mike@ut-emx.UUCP (Mike) (10/05/88)
I am interested in obtaining any opinions and/or information about word processing software that is or will be available for an A/UX system. Thanks, Mike O'Donnell
earleh@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton) (10/05/88)
In article <6572@ut-emx.UUCP> mike@ut-emx.UUCP (Mike) writes: > >I am interested in obtaining any opinions and/or information >about word processing software that is or will be available for >an A/UX system. > >Thanks, Mike O'Donnell I assume you are referring to Macintosh-type, window based word processors which allow insertion of pictures and all that good stuff. I can think of a good reason why we won't see any of these for a while: No printing from the A/UX ToolBox, at least until the next release of the system (50+ floppies, I have heard!). Making your screen format agree with what you print is relatively easy on the Macintosh native OS with QuickDraw and Chooser-compatible printer drivers, but would be a little more work under A/UX. I assume the easiest route would be to have the word processor produce input for troff when it wants to print. The result would be a program which uses the Macintosh ToolBox, but produces troff output only (or maybe Postscript). In other words, an A/UX-specific product, unusable on either a "regular" Macintosh or on another UNIX box. Unless A/UX has sold more copies than I think, I don't think this would be a real big money-maker for the publisher. There is some possibility that when X becomes readily available for A/UX, then one would be able to use a word processing package written to work under X. I have used such a thing here (on IBM RTs running the Cambridge Window Manager from CMU under X) but was not unduly impressed with the ease of use, especially compared to what is available on the Macintosh (MacWrite, Word, etc.). My advice is to wait for printing support for the A/UX ToolBox, at which point you would hopefully be able to use your favorite Macintosh word processor, or to bite the bullet and learn troff. Earle R. Horton. 23 Fletcher Circle, Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 643-4109 Sorry, no fancy stuff, since this program limits my .signature to three