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1988-07-06
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Review of Reference Set Library
Copyright 1987 by David Batterson
Most quality word processing programs come with a spelling checker these
days. These are quite handy even for good spellers, since typos seem to sneak
into your written copy often.
It is sometimes difficult to spot misspelled words on the monitor, and it
is harder to proof your own work than someone else's, since you tend to "read"
the work rather than spot the errors!
Reference Software has come up with a newer approach to the old
dictionary-on-a-disk idea: a full set of references which it calls the
Reference Set Library.
The basic Reference Set system includes the 83,000-word Random House
Concise Dictionary, and 300,000-word Reference Set Thesaurus. Additional
references will be mentioned later in the review.
The Reference Set Library has as its base of operations the "Reference
Engine," which drives the unique "instant information retrieval" system. It
is fast, and costs less than CD-ROM reference products.
System requirements: all IBM compatibles (including PS/2's 3 1/2" drive),
PC-DOS/MS-DOS 2.0 or higher, 128K RAM (requires 30K minimum of resident
memory), and although it will work on a 2-floppy system, it is NOT
RECOMMENDED. (If you don't have a hard drive yet, march down to your store
and buy one now! You'll then wonder how you ever got along without it.)
Installation was quick and easy. Typing INSTALL creates the subdirectory
\REFDATA (you can call it something else if you wish). You next type REFSETUP
to configure the program engine, including what word processor you use. All
popular types are supported, including WordPerfect, WordStar, MicroSoft Word,
PFS: Write, PC Write, and the one I use: Electric Desk. Custom setup is also
available for non-listed word processors.
REFSET uses default command keys such as <Alt>-D to call up the dictionary
in memory-resident mode, and <Alt>-T for thesaurus. These hot keys can be
re-defined if there is a conflict with your word processor, so don't worry. I
kept the default ones.
REFSCRN must also be set up, even if you won't be using this mode (allowing
you to check spelling on individual screens, rather than documents). SPLSETUP
then lets you designate drives, whether you want color, and other parameters.
REFCOLOR allows custom changing of color attributes. Normal text, for
instance, is bold white on a blue background, and the word you're looking up
is bold white on red.
You can also choose colors for borders, error messages, function keys, and
many more. Again, I just stayed with the default settings, since the colors
were pleasing to the eye.
You must then create a customized AUTOEXEC.BAT file, if you want the
program to load into memory while using your word processor. I didn't want
this, so I simply load it manually by typing:
REFSET<Enter>
REFDICT<Enter>
REFTHES<Enter>
REFSCRN<Enter> (It uses 20K; it's an option you may not want to use.)
Reference Set is now memory-resident, and will stay there until you reboot,
or use the command: REFREMOV.
Now you're ready to check/change words! You can look up individual words,
and insert the correct spelling from the dictionary window. Or check all
words on your screen. You must exit the program, or access DOS and use
REFSPELL to check all words in a completed document.
Use the wild-card character (*) when you're unsure of a spelling, and need
to look it up. For instance, typing "dog*" provides you with a list which
includes dogma, dog-tired and dogfights.
How about the thesaurus? Let's say you want to check synonyms or antonyms
for "change." Move the cursor to "change" and hit <Alt>-T. (The screen
displays 71 choices, including modification, coins, alter and transmute.)
I stopped and ran REFSPELL on this document, and discovered I had spelled
cursor as "curson." As I mentioned, these are the type of innocent errors
which can get by you!
Reference Set has many more features, including adding words to the
dictionary. You must add proper names, addresses, jargon, and regularly used
uncommon terms to the dictionary so that it doesn't flag these as misspelled
words each time. And if your word processor doesn't have a macro feature (to
insert often-typed words or phrases into a document), Reference Set has one,
called the Glossary.
The <Alt>-U command brings up the Utilities menu. Hit your F1 key, and you
can enter your Glossary words and phrases. There is space for nine entries,
each up to 70 letters long. These are only TEMPORARY, however, and disappear
once you turn off the computer. You must exit and run REFSETUP to add
permanent glossary items.
F2 in Utilities displays the active hot keys, selected during setup. F3
brings up a disk directory prompt. F4 ("Type a file on screen") allows you to
view any specified text file.
Remember, you don't have to be using a word processor to make use of
Reference Set. You may check your spelling while programming, running
spreadsheet programs, or any other application.
The other volumes now available are Stedman's Medical Dictionary (68,000
medical words) and Black's Law Dictionary (16,000 legal terms). Upcoming
add-ons include Oil-Spell Oil and Gas Dictionary, The 1988 World Almanac &
Book of Facts, and 11 Foreign Language Spelling Dictionaries.
I looked for flaws, bugs, and problems with Reference Set, but did not find
any. A great degree of care and intelligence went into this fine series of
reference tools, and I highly recommend it, whether you are a good speller or
not. Use it, and kiss those typos goodbye!
Reference Set 3.10, $89 suggested list for dictionary/thesaurus unit, or
$69 separately. Add-on volumes are $49. Reference Software, 330 Townsend
Street, Suite 131, San Francisco, CA 94107; 800/872-9933: MCI MAIL: 288-1979.
---
David Batterson is an independent writer/editor in Palm Springs. Contact
him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.