Moving AW to a new Intel MacBook

Question

Hello
I say, I say, I say, I've just helped my mother-in-law buy a new MacBook. Sadly, as yet there's no punch-line. In the Apple Store we were able to read her existing Appleworks 6 documents on a new intel machine. When I got back to her place I copied the AW (6.2.8) folder off her old lime green G3 iMac onto a USB stick, and into the Apps folder on the new MacBook. But after doubleclicking, the AW icon just jumps a couple of times and then fades again - no AppleWorks.
Am I missing something? How can I transfer the old AW app from her G3 to the new MacBook? If it's a license issue, I still only need one copy - just on the new machine, not the old one. Any thoughts? Having spent several hundred pounds sterling on the new laptop, she's a bit reluctant to spend more on another copy of software she's already got!
Thanks for any input.

Answer 1

Copying the whole AppleWorks 6 folder is the way to transfer it from one Mac to another so there is something else going on.
AppleWorks 6.2.8 is the Classic component of 6.2.9. Just to make sure the AppleWorks application package contains the OS X component, Control- or right-click on the AppleWorks 6 application icon & choose Show Package Contents from the contextual menu. In the Contents folder should be two folders (among others) named MacOSClassic & MacOS. If you don' t have the MacOS folder, you won't be able to run AppleWorks 6 on an Intel Mac. Applying the AppleWorks 6.2.9 updater will probably add it. You can find the most reliable link to the 6.2.9 updater on this page where you can choose the appropriate updater for your AppleWorks 6 installation. Be sure to pay attention to the two English version updaters.
If you do have the MacOS folder in the package Contents, the problem may be simply a matter of using Disk Utility to repair permissions. It would also be a good idea to delete the AppleWorks preferences if they exist (they may not). To delete AppleWorks’ preference files, go to HD > Users > Library > Preferences. Find and delete the file com.apple.appleworks.plist. Find and open the folder AppleWorks in this Preferences folder, then delete all of the enclosed files (with the exception of the Button Bar Preferences if you have customized the Button Bars). AppleWorks will recreate the preference files as it needs them.