JANUARY australian ISSN 0811-3866 1984 ... - $2.00· ... --~~~- =~I~ --- -!!!!- C"III11"ter IIIagaziDe For peopleinvolved in theAustralian microcomputing community

~Y.~dS~(~ie!~rdProcess!~~t~:~~~~d~~~~:~~

of word processing. Friends hay tilat XYZ word processor won't handle a particular problem well, when the basic problem is that th the time to learn to use all its features. Let's face it, the more flexible and powerful a word processing oore cornrnands it will have, and the longer it will take to learn all its commands effectively. Given the ces. I thougiit it was for me to offer my experiences of the several packages I have used. My opinl on nearly three years experience using my computers for writing original manuscripts and operat: word processing bureau. I also have taught word processing for a year. Copy processed by my bu,m tecilnlca! theses requiring many complex formulas, tables and changes in type font, to financia, the merge pnnting of standard business documents, Our courses have ranged from custom tuto executives to month-long training programs designed to help unemployed people gain compur article I survey Perfect Writer, Select, Spellbinder, The Final Word, and Wordstar. For each prqgran- dr attention to the ease with which it can be learned, the scope and power of its editing commands, ' I'r:lf au'h3ut, the ergonomics of its command structure as controlled from the home key fend special advantages for particular kinds of typing. Various problems encou: ' t various printers and in transferring text files among them will also be discu~(ograrn IS superior for all applications, and each has at least one ap~lication where it is clearly bet!, R' ',rs Before .iewing the programs individually, I offer some general comments on aspects of the inte' ':~~~er.To date, most users have paid far too little attention to how they inter; ~.n r..has been mastered. "Ergonomics" and "user-friendliness' are industry ierring to .....important characteristics which should be examined carefully before selecting any co' 'J processing system. "Ergonomics" is concerned with the efficient and economic use of human er,- Tin specific tasks. When applied.to word processing, ergonomic systems allow the operator tC " wi~"~•.• cing keystrokes, errors and physical or mental strain. ,Q:Jpeec ~ytWqJ(U~~~~ethem) offer two excellent examples of bad ergonomic des OVIIEF-lTY layout of the alphabetic keys which deliberately places characters~; unc~H' commonly used , d Y"' 'C) c. ak fingers (thii was done early in the history of the ~ mechanical typewriter to sl tyana aws Ii") 0 ..n:nhemechanism). The other, and more specific, fault of ttl- ene,:: of me cJtr<~~f~."'~hereview I note how each program exacerbates or improv(~ rIle CPM operating system and many word processing programs running under it make heavy use ,Fio> is the alphabetic key pressed while the control key is held down) keystroking pc: iS~2~S to the computer from keystrokes to be entered into, text. Touch-typing primarily invc (FH:)~c.l.Gle finger keystrokes bhsed on short reaches away (~) from the fingers' normal resting! W. -dOh In)2' keys for the left hand, and (J,K;l,:) for the right. Any keying operation which brea: In I AUl.or a-e.1 substantially reduce typing speed, e.g., like those of entering a contr :sir]g'!f,c~~ft key or cap-naTt."Shifting is less disruptive than using the key because it non D~nm·a sentence, coinciding with a natural pause in

thought. Shifting is also facilitate ~~~I , lication, and placement close to the home keys, which allows one hand to hold !:::w,j types the shifted character. (In passing, I note IBM's incredibly bad design decision on ;l(}cJitionai character key between the left hand home keys and the shift key.) By contrast, the

Reglsterecl byAustralia Post - Publication No NBP 5800 - CategoryB

~-.~------, Ave CP/M word processing packages In a two-part series, Dr William Hall reviews Wordstar, Select, The Final Word, Perfect Writer and Spellbinder

Introduction: and in transferring text files amongthem Touch-typing primanly involves a lin­ I HAVE read too many reviews of word will also be discussed. No one program ear sequence of single finger keystrokes processing systems written by people is superior for all applications, and each based on short reaches away from the with only limited experience in the area has at least one application where it is fingers' normal resting positions on the of word processing. Friends have also clearly better than the others. "home" keys (A,S,D,F) for the left hand, told me that XYZ word processor won't Before reviewing the programs in­ and (J,K,L,:) for the right. Any keying handle a particular problem well, when dividually, I offer some general com­ operation which breaks this sequence the basic problem is that they haven't ments on aspects of the interface bet­ of single short keystrokes will substan­ taken the time to learn to use all its ween these programs and the user. To tially reduce typing speed, eg, like those features. date, most users have paid far too little of entering a control character or using i. Let's face it - the more flexible and attention to how they interact with the the shift key for capitals. powerful a word processing system is, computer once the program has been Shifting is less disruptive than using the more commands it will have, and the mastered. the typewriters before them) offertwoexcel­ from the home keys. This guarantees ounts and the merge printing of standard lent examples of bad ergonomicdesign: that the left little finger - normally the business documents. One is the QWERTY layout of the weakest and least controllable - is the Our courses have ranged from cus­ alphabetic keys which deliberately only one that can reach it unless one or tom tutorials for single executives to places commonly used characters both hands are taken away from the month-long training programs designed away from home keys and under weak home keys. to help unemployed people gain com­ fingers (this was doneearly inthe history Programs like Wordstar make this puter skills. of the mechanical typewriter to slow bad ergonomics even worse by using commands and re­ In this article I survey Perfect Writer, typists down to what were then the quiring awkward extensions like , , and as prefixes for many commands. For each program, I pay particular where is the alpha­ a computer program. Several compon­ function keys, and special advantages betic key pressed while the control key ents are important. for particular kinds of typing. is held down) keystroking patterns to • Documentation: Every word pro­ Various problems encountered in in­ distinguish commands to the computer cessing system comes with supporting stalling the programs for various printers from keystrokes to be entered into text. documents to explain howto install it on

Page 28 AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984 .------f!5..~gr'!aE,:s=_~ ;~;;E~==_- ~;; ..;r;r;;:;;... ~.,'!!!:!'!!!' e~!!!'!!!'

the host computer, and provide details the instructions can be tested to see if The test environment on its features. The documentation is they were entered correctly. My experience with the five word extensive and complex for all programs • Select, Spellbinder and The Final processing programs varies. I obtained reviewed here. How accessible and Word have alternate modes - a text Wordstar with my first CP /M computer understandable is this documentation? entry mode and at least one kind of in November 1981, Spellbinder in April • Tutorial material: Most people who command mode The computer is left in 1982, and Perfect Writer and Select with use computers learnt to use a keyboard the specified mode until specifically a Kay Pro II in January 1983. The Final I I on a typewriter, yet WP operators must instructed to change. Word was provided recently for incorp­ i interact with the systemin a totally new The same keys are used for some­ oration in this review. Where there are ,1 way. Typists execute most formatting times very different functions in different significant differences between versions . II operations u'sing eye and muscle co­ modes. If one forgets which mode is of the programs -I have used, these ordination to physically move the paper operational, quite unexpected or catas­ are noted. around in the machine before pressing trophic results can ensue. All programs except The Final Word keys to type the characters. I prefer those systems where a given have been used on Kay Pro transport· The only "function" keys are the sequence of key strokes always does able computers (II and IV). All except mechanical ones of shifting, tabbing the same thing. With these I can con­ Perfect Writer have also been run on an and using the carriage return to ad­ centrate fully on my work at hand and let older single-board computer based on vance the paper. By contrast, com­ my reflexes handle the typing on their the Ferguson Big Board. Both computers puters work with encoded instructions. own. use the 8-bit CP /M 2.2 operating sys­ This requires typists to make concep­ • Perfect Writer offers another example tem and offer 64K-bytes memory, two tual shifts in the way they control formats of unfriendly organisation. Aside from disk drives and an 80-col by 24 line - and given that no two WP systems the verbosity of its formatting instruct­ screen display offering no highlighting encode their instructions in the same ions, commands use five quite different or character enhancements. way, even shifting between different WP keystroking patterns: , , (ESC-CHAR) and Pro offers 18 programmable function much help the packages' training and

AUSTRAliAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984 Page 29 ) ,....------~==#r===:sF== &!!!"-.S_~:_-:_­ ...... =='==... !!!!='!!r_....

variety of default parameters for printout style and operation of the program. It also offers another improvement Iwould WORDSTAR very happily do without. The version distributed with Kaypro Wordstar, one of the oldest and most printing. I have little experience with automatically patches the Kaypro popular word processing packages for Spellstar, since other proof reading operating system with its own cursor CP 1M computers, is published by systems such as the WORD+ work with control codes. As discussed below, MicroPro, and is distributed in Australia Wordstar, are easier to use and more Kaypro's own keypad configuration by Imagineering as well as being powerful. program allows even inexperienced bundled with particular brands of com­ users to set up a better ergonomic puters. Associated programs integrated Versions key stroking pattern which uses the with Wordstar include Mailmerge and The three versions I have used (2.1 0, linear row of four cursor keys to put Spellstar. 3.00, 3.30) differ considerably in their spreadsheet -I stili use 2.10 for all but tabular typing sor keys should correspond to the direc­ program). Despite considerable exper­ in preference to the newer versions). tion of cursor movement. The new ience with three of the other packages Text lines displaying more than 79 version defeats this - at least as far as under review, Wordstar is still my pre­ characters are wrapped around onto the four cursor keys are concerned. ferred program for general use and the next screen line so that all char­ would certainly be the first choice for acters held within the file space dis­ As installed, Wordstar occupies be­ any statistical or technical typing in­ played on the screen are visible at once. tween 67 (version 2.10) and 81 (version 3.30) kilobytes of disk space, depend­ volving tables, formulas or other com.­ The maximum length of a text line IS ing on the version. Unlike Perfect Writer plex formatting problems. 240 chars. Wordstar's major strengths are in All Wordstar's flags in column 80 are and The Final Word, Wordstar requires no reserved disk space for text files that ergonomics, user friendliness and user also displayed. These indicate the type control over all printer functions except of line ending (soft return, hard return, overflow the available memory space. One or more scratch files are created proportional printing. line wrap, or screen lines before or after the file space) or whether Wordstar's automatically, only as needed - and their size depends entirely on the size of formatting instructions are to be The package the text being edited. Next to Spell­ recognised. The basic package includes three binder Wordstar uses the smallest modules which must be accessible on Version 3.00 offers horizontal scrolling amou~t of disk space of the five sys­ disk to operate properly: (lines do not wrap around if longer than tems. • WS.COM (if alreapy installed for a 79 characters - they simply disappear particular computer such as the Kay­ off the edge ofthe screen). Lines of more The user interface pro) or WSU.COM (uninstalled version) than 80 characters may be typed or A new user may choose to interact ! i - the master program; followed with the cursor to force hori­ with Wordstar through a complete heir­ • WSOVLY1 .OVR - machine lang­ zontal scrolling in 20 character jumps. archy of menus with a NO FILE or uage subroutines for less frequently When one is working with text lines of OPENING menu, MAIN EDITING used functions (read into memory as more than 79 characters, it is impossible MENU and PREFIX MENUS summaris­ needed but otherwise leaving space to see all of the text at once. Also, when ing five sets of commands which take available in a 64K RAM for a large the line ending is off screen, the onlyflag prefixes and a variety of additional help amount of text - about 24,000 charac­ displayed for that line is the '+' which messages for commands requiring extra ters or about 10 pages). indicates the line iscontinuedoffscreen. specifications before acting. • WSMSGS.OVR - text files for the Horizontal scrolling is advantageous If this isn't enough, optional explana­ extensive help messages. only for tabular typing. For most other tions and help may be called up inde­ The current package includes at least kinds of editing it is quite detrimental to pendently of the execution of particular two installation files, WINSTAL.COM have parts of the text invisible off screen. commands. In Wordstar all options and WS.INS which allow even inexperi­ Ideally, horizontal scrolling should be available to the user at any given point in enced users to install WS.COM for a an on-screen formatting option. An processing a document or executing a wide range of different hardware and important addition to 3.00 is the provis­ particular command are displayed ­ default conditions. Older packages ion of a column move capability. every step of the way. include a much more compact and less Experienced users may dispense user friendly INSTALL.COM. Installation with some or all of this help, and type in These can be removed from the Installation and documentation for commands with no delay in action. working disk once installation is com­ 2.10 and 3.00 are similar in style plete. Wordstar optionally includes with the addition of a training manual in Opening menu MAILMERG.OVR to enable merge print the later version. Version 3.30 differs from When Wordstar is loaded into mem­ ing and various files associated with 3.00 primarily in that its installation pro­ ory, the 'NO FILE' or 'OPENING' menu Spellstar. gram is far more sophisticated than the is displayed after the initial installation Mailmerge is a powerful utility which earlier versions. and copyright notices are displayed to can be used for a wide variety of New users will find it far easier to the screen. functions beyond simple merge install a wide range of printers and set a One also returns to this menu when

AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984 Page 31 editing is completed. The Opening copying disk files; setting the initial help control the printout. All prompt com­ Menu offes a choice of two editing level; normal or merge printing; running mands are entered as one or two modes that differ in initial settings for another program (Wordstar saves user (CHAR>s. onscreen style, but use the same main style settings while running other pro­ Instructions for print enhancement editing menu commands; grams); and exiting to the operating (e.g., different pitch, bolding, underlining, The document mode assumes that system. ribbon c%r, etc.) are typed into the text as (CTRL-P) (CTRL-@) which in­ fractional space justification, soft returns, variable tabs, line wrap, auto­ Main menu serts the designated control code into matic hyphenation, etc, will all be used; The main editing menu offers about the text (i.e., hexadecimal codes 01 20 prompt commands and access to through 1A, which display on the screen The non-document mode enters five extra menus of commands begin­ as 'Cont X' where X is an Ascii letter only standard Ascii tabs and characters ning with a prefix. Wordstar uses only character). Dot commands are typed in into the file being typed. The Opening two types of instructions: as text lines beginning with a '.' (full Menu also gives access to other • Prompt commands for cursor move­ stop) in Column 1, followed by two functions and housekeeping utilities: ment, deleting, other editing oper­ letters and (optionally) a modifying displaying the disk directory; logging ations, and for manipulating other files. number or word. another disk drive; deleting, renaming or • Instructions inserted into the text to There are no major mode shifts. The Opening Menu offers access to non­ editing utility functions. I ESC 1 In the Main Editing Menu, once a 1 I control code is entered it may be II aborted or must be carried to a con­ 1=1 clusion. A given keystroke command always means the same thing in Word­ star. TAB I Q I I w I 1 E 1 I R I 1 T 1 1 Y 1 The only function resembling a mode 1quickI I up 1 / up I I up I 1 del I I del I shift is the insert toggle, (CTRL-V) . I pfx I Iscrll/ lline I Iscm 1 h,ord I lline 1 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 When insert is toggled on (the normal situation), any characters typed are simply inserted into the text atthe cursor position. 1C1'RIICAPI IAllsllDllFllGI When toggled off, they replace exist­ 1 1 I LeI< 1 Ileft 1 Ileft I 1right1 1right1 1 dell I 1 I 1 l..oro I Idlar 1 Idlar 1 l..oro I Ichar I ing characters in the text -useful in 1=11=1= 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 some editing situations. Single mode (hone keys are in bold) systems are best for composing text. One can concentrate on writing the ~ text without having to stop and think / SHIIT I I z I 1 x 1 I c / I v I I B I II Ido.m I ldo.m I Ido.m I linsrtl Irefrrnl about what mode one is in or how this I 1 Iscrlll Ichar 1 Iscm I Itoggll Iparag1 effects the meaning of command key­ =1 1= 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 strokes. Figure 1: Little finger on the (CTRL> key still enables most of the command keys with the fingers of the left hand. Ergonomics MicroPro has given considerable at­ tention to organising Wordstar's com­ mands into ergonomic and intuitively TM 1 0 1 I H I 1 E I I R I I T I 1 Y 1 logical groupsings. The other packages Irept.1 1cant. I I top I 1 top 1 I not I I del I 1 fn 1 Iscrlll Iscm I Ifile 1 lused I lendlnl have all taken what I would call a sales­ 1====/ 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 oriented approach to their command up structures, by picking keys that use initial/etters of command names. 1C1'RIICAPI I A I lsi I 0 I I F 1 1 G I These may be easier for a new userto I 1 I La< I Ifnd & 1 Ileft 1 IrightI lfind 1 1 not I remember, but the keystroking is usually II I 1 Irepl 1 lendlnl lendlnl II lused 1 quite unergonomic and does nothing to 1==--=1 1=1= 1=1 1=1 1=1 1=11=1 help an experienced user get the work done faster, no matter how easily re­ membered the commands may be. I SHIIT I I z I I X I I c I I v I I B I Wordstar's commands aren't easy to 1 1 1cant. 1 lbottml lbottml /retml 1retm I remember, so, to compensate, it offers I I 1 Iscrll I Iscm 1 Ifile I 1 to I I to 1 by far the best on screen he/pto the user. =1 1= 1=1 /=1 1=1 1=1 1=1 do.m last begn block blk mark Keystroking without loctn dedicated function keys Figure 2: Wider operating movement and deletion commands In Wordstar, the most commonly begin with the (CTRL-Q> prefix but use the same.keys for analogous functions. used cursor and editing commands are executed as a single (CTRL-@) .Many

Page 32 AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984 r------~_==s~:~=.$==== ~---,_u_""'_...... as...5iFcc= $' se.!II' !!!.,1nF

more, but less frequently used com­ (ESC) (CTRLO,N) - where N is a extensive command structure is not mands require a (CTRL-@) prefix, number 0 through 9 moves cursor to easy to memorise, These are grouped under five prefixes: one of 10 different non-printing place Keystroking patterns chosen be­ cause of their ergonomic utility do not • (CTRL-0> commands are generally markers which may be placed in the text. quicker or more extensive versions of Even without dedicatedfunction keys, correspond to the initial letter of the single keystroke cursor movement, de­ typing and correcting with Wordstar is function they execute. letion plus finding and replacing and very easy. Text is entered naturally On the other hand, Wordstar offers quick access to various kinds of place without consideration of alternate the most extensive and informative on­ markers (e,g" more sophisticated cur­ modes, and movements and deletions screen help facility of any of the pro­ sor movement commands), for corrections are easily made with the grams, How much of this help is actually • (CTRL-O) gives access to (O,n=) single (CTRL-@) commands on the displayed is entirely under user control. screen formatting commands and left hand - thus requiring only minimal Experienced users can turn off the toggles - most of which are reflected in movements away from the home keys, help to display the maximum amount of the printout (e,g" toggling word-wrap, text on the screen, On the other hand, new users can request the display of hyphenation, etc., and using and setting Keystroking with margins, tabs, line spacing, etc,) menus summarising every command dedicated function keys: which can be executed at any point in • (CTRL-K) commands cover blocks Many computers provide special of text and other files (eg" inserting other the text entry, editing or printing stages, keys which can be programmed to files; marking, moving, writing anddelet­ More detailed explanations of many generate control codes or strings of ing blocks of text; copying and deleting functions and applications, and a sum­ characters used as commands by other files, etc,), mary of Wordstar's many dot com­ applications software packages, These • (CTRL-P) enters various (P) rint mands are also available through the 'dedicated function keys' can be con­ enhancements into the text (eg, bold­ figured to further improve the ergono­ facing, underlining, overstriking, etc.), mics of Wordstar's keystroking patterns, I <7> II <8> II <9> I I <-> I • (CTRL-J) allows users to determine I "R I I "E I lOW I I "A I Kaypro provides a configuration pro­ I III I I I I how much of Wordstar's extensive on­ I~I I-I I-I I-I gram (CONFIG,COM) which readily up up ocrl up back screen help facilities are displayed, and scm line line -.oro allows the user to set the four cursor access to the detailed explanations, keys and 14 keys of the number pad to I II <4> II <5> I I <6> II <,> I Wordstar accepts upper and lower I I I "s I I "Q I 1"0 I I "F I generate any Ascii character, I I I IIIIIII case letters and (CTRL> as the' 1=1 1=1 1=1 I-I I-I The configuration is patched into the del left quick right second keystroke in prefix commands, computer's operating system, not into char char pf. 100rd 100rd This is advantageous when one is using bad< - the WP program, I I I <2> I I <» I 11 cursor controls to scan text. Since the control characters (CTRL­ I "c I 1')( II "z I I I II II IIII The cursor key is simply held down A) through (CTRL-Z> occur alphabe­ 1=1 1=1 1=1 II while the appropriate first and second down dJwn scrl dwn I'Y I tically in the hexadecimal sequence 01 scm line line I I keys are struck, At ot~er times it may be II through 1A, any user can easily set II ea,er not to hold the cursor key down <0> I <.> I II Kaypro's numeric and cursor keys to "G I"T I I I -through a sequence of commands, generated any @ combination, as illus­ II II 1=1 I-I Similarly, the state of the shift key has no trated in figure 3 for my configuration of del del del char \oQrd line effect on the meaning of control com­ Wordstar, Figure 3. The Kaypro's numeric mands, In this configuration, most control Given the awkward location of the Keypad configured as functions can be executed by striking a function keys. (CTRL> key on most keyboards, Word­ single key (or a sequence of two single star's control of cursor movement and keys) rather than the sometimes very deletion is very well designed, Most awkward two finger reaches required I <7> II <8> II <9> I I <-> I primary editing functions are placed on for (CTRL-@) strokes, I "R I I "E I I "I, II "A I I I II I:I I the left hand keys and can be reached Cursor keys are set for three main I-I 1=1 1=1 I~I top top ccnt up find • with the index finger while the little finger prefixes plus (CTRL-8) (CTRL-8) file screen scroll replace holds down the (CTRL> key, as illus­ alone is the command for reforming -- == trated in figure 1, I I I <4> I -I <5> I I <6> I I <,> I paragraphs to new margins, while II I "s I I '0 I 1"0 I I "F I The diamond-shaped arrangement when typed after the (CTRU prefix it II I I I I II II I-I I-I I-I 1=1 1=1 of the keys E, S, 0 and X serve as marks the beginning of a block of text. delte left end quick rgt end find begin line pf. line strirq directional arrows for single character On the numeric keypad, the quick prefix line cursor movements. key is placed on (5) ,with (4) , (8) , (6) I II <2> II <» II I I "c I 1')( II "z III These directional relationships are and (2) representing the four direc­ IIII I III maintained in other more extensive I-I 1=1 1=1 II tions of cursor movement, with other l:ottan l:ottan cont dwn I 'Y I commands. A finger motion upward on file screen scroll II commands similarly placed according II the keyboard corresponds to up on the to their direction of action, I I <0> I <.> I ! I screen, left to left, and so on. If the Oquick prefix key (CTRL-O> is "G I"T : I II i I More powerful or longer reaching pressed the functions on the number I-I 1=1 no functioo no fn delte movement and deletion com­ pad become: end mands begin with (CRTL-0> prefix, but line in general they use the same letter keys Userfriendliness Figure 4: After pressing (CTRL-Q> simi/a" functions for functions analogous to those enter­ Wordstaroffers a number of advan­ operate on a wider sea/e. ed as single (CTRL-@) commands: tages for a new user. Undoubtedly, its I' '"

AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984 Page 33 ) ..- -~~"~'----T- help menu. Wordstar's technical Margins and tab stops are easily set and other file commands are powerful and manuals offer a great deal of information changed with (CTRL-O) commands easy to use. about the programs, but are not readily much as they are on a typewriter. understandable by people without com· Lines may be up to 240 characters Block commands puter experience. long, with any number of tabs set During editing, up to 10place markers Wordstar also offers a training anywhere in this length. Tabbed text may be inserted as desired into the text manual of exercises, which provides a may be either aligned on the initial by typing (CTRL-K) (#) where good introductory tutorial to the system. character or on a decimal point, de­ #=0,1 ... ,9 (these display on the screen Two excellent books by independent pending on the character entered into as (#»). The cursor can be quickly publishers provide better introductions the ruler line which displays on screen returned to a place mark by typing to use of this program (Sybex and the current tabs and margins. (CTRL-Q) (#). (Osborne-McGraw Hill). To save the tabs and margins along Place marks are not saved when text Another aspect of user friendliness with particular file, the ruler line may be is written to disk. Only one block can be Wordstar offers is that the display of text typed into the top line of text and saved marked at a time. being edited on-screen closely reflects to disk as a non-printing comment line. (CTRL-K) (8) (displaying as (8) the printed page. Wordstar advertises When the text is read back into in the text) and (CTRL-K) (K) (display­ that "what you see is what you get". memory, and the cursor moved to the ing as (K») respectively mark the block's Although not precisely true, if page ruler line, the margins and tabs can be beginning and end (on computers that formats are not changed with dot com­ transferred to the computer's ruler line offer highlighting or inverse video, the mands in the middle of the document, by using the onscreen command marked block is shown highlighted or the screen will accurately display line (CTRL-O> (F) ("margins/tabs from rather this is indicated with the block and page breaks. Ofthe other programs, file line"). markers). Once the block is marked it only Select provides this information Tabs and margins can also be en­ . may be moved, deleted, written to a disk during editing. tered (CTRL-O> (I) (column#) - or file, or copied within the text using other Print editing and formatting: (CTRL-O> (N) (ESC> for the cursor commands from the (CTRL-K) menu. Wordstar's tabbing functions are colmn or all at once (CTRL­ There is no size limit for blocks to be superior to those of the other programs. 0> (N) (A). Wordstar's block and erased or written to disk, but only about

YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE , The MACPRO MBS - 800/900 series. The Options: • Winchester hard disk drive ...... , • 1 floppy disk + 1 winchester The System: ~=:: ~~~;; ,.(, ~ hard disk. 5 M Byte • 12" terminal with graphic capabilities 'J.lll.~ • 1 floppy disk + 1 winchester • Detachable keyboard hard disk. 10M Byte • Twin floppy disk drive units with mass • 1 floppy disk + 1 winchester storage of 2.59 M Byte hard disk.115 M Byte • CP/M operating system • MP/M operating system The MACPRO MBS - 800/900 series versatility means, it can be tailored to your requirements. From single operator to mlilti-users. Because the MBS - 800/900 series are very powerful you can use the most comprehensive range of software available; Accounting, word processing, spread sheet, communication etc., this really places professional assistance at your finger tips. You can also add such vital peripheral equipment as printers, (daisy-wheels or dot-matrix) telecommunication links, extra keyboards, (some models) etc. If you are looking for a MICRO computer which can be adapted to your needs, then call us now.

183 BANK ST., STH. MELBOURNE, VIC. 3205. TELEPHONE: (03) 699 3100 DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME.

Enter N017 on Enquiry Card

L....- ~----J."

34 AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE -'JAMJNN 198ot"Y ...------,iE-S'e.aFSiFiiS --~j-5.;;;­ ""l1li. .. =-=== =- ..IiiIF.1Ii In!'

4000 characters can be moved or characters, irrespective of the number But, many of the same effects may be copied as a block within memory. (If you of intervening characters. achieved with a proper display of page want to move a larger block, write it to Filenames or character strings used breaks if the line height is set to the disk, then read it back into the text being in previous file management com­ smallest increment used at the start of edited at the destination.) mands or search and replace functions the file and ' (S) <3). processing systems is the ability to can be carried out on atime share basis This procedure works well with other centre text within designated columns. while another file is being edited. Key­ word processing systems thatallowone Wordstar also has the capacity to board input has priority over printer to set line heights independently of line manage other files and other disks output, which means that simultane­ spacing. during the -editing process. ous printing and editing is quite prac­ Dot commands may be used to force The block prefix menu provides addi­ tical on serial printers, with the proviso page breaks either absolutely (.pa) or tional utilities for changing the logged that some input characters may be lost if conditionally if less than n lines remain disk drive, reading disk directories, typing continues while the disk is being before the natural page break (eg, to reading into text from other files, copying read for printing (Wordstar displays a prevent only one line of a paragraph other files, renaming them, or erasing WAIT message). continuing on the following page). them, and saving or abandoning the file (Serial printers accept characters on currently being edited. In fact, the only a serial basis; ie, bne by one - not to be functions which cannot be executed confused with the RS-232 serial inter­ Characterformatting while editing a file are running another face. Most daisywheel printers are Character spacing can be changed program or simultaneously editing an­ serial printers.) Background printing on even within a line by the to output the line to the printer, and using the dot command '.CW n' ,where finds, while (A) finds n is the desired width in 1/12in. Under­ and replaces. Search and replace printer output retains priority until the output is complete. lining, double striking, boldfacing strings may be up toM characters long. (=shadow printing), ribbon color and lIfhe search string may also include It becomes possible to overflow the input buffer and the unpredictably long various overstrike or strike-out en­ Wordstar's special find characters: hancements of the print are controlled (n) Screen and striking or boldfacing alone make a outstanding on-screen help is the failure (n) screen menu original printout. (prior capitalisation is also ignored in the command (CTRL-O> (S) <#) (# = But, overlapping the two functions , j replace operation); global, forward or 1,2,... 9), line spacing can be set for achieves the desired degree of bolding. backward search; replace without ask­ anything from one to 9 spaces be­ For example .. ing, repeat # of times; and limit search to tween lines. Height of a single line can will print double bold and " will print the phrase ; . (CTRL-L> repeats the previous the dot command, '.LHn', where n is the indicated in heavy boldface. search and replace operation. The only number of 1/48in desired between Wordstar also offers four user-defi­ features which might be added to future lines. nable print enhancement functions that versions of Wordstar would be: Print formatting and page breaks are can be specified as the program is being • An ability to ignore the unpredictable adjusted accordingly ontheprintout, but, installed. These give the user easy number of spaces or carriage returns unfortunately, page breaks displayed access to the various type fonts avail­ that are inserted between words when on screen are not recalculated for line able on a dot matrix printer like the text is right justified. height changes made within the text. Epson. • To sense existing capitalisation and (Wordstar displays a warning to this One important function Wordstar has replace accordingly. effect whenever a dot command is that seems to be lacking in the other •A search eli psis function that can find entered that would affect the page packages is the ability to halt a daisy­ a string given beginning and ending breaks). wheel printer in the middle of a text to

AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984 Page 35 ) =Iiiii;"==~=u;.;'------"" ee~~ &.;;;;'

allow the type font to be changed. An keyboard input directly to a disk file Conclusion annoying deficiency in the print en­ formatted according to the appropriate To conclude the survey of Wordstar, hancements, is thafWordstar provides record structure rather than to the I will summarise the major assets and only one mode of underlining. All printed printer. Creation of the data file is deficiencies: characters and no spaces are facilitated by Mailmerge's screen for­ If one is a touch typist or intends to do underline. matting capabilities and its ability to limit enough word processing to become a But, if a continuous underlining is input for given fields to a specified touch typist, Wordstar's ergonomics is desired, XCTRL-PX XRETURNX will number of characters. so much superior to the other four enter an overprinting line into the text The maximum number of characters systems reviewed that I would recom­ and the continuous underling can then that can be input through the add mend using Wordstar for ALL text entry. by typed in on the overprint line. This variable option is determined by the line There are many commands and most achieves the desired effect, with the length remaining on the screen. Merge of them are on keys that have no caution that registration of the underlin­ printed documents can use Wordstar's nemonic relationship with the functions ing with the text on the line being entire repertoire of formatting options. they generate. On the other hand, overprinted cannot be assured if thetext In printing addresses or other similar Wordstar's on-screen help is far super­ is printed with justified right hand blocks with varying numbers of lines, the ior to that offered by any of the other margins. printing of blank lines may be suppress­ systems, and is organised in a way With printers capable of incremental ed if the variable contains no informa­ which readily helps the user towards a spacing, Wordstar's justification is by tion. painless memorisation. If one needs inserting microspaces more or less output features of one of the other uniformly along the line, with some illIstrillHlIJ systems, type the text with Wordstar and preference being given in inserting ·I-~~'" then massage it as required, before them after punctuation marks, in the II_ .~=-==...------printing with the other packages. spaces between words. =.. -.~....a ~ c"",,,a£er",agazille Wordstar also excels in its tabbing Merge printing functions and its ability to handle com­ Although merge printing is not a part Software Report Card plex tables. Through its dot commands, of the basic Wordstar package, anyone it provides the user with the most using Wordstar should obtain the Mail­ complete control over a printer's char­ ... acter and line spacing functions of any merge option. Wordstar (I have it for versions 2.10 and 3.00 ~ ~ of the systems, and it offers the facility of only -I have not yet seen the option for i sending halt codes to the printer to allow version 3.30). Mailmerge has many ~ ~ ~ ~ type fonts to be changed in the middle of useful functions beyond the obvious a document. ones used in preparing customised Performance o 0 Iio The one feature I miss most with form letters. Inserted information may Documentation o 0 rio Wordstar is its lack of support for true be variables drawn frpm individual fields EaseoflJse OOOM proportional printing through user modi­ ofl&(1e records comprising a data file or it fiable correspondence and spacing may be the entire contents of a named Error HandUng o r!l'oo tables. Correspondence tables are disk file. needed because many proportionally In either case, the inserted informa­ System requirements: printing daisywheels have non-stan­ dard sequences of characters on the tion will automatically be formatted • CP/M-BO or CP/M-B6 according to the style parameters of the spokes. Spacing tables are needed to master document. Data files normally Price: $A666.00 allow the user to print from any font in a are structured using variable length Distributor: proportional mode. fields and carriage return delimited Imagineering, It is the only system I would recom­ records. 3/579 Harris Street, mend for technical typing on a daisy­ Field separators are normally Ultimo 2007. wheel printer. Some users may prefer commas, but other delimiters may be Tel: (02) 212 1411. programs like Perfect Writer and The set using Wordstar's installation Final Word, which have many automa­ program. I have found no upper limit to the tic formatting functions. If a delimiter is to be used within a field, number of different variables that may Wordstar has none. The typist must it is only necessary to enclose it in be formatted within a ~ingle form docu­ explicitly control essentially all format­ quotes. Data files may be created ment - it is well over 100, each filled ting decisions. directly with Wordstar, or with the Data­ with 79 characters. Also, there is no limit For me this is an advantage ­ star package. to the number of times a given variable Wordstar formats the textthe way lormy With Datastar an extra empty field may be used. customers want it to - not the way mu.st be created atthe end oftheformto Once variable names are defined by some programmer anticipated I might place a comma after the last data field. dot commands within the form docu­ like. For others not so concerned with Mailmerge requires this comma, and ment they may be used in any order or stylistic details, the automaticformatting Datastar does not ordinarily create it. not used at all. Mailmerge also may be provided by some of the programs will If left out, Mailmerge will skip printing used to chain a series of files to the produce far more professional looking every other record in the data file. printer. documents than they would do them­ Data files may also be created using One disadvantage is that merge print­ selves. Mailmerge. ing cannot be done in background, The add variable option can send while normal printing can be. Part II next issue.

Page 36 AUSTRALIAN MICROCOMPUTER MAGAZINE - JANUARY 1984