"preview" question

how do i use "preview"?
to wit, i get .xls files as email attachments that that open w adobe
on my pc that i thought would open w "preview" on my mac. but
when i click on them, nothing. are there steps to take to activate
the preview feature? even preview's "help" icon yields a comment
that no preview help is available to view on my puter.
thanks in advance...

You might want to open the .xls files with Appleworks. Preview doesn't support .xls files.

it appears from the appleworks drop-down choices that
i either don't know which choice to make for pdf files or
that i need to install cd that has the info i need to start.

Hmm... Well, just control-click on the file, so the pop down menu appears. Hover the cursor over the the "Open with", then click on "Appleworks".

appleworks, as such, is not a boldface choice in the dropdown
box, but there are 4-5 appleworks sub headers there, such
as documentation, fonts, extras, and 1-2 others i can't recall.

it's as if i have to install it first before using.
could it be? thanks.

Click on the icon called "AppleWorks 6", it will be among the other sub folders. Once the app is launched, (avoid the box in the middle with the tabs at the bottom) go to the menu bar at the top, click on "File", "Open...", select your file in the contexual menu and click "Open".

iWhat said:

Click on the icon called "AppleWorks 6", it will be among the other sub folders. Once the app is launched, (avoid the box in the middle with the tabs at the bottom) go to the menu bar at the top, click on "File", "Open...", select your file in the contexual menu and click "Open".

Click to expand...

i found it in the applications folder, and "opened" appleworks 6,
but i don't know how to launch it?!

all i know is that .xls and .pdf attachments to my emails do
not open. i'm sure it's an easy fix; i just can't get it yet!

postscript...

e-RICHIE said:

i found it in the applications folder, and "opened" appleworks 6,
but i don't know how to launch it?!

all i know is that .xls and .pdf attachments to my emails do
not open. i'm sure it's an easy fix; i just can't get it yet!

Click to expand...

alas, the apple helpline told me that the files would
open w appleworks IF they were sent on an apple, but
the email w attachments emanated from a pc. they
said i'd have to get/buy/download adobe for mac.

does this sound right?