maxwell@babel.DEC (05/30/85)
I've gotten awfully used to using EMACS (on VAX/VMS) here at work. So used to it, in fact, that I've looked into EMACS-like editors for CP/M-80, so that I can feel [nearly] as comfortable at home too. I've got copies of several articles/reviews on MINCE (MINCE Is Not Complete EMACS), which paint a rather nice picture of an editor more like what I'd like to have. MINCE is also usually described in concert with SCRIBBLE, a text processor which also sounds desirable. Recently however, I called Mark of the Unicorn to learn about pricing and availability, and learned that they're no longer supporting either MINCE or SCRIBBLE, but refered me to their two distributors. One of their distributors didn't think that MINCE ran on CP/M-80, and didn't have SCRIBBLE. Neither of the distributors were really sure that the C source for the MINCE commands (available to allow user customizing) was available as part of the package, as it has been in the past. Well informed folks. Mark of the Unicorn's FINAL WORD doesn't run on CP/M-80 as I recall, and from the reviews it seems to have changed enough from MINCE+SCRIBBLE that I don't think it's what I want. Which leads me to my questions. Is there anyone out there who uses MINCE (and SCRIBBLE), and who might have comments about either? What's performance like? Where, and how long ago, did you get it/them? How difficult is MINCE to customize? How much of EMACS is left out? Any word on whether or not, if Mark of the Unicorn is no longer supporting MINCE or SCRIBBLE (since they're pushing FINAL WORD, now), the sources to MINCE and SCRIBBLE might be available? I've already started, but if I can get away with not writing my own.... -+- Sid Maxwell, DEC @ Spit Brook, Nashua NH
BHUBER@USC-ECL.ARPA (05/31/85)
In response to your message sent 30 May 85 15:34:45 GMT Contrary to your comment about the MotU's Final Word, it DOES run on CP/M-80 systems. I have a copy and use it on an Apple //e with the Premium Softcard. Granted, I don't use it very often, but it does work. The reason I got it was it was the only package with support for "true" proportional spacing on a Diablo 1650 printer. I now use WordStar and do the final printing with a fantastic package called MagicBind/MagicIndex. Cheers, Bud Huber -------
young@uci-icsc.ARPA (Michal Young) (06/01/85)
Mince and Scribble for CP/M-80 live on as Perfect Writer and Perfect Formatter (respectively), and used to come standard with Kaypros. I don't know if Kaypro still furnishes the (im)Perfect family. Unfortunately, source is not available for the Perfect versions. You can do some limited customization by rebinding keys and telling it a bit about your printer (but you can't get superscripts and subscripts unless your printer is one of the `supported' models-- no way to write your own driver for others). --Michal Young young@uci.arpa
tsc2597@acf4.UUCP (Sam Chin) (06/01/85)
<> The Final Word certainly does run on CPM/80. About 2 years ago I used Final Word to create a manual for a product. It was running on TurboDOS with slave Z-80 boards. There are several differences between it an the 16 bit version but it is definately the best program on CPM/80 to generate a manual. It worked flawlessly with a Qume printer and proportional spacing. Sam Chin allegra!cmcl2!acf4!tsc2597 tsc2597.acf4@nyu
cem@intelca.UUCP (Chuck McManis) (06/03/85)
> > Mince and Scribble for CP/M-80 live on as Perfect Writer and Perfect > Formatter (respectively), and used to come standard with Kaypros. I don't > know if Kaypro still furnishes the (im)Perfect family. Unfortunately, > source is not available for the Perfect versions. You can do some > limited customization by rebinding keys and telling it a bit about your > printer (but you can't get superscripts and subscripts unless your printer > is one of the `supported' models-- no way to write your own driver for > others). > > --Michal Young > young@uci.arpa However, Mince could handle files larger than 64K wheras Perfect Writer didn't seem to. Even with a huge >128K swap file. It is/was quite a shame for MotU to drop Mince/Scribble support like it did. Now if they would just release the source to the public domain... --Chuck -- - - - D I S C L A I M E R - - - {ihnp4,fortune}!dual\ All opinions expressed herein are my {qantel,idi}-> !intelca!cem own and not those of my employer, my {ucbvax,hao}!hplabs/ friends, or my avocado plant. :-}
oacb2@ut-ngp.UUCP (oacb2) (06/04/85)
> However, Mince could handle files larger than 64K wheras Perfect Writer > didn't seem to. Even with a huge >128K swap file. I often use Perfect Writer with files larger than 64K. I think the largest I've ever edited with it is about 180K. I use a 248K swap file. -- Mike Rubenstein, OACB, UT Medical Branch, Galveston TX 77550