Here on iPhone J.D. and when I speak at seminars about integrating an iPhone and iPad into a law practice, I frequently talk about the best iOS apps and strategies for working with Microsoft Word files. From time to time, I am reminded that not all lawyers use Word as their primary word processor. There are still some attorneys who prefer to use WordPerfect. Moreover, even attorneys who use Word for their own drafts sometimes encounter WordPerfect files, either from opposing counsel or from a court.
The iPhone and iPad cannot natively view WordPerfect files, but a few years ago, LawBox came up with an app called WPD Viewer that let you view WordPerfect files in iOS. The app does not let you edit WordPerfect files, but you can select some or all of the text and copy it and paste it into a new document created with another app such as Pages. I reviewed that app in 2010. Corel, the company that sells WordPerfect, liked the idea so much that it purchased the right to sell WPD Viewer and, effective January of 2011, renamed the app WordPerfect Viewer.
For three years, Corel sold an iPhone version of the app for $4.99 and an iPad version for $5.99. Unfortunately, Corel did not introduce very many new features during that time — just some minor things like adding folders in late 2012.
As of January of 2014, the app is now back in the hands of LawBox, the original developer. California attorney Nicholas Zeltzer, the founder of LawBox, tells me that he has already updated the app for iOS 7, and I see that the app does now have a new look on both the iPad and iPhone.
Zeltzer also tells me that more updates are planned for the future.
[UPDATE: Zeltzer tells me that unlike the original transition from LawBox to Corel, those of you who purchased the Corel version of this app need not pay again to get the upgrades. LawBox inherited all of the users of the Corel version of the app.]
The WordPerfect Viewer app is a useful tool to have on your iPhone or iPad, especially if you use WordPerfect in your law office, but also if you are just someone who encounters WordPerfect files from time to time. I’m happy to see that the app is back in LawBox’s hands, and I look forward to seeing future updates to the app.
Click here to get WordPerfect Viewer for iPhone ($4.99):
Click here to get WordPerfect Viewer for iPad ($5.99):
And it connects directly with your Dropbox account. Nice feature.
Would love to see a WP viewer for Windows that would allow WP users to share WP files with non-WP users, like those who have only office. Office doesn’t do a very good job properly formatting WP documents, especially docs with tables and such.
There is now an update today for IOS 8 but not available for download