PROBLEM: SPSS for Windows Output looks funny when saved to a file and 
         then opened in a word processor, because SPSS uses 'fancy' 
         (non-ascii) characters for nice appearance in Windows.

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SOLUTION for Version 7 of SPSS for Windows/Macintosh:
          Version 7.5 of SPSS for Microcomputers will have the full ability
          to output text files.  Until then, you can paste Metafile pictures
          of SPSS tables (called Pivot Tables) output, or paste an SPSS
          Navigator Object version of the table, or paste just the 
          information in the table (without the boxes around it).

          1. Generate the output (e.g., with CROSSTABS)
          2. Select a single Pivot Table (not multiple tables) as
             an object.  To select, click on the name of the table
             in the left portion of the Output Navigator, or click on
             the Pivot Table itself in the right portion of the Navigator.
             The table will be outlined, and a red arrow will point to it.
          3. Click Edit>Copy (this puts the table into the clipboard)
          4. Open the 'target' software (i.e., the software in which you'd
             like to copy the table for another file, such as Microsoft
             Word).
          5. In the 'target' software (e.g., Microsoft Word), click
             Edit>Paste Special, then choose one of the options to
             paste a) an Object (OLE type), b) unformatted text (this 
             is the table contents without the boxes), or c) a Picture.

SOLUTION for Version 6 of SPSS for Windows/Macintosh:
          To ask SPSS to use only ASCII characters for its output boxes
          and low-res graphs, so that you can print your output files
          on just about any printer, do the following:

            click Edit>Preferences>Output

          then choose:

            Character Plot Symbols:
               Histogram:           Block:
               Custom  X            Custom  X

            Page Size
                                    Length:
                                    Infinite

            Borders for Tables:
               Typewriter characters

All other default settings are OK (if they suit you), and can
be left alone.

By the way, the Length: Infinite setting is to avoid page
breaks, which are printed on ASCII printers as a line of 'a's with
accent marks;  not pretty.