clark@ssc-vax.UUCP (Roger Clark Swann) (09/20/83)
I just purchased the EASY SCRIPT 64 word processing package by Simon
Trammer and marketed through Commodore Business Machines (UK),LTD.
My impression of the package is very good. The features seem very
complete and easy to use. The system has several command modes that
are accessed through the user programable keys F1-F8. These include
edit,print,save (disk or cassette),load,read directory among others.
The read disk directory and load works very well. The directory is
read into the machine and then by using the softkeys, the desired
file can be selected and loaded into the machine for editing or
printing, no need to type the file name.
When Easy Script comes up, the configuration can be tailored to the
hardware being used:
ENTER TEXT WIDTH (40-240 COLS)? 40
(D)ISK OR (T)APE ? D
PRINTER TYPE (0-4) ? 0
0 = CBM
1 = MX80
2 = SPINWRITER
3 = QUME/DIABLO/8300
4 = OTHER
In addition, the border, screen, and cursor colors may be change to
any combination the user wants.
One other nice feature of Easy Script is the disk formating mode.
In E-S as in other word processor packages, the disk must be
formated before files may be saved. But if no formated disk are
handy, just seclect the disk mode, insert any disk and hit format.
In a moment the disk is ready for saving files, no need to exit E-S
and loose data as with some packages.
Easy Script has many of the standard features expected in a word
processor which I will not go into but just to say it compares to
the Xerox and others at the office. After I have used the package
awhile I'll post follow up comments if necessary.
A word about the manual ------- it is a good one.
There are very good examples in each section to train the user.
The manual is a book of approximately 100 pages with a very good
index,( everything I wanted was listed in the index, clearly).
This is one of the best documents I have seen at any level.
My only complaint is that the s/w package I purchased came on disk
which is fine, I have a disk. But there is no indication of what
media is used on the carton. In addition, the manual was written in
terms of using the s/w in cartridge form with no mention of how to
load the s/w from the disk. After some trial and error, I found that
the program 'EASY SCRIPT' (the top file on the directory) is loaded as
machine code (,8,1) and your off and running.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this product.
At this writing, Easy Script was selling for less than 40 dollars
here in Seattle.
Roger Swann
Boeing Aerospace Co.
Seattle, WA 98124
ssc-vax!clark