[comp.sys.amiga] a *REAL* Amiga Wordprocessor

jmpi@ur-tut.UUCP (03/24/87)

I'm new to the net, and I've been having a *great* time following the
various discussions.  What I really want to know though, is where I can
get my hands on a *real* wordprocessor.  By that, I mean one which sub-
scribes to the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get philosophy.  As a writer, and
a CS major, I hate the Macintoy, but it's philosophy of showing on the screen
what's going to come out on the paper is a great idea.
I don't need to import graphics.  I don't need interlace mode (a la ProWrite).
I *do* need headers and footers, page numbering, underline, italic and bold.
I don't *need* more than one font, though the option would not be unwelcome.
Use of the mouse to position the cursor and select text is also a plus (it's
faster than the cursor keys).  Keyboard equivalents of commands is *very*
important.  I've heard Word Perfect is out, but I can't locate it anywhere.
Places around here say it's not shipping yet, but a few weeks ago I saw a
letter on the net in which the author (whose name eludes me) claims to have
this program.  Any info would be *greatly* appreciated.  You can email me or
(if you think interest warrants it) post it on the net.

I just want to say what a great idea this net is.  I love reading comments
and criticisms, and I hope to soon be posting some programs of my own.

Thanx in advance for any assistance.

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lachac@topaz.UUCP (03/24/87)

First, Wordperfect:

	From various sources (distributors/sowtware store owners etc.) I
have learned that the promised release date for WP is the first week in
May.  Only a month, but it carries a hefty price of about $300.  Big bucks
to a fellow CS student like me.

Others:
	Scribble is nice.  A bit old fashioned, but nice.  Not WYSIWYG, so it
really doesn't count in you category.  I have only seen one other to fall in
you category.  Vizawrite, about $150 is advertized in all the latest Amiga
mags.  It offers headers, footers, graphics, fonts, WYSIWYG, and other 
MacWrite type features.  I am a hair's breath away from ordering it, but I
haven't been able to find someone who actually OWNS it!  I have seen discounts
of around $120 at other software houses so I assume it is available.

If anybody has anything to say about Vizawrite, good or bad, please tell me
now, before I make a big mistake and order a piece of junk!!!


-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
	"Isn't fun the best thing to have?"

			lachac@topaz.rutgers.edu

danny@convext.UUCP (03/27/87)

Scribble is definately worth looking into.  I originally had Textcraft so after
that, anything is an improvement but....

Scribble is everything I could ever want as a high school student.  It opens
a resizable window on the workbench so your window is as big as your workbench
(Thanx to Matt Dillon for posting morerows...)

Scribble is part WYSIWYG and part nroff.  Stuff like centering, underlining, and
global stuff like page length are set through requestors and are seen on screen.
Other stuff like page numbering, headers, footers, and the like are set through
nroffish dot commands.  For example:
.fo=Page #/Title/Dan Wallach
Will print at the bottom of each page, the number on the left, Title centered, 
and Dan Wallach on the right.  You can set even and odd footers and headers
so that way for double siding all the page numbers can be on the inside...
One can preview what will go to the printer by pulling down the Preview entry
off a menu.  My favorite thing is for stuff not directly supported by Scribble
(like double width, superscript, subscript...) it is possible through another
flavor of dot commands.
.#1=%27[[2v
would set up macro 1 to have <escape>[[2v (I'm not sure what it means but you
get the idea)
The macro can be included in the text by hitting ALT-G then the number.  A 
(C) copyright thing then the number is seen in the text.  It prints fine.
The codes follow the Amiga prt: codes listed on pages 22 to 24 of the AmigaDos
1.2 Enhancer Docs.  I'd never use anything else for my work than Scribble.
It's the perfect mix between WYSIWYG and nroff with goodies like lots of mouse
and lots of keyboard commands, a spell checker (I'm sure there's better but I'm
satisfied), and mail merge (haven't used this one but it looks fairly easy).

Sorry if this was kind of long.

Dan Wallach
...!ihnp4!convex!danny

Disclaimer:  I have absolutely nothing to do with the company that makes
Scribble!  I don't even have a blasted idea what the company's name is either!