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<C> 1994 by GEnie ========================================================================== This file is brought to you by The Commodore 64/128 RoundTable on GEnie This file may be published or excerpted in User Group newsletters providing credit is given in this manner: "Copyright 1994 by GEnie From the Commodore 64/128 RoundTable File#:#####" This file maybe be distributed, if distributed whole and unaltered, on non-profit BBSs or non-profit networks. For more information on GEnie call by modem: 1-800-638-8369 (8-N-1 300/1200/2400) Enter: HHH Then reply: xtx99018,commrt Then enter: Commodore And enjoy! ========================================================================== <C128.LOU> Welcome everyone! I'd like to introduce Ted Seitz the Editor of the Busy Bee Users Group newsletter A.K.A. "B-BUG" <B-BUG.TED> Howdy! <C128.LOU> As you probably already know B-BUG supports the BB Writer (A.K.A. "The Write Stuff" and "TWS") line of word processing software for the C64/128. Thanks for being here tonight, Ted! Ted, what can you tell us about "B-BUG", the Busy Bee Users Group? <B-BUG.TED> I am really happy to be here and get a chance to spout off about The Write Stuff. <C128.LOU> Ted, what can you tell us about "B-BUG", the Busy Bee Users Group? <B-BUG.TED> Well (I am used to T.W. Stuff capitalizing for me) we are a small friendly, international, by mail, user group. We support TWS and The people and machines that use it. <C128.LOU> How does one become a B-BUG member? <B-BUG.TED> Nothing to it. You don't even have to certify that you are a decent sort who doesn't beat your dog. We know that because you are a Commodore user. <B-BUG.TED> Just send a check for $20.00 - $21.00 Canada - $29.00 rest and we will allow you membership for a year or as long as it takes to get out 12 good newsletters. B-BUG PO Box 3 Arivaca AZ 85601-0003 <C128.LOU> Are there discount rates for user groups, Ted? <B-BUG.TED> There are substantial discounts for users, groups or not, who will invest in as few as 5 copies. The Busy-Bee will even credit any unsold copies, should that ever occur ;> I don't have the userware prices handy just now. <C128.LOU> Can you give us a rundown of the TWS product line, Ted? <B-BUG.TED> Sure! The pricing structure is a little unusual in the interests of keeping userware prices down. The deal is that you are expected to have Version 1 in order to buy Version 2. Mostly they are stand-alone programs but the manual, help files, tutorials, and some utilities come with V1. Version 2 (The Speller) is priced, very reasonably as an add-on. There is a program for the 64 as well as the 128. The 64 V2 is actually two versions, VA has all features, B lacks some less used things, but has a larger text area. They are both on the same disk for LOAD A or B. The 128 V2 has a 40 col and 80 col version on the same disk. The proper one LOADs according to your 40/80 key. BB talker comes only as 64 V1. It is quite a versitle talking WP,will recite words, sentences, paragraphs, or letters typed, either as typed or from files. There is a party game which uses it, and, of course, it is handy for the handycapped. It is what got BB started. He saw a demo for a very expensive Apple talker and said, "I can write a better one and sell it for a price the handicapped can afford." And he did. The standard issue of V2 supports about everything, but there are special issues for The Quick Brown Box, the CMD hard drive, RAMLink, and the 1581 drive which have added goodies. <C128.LOU> What makes YOU, Ted Seitz, a dedicated user of "The Write Stuff"? <B-BUG.TED> Hu boy. Well, about 6 years ago my next-door neighbor's IBM typewriter began to give out. (She had a little secritarial service.) I told her she needed a WORD PROCESSOR. She said., "What kind?" I said, "Duhhh" <C128.LOU> She must have loved you for it. :) <B-BUG.TED> So I started to look around and saw that clones were going to take all the marbles and was about to go in that direction, but another neighbor wanted me to go 64. When I saw an ad in a mag for TWS I knew that was "it"; easy menu, help files, tutorials to get started and lots of power for later on. I went to a ham swap meet and picked up a whole 64 outfit for $200.00 and I was never sorry. I never particularly wanted a computer but I did want to write, and being without spelling:), typing, or handwriting skills, I really needed a WP. <C128.LOU> How about the program TWS? Why do you like it? (as opposed to other word processors, that is) <B-BUG.TED> Well, I liked it right off the best because of the easy start, go as for as you want. I don't have any personal experience with other WPs but I read the mags and talk with a lot of people, and I am always amazed at the things others brag about that I take for granted with TWS. Or the simplicity of power features, such as macros compared with the problems others seem to be having with the "big" WPs. <C128.LOU> Ted, a large segment of C= users are young and new to computing, and, in turn, word processing. What does TWS and/or B-BUG offer the novice user to ease the "learning curve"? Are keyboard overlays available? <B-BUG.TED> Keyboard overlays are available from Busy Bee. They are not necessary for Menu Mode, which is always available <C128.LOU> Has any thought ever been made to enable TWS to import/export Word Perfect documents? What kind of restrictions could prevent the development of such a utility? What ARE the capabilities for import/export? <B-BUG.TED> No problem that I can see. There are in Version 1 a whole set of converters for Commodore WPs which convert even control codes. T.W. Stuff reads and writes ASCII, PETSCII, and screen code in PRG SEQ, or USR files. With the 128 it would be no problem to make your own conversion file for any foreign WP with BATCH SEARCH AND REPLACE. I have batch files to quickly and easily change all letters to caps, or to remove all controll codes, or to update my mailing list, which has dated addresses. <C128.LOU> Are there any TWS features and/or functions that you'd like to point out tonight? How do these features make TWS stand out from the rest of the C= word processors, attracting the more experinced users? <B-BUG.TED> The quick and easy "everything" translation with line limiting or removal of extra returns has got to be near the top for communication people. I like the autocaps, you can see that I have been spoiled. The word/Phrase macros would be hard to get along without. To do a letter I pop up any of several formats, letterhead and all. For an envelope or label I load my address list into one of the text areas, find the address with "Hunt", "Eat the address, pop it out in the text area, do e3 SPACE which pops up my epvelope printing format 0 and do CTRL P to print the envelope. <C128.LOU> The Write Stuff has been around for several years now, and has stood the test of time (along with our computers!) Are there any stories or anecdotes that you'd like to share with us? Any significant milestones in the history of TWS? <B-BUG.TED> Milestones? Well I don't recollect any milestones but there's a tombstone in Tombstone, near where BB Lives that says: Here lies Les More Took 4 Slugs from a 44 No Les, No More <C128.LOU> What kind of printer support does TWS offer? Is there any support for color, PostScript, etc. What about fonts? <B-BUG.TED> One of the things that makes TWS really fast and powerful is it being an ASCII or character based WP. It seems that a lot of people don't appreciate the difference between a graphic and a character based WP. A graphic based WP sends a picture of a letter to the printer, after turning off the computer in the printer. A slow and clumsey way to do it. A character based WP sends a number to the computer in the printer which takes over. It gets the character info from it's own ROM and processes acording to commands it finds in its RAM. It can then print a character at its max resolution, 360 or 240 dots per inch for a dot matrix, VERY quickly, maybe 2 or three pages per minute. Parralleldamcomputing. As opposed to the slow computer CPU doing all the work and sending it over the slow serial cabel to print very slowly at 60 DPI. TWS will support any printer that has at least one character set. Most today have 10 or more. It will support every bell and whistle you can buy. I run a KX-P1124 Panasonic which is incredibly versitle and an HP DeskJet+ which prints beautifully and uses pretty much the same commands as a LaserJet. Does that answer? <C128.LOU> Wow! I'll say!!! :D Thanks Ted! <B-BUG.TED> I should say that Do. Hugh McMenamin is said to have a color version of his Illustrator in Beta testing. The Illustrator is a TWS add-on that places a graphic wherever you want it among text. <C128.LOU> What graphics are supported? <B-BUG.TED> Illustrator I supports RUNPaint and Print Shop. II supports Fun Graphics Machine. Now, I am not much into graphics, but, FGM is a must-have program for any 64 jockey. <C128.LU> Thanks for your time, Ted! <B-BUG.TED> Ya -- Hope i didn't run off too much. <C128.LOU> Not at all. You had some complicated things to explain. I'll be joining the B-BUG soon myself <B-BUG.TED> Great! It's only 9:30 here. could you list a few progs ----------------------------------------- Some questions that were sent via Email and B-Bug Ted was kind enough to answer Q: Does TWS have online help? A: Online help consists of: Tutorial files, text files on disk, which can be LOADed, worked through, and experimented with. Help files on disk which can be popped up from a menu without disturbing text. Q: Are there "cheatsheets" available for it? Overlays like the ones from "Leroys"? A: There are "cheatsheets" available from Busy Bee Software and sold by many clubs.A whole "cheatsheet" --always--every version--in memory-- two or more screens which can be popped up without disturbing text. Q: Is it copy protected? A: There is no %%#&*< copy protection on any TWS disk AND no **$"&| dongle is used, NOR are you required to unplug your Gold interface or any cartridge. Even with an old 1541 drive (and a freeze cartridge) you can make a frozen fast-load copy that will LOAD and RUN in 7 seconds. The 64 V2 has a built-in fast-load which you may choose to use or not ;) LOADs and RUNs on a barefoot 1541 in about 35 seconds. Q: Is there a memory map available so you can add your own printer routines? A: Not only does a memory map come with the 128 versions, but two "hooks" are furnished so that you can access your routines with keyboard commands from the text screen. For the 64 you have to talk to the Busy Bee. Q: Is it available in ROM? A: BB fooled around with that idea for a while but decided not to go ahead with it. My copy is available in RAM by way of RAMLink, which I heartily recommend to all. Q: What are user group discount rates for The Write Stuff 64/128? A: TWS is "Userware", that is, it is sold by "users", usually user groups. As few as 5 copies may be purchased at a considerable discount. Labels with serial numbers, manuals and one program copy is furnished. The user/seller does the copying. Busy Bee Software has a standing offer to buy back any copies at net, that can't be sold. Q: What printers does TWS support? Does it support HP lasers? Is there support for color ink jet printers? Is there support for color dot matrix printers? A: The Write Stuff supports ALL printers! Commodore PETSCII, True ASCII in any emulation, 7-pin, 9-pin, 24-pin, Ink Jets, Lasers, Thermal, Wax Transfers, old beaters, new whizzers, WITH every one of their bells and whistles; any printer that has an internal ASCII or PETSCII font and can be wired to a 64/128 with or without an interface. Wouldn't even need an internal font if your interface had one and the printer had a graphics mode the interface could deal with. Maybe that's not all printers but it's all the printers I know about. The Write Stuff excels at sending printer commands and, as far as I know, color works with escape commands just like italics and bold; so, if you have any kind of color printer, with color ink or ribbon in it, you can change colors anywhere within text, no problem. I am told that there is a color version of The Illustrator in beta test. The 128 versions support Geocable with the help of a patch. Let me note here that I find the Epson emulations a lot more versatile and user -friendly than the HP DeskJet/laserJet. In order to make use of all the good stuff you do need a printer MANUAL. Illustrator supports 9 and 24 pin Epson emulations, STAR NX series, Legend, VIC 1525/MPS803, and Seikosha SP1000. Q: Does it support Postscript lasers? A: This is a character based word processor. That's part of the reason it runs full tilt, lickety-split, no waiting, on any bare naked 64 or 128. (The 100% optimized, compact, machine language coding is another :) That's why it drives any printer at its full rated speed at its full rated resolution; no jaggies, no put... put... put.... Postscript printers are supported insofar as their internal dot mapped fonts. Postscript files are not written. Q: Does it support proportional fonts? A: Inasmuch as T.W. Stuff can access the very linings of your printer's pockets; if your printer can do proportional fonts, you can do proportional fonts. I use them for headers, lists, addresses, things where lines are ended with a return, and that works fine. CCCC's newsletter was done for a year or more with TWS and proportional fonts but it's not to be recommended as T.W.'s word wrap does not currently handle them well. The Busy Bee has coded new print drivers to handle that, but, so far as I know, has not yet installed them in the programs. Q: Does the 128 version work in both 40 and 80 columns? Is an 80 column color monitor needed? A: TWS 128 versions will work in 40 or 80 columns on a mono monitor. On a 40 column color monitor in 40 column color or 80 col. mono. On an RGB/composite monitor, in 40 or 80 col. color. On a TV set, in 40 col. ALL versions, in ALL viewing modes, ALWAYS, have a fast, hi-res, semi-WYSIWYG, preview available. 40 & 80 col. V1s come on two sides of the same disk. In V2 they are on the same side and the proper program LOADs according to the position of the 40/80 DISPLAY button. 64K video chip is NOT needed. Q: Does TWS work with all disk drives, including IEEE, CMD, and LT.Kernal? A: All versions support all Commodore compatible drives, so far as I know, by virtue of the always available DOS wedge. A friend has IEEE drives and he has trouble with some programs, but not TWS. Brown Box, 1581, RAMLink/RAMDrive, and CMD Hard Drive add-ons have special capabilities which do not apply to IEEE or LT.Kernal. The old dual drives are provided for. Q: What is the maximum size of a document? Can you chain files together to print out a longer manuscript such as a book? A: Text area varies somewhat by version and how the program is set up. 64 versions may be something like 59 to 80 blocks dividable into two text areas. This is in addition to a 35 block buffer. 128 versions have 248 block text space dividable into any combination of tenths (24 blocks chunks) with 51 to 63 block buffers. Files can be chained for printing, page numbering is maintained, printing can start at any page number or, in 128 versions, from cursor. Q: Does it come with a dictionary? Can the user modify the dictionary by adding or deleting entries? Does it have a Thesaurus? A: A Thesaurus has not been added to date. Version 2 (The Speller) has a built-in spell checker with dictionary. Like the rest of the program the spell checker is unique, very fast, and easy to use. There are actually two dictionaries, or, more accurately, a two-tier dictionary which is highly compressed and is decompressed very quickly on the fly. The first, small, dictionary has all the most common words. Because of its size it can sort a doc very quickly. A good spelling person can zip-zip scan the list for typos, fix them and dump the rest. That's all. A bum speller, like I am, can tell the small dic not to bother him but to present the list to the large dictionary. The large dictionary can sort fastfast because it is working on the short list, not the whole doc. It presents you with the shortest list. You scan and dump the ok words, hit RETURN on a bad one and are shown the usage along with a window of the proper location in the dictionary. Highlight the word you want, hit RETURN, and it is popped into each occurence in the doc. There is provision to save words checked that are not in the dictionary. The list saved is a text file and so may be easily edited. An included utility program takes that file, sorts and compresses it into the dictionary. At this time, words may also be removed. Q: Does TWS have a built-in terminal program? Does it import and export plain ASCII files? What can it import? A: TWS does not have a built-in term program. If a term program were to co-exist with a WP in 8-bit memory it would have to be half a term program and half a word processor. As an adjunct to a com program TWS is invaluable. An embarrassing plethora of utilities, such that many users aren't aware of them all or confuse them, one with another. We will skip over the unequaled palette of editing tools and the file translators. The "file translators" live in version 1 and translate files from other Commodore word processors, including control codes, into BB files. Those are the "file translators". "File conversion" is found in All versions of TWS. A doc in a text area can be instantly (two or three instants maybe) converted between TWS native screen code and true ASCII or screen code and PETSCII. Reverse video characters can be changed to normal characters by converting to ASCII. In all version 2s, program, sequential, and user text files may be converted from ASCII or PETSCII while being LOADed. In 128 versions they may be stripped of excess returns at the same time. In all version 2s, program, sequential, and user text files may be written as screen code, ASCII, or PETCSII. In 128 versions line length may be may be limited to your preference at the same time. In all 128 versions, reverse video characters can be eliminated with a batch file and batch search and replace. TWS can conveniently read and write, ASCII, PETCSII, and screen code in sequential, program, and user files. END---