awillis@pro-angmar.UUCP (Albert Willis) (04/21/88)
News Release Contact David Macdonald Styleware, Inc. Phone (713) 668-4046 March 25, 1988 Styleware Announces Integrated "Works" Program for Apple IIGS HOUSTON-Apple IIGS software publisher Styleware, Inc. will use the Boston AppleFest conference, May 20-22, as a forum to announce the August 1 release of GSWorks, an integrated software package for the Apple IIGS. Designed to provide Apple IIGS users with an integrated package that takes full advantage of the advanced features of their machines, GSWorks includes in one program the six software applications most frequently used by personal computer owners-word processing with spell checker/thesaurus, database, spreadsheet, page layout, graphics, and communications. "GSWorks is to the Apple IIGS what AppleWorks was to the Apple IIe" said StyleWare President Kevin Harvey. "AppleWorks set a standard for easy-to-use integrated software when it was released for the Apple IIe. We've created GSWorks to provide a similar standard for Apple IIGS owners." According to Harvey, GSWorks "improves on the three AppleWorks applications-Word processing, database, and spreadsheet" by offering "true IIGS" versions of those applications what "work faster, have more features, and fully u tilize the user friendly IIGS interface," GSWorks will also read all the AppleWorks file types word processing, database, and spreadsheet-so AppleWorks owners can upgrade to GSWorks without having to abandon their AppleWorks files. In addition to the basic AppleWorks applications, Harvey said that GSWorks also offers IIGS owners "the types of applications where the IIGS has a real advantage in terms of performance"-page layout and professional-quality graphics. The GSWorks Word Processor features different fonts, character styles and sizes, and text colors, as well as advanced features like the on-line 80,000-word Merriam-Webster/Proximity spell checker and thesaurus. The word processor also works in tandem with the database application for mail merge. The Database employs a graphical interface based on user-created forms to provide GSWorks users with easy data entryform design, according to Harvey. Database files can also be viewed in a speradsheet-like List display. The GSWorks database includes a variety of numeric and string-handling functions, several search and sort options, and built-in report and mailing label generation. GSWorks features a revolutionary approach to computer-aided illustration in it's Graphics application. The program uses object-based graphics of the sort found in draw programs such as TopDraw, but its objects can be edited as if they were bit-mapped images (employed by paint programs such as PaintWorks Gold and Deluxe Paint II). Users benefit from the ease of use offered by the paint functionality while at the same time benefitting from the increased precision output of the object graphics. "Anyone who ha s ever used either a paint or a draw program will love the GSWorks graphicx application, because it's a perfect marriage of the two approaches [to graphics]," said Harvey. "It's something so sophisticated that it's never been done before-not even for the Mac or IBM-and yet, to a user, it's very intuitive and very easy to use." Like the other GSWorks applications. the Spreadsheet is mouse-based, which Harvey claims is a distinct advantage over non-mouse spreadsheets. "Spreadsheets really benefit dramatically from a mouse interface," said Harvey. "Using the mouse to select the cell or group of cells you want to work on is much more intuitive and a lot easier to learn" than using a keyboard, according to Harvey. As with the database application, the GSWorks spreadsheet includes a full range of numeric and string functions, and incl udes both absolute and relative referencing. In addition, the GSWorks spreadsheet employs "intelligent recalculation"-updating only those cells affected by changes each time a single value is changed. The GSWorks wpreadsheet also provides automatic color chart and graph generation. GSWorks includes a full-feature Page Layout application, allowing users to integrate text from the word processor with graphics application in professional-quality documents. The GSWorks Page Layout application features multiple column capability, compatibility with wll IIGS graphics formats, complete text editing, and built-in tools for creating object graphics, rules, and lines. "The Page Layout application includes all the features you'll find in expensive page composition programs for Macintosh and IB M computers, and it's very fast," said Harvey. The GSWorks Communications application works with both internal and external modems, and supports most popular modems, including Appple, Hayes, and Hayes-compatible modems. It includes a special Review Buffer, which saves text as it scrolls off-screen, so a user can scroll back and review the text. "Each GSWorks application is so powerful and so full-featured, it sould stand alone with the best IIGS software in its field," said Harvey. "But what really sets GSWorks apart is that it"s more than just six great programs put into one package. As an integrated package, GSWorks is much more than the sum of its parts." Citing a Macintosh-like window-based environment, Harvey claimed that GSWorks offers a level of integration never before seen in microcomputer software. Users can move from one application to another by just clicking on a different application window. In addition, all six applications can be used at one time, and a user can open up to 14 windows at once. Harvey believes the GSWorks environment offers IIGS users the same sort of functionality found on a Macintosh running under MultiFinder. "Like MultiFinder, the GSWorks environment lets you move effortlessly from one application window to another, and this lets you move from one application to another with an ease many IIGS owners would not have thought possible." For example, Harvey said, a user could read figures from a GSWorks database file into a spreadsheet, create a chart with the figures, edit the chart in the Graphics application, write an analysis of the chart's information in the Wordprocessor, and then bring the chart and analysis together in the Pagelayout application. "What's more," said Harvey, "GSWorks includes a new way to move information from one window to another by just selectin the text or graphic to be moved and dragging it to a new window. It adds a whole new dimension to integrated software." GSWorks supports the Apple LaserWriter and ImageWriter, as well as Epson printers. Styleware includes a special printer driver to produce near letter quality print on the LaserWriter. GSWorks will retail for $249.95.
REWING@TRINCC.BITNET (04/23/88)
GSWorks sounds too good to be true, for any computer, much less the IIgs. I'll reserve judgement until I see the beast. How much memory does this monster need.....2+ megs? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Ewing 88 Disclaimer: Disclaimers Trinity College Mac/Apple ][ Consultant are for sissies and... Box 1520 Trinity College what??? Me??? SUED?!?! Hartford, CT 06106-3187 Phone : (203)-524-5152 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BITNET : REWING@TRINCC INET : REWING%TRINCC@MITVMA.MIT.EDU USENET : ...ihnp4!psuvax!trincc.bitnet!rewing Applelink : U0347 Compu$serve : [76474,1732] GENIE : R.EWING1
wombat@nuchat.UUCP (Scott Lindsey) (04/26/88)
From article <8804221318.aa01963@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA>, by REWING@TRINCC.BITNET: > GSWorks sounds too good to be true, for any computer, much less the IIgs. > I'll reserve judgement until I see the beast. How much memory does this > monster need.....2+ megs? > No. It'll run on a one meg machine. 768K, well, we'll see. By using dynamic segments for the modules, if you don't use one, it won't be taking up memory. Naturally, the more you try to do at one time, the more memory is going to be required. You can't expect to have 5 word-processing windows, 5 graphics, a page layout, a database, a spreadsheet and a comm window up without incurring some serious memory overhead. Nor can you expect apple's system software (window manager, etc) not to get somewhat sluggish. However, multitasking isn't the issue here. The idea is an integrated package that is integrated; where you don't have to quit/close simply to use a different feature. -- Scott Lindsey uunet!nuchat!wombat | These are my opinions. StyleWare, Inc. | No one else claims responsibility 5250 Gulfton 2E | for them. If you agree with them, Houston, TX 77081 | then you're as sick as I am.
sno@m2-net.UUCP (Stephen N. Opal) (04/28/88)
Well, I see it suffers from a very common Appleworks malady as well... No carriage returns at the end of formatted text file lines! [Gee, you'd think they'd figure this shit out by now.] Stephen N. Opal
TMPLee@DOCKMASTER.ARPA (04/30/88)
Two questions, for anyone who has seen it or somehow read more about it than in the ad: a) what "typical" word-processing features (e.g., headers/footers, indented paragraph, changeble margins, underline/bold, columns (although sounds like the page layout covers that) footnotes, section numbering, etc.) does it support? b) how large a document can it handle? comfortably? c) what kind of print quality do you get on an Imagewriter? a laser printer? (guesss that was three questions, afterall) TMPLee@Dockmaster.arpa
wombat@nuchat.UUCP (Scott Lindsey) (05/04/88)
From article <880429235503.071684@DOCKMASTER.ARPA>, by TMPLee@DOCKMASTER.ARPA.UUCP: > Two questions, for anyone who has seen it or somehow read more about it > than in the ad: > > a) what "typical" word-processing features (e.g., headers/footers, > indented paragraph, changeble margins, underline/bold, columns (although > sounds like the page layout covers that) footnotes, section numbering, > etc.) does it support? Yes, headers/footers, paragraph indentation, margins, underline/bold/outline/ shadow/italic/superscript/subscript. Columns only in page layout. No auto- matic footnotes. Page numbering, but no section numbering. The word processor is paragraph based (wrt rulers), similar to Write Now's paragraphing. > b) how large a document can it handle? comfortably? Entirely dependant on memory. The more onboard memory, the bigger the document. I don't know offhand the basic memory requirement, but it's pretty much targeted at a 1 Meg machine. > c) what kind of print quality do you get on an Imagewriter? a laser > printer? GS Works uses Apple's printer drivers, so you get the quality that they can provide, which is generally the same as the Macintosh. -- Scott Lindsey uunet!nuchat!wombat | These are my opinions. StyleWare, Inc. | No one else claims responsibility 5250 Gulfton 2E | for them. If you agree with them, Houston, TX 77081 | then you're as sick as I am.
lwv@n8emr.UUCP (Larry W. Virden) (05/04/88)
According to K Harvey (the pres of styleware?) there will be 6 Apple GSs setup running GSworks at Applefest - you all are going to boston for Applefest right? <grin> -- Larry W. Virden 75046,606 (CIS) 674 Falls Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 (614) 864-8817 osu-cis!n8emr!lwv (UUCP) osu-cis!n8emr!lwv@TUT.CIS.OHIO-STATE.EDU (BITNET) We haven't inherited the world from our parents, but borrowed it from our children.
rieu@salem.dec.com (Bill the Cat for prez) (06/21/88)
For those who might be interested, Styleware is going to offer
GSWorks to Appleworks users for $99.95 when it comes out (Aug.
supposedly). This is a great deal considering the list price is
expected to be, I believe, $249.95.
Dennis Rieu
DEC
Salem, N.H.
Rieu@salem.dec.comdwayne@VAXB.ACS.UNT.EDU (Dwayne Springfield) (11/16/88)
Communications does no terminal emulation whatsoever. It lists at $299.00 and it still has a few bugs in it.... but it is out and available. dwayne BitNet: dwayne@untvax