It just needed the courage to do it: I've installed PageMaker 7 into Windows 7 and it is working with none of the problems which made me abandon a straight installation of PageMaker in XP and go for installing it within Virtual PC using Win98.
The only "problem" is the aparent slowness of loading multiple fonts in Windows 7 though I've just been told that you can just put all the .pfm and .pfb files into a new folder and drag the pfm files into the Windows font folder or go for the slow way with the additional possibility of selecting a well hidden option to keep the new fonts where they are.
But, contrary to some comments I found on the Internet, postscript fonts work fine with Windows 7. Also, when opening some files within PageMaker and getting the expected missing font dialog, I was able to select equivalent OpenType fonts and they seem to have worked -- i.e. Garamond Pro OTF for Garamond postscript font. I'd guess that some extended characters will give problems but I have not yet tested that.
Yes, I do most page layout work now with InDesign but I still like PageMaker. It is simple, ultra quick in Win7, and while I still often have to think how to do things with InDesign, it is second nature in PageMaker. And there are few things in basic page layouts which PageMaker cannot do.
UPDATE: See my own added comment following my move from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows 7 (But I'm still able to use PageMaker - in XP mode)
I can now confirm that PagfeMaker 7 will not install in the 64-bit version of Windows 7, presumably because of the remnants of 16-bit code.
However it installed in XP-mode within 64-bit Win7 and the only disadvantage of that is that while you can directly start the program from an icon within Win7 you have to wait for the virtual XP to start before the program loads.
Posted by: Gordon Woolf | December 28, 2009 at 08:20 PM
So glad to have found your blog! NOWHERE on the Adobe site can I find info re: PM7 and Windows 7 compatibility.
I have a new laptop with Windows 7. All files are in PM6.5 Need to access on the laptop. Is fiddling around with PM7 worth it, or is there a better way to go about this .... InDesign is a bit out of my price range at this time. Help!
Posted by: D. McKenna | March 16, 2010 at 08:20 AM
I have installed PageMaker 7 on a Windows 7 64bit system...it seemed to be working fine for a bit, but when I tried to print the page, nothing happened. I have no problem with the printer at all, it works fine with other programs. I just can't seem to print from PageMaker 7.0.2 Incompatibility issue??
Posted by: Leah Dehler | May 07, 2010 at 03:34 AM
To Leah: Did you manage to install PM7 in the 64-bit version of Windows 7 or did you do it within the XP mode? I've only been able to do it in XP mode and found some printing problems there too. The only sure way (even in XP mode) seems to be to create a PDF and print from that by moving it from XP mode to the main desktop.
Posted by: Gordon Woolf | May 09, 2010 at 03:37 PM
Really? I am going to give it a try, most time I do not have compatibility problems.
Posted by: Best reg cleaner | August 07, 2010 at 05:12 PM
Yes I have only a single problem with Pagemaker that it takes a long time to load and disturbs the PC as well. But your idea is great indeed.
Posted by: Refurbished Computers | August 27, 2010 at 08:14 AM
It works on 32-bit windows 7, I can confirm.
Posted by: Best reg cleaner | August 30, 2010 at 02:50 PM
as Windows 7 is the next best OS Pagemaker should work hard for it. :)
thanks!
Posted by: Jaydee | September 11, 2010 at 03:15 AM