[net.micro.mac] What is Multi-write?

sakw@cvaxa.sussex.ac.uk (Sak Wathanasin) (06/27/86)

Someone posted the following bits of info on Mactel, a UK BBS. I'd
be grateful for any more info about it. Thanks.
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Category:  1       MAC Information
Message #:  929
Submitted:  06/16/86 2:11
Submitted by:  BRUCE STIDSTON
Subject:  Word processing/MultiWrite.
 
Keith Lander: Here's the blurb on MultiWrite...
 
* It features integrated outlining: a sort of ThinkTank 512
inside a full-blown word-processor. Absolutely brilliant
if it works well: hands up every writer who has wished
that ThinkTank had a bit more MicroSoft Word in it, and
vice versa.
 
* Auto-numbering of sections, lists, etc.
 
* Sort: lists or outlines, alphabetically.
 
* Multi-windows -- up to 12. Who needs 12? Well, four isn't
enough for me personally: I like to leave my daily timesheet
file open all the time; then there's my things-to-do list -- nice
to be able to leave it on the desktop and check things off as
they are done; that leaves only a couple of windows for
multiple-file work... always wondered why Word has the 4-window
limitation. The obvious one... memory?
 
* Multi-ClipBoard to accumulate all cut or copied text. Better
than Undo. One of my four windows has traditionally been
reserved for this purpose anyway, so it's almost like
MultiWrite's authors read my mind with this neat feature.
 
* Dragging text, rather than cutting and pasting. Word is
OUTSTANDING in this respect, with its shortcuts. Word lets
you completely re-structure a document in the time it
takes a MacWrite user to mouse up to the Edit menu... MultiWrite
apparently lets you pick up any number of topics or paras
and simply drag them to where you want 'em.
 
* MARK feature: identifies paragraphs that
have been revised within a user-specified time, so changes
can be reviewed quickly.
 
* Count feature: words, characters, paragraphs.
 
* Zoom feature. For quick window re-sizing. Probably essential
when you've got a dozen of the darned things floating about.
I also notice a Windows item on the menu bar; if this is
what I think it is, these guys have done their homework.
 
* Multi-selection: You can select non-consecutive blocks of
text and operate on them. Neat for font or formatting changes.
Haven't used MacAuthor, but would assume from the spec that
this is simple to achieve (via a different route).

All this, plus a $79 price tag. If it scrolls better than MacWrite
(and let's face it, a ZX 81 on my colour telly scrolls better than
MacWrite), MW will at last be able to bite the dust once and for
all. If it shows headers, footers and page-breaks then, heck,
maybe we can trash MS-Word too.

Regards,
Bruce Stidston.

PS: Did you know there's a company in the States with a
product called Macauthor (lower-case 'a')?

PPS: Where is Microsoft's Typographer word processing
program?
-- 
Sak Wathanasin, U of Sussex, Cognitive Studies, Falmer, Sussex BN1 9QN, UK
uucp:  ...mcvax!ukc!cvaxa!sakw
arpa:  sakw%cvaxa.sussex.ac.uk@ucl.cs.ac.uk
janet: sakw@uk.ac.sussex.cvaxa

ir10@sdcc6.ucsd.EDU (Donald R. Fredkin) (06/30/86)

I called the company that advertises Multi-write and they told me that
it would not be ready until late September.
-- 

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smith@umn-cs.UUCP (Richard Smith) (06/30/86)

Concerning MultiWrite:

  When looking for a worthwhile alternative to ThinkTank a few weeks ago I
attempted to acquire/evaluate MultiWrite. At the time it was only being
advertised in 'Icon Review' advertisements in various Mac magazines.
  I called up Icon Review twice in an attempt to acquire this wonder of
the software art.  The first time I asked for some details. The person
on the phone offered to send me a detailed description of the program.
I agreed, and provided my name and address.  I'm still waiting to receive
this description and it's been a couple of months now.
  I called Icon Review back a couple weeks after my original call and a
different person on the phone admitted that they didn't expect MultiWrite
to be availible until 'sometime in August'.  Vaporware, I muttered.
  Since then I've seen several slick ads for MultiWrite, usually with a
special discount price if you order it before the end of the month. There's
no mention in these ads of how long delivery may take. I did notice, however,
that the company listed as owning Icon Review has the same (or almost the
same) name as the company listed as producing MultiWrite.
  I have no experience with Icon Review as a company, but this performance
really makes me wonder what they're up to.

Rick Smith.