Re: Apple Drops Backward Compatibility for Next MacOS

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article ericb@pobox.com (Eric Bennett) writes...

>In article <19961106222144400093@dempson.actrix.gen.nz>
>dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) writes:
>> [For that matter, no software other than AppleWorks GS itself is able to
>> read these files.  They were never documented, Claris itself has no
>> idea, and at least two teams of IIgs experts were not even able to get
>> AppleWorks GS to assemble again,
> 
>Not documented?  Claris *wrote* AppleWorks GS.  They should--and
>do--know how to implement translation of those formats in ClarisWorks.

    Claris did not write AppleWorks GS, it was written by StyleWare. 
The program was originally called "GSWorks", which was an expanded 
version of StyleWare's own MultiScribe GS word-processor, but with 
five new intergrated modules added on (anyone who's familar with
MultiScribe GS will notice AWGS' WP module is virtually identical).
Claris not only purchased GSWorks, but StyleWare as well. They then
renamed the project "AppleWorks GS", doing very little to it other 
than changing copyrights and wording within the program. Claris did
release two maintenance updates (version 1.0v2 and 1.1) but I would
hardly consider that qualifying as having wrote it.

    The program switched hands a third time, when in 1994 Claris 
sold both AppleWorks Classic and AppleWorks GS to Quality Computers.
I suppose it's now on to it's fourth owner, as Quality Computers was
bought out by Scantron not long ago. :) SQC has not done anything 
with AppleWorks GS other than change the design on the cardboard 
box and re-print the old manuals. 

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca