Isaac_K_Rabinovitch@cup.portal.com (02/24/88)
I wrote:
->evan@ndcheg.UUCP (Evan Bauman) writes:
->->We're converting our department office word processing equipment from dedicate
->
->->CPT word processors to IBM PS/2 model 30's. We've purchased one unit and
->->another two are on order. We originally thought of using the T3 word
->->processor, but this package requires 550K to run and this means that
->->we cannot load the network software at the same time.
->
->->Does anyone have a recommendation for another WP? We need one that will
->->support a postscript printer, be relatively easy to learn, doesn't use
->->as much RAM as T3 (under 350K would be nice), and work with the model 30's
->->video (MCGA).
->
->->It should be VERY easy to format complex equations with
->->this word processor.
->
->[None of the popular WYSIWYG WPs seem to support equation processing.]
->Since you
->probably don't consider systems that rely on non-interactive equation
->description languages "easy to format," we can rule out TeX and
->troff/eqn. My experience with this sort of thing under DOS is limited
->(I *have* used eqn under Unix) so it's entirely possible that there's
->a good program I don't know about -- but I don't think much has been
->accomplished with the problem of applying the WYSIWYG concept to equation
->formatting, and most of the work that has been done lives on Unix systems.
Isaac, you space cadet. You forgot all about ChiWriter.
Some months ago I had a conversation with a guy who was
beta-testing the product, a conversation which simply didn't make
it back to conscious level when we started talking about this
problem.
This is a DOS WP that does "Scientific WYSIWYG". A shareware
version has been on various Santa Clara County BBSs for several
months, and might already be in the binaries conference. The
latest sign that they're serious is an ad in the March '88 Byte,
Page 176. The example in the ad suggests to me that it's a
limited program: there's an integral sign that looks like it was
generated by a Selectric golfball. But there's also a chemical
diagram (looks like an antidepressent I used to take).
Looks like over $200 with hires and postscript support and a "Chemistry
Font Set". Uses 256K.
I might be persuaded to find the shareware version, but it
supports only CGA screens. If you need the "Hi Res Screen
Support" package (Hercules, EGA, VGA, etc.) you'll need to
purchase it in a conventional manner. Since I use Herc. and
have no immediate need (other than curiousity), I haven't had a
chance to play with this program.
Contact:
Horstmann Software Design Corp.
140 E. San Carlos St., Suite 200
P.O. Box 5039
San Jose, CA 95150
(408) 298-0828