We’ve had enormous success with hundreds of Mac owners running TheFormTool and Doxserá with Word for Windows®. Now, with a little help from CrossOver® developed by Codeweavers, it’s time to spread the magic to Linux® operators.
To make this work, you’ll need:
- a relatively new version of Linux,
- CrossOver 13.x or better,
- Word 2007 or 2010,
- and either TheFormTool PRO or Doxserá.
These installation instructions assume that you’re using elementary OS, based on Ubuntu. Ubuntu and Ubuntu-based Linux distributions are by far the most popular, with Red Hat distributions/derivatives coming in second. Installation is the same for TheFormTool and Doxserá.
Crossover works with any modern Debian or Red Hat based Linux. Others may or may not work, depending on how those users have their Linux setup.
The crossover application described below is using version CrossOver v13.2.
A few words on CrossOver
CrossOver by Codeweavers sets a new standard as an elegant and efficient way to bring TheFormTool to a Linux system.
CrossOver is not an operating system. It does not expose a computer to all the social ills to which Windows is vulnerable. It is simply a program that enables some, but not all, Windows programs to operate in Linux. In this case, it allows Office 2007 and Office 2010 to operate in a Linux environment.
CrossOver installs just like any other program for Linux. It weighs in at under 200 meg and imposes only a modest load on the CPU. It’s memory requirements and leakage are nominal, similar to any of the other programs running at the same time.
Rather than creating a Windows environment, CrossOver creates a software shell, they call it a “bottle,” in which Word 2007 or Word 2010 for Windows can function, where all of Word’s features and functions work just as they would on a Windows machine. The difference is that it’s doing so within a Linux window on a Linux desktop in a Linux OS.
Major advantages to CrossOver
CrossOver doesn’t need (or provide or allow) Windows communications tools; it uses Linux’s own systems for Internet connectivity, emails, printing and storage. I find this safety feature an incredible advantage.
There is no Windows system to catch a social disease; no need for Windows security. All the Linux commands and capabilities are nearly seamlessly available. One can choose whether to save documents within the Windows-type structure CrossOver creates within the bottle, or put them directly into the Linux system.
With CrossOver, there’s no need to purchase a copy of Windows; just CrossOver and the specific software you wish to run, Word 2007 and Word 2010 but not Word 2013, which operate completely separately in independent bottles.
There’s no dividing line separating two completely different operating systems to navigate when moving files between programs.
Because users don’t need to buy Windows or its essential protective software, CrossOver’s cost to purchase and operate is substantially less than the alternatives.
Here are the specific steps to take, starting with going to CrossOver’s specific page for TheFormTool (or Doxserá) for Linux at https://www.codeweavers.com/products/#dl
#1 Install CrossOver
#2 Install Word from a CD
#3 Click “Install windows software” button.
Scroll to “Runtime Support Components” and expand the menu.
Select VBA Runtime 6, select the “bottle” Word was installed in, then click “Proceed.”
#4 Install TieFile for TheFormTool. Go here https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/browse/name/?app_id=10978 to get TheFormTool Tie File by clicking the green button.
#5 Download the Crosstie and save it to your computer. Open a file browser and run the downloaded Crosstie.
#6 Select “Choose the Installer File”
#7 Find and select TheFormTool PRO “zip file” you’re going to install. Make certain to select the entire zip file.
#8 Confirm that TheFormToolPRO.zip has been selected for installation
#9 Select the proper “Bottle” for installation. Normally, this will be the bottle you’ve created for your Word installation, as in “Microsoft Word 2010″ or Microsoft Word 2013″
#10 Click “Install”
#11 In the CrossOver menu, click Tools -> Run Command.
Use “Bottle” where Word has been installed.
Click “Browse” next to the Command line.
Click to show “All Files” and navigate to TheFormTool directory. Select “TheFormToolPRO.docm”, open it, and Run it.
That’s it. Congratulations!
The whole process should take less than 15 minutes.
Please help us
Codeweavers allocates support based on votes from its paid users. When you’re all done, please remember to vote for TheFormTool so that it can move off the Bronze badge. You can vote at https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/browse/name/?app_id=10978;details=1.
Your vote will help assure continued product improvement, which will help us all.
You can test the setup at low or no cost by downloading a trial version of CrossOver, installing Word 2007 or 2010, and installing the free version of TheFormTool.
h/t: Joshua Lowe, who had the courage to try
