egv@aicchi.UUCP (Vann) (03/13/85)
Version 4.0 of MacWrite has been released. It contains one or two new features which may prove of interest. Along the "ruler" is a new option that allows the writer to more carefully control line spacing. When it is activated it places MacWrite in a 6 line/inch mode. Using different sized font characters in a line used to add lead above the line. With this option activated that is no longer the case. Inter-line spacing is constant. Another feature is the reflection of page numbers in the scroll box. You can now move (via the scroll box) directly to the page of your choice. This can also be accomplished from the user menu. Both are convenient to use. MacWrite now uses the virtual memory scheme ala WordStar et al. In many ways this product competes favorably with Microsoft WORD. I have both products. Were I to need multicolumn text and/or automatic page note placement, then WORD would be the tool. But for the student typing a short term paper or office worker churning out the quick and dirty report I would see MacWrite 4.0 as being a legitimate option. In addition I was able to try out my copy of Mac Spell Right. This is a really neat product! Like the spelling checker from Hayden you can make corrections of words from within a contextual environment. But provided you can accomo- date the Thesaurus you can also hunt for synonyms. Since I am an infrequent writer this seems like a much needed tool. One word of caution you really do need two (2) drives if you plan to use the Thesaurus. I believe that the application file is some 190K in size and therefore has to reside on the external drive. All in all I am pleased with this product. It is my understanding that the newest 512K Macs being shipped are coming with the updated version of this product. :qw :q :qw :help : : :*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** -- Eric Geoffrey Vann Analysts International (Chicago Branch) (312) 882-4673 ..!ihnp4!aicchi!egv
huxham@ucbvax.ARPA (Frederick Huxham) (03/14/85)
Be careful using MacWrite 3.xx or now 4.xx. I hadn't heard that 4.0 was actually released, even if it was, it was buggy enough that now versions 4.1 and 4.2 exist. One of the major parts of my job at the computer store on campus is to provide software support for the campus community (mostly Macs). At least 10 people a week come into the store frantic because their zillion page paper thats due in 10 minutes can no longer be opened or printed with MacWrite and they never made any backups. About 90% of the files can be recovered using SetFile (thats why I wrote the DA) by setting the type of the file to TEXT and then going in and editing out all the garbage. But then there is that 10% whose files are mysteriously converted to total garbage. (version 3.96 is famous for this) So, if you must use 3.xx or 4.xx, make lots of backups and don't use it for anything tremendously important. Use WORD or wait for the bugs to stop. Fred A. Huxham huxham@BERKELEY