menton@v5130b.DECnet ("V5130B::MENTON") (10/27/86)
Several of us at work (and home) have changed word
processors recently from "1st Word" to "Word Writer ST", by
Timeworks. It may be short of the next-generation word
processors that we're waiting for, but here's some of its
features:
1. Pull-down menus.
2. Integrated 85,000 word spelling checker. Checks a word at
a time, an entire document all at once, or continuously as
you enter text. No info in the instructions on whether
words can be added to the dictionary. Not as versatile as
Thunder!, but pretty good.
3. On-screen special text: underline, italics, super- and
subscripts, boldface, etc.
4. All of the other standard word processing features: cut and
paste, find and replace, etc.
5. Editable printer drivers for many printers.
6. Reformats text by paragraph or by entire document reliably
and easily. For example, change line length with mouse
pointer at the top of the screen, reformat document: it
works! I never could get this to work in 1st Word (maybe
it was just me).
7. Ability to imbed printer control codes, which are hidden in
the text on the monitor (but can be displayed by clicking
on a check mark in the left border).
8. ASCII save to disk.
9. Up to 4 files may be simultaneously opened.
10. Easy out-denting (as this text is done).
11. Virtually all word processing commands are displayed in 3
rows on the bottom of the monitor screen. Typically one
would leave only the lowest row showing (which defines the
10 function keys), but the text window can always be
changed to a smaller vertical size to expose the other two
rows. This greatly reduces trips to the instruction manual
for info on infrequently-used features.
12. Number of pages, line count, word count, and free RAM
displayed on demand.
13. Hard drive compatible.
14. Outliner capability with up to 5 levels.
15. Integration with Data Manager ST and Swiftcalc ST, also by
Timeworks. Data Manager ST seems to have data graphing
capabilities that go beyond those of V.I.P., but otherwise
we have no experience with these data base and spreadsheet
programs.
We like it. I recommend it for consideration as your ST
word processor. I have no affiliation with Timeworks, or anyone
else in the computer or software industries.
Bob Menton
MENTON@NRL-ACOUSTICS
------oyster@uwmacc.UUCP (Vicarious Oyster) (10/28/86)
In an article, "V5130B::MENTON" <menton@v5130b.decnet> writes: > > Several of us at work (and home) have changed word >processors recently from "1st Word" to "Word Writer ST", by >Timeworks. It may be short of the next-generation word >processors that we're waiting for, but here's some of its >features: > > 7. Ability to imbed printer control codes, which are hidden in > the text on the monitor (but can be displayed by clicking > on a check mark in the left border). ... > We like it. I recommend it for consideration as your ST >word processor. I have no affiliation with Timeworks, or anyone >else in the computer or software industries. This is nice, but I'm still looking for a word-processing program which I can give enough information about my printer to have it reliably justify text when I use my printer's proportionial font(s). Can it do that? I realize that this isn't a simple thing to do (a company I worked for which had their own laser printer (with proportional fonts) and their own word-processor couldn't handle it), but it'd be necessary for any non-trivial applications. Actually, will (does) GDOS have this ability? (It sure would be nice to have a *full* GEM...) -- - Joel ({allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!oyster)
jhs@MITRE-BEDFORD.ARPA (10/30/86)
Right justification with proportional fonts in a printer is best done by the printer. You will have to find out what the escape codes are for setting left and right margins and for selecting right justification, and embed these in your text. If your printer does not support right justification, it will be a real "bear" to implement, because the printer drive will have to know exactly how wide each character is. -John Sangster jhs@mitre-bedford.arpa