mha@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Mark H. Anbinder) (01/17/89)
My department has been using WriteNow (version 1.07) for all of its users for the last year and a half or so, and we're now evaluating WriteNow 2.0 to consider upgrading all of our users to the new version. Many of the problems we had with the older version have been taken care of (others haven't, of course). Overall, I'd say the program looks good. Our main concern right now is that many of our editors and other users have built up custom dictionaries with a large number of additional entries reflecting the work they do on a day-to-day basis. They are wary of moving to the new version if that will mean losing all of the words they've added to the dictionaries. Of course, the Load Dictionary function would allow them to select their old dictionaries (the files are compatible; I checked -- bravo to T/Maker for that!) and use them rather than the new dictionaries. However, they don't want to forego the benefit of the much-larger dictionary that comes with the new version of the program. Right now it looks like a trade-off. Either they get a nice, shiny, new, enlarged dictionary, or they get to keep the words they entered. I'm willing to give them that as a final choice if necessary, but I'd rather tell them they don't have to compromise at all. Is there a way to merge the words of the two dictionaries into a single dictionary? Is there even a way to get a list of the words that have been added to the old file? Is the dictionary file editable using disk editors? Or is everything too compressed? In this case, the extra-big dictionary doesn't take care of the problem, as it might in some, because most of the words our users have added are specific to their work at Cornell University, or work with Cooperative Extension clients, etc. Please let me know! Respond via e-mail, and I'll summarize for the net. -- Mark H. Anbinder ** MHA@TCGould.tn.cornell.edu NG33 MVR Hall, Media Services Dept. ** THCY@CRNLVAX5.BITNET Cornell University H: (607) 257-7587 ******** Ithaca, NY 14853 W: (607) 255-1566 ******* Ego ipse custodies custudio