appelbau@topaz.UUCP (02/14/87)
This review appeared in the Feb. 1987 issue of the Micro's of Monmouth Atari
Computer Group Newsletter and may be reprinted provided MOM and the author
get credit.
AtariWriter Plus
Atari Corp.
P.O. Box 61657
Sunnyvale, Ca. 94088
List Price: $49.95
Min. 48k RAM
Reviewed
by
Marc L. Appelbaum
AtariWriter Plus (AW+) is an upgrade to the original
AtariWriter (AW) word processor. AW+ can be used with any
8-bit Atari with at least 48k. If you have an Atari 130xe
you can take advantage of the extra memory by using three
banks of 15k (15,872 bytes.).
To load AW+ insert the disk, making sure that the right
side is up, (side A-48k, version, side-b 128k version.)
After it loads you will see the familiar AW menu with a few
new options. The first new option is the ability to get a
directory of drive 2. The second addition is Verify
Spelling, the third is Global format, and finally Mail merge.
Lets look at the menu:
C-create file, create's a file
E-Edit a file, edit an existing file
V-verify spelling, discussed later
P-print file, discussed later
G-global format, discussed later
1-index drive 1, gives a directory of drive 1
2-index drive 2, gives a directory of drive 2
L-load file, loads a file into memory
S-save file, saves a file to disk
D-deletes a disk file
F-format disk, formats a disk
The verify spelling option loads the Proofreader into
memory. Then displays the Proofreader menu. The menu has a
number of options on it. I will only look at a few.
The correct errors option will proofread the file and
stop when it finds an error at which point you'll be able to
change the word, perform a dictionary search, or continue.
Highlight errors, will proofread the file and highlight the
errors in inverse video. Print errors will print out a list
of errors. Dictionary search will search the Proofreaders
dictionary for a specific word. Add personal dictionary is
what I consider to be the most powerful function of
Proofreader. It allows you to add a dictionary file that
you've created to the programs dictionary. When the program
proofread's your file the words in you dictionary will be
included in the search. To create your dictionary file just
create a file, the same way you normally would and type in
the words you want toy files as you. I have two,
one for work, and one for personal use. The one for work
includes words such as:Rutgers, CCIS, Microlab, consultant,
RAM, ROM, CPU, DEC, UNIX, etc.. The one for my personal use
includes the names of my entire family, street names, town
names, etc. Figure 1 is part of my dictionary file for work.
The file personal dictionary option will save any new
words to a file. By new words AW+ means words that are not
in its dictionary.
Return to AW+ just returns you to the main program.
The print file option from the main menu will bring up
another menu which will ask you want printer you have. It
lists all the ATARI printers, if you type "H" for other
printers it brings up another menu, this one list drivers for
various other printers. If yours in not you can type "O" for
other, and AW+ will ask you for the of the printer driver
file. Once you select a printer type it remains in memory
until you turn the computer off.
You can also print to others devices instead of the
printer. You can print to disk(i.e. print to d:file.prt.),
cassette, or to the RS232 port.
Global format allows you to change the format commands.
It is equivalent to the first line of a AW file. You may or
course insert formatting commands within your file.
Building your own Printer driver
To create your own printer driver boot AW+ with BASIC
inserted and HOLD down the SELECT key until the Custom
Printer Driver screen comes up. You'll then be prompted to
enter the control codes for various functions. These codes
can be found in the back of most printer manuals. When
you're done creating you driver you'll be asked for a file
name. Do NOT enter a file name with an extension. AW+ adds
its own extension PDF (Printer Driver File.)
The editor
The editor is very similar to AW, with a few new
options. In AW+ you can choose between insert and type-over
mode by hitting <control>-insert. Insert mode is the default
mode. As you type the text moves over to the right. In
type-over mode you type-over existing text. AW+ also has the
option to change the number of columns displayed on the
screen. The default is 38. I use 80 columns if I know that
I'm going to upload the file to a mainframe. This way I
center things on the screen without having to worry about
deleting control characters later. However the screen can't
display all 80 at once, so it scrolls to the right.
Supposedly the when the new XEP-80 comes out you will be able
to see al 80 columns with a new version of AW+. An added
feature which I like a lot is the ability to save a block of
text to disk. Another new feature is the REVERSE search.
This does exactly what is says. It performs a search
starting from the cursor to the beginning of the file. AW+
allows to alphabetize a block of text. This comes in handy
if you want to have a print out of your dictionary file. To
alphabetize a block you simply press OPTION-B to mark the
beginning of the block, highlight the block with the cursor,
then press OPTION-A and AW+ will do the rest. AW+ also has
the ability to save a file in ASCII format. You do this by
typing <control>-s at the main menu. You would use the
feature if you're going to upload the file to another
computer, or you're going to use the file with an other
editor.
The Mail Merge
The mail merge option loads another program called Mail
Merge. It's actually a mini-database. I have no need to use
this function at all, because I use Synfile+ as my database.
Both Mail Merge and Synfile+ share data with AW+ in the same
way, as they did with AW.
Overall I've no major problems with AW+. If you've
worked with AtariWriter before, then AW+ will be extremely
easy to use.
D:WORK.DIC
Figure - 1
--
Marc L. Appelbaum "Insanity is just a state of mind"
Arpa: marc@aim.rutgers.edu Uucp:rutgers!ru-blue!appelbaum