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Re: Graphic Writer III
In article <jesse-2709962143380001@jesse2.gi.alaska.edu>,
Jesse P. Atencio <jesse@gi.alaska.edu> wrote:
> Has anyone used the new release of Graphic Writer III yet? If
> so...please post your impressions of it. Thanks.
Following is a detailed list of the differences between GraphicWriter
III version 1.1 and version 2.0 that was posted some time ago by Ninja
Force. (I think that is who it was.)
========================================
GENERAL
GraphicWriter III version 2.0 requires System 6.
The GraphicWriter III application icon now contains everything
you need--the separate "GW.Resources" file can be deleted.
Most of GraphicWriter III's dialog boxes are now "moveable, modal"
dialog boxes, meaning you can move them around the screen.
Dialog boxes can be navigated using the keyboard. Return or Enter is a
shortcut for clicking the button with the extra ring around it. Escape
or Command-Period is a shortcut for clicking the Cancel button.
The horizontal and vertical rulers now show marks every 1/16th inch
instead of every 1/10th inch.
Dragging out a new guide while the screen is updating used to cause
the guide to be offset from the mouse position; now it stays under
the mouse.
Select portions of code were re-written or optimized, squeaking
out some extra speed for certain operations.
Much of GraphicWriter III was rewritten to use newer System features
(such as the Resource Manager), resulting in a smaller program on disk.
When you double-click a GraphicWriter III document in the Finder,
GraphicWriter III is launched and the document is opened.
========================================
APPLE MENU
-=> Help
New feature! Choosing Help from the Apple menu opens a window
that displays help topics for GraphicWriter III. Select a topic
from the popup menu to read more about that topic.
========================================
FILE MENU
-=> Close
This menu item now responds to the standard Command-W shortcut
key (previously Command-W changed the View to Fit In Window...now
use Command-0 (zero) to choose Fit In Window).
The "save changes" dialog box is redesigned.
-=> Export / Import
When beginning an export or import, GraphicWriter III plays the sound
associated with the "beginning long operation" event. When the process
is complete the "operation complete" event sound is played.
-=> Print
You are now notified if an error occurs while printing.
While printing, GraphicWriter III tells Twilight II to use
background (i.e. friendly) blanking if it decides to blank.
========================================
EDIT MENU
The standard system clipboard is now supported, so you can Copy
and Paste text and graphics between GraphicWriter III and other
applications or desk accessories!
-=> Paste
If the system clipboard contains text, Paste lets you paste that
text into any typing frame (just as if you had copied the text
from within GraphicWriter III).
If the system clipboard contains a IIGS PICTure (e.g. while in
Platinum Paint you copied an image to the clipboard, then you
launched GraphicWriter III) Paste inserts a new "picture" object
into the document. This picture object can be resized without losing
any of its original quality.
TIP: After copying a picture in Platinum Paint, paste it into
GraphicWriter III. While the new picture object is selected choose
Object Specs from the Object menu, then click the 1/2 or 1/4 button
to reduce the picture to exactly 1/2 or 1/4 its original size. This
will yield exceptional print quality from high quality printers.
Currently there is no way to directly create or import a Picture object
in GraphicWriter III. To create a picture object you must copy a picture
from Platinum Paint, then Paste that picture into GraphicWriter III.
-=> Spelling
The dialog box has been changed to provide a much larger area
in which to display the context of the spelling error.
Most of the spelling code has been rewritten, and we believe
the infamous "Possible Choices" bug has finally been squashed!
Curly apostrophes are handled correctly. Previously don't (with a
straight apostrophe) would not be shown as a suspect word, but don't
(with a curly apostrophe) would be.
The spell checker recognizes foreign characters and special
symbols correctly.
-=> Preferences
The "Show Frames" option (checked by default) now shows dotted
lines around painting frames, as well as typing frames. With this
change, new painting frames now start with the Pen color set to None
(i.e. no border will be visible unless you select the Arrow tool,
click on the painting frame, then choose a Pen color).
Preferences are now stored in the "*:System:Preferences:" folder,
or in the user's folder if using AppleShare.
========================================
FONT MENU
The Font menu is now "standard" so it will work with utilities such as
our nifty "Super Menu Pack"!
All the fonts available in your system are listed alphabetically
on the Font menu. The menu will be scrollable if you have more
fonts than will fit on the screen.
-=> Choose Font
This option presents the standard Choose Font dialog box, where you
can select a Font, Style, and Size all in one step!
========================================
OBJECT MENU
-=> Object Specs
This new feature lets you position and size an object by exact numbers!
Common reductions (1/2 and 1/4) and common enlargements (2x and 4x)
are provided just by clicking a button.
========================================
PAGE MENU
-=> Snap To Guides
The snapping code was greatly improved so that objects will snap
to the same position even if they are slightly left/right or
above/below the guide being snapped to.
-=> Insert Pages
In the document window, clicking "+" in the "- Page +" area moves
to the next page (as it did before). What's new: If the last page
of the document is currently being shown, the "Insert Pages"
dialog box appears automatically so you can insert new pages.
-=> Copy Master Guides
This new feature erases all the guides on the current page, and
replaces them with an exact copy of all the guides from the appropriate
master page (see Master Pages in the original manual's index).
========================================
EXTRAS MENU
This menu is new, and only appears if there are GraphicWriter III
extras installed that ask to be added to this menu.
Currently there are no extras available, but the capability now
exists to extend GraphicWriter III's functionality without having
to release a whole new version.
--
Joe Walters: bird@mcs.com or J.L.Walters@genie.com
To know and not to do is to not yet know