Loadstar 1/001.d81/sftwr.rvw.2

Text File | 2022-08-26 | 5KB | 266 lines

Caron 32765

Software Review- Script 64/80 Word

Processor (product of Richvale Tele-

communications, Ontario, Canada).

Price: $89.95


If, as the man says, word processing

is the best thing since sliced bread,

then Script 64/80 must be the best

thing since creamery butter. This

disk-based program (which is not copy

protected but requires a joystick-port

key) contains every conceivable fea-

ture one might require-and then some.


In addition to such expected features

as right justification, global search

and replace (entire disk), dictionary

capability and easily learned keyboard

commands, Script 64/80 has some quali-

ties that just aren't found in cheap

word processing packages. Perhaps

foremost among these is the availa-

bility of an 80-column display with

no additional hardware. By this, I

don't mean the ability to scroll

across the 80 columns, seeing only 40

at one time. I mean you are seeing all

80 columns at once on your monitor. I

am using an old 12" black and white

TV for a monitor. Though there is an

occasional indistinct character,

overall the screen is quite readable.


This feature is especially useful for

the kind of complex structuring of

pages I am doing (in preparing a math

text). Also helpful here are the two

available modes of data entry: "word-

stream" for ordinary letter writing

and "structured screen" for selective

arrangement of each page. After I

began using the 80-column structured

screen mode, it became difficult to

imagine using a 40 column system for

this kind of work. By the way, the

disk provided with this package also

contains a 40-column version (called

Script 64), which is probably the

preferable program for letter writing

(being a little more readable on the

screen).


In the 80-column version, the data

is collected in files of 20 screens,

each screen containing 20 lines

with 80 characters apiece. Though each

specially formatted disk is arranged

to contain 50 files (1000 screens,

20,000 lines), I have found that six

or seven fairly full files just about

fill a disk. This amounts to around

40 printed pages (hardly the briefcase

full hinted at in some Commodore pub-

lications). There are exactly 20

screens in the 64's memory at any one

time, with easy access among them.


Another feature indispensible for

a complex task like a math text is the

ability to redefine up to 10 keys of

the keyboard to represent virtually

any symbol your printer will produce.

In fact, with the Epson RX 80 I am

using, I am able to design my own

characters by using the redefinition

capability to send the appropriate

commands to the printer. However, the

real key to printer flexibilty with

this word processor is the ability

to construct a printer file (which be-

comes part of the basic program) to

give instructions pertaining to your

particular printer. These instructions

are in the form of printer codes for

underlining, italics, super- and

subscripts and so forth. In order to

take advantage of some of the special

print styles on the Epson, I lied to

the printer file, giving it the codes

for a special enlarged print instead

of italics. I don't need italics, but

the enlarged print comes in handy for

titles, etc. It is this kind of ver-

satility which separates Script 64/80

from the run-of-the-mill word proces-

sor.


A few words about interfaces: a friend

and I have tried at least four dif-

ferent interfaces with varying degrees

of success. I have finally settled on

the Cardco +G model. This marvelous

product affords seven different

print modes (through secondary address

commands to your printer). Unfortu-

nately, Script 64/80 assumes a secon-

dary address of 7, which apparently

the Commodore printer would appreciate

but the Epson does not (reversed

capital letters, etc.). The solution

is provided by the interface: it

acknowledges a lock command for

its secondary address which will over-

ride whatever it is told by the word

processor. I have combined a brief

lock program with an automatic loader

for the Script 64/80 program. This

does the job neatly.


I might also mention that Script 64/80

comes with an excellent manual,

thoughtfully written and reasonably

well arranged. It all comes in a

useful looseleaf format. The preface

also indicates that the purchaser will

be given, upon request, any future

updates of the program.


Please forgive me for seeming to wax

ecstatic about this program. But I am

convinced that anyone who needs more

than basic letter writing capability

will love Script 64/80. The 80-column

feature alone makes it a great buy.

With its other great capabilities,

it's slick as, well...creamery butter.