Team Blog

37 Comments

• Paul Weber said on Oct 12, 2011 11:46 PM:

  I wish it had tabs like Lotus Word Pro so I can navigate around large documents
  
  I liked the text/table/ frame properties box in Lotus Word Pro - it was neatly organized and not too big
  
  Bring back Word Pro
  

• mike strong said on Oct 13, 2011 1:49 AM:

  I agree with you Paul - I favoured Word Pro over microsoft and a return to that product would be magic
  

• Bill said on Oct 16, 2011 12:29 AM:

  You guys are doing a great job actually. The products are very good.
  

• Philip Owen said on Oct 19, 2011 9:38 AM:

  I used the original Symphony. I later used Lotus Smart Suite. I moved my word processing and presentations to Open Office but Lotus-123 is vastly superior to other spreadsheets for a user of the classic keystroke menu. It is MUCH faster to set up a spreadsheet. Also, reducing mouse use reduces the potential for Repetitive Strain Injury. New Symphony needs keystroke commands to reduce mouse use.
  
  The Lotus Approach database management system (DBMS) is the foundation stone of my business. Absolutely no other DBMS is remotely as good for SME work. Filemaker is too rigid and simplified. Access has the usual Microsoft feature bloat and is too complex in its fundamentals. MySQL and Oracle are for programmers and MySQL isn't that great.
  

• Mario Costa said on Oct 27, 2011 11:10 PM:

  Yes, I agree the minimum unit is too large...
  

• Jeff Leonard said on Jan 3, 2012 12:01 AM:

  I agree with Philip Owen's comment. I also used the original Lotus-123. Moving from keyboard to mouse wastes time and hinders touch-typists. It is much easier and faster to set up a spreadsheet using standardized keystrokes.
  

• Nick Halliwell said on Jan 7, 2012 4:01 AM:

  Whilst I agree with all, that WordPro was a brilliant product, I think that its highly that IBM will abandon Symphony. So we need to encourage them to add featuers that WordPro had that other product did not. I agree about the Image handling. Please can you make it beter and also make sure that when you add an image it stays where you add it, I find they move all over the place no matter what type on anchoring you use.
  

• chris cicocki said on Jan 7, 2012 4:23 PM:

  Hi
  
  Can we have a manual cropping facility included as you improve the typed imput function please its s much quicker for quick and cheerful and perhaps th toolbar access aka office 2003 to speed up access to functions..there are a few issues to work on but this is the best alternative to MS office I have used Thanks for it. ANy chance of a Database - and Outlook alternative.. Thanks to all involved and plase keep on improving this fledgling..
  

• Bruce Love said on Jan 16, 2012 1:16 PM:

  Hello, one of our clients is using Lotus 1-2-3 9.8, and he has upgraded his PC to Windows 7, 64 Bit. He is accessing older 123 documents from his pc, and he is running in to file corruption issues. This customer is a Construction firm, and he has a massive amount of OLD Lotus 123 documents that he has archived. What is the proper direction for him to go to get to a platform to support 123 in a 64 bit environment or on a 64 bit pc? Should I be directing him to Symphony 3.0? Then importing each file? I know this forum is not exactly the correct spot to log this question, but in supporting features, getting them to the right platform is key. Thanks in advance for anyone's help. Bruce. 936-631-3110, office. 936-414-2630 cell.
  

• James Williams said on Jan 18, 2012 11:37 AM:

  I have been using Wordpro since it was purchased from Samna back in the late 1980s. It is, without question, the best word processor for anyone who is a serious writer. Unfortunately, IBM never made a version for the iMac, so I must run it through Windows using a Parallels platform.
  
  I sure wish IBM would: 1) update Wordpro (its features have not changed in more than 20 tears), and 2) make it compatible with Apple OS.
  

• Noel said on Jan 22, 2012 9:56 AM:

  Update Word Pro. I second that.
  

• Geoffrey Lawrence said on Jan 23, 2012 6:32 PM:

  I wholeheartedly agree; both Word Pro and 1-2-3 are excellent programs. Neither were my first such SW but both even in very old editions are superior to MS Office which we use only for interchangeability., (but Open office still even more flexible and interchangeable. Just started using Symphony in Windows 7, and am struggling to install on Ubuntu 11.10. Does it work on 11.10 or only on Ubuntu 10.04?
  

• Donald Eugene Kliros said on Jan 27, 2012 10:09 AM:

  I am interested in obtaining a brand new copy of your Lotus Sym Release 3 data program that originally came out in 1980's if they are still available. I prefer the program on a CD-RW Disc if available that way. I will also accept the program on 3 1/2 inch floppy disks .I urgently need this program as I have my Inventory & Budgets on this program. My original computer crapt out on me * I lost that program that was on my IBM computer that crapt out . I cannot find my original set of disk that I bought back in the 80's. By the way, My IBM computer was originally bought in 1980, dekliros@gmail.com
  

• Simon Bingham said on Jan 27, 2012 5:39 PM:

  I have to agree with the above comments. I use Word Pro and I still prefer it to Libre Office, WordPerfect X3 and Word. Just good to write on! I have a feeling that we're fighting a lost cause but I still puzzle over why they started a completely new office suite when they had such a great one that only needed updating? Come on IBM, for me, and I think a lot of others, Smart Suite is still the preferred office suite. Please bring it fully up to date!
  

• Donald Eugene Kliros said on Jan 28, 2012 10:20 AM:

  In regards to my last message, the Sym Release 3 program must be upgraded to work with Windows XP if that is possible. If not let me know if I must purchase Windows 7 to make this program work.
  
  dekliros@gmail.com
  

• Robert Briggs said on Feb 5, 2012 4:00 PM:

  I agree with most everyone above me. Lotis SmartSuite, with the classic key, is my mainstay. I am always dismayed with IBM when I must manually cut and paste finanacial reports for CPA, banks. IRS, insurance company, auditors and all from 123 to a MS Office product. The time to set up and struggle is daunting. Open Office is a laudable effort in that it offers an alternative to people like me and most of the other contributors. I would also encourage IBM to continue to improve and upgrade features of SmartSuite. being able to open the wk1 - today files. Lotus is to my knowledge the only software to offer the ability to access every spreadsheet, document. database I have ever put together. Comparison to projections of 20 Years ago is fun.
  

• Robert Briggs said on Feb 5, 2012 4:02 PM:

  I agree with most everyone above me. Lotis SmartSuite, with the classic key, is my mainstay. I am always dismayed with IBM when I must manually cut and paste finanacial reports for CPA, banks. IRS, insurance company, auditors and all from 123 to a MS Office product. The time to set up and struggle is daunting. Open Office is a laudable effort in that it offers an alternative to people like me and most of the other contributors. I would also encourage IBM to continue to improve and upgrade features of SmartSuite. being able to open the wk1 - today files. Lotus is to my knowledge the only software to offer the ability to access every spreadsheet, document. database I have ever put together. Comparison to projections of 20 Years ago is fun.
  

• Victor Lawrence said on Feb 7, 2012 5:56 PM:

  I'm blind, and I use the JAWS 11 screen reader with Windows 7. I find IBM Lotus Symphony to be very accessible to that screen reader, and the NVDA screen reader. However, I find that sometimes, IBM Lotus Symphony suddenly stops working, and I have to reinstall the program to make it work again. As I don't appear to have any viruses, malware, or spyware on my computer, I think there must be a bug in your program. I hope you guys can fix it.
  
  I also use OpenOffice, but I think IBM Lotus Symphony is more accessible and user-friendly. Please add a database feature too.
  
  Great job,
  
  Victor
  

• GrahamB said on Feb 9, 2012 4:19 AM:

  Hmmmm. I've been an avid user of Lotus 123 spreadsheets for almost 20 years. Now that I'll soon be unable to use it (XP to Windows 7 low-end version) I'm not too happy about losing productivity by using Excel :) I will probably need to resave my dozens of .123 files in .xls format by using open source LibreOffice but sadly for me, LibreOffice seem to be having problems in generating address labels from a database/spreadsheet. So open source isn't providing all the solutions when we most need them. Ever feel like banging your head against a brick wall?
  

• B Marsh said on Feb 9, 2012 6:21 PM:

  When I insert a picture into Presentations and want to resize it using the mouse, it won't maintain its aspect ratio unless I hold down the shift key (I think that's the key). Well, that works fine, but I often forget. Resizing shouldn't need an extra key, because resizing while maintaining the same aspect ratio is nearly always what someone wants to do. Actually I can't think of when I would want to resize AND change the aspect ratio.
  
  Meanwhile, thanks for a very nice product!
  

• Synfluent said on Feb 21, 2012 6:14 AM:

  An avid user of Lotus 1-2-3 with file extensions of .123? You must have had a different version than me.
  
  All of mine look like wk3, wk4, etc.
  

• Ken Hekter said on Mar 1, 2012 9:05 AM:

  I have found it hit or miss being able to send others spreadsheeets made in symphony using......Lotus notes as an email problem. Many times the receiver gets the sheets garbled or with no data. The sad part is that excell sheets sent with lotus notes work every time.
  
  Shouldn't lotus symphony work with lotus notes? it's the same company for crying out loud!!!
  

• Kiraitachi said on Apr 19, 2012 4:56 AM:

  I'm switching from libreoffice after switching from Open-office, their UI was and still is poor, plus gave me lots of errors with the file docx reading, hope this suite works, looks much more professional coming from IBM.
  

• Eric Hoyer said on May 24, 2012 2:13 PM:

  Guten liebe Leute, ich kenne WordPerfect und nutzte dies schon in 1996, schade es wird nicht auch für Deutsche weiter hergestellt.. Es kann mit WordPerfect 11 mehr als Word von Microsoft.
  
  Es besteht ein Problem mit Programmierern die nicht den vollen Einsatz bringen. Sie haben zum Teile meine Variante etwas ageritzt, ab voll zur Freue der Nutzer ist es nicht gewiorden. Ich bin kein Programmierr aber ich würdeIhr Program immerhalb von drei Monaten zu einem der besten Programme macen die es gibt. Wichtig wäre das Anheften an die automatische Internetzeile. ein Office im Office vom Start des Computers in das WordPerfect mit eigenem Speicher, Prozessor, eigener Platform, eigeen Stammbaum (Explorer) Jedes Familienmitglied hat sein Office.E.H.
  

• Eric Hoyer said on May 24, 2012 2:30 PM:

  Guten Tag, nutze WordPerfect seit 1996, schade für Deutsche nicht weiter hergestellt.. Es kann mit WordPerfect 11 mehr als Word von Microsoft. Sie haben ein Problem mit Programmierern die nicht den vollen Einsatz bringenkönnen. Die Oberfläche des Dokumets ist schon gut aber nicht perfect hat meine Variante etwas ageritzt, ab voll zur Freue der Nutzer, nein. Ich bin kein Programmierer aber ich würde Ihr Program immerhalb von drei Monaten zu einem der besten Programme machen. Wichtig wäre das Anheften an Internetzeile; ein Office im Office, Start des Computers in das WordPerfects, mit eigenem Speicher, Prozessor, eigener Platform, eigenen (Explorer); Familienmitglied hat sein Büro im Büro. Umweltalternativtechnik.com Gruß Eric Hoyer
  

• Ole Skovmand said on Jul 4, 2012 1:56 AM:

  I have been using Lotus since 1984. The latest version was a Symphony 123. My problem is that IB Symphony cannt read spreadsheet files from 123; I can covert these files to an old form of Xcel, then read with IBM Symphony, but will then have to reformat all headlers, column width etc. I think IBM ought to make newer Symphony versions able to read old files, please
  

• Helmut Boehnke said on Jul 27, 2012 4:08 AM:

  i have always used Lotus smart suite = lotus word pro and flg. If I move to lotus symphony, ho can I read my documents that are all in .lwp ? Why can symphony not open the docs from Lotus word pro , but all docs from microsoft word and open office ?
  

• robert said on Sep 14, 2012 4:09 PM:

  How about mouse wheel navigation for going between slides in normal mode in presentations?
  

• Bill Geneau said on Oct 1, 2012 6:11 PM:

  I have been using Lotus 123 continuously since the 1980's. I started with Ver. 2.0 I put in late hours exploring Symphony hoping and wishing it would be the long awaited update for Lotus 123. I am sorely disappointed, just another copy of Excel etc. etc. Too bad. I guess all the newby developers have difficulty remembering anything good from the 80's LOL
  
  Bill
  

• red said on Oct 9, 2012 8:57 AM:

  WHY IS THERE NO BUG LIST FOR USERS ? NO EMAIL OR ANYTHING THAT USERS CAN REPORT BUGS ! I WANT TO WRITE ABOUT A BUG AND I CAN'T ! DONT HAVE A PLACE TO DO THAT !
  
  tHE SUPPORT FORUM IS DEAD ! WHAT IS GOING ON ? IBM IS DESTROYING ITS IMAGE !
  

• Art Douglas Jr said on Nov 7, 2012 9:01 PM:

  Nothing compares with the original Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets; man Multimate and Visa-Calc were both tossed out of Maryland Government in the late 70's when we discovered 1-2-3. Having Symphony a few years later was a Godsend though. I loved the various components Word Pro so far above Word, yet inferior to WordPerfect 4.0 & 4.2 www.YeahWrite.com is freeware made by the developers who created and preferred WordPerfect 4.2 over WordPerfect 5.0.
  
  I am an Accountant, but use a lot of databases also I liked Lotus Approach and am too overwhelmed by Access to even try to learn it (dBase 4 & 5 were easier). I have the Lotus SmartSuite Millenia but have no idea where the CD/DVD is. can we ever buy these again. IBM please renew Symphony! Please
  

• Vimish said on Nov 29, 2012 4:02 PM:

  Reading this comment log is like a walk down memory lane. I too started with Lotus123, VisiCalc, MultiMate, BoeingCalc, HavardGraphics and progressed to Symphony and then onto FoxPro. Yes, I still rank the original Symphony spreadsheet as king but come on guys, the current interface and userbase date back to the 1980's and 1990's. I moved onto MS Excel/MS Word/PowerPoint/Access between 1994-1996 and never looked back. No matter how much IBM compels it's employees to use Lotus Symphony, the global standard is and will remain MS Office. Just how many employeers/young people can be convinced to use this product?
  

• Will said on Dec 2, 2012 9:39 AM:

  I too lament the abandonment of Lotus SmartSuite. I am currently using Softmaker Office, which is a nifty MS Office substitute with excellent MS Office compatibility. The current Symphony is rather crude in its treatment of graphical elements. It is a minimal treatment of what IBM seems to think is necessary for office software. In truth, I find it a bit bland.
  

• Bennett Brooke said on Dec 16, 2012 4:30 PM:

  For those of you who want to run Lotus 123 vs 9.8, you can run it in Win 7. I've been running it for over a year. The Lotus Smart Suite ribbon boots up fine, but you need to run Lotus 123, Organizer, and Word Pro in compatibility mode.
  
  I wish IBM would add a plug in for uploading Lotus 123 files. I have many years of complex older Lotus 123 files or I encourage IBM to just work on the last Lotus SmartSuite and make it compatibile to Win 7 and Win 9. It is a superior program to Symphony. All of my old business addresses are in Organizer contacts.
  
  I've managed to convert some files, but some have errors in the conversions.
  

• Bernardo Sánchez said on Dec 20, 2012 9:53 PM:

  In the the 80's decade I was a Lotus Macro programmer, I never forget this basic programming technique and for years I stand waiting for something like this again in Lotus. Right now I am architect and have to use EXCEL for everyday cost estimates that I am sure will be best performed in Lotus with Macros.
  

• Bernardo Sánchez said on Dec 20, 2012 10:05 PM:

  Thus architect, I am university professor too, and use one outclass 80386 PC with my olds Lotus app. for teach the students the design of macros for solving from matrix and vectors problems to financial mathematics without be programmer.
  
  Please forgive my crass error in english, but I am hispanic.
  

• Guest said on Apr 30, 2013 8:54 AM:

  ThankS
  

Add Your Comment