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1991-06-20
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BetterWorking Word Publisher 5.0 - Word Processing & Outline Program.
Copyright 1990 David Batterson
Remember the "trickle-down" theory of the Reagan years? Tax breaks for
the rich would supposedly flow downward to us working stiffs and to the poor.
Somehow it didn't work out that way--what a surprise!
Fortunately, the trickle-down principle DOES work in the software
industry. Features originally found in high-end programs migrate to mid-level,
lower-priced software. A good example is Ventura Publisher. Many of its
characteristics are found in Publish It! and Finesse.
Furthermore, the programs once considered low-end now have features found
once in more expensive intermediate-level software. An example of this is the
integrated product, BetterWorking Eight-In-One.
Spinnaker has another good-quality, low-end product along these lines.
It's called BetterWorking Word Publisher 5.0, and it's a combination word
processor, outliner and simple desktop publishing (DTP) package.
As you probably know, word processors and DTP programs have each taken
features from the other, so both are hybrids. You can do DTP projects with
WordPerfect 5.1, and do word processing with IMSI Publisher. Thus the name
Word Publisher indicates both abilities.
You get the usual word processing features (spell checker/thesaurus,
search and replace, headers/footers, superscripts/subscripts, and auto
hyphenation) along with the separate outliner. You can also have up to four
columns, draw vertical and horizontal lines, create boxes and specify fonts.
Lines/boxes can have specified line thicknesses too.
Word Publisher 5.0 comes with six bitmapped fonts, similar to Bitstream
fonts, but with different names: Vista (like Dutch), Monterey (like Swiss),
Fresno (outline), Doyle (Olde English), Santa Barbara and Baker. You can also
use your printer's resident fonts, such as Courier and Lineprinter.
You can have point sizes from 6 to 60. Unlike with Bitstream fonts, you
don't have to spend time creating all the type sizes you wish to use. You
simple use the Typeface pull-down menu, and change the typeface and size. Then
when you print, the type sizes are created on the fly.
Just remember not to mix printer fonts and program fonts in the same
paragraph. You can't have more than nine total fonts in a document either.
Printing is done in proof (printer fonts only, and double spaced), draft
(low resolution, faster than proof), and quality (high resolution). There's a
print spooler (queue), allowing continued use of Word Publisher while it prints
your document or outline.
A noteworthy feature is the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
graphics mode. The WYSIWYG display is much better than the one in Professional
Write 2.1 (also reviewed in PC REVIEWS).
In addition to normal view, the WYSIWYG includes a view scale, letting you
select reduced, distorted, medium and large page display. Also, you may zoom
in or out easily by pressing the <+> or <-> key on your numeric keypad. You
toggle between WYSIWYG and text mode with the <Ctrl><W> command.
If you have a scanner, you're familiar with TIFF graphics files. You can
easily draw a frame and import these images, as well as the popular .PCX files.
Images can also be resized and positioned in a snap. Either move/resize with a
mouse, or change the measurement/position via the pull-down menu.
Switching from WYSIWYG to text display, you'll notice that your boxes,
lines and graphics are automatically translated into text commands. For
instance, your picture would be indicated by "@picture <filename.pcx>" along
with numbers indicating scale, width, position, etc. The <@> command is also
used in text mode for mail merge, tables of contents, lines, and so forth.
I think small businesses, home offices and students will find this a very
appealing package. It's quick to learn, affordable, and has capabilities
you'll enjoy using.
Requirements are simple enough: 512K RAM, DOS 2.1 or higher, hard drive
recommended, and a mouse is needed for the Draw feature. The suggested list is
$59.95 (for 5.25" disks) or $64.95 (3.5"). You can count on a discounted
street price in the $40 range.
For more information, contact Spinnaker Software Corp., 201 Broadway, 6th
Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139-1901; 617-494-1200, 800-826-0706 (24-hr. orders),
617-494-1219 (FAX orders).
#
David Batterson does lots of word processing while reviewing PC hardware
and software, and he doesn't use WordPerfect! Contact him with your comments
via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.