Vista - .xps vs .wps, .doc, .rtf, ...

when i create a document using ms works 8.5, it exists by default as .wps. i
can save it as .wps, .doc, .rtf, .. when i attempt to print using my standard
printer, i get a message that demands that it be saved as .xps -- and
proceeds to REFUSE TO PRINT!!

1. why would i want to save .wps as .doc, .rtf, ..?
2. how do i print my .wps file? ( i will likely have a similar print
frustration scenario with .rtf, .doc, .txt, ...)
3. can i *create* a file in .doc and .rtf? how (iow, what software provides
these formats by default)?
4. what are the intended uses of each of the formats?

Look in your Control Panel / Printers and see if you have an icon for a
printer specifically labeled as an XPS printer.

If so it has porbably been set as the default printer. Find the icon
for the printer you want to use and either double click on the icon to
set it as default or right mouse click on the icon and select Set as
Default.

I'm not in VISTA at the moemnt so I can't check but I'm sure that I
have an icon (that I did not specifically set myself) for an XPS
printer.