network diagrams, etc. Styles - a common OpenOffice.org feature - help you control your work easily and precisely in Draw.
A Draw image is worth a thousand words!"

Cynic, like you say, just because something is free, does not mean it is any good. And you know what they say about opinions, and what they are like, and how everybody has got one. :) Have a nice day.

thanks cynic, i have dsl line only, but was able to download OpenOffice last year. I look around in it and see if I can find Draw. Thanks!