mike@dhw68k.cts.com (Michael J. Cleary) (04/06/88)
Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 (ESWP05.DOC) April 2, 1988 Copyright (c) 1987, 1988 Michael J. Cleary All Rights Reserved Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page i --------> T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S <-------- Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Spelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 1 --------> I N T R O D U C T I O N <-------- The purpose of this document is to provide information about general purpose shareware word processors for IBM and IBM compatible micro computers. The document starts by identifying the evaluated products. The actual evaluation begins with a comparasion of general features. The rest of the evaluation contains comparasions of specific features that are broken down into the following logical areas: A) Block B) Cursor C) File D) Printer E) Spelling F) Text G) Window Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 2 --------> P R O D U C T S <-------- Product: Galaxy Version 2.3 Date: December 1987 Vendor: OmniVerse Post Office Box 2974 Renton, Washington 98056-0961 Voice (206) 228-7627 Data (206) 235-8760 Product: MindReader Version 2.0 Date: March 1988 Vendor: Brown Bag Software 2155 South Bascom Avenue Campbell, California 95008 Voice (408) 559-4545 Data (408) 371-7654 Product: New York Word Version 2.2 Date: June 1987 Vendor: Magma Software Systems 138 - 23 Hoover Avenue Jamaica, New York 11435 Voice (201) 792-3954 Product: PC-Type+ Version 1.0 Date: October 1986 Vendor: Buttonware 11058 Main Street - Suite 225 Bellevue, Washington 98004 Voice (206) 454-0479 Data (206) 454-2629 Product: PC-Write Version 2.71 Date: December 1986 Vendor: Quicksoft 219 First Avenue North # 224 Seattle, Washington 98109 Voice (206) 282-0452 Product: WordMgr Release 1.4 Date: July 1987 Vendor: Arrow Associates 6401 152nd Avenue North East Redmond, Washington 98052-4763 Voice (206) 882-3031 Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 3 --------> G E N E R A L <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| BBS | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Command driven | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Comments | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Drop to DOS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| EGA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Footers | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Footnotes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Graphics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Headers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Index | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Invoke program | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Macros | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Mail merge | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Math functions | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Memory requirements | 192 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 320 | 256 | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Menu driven | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Mouse | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Online help | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Registration |49.95|49.95|45.00|69.95|89.00|79.95| --------------------------------------------------------------------| Sort | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Table of contents | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Word completion | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Word count | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Wordstar (tm) commands | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 4 --------> B L O C K <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Copy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Delete | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Move | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Print | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Read from disk | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Write to disk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 5 --------> C U R S O R <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Block | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Column | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Display current location | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| File | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Line | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Markers | 9 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Non-ASCII | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Non-blank | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Page break | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Paragraph | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Period | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Screen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Word | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 6 --------> F I L E <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Backup at specified intervals | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Backup when loading | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Backup when saving | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Cancel updates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Change directory | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Copy | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Delete | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Encryption | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| List directory | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Load | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Print | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Print to disk | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Rename | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Save | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Save as other name | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Wordstar (tm) files | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 7 --------> P R I N T E R <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Boldface | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Condensed | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Double underline | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Elite | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Emphasized | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Expanded | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Italics | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Line spacing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Lines per inch | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Overstrike | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Page length | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Pica | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Proportional | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Subscript | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Superscript | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Underline | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| User Defined | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 8 --------> S P E L L I N G <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Add phrases to dictionary | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Add words to dictionary | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Dictionary size (in thousands) | No | 10 | No | 100 | 50 | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Guess at correction | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Interface (external/internal) | Ext | Int | No | Int | Int | Ext | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Suffix "ing" | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Suffix past tense | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Suffix pluralization | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Word completion | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 9 --------> T E X T <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Case conversion | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Center line | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Copy text from other programs | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Delete character | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Delete line | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Delete word | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Find / Replace | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Hyphenation | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Indentation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Insert character | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Justification | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Margins | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Move column | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Overtype character | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Reformat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Repagination | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Restore deleted text | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Tabs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Tabs decimal | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Word wrap | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 10 --------> W I N D O W <-------- | | | | | | | Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Close | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Copy from one to another | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Maximum number | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Open | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Switch | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Un-Zoom | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Variable length | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Zoom | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | --------------------------------------------------------------------| Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 11 --------> M O D I F I C A T I O N S <-------- Version 1 - 11/27/87 - Original version Version 2 - 12/20/87 - Corrections Indicated PC-Write supports Backup at specified intervals EGA Wordstar (tm) commands Indicated Galaxy supports Mouse Version 3 - 12/29/87 - Upgraded Galaxy from 2.2C to 2.3 Indicated Galaxy Supports Invoke program Macros Version 4 - 01/16/88 - Added MindReader 1.02 Version 5 - 04/02/88 - Corrections Indicated PC-Write supports File - Backup when saving Upgraded MindReader from 1.02 to 2.0 Indicated MindReader supports Block - Delete Block - Print Cursor - File Cursor - Page break File - Change directory File - Delete File - Rename General - EGA General - Wordstar (tm) commands Spelling - Add phrases to dictionary Spelling - Suffix "ing" Spelling - Suffix past tense Spelling - Suffix pluralization Spelling - Word completion Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 12 --------> L I C E N S E <-------- You are hereby granted, without charge, a limited license. This conveys to you the right to freely utilize, reproduce, and distribute ESWP with the following restrictions: 1) ESWP must not be modified in any way. 2) ESWP must not be related, either directly or indirectly, to the generation of fees, charges or compensation of any type. --------> W A R R A N T Y <-------- ESWP is provided on an as is basis without any warranty, expressed or implied. I will not be liable for any damages related directly or indirectly to the use of this document. By using this document, you agree to this. Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 Page 13 --------> C O M M E N T S <-------- ESWP will be updated as needed. The following types of nonflammable communication are encouraged: 1) Identification of errors. 2) Information on shareware word processors not in this evaluation. 3) Input on other types of shareware to evaluate. The following means of communication are supported: 1) BBS - The Shareware Syndicate Riverside, California (714) 359-8489 2400/1200 - 8/N/1 - 24 Hours 2) Paper - Michael J. Cleary Post Office Box 8627 Riverside, California 92515-8627 3) UUCP - ...uunet!ucsd!ucrmath!candh!mike All of the evaluated products are available on The Shareware Syndicate. If this document assisted you in any way, please feel free to express your gratitude in the form of a financial contribution to: Michael J. Cleary Post Office Box 8627 Riverside, California 92515-8627 Thanking you in advance for your support.
wnp@dcs.UUCP (Wolf N. Paul) (04/12/88)
In article <6541@dhw68k.cts.com> mike@dhw68k.cts.com (Michael J. Cleary) writes: > > Evaluation of Shareware Word Processors - Version 5 > (ESWP05.DOC) > April 2, 1988 > ... > --------> B L O C K <-------- > Function | GAL | MR | NYW | PCT | PCW | WM | > --------------------------------------------------------------------| > ... > --------------------------------------------------------------------| > Print | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | > --------------------------------------------------------------------| > ... > --------------------------------------------------------------------| > Write to disk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | > --------------------------------------------------------------------| How do these programs write a block to disk? Do they write to an unchangeable default filename, or can you specify the file name? If you can specify the filename, then you can PRINT a block, by simply specifying "PRN" or "LPT1" or "COM1", wherever your printer is attached. -- Wolf N. Paul * 3387 Sam Rayburn Run * Carrollton TX 75007 * (214) 306-9101 UUCP: ihnp4!killer!dcs!wnp ESL: 62832882 INTERNET: wnp@EESDES.DAS.NET or wnp@dcs.UUCP TLX: 910-280-0585 EES PLANO UD