IIGS Word Processors (Was Re: Apple II Celebration)

["Joseph E. Walsh" <ransom@connect.iconnect.net>]

On 28 Apr 1997 pubpc1@library.ucla.edu wrote:

> Joe, consider AppleWorks GS v1.1, available for $15 from Alltech
> Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/).  It has a full-featured
<snip>

I did get AWGS 1.1 from Alltech (no manual, but the price was right<G>), 
on the advice of several folks.  More on that below.


> EGOed is nice, but it does not spell check, lacks a thesaurus, and
> is not quite a full word processor.  However, it does load up
> AppleWorks GS word processor files and can save RTF.  The ideal
> method would then be to write your manuscript in AppleWorks GS v1.1,
> load it into EGOed, and save it as an RTF for export to Word for
> Windows.

I received EGOed 2.0 (and all 20 back issues of the GS+ mag/disk that are 
currently available - gotta learn more about this computer!) last week, 
and it does have its advantages.  Again, more on that below.


> Um...what version of WPGS do you have?  Version 2.1 is the stable one.

I have 2.1, but I've tracked down the crash point a bit.  Perhaps the 
root cause is one of the NDA's I have loaded, but the visible cause is 
loading the spelling checker more than once per session.  If I only use 
the spelling checker module once per session, WPGS is stable.  If I load 
it a second time, it will always crash upon exit from the spelling 
checker.

After much expenditure of money, and much advise, I think I now have 
all of the most popular WP programs loaded on the IIGS.  I've used them 
all now, and I'll summarize my experiences below, just in case anyone 
else is planning on using a IIGS for extensive writing.

First, let me note that I have Pointless 2.03, Harmonie (with the 56.6 
kbps printer port driver installed), and Express.  I have a DeskWriter 600 
and an ImageWriter II, but I'd like to be able to just use the 
DeskWriter for all my printing needs.

I have 4 MB of RAM, a 100 MB HDD, and System 6.0.1.

Second, let me define my problem.  I'm a freelance writer, and my typical 
file size is in the 50 to 100K range.  My editor uses Word for Windows, 
which can import (among other things) ASCII and RTF format.  She doesn't 
like ASCII, though, primarily because Word for Windows, unlike 
WordPerfect for Windows, doesn't have an "Import ASCII with CR/LF to Soft 
Return" option.  Thus, each line ends up having a hard return at the end, 
which makes it very difficult to edit.  So far, she's been removing the 
hard returns by hand.  But, my goal is to find a word processor on the 
IIGS that: 1)I'm comfortable using, 2) has a spelling checker, 3) handles 
files in the 50 to 100K range, 3) is responsive and quick, 4) prints to 
my DeskWriter, and 6) exports to some format that allows Word for Windows 
to import it without hard returns at the end of every line (and which 
doesn't cause any other problems for my editor).


Now, on to the reviews:

GraphicWriter III:  This is the first one I bought.  I did so because I 
knew of the RTF translator for GWIII, from EGO Systems.  I then found out 
about Pointless, Type West, and Type Set I and purchased them as well.  
When I received them, however, I found out that GWIII isn't very 
convenient to use as a word processor, and its maximum file size is 32K.  
Clearly, not the ideal for heavy-duty writing (I write an average of 
1,500 words per day, after my "real job").  So, I moved on.

WordPerfect GS 2.1:  This came with one of the computer systems I bought 
second-hand.  It's great for me, because its native file format imports 
into Word for Windows perfectly, all formatting intact.  And, its 
commands are familiar to me.  Unfortunately, its native format isn't one 
that the latest Word for Windows recognizes.  Also, it doesn't print to 
the DeskWriter, unless I find out the printer codes for it (more on that 
below).

EGOed 2.0:  This is a really nifty NDA, and I'm definitely going to keep 
it.  It's the closest thing to a universal translator that exists for the 
IIGS, as far as I know.  Plus, as an NDA, I can run it from any desktop 
program, which is nice.  On the down side, it has no spelling checker, 
and it's very slooooowwww when large files are loaded.

AppleWorks GS 1.1:  This program is fine, and really has everything I 
need except the ability to translate to RTF.  I could import RTF into 
EgoEd, then export to AppleWorks, import that into AppleWorks GS, add to 
the file, export to AWGS format, then import into EGOed, then export to 
RTF, and send it off to the editor for additional comments.  But, there 
are two problems with this: 1) That's a heck of a process to go through, 
and 2) (and this is a general problem I have with GS desktop word 
processors) the printing and display are problematic.  It's hard to read 
the display using the standardized format my collaborators and I have 
worked out (Courier 10 point, margins set at 1" and 7.5" - wouldn't want 
to put the typsetter out of a job by doing the formatting ourselves<Grin>).  
For printing, it takes a long time to build the image in memory and put 
it on the disk so Express can print it out.  I imagine this process of 
building the spool file will be much faster whenever I get the 
accelerator from EGO Systems, but that won't be for another couple of 
months at the least (he's waiting for 2 more orders before he places his 
order; who knows how long it'll be before he gets them - I'd order it 
elsewhere, but no one else I've found advertises the ZIP 8 MHz; alltech 
advertises the 7 MHz model).  So, for now, I need something that will 
build the spool file for a ~50K document rather quicker than the desktop 
programs do.

AppleWorks 5.1:  What can I say?  I used AppleWorks 'way back when it 
first came out (my first time around with the Apple II), and I've always 
thought it was the best word processor ever.  I've never understood why 
WordPerfect insisted on using the non-intuitive Function keys, or why 
Word insisted on non-intuitive keys for the various functions.  
AppleWorks uses the first letter of the function you wish to perform, in 
most cases, as the Open Apple combination to press to get that feature.  
It just makes so much sense, I don't understand why none of the "biggies" 
did that.  
   Anyway, I sent my editor test documents in various formats from all of 
these editors, trying to find something that would work for both of us.  
It turns out that AppleWorks' Print to ASCII File creates a file that 
lacks the hard returns at the end of each line.  So, that problem was 
solved. 
   AppleWorks 5.1 solves the problem of usability; even after all these 
years, I remember very well how to use this program.  The display is 
crips and clean, of course, and the program is very responsive.  
   The only problem is getting it to print to the DeskWriter.  
Fortunately, I found that the HP site has the codes for the DeskJet 600, 
which should be the same as those needed for the DeskWriter.  So, 
hopefully I'll be able to set AW to print to it later today.  I'll let 
you know how it goes.


Conclusion:  For the time being, I'll use AW 5.1.  If I can get it to 
work with the DeskWriter, so much the better.  If not, I'll have to hope 
the accellerator causes the spooling process to go faster, and move to 
AWGS.  AW5.1, since it uses what Harmonie calls External Rendering, 
prints plenty fast to the ImageWriter II; I just hope I can get it to do 
the same with the DeskWriter.


Question:  Maybe this is DeskWriter specific, but when I tell Harmonie to 
use External rendering (which means the DeskWriter uses its internal 
fonts), even when using a font that is in the DeskWriter's firmware, I 
always end up with lines that run off the page.  External rendering is a 
heck of a lot faster than Internal rendering, so I'd like to use it.  
But, I don't want to end up using margins at 1" and 5" to avoid that. :)  
What am I missing?  If I'm in a desktop word processor, and I have it set 
at Courier 10 point, with margins at 1" and 7.5", and use External 
Rendering, why won't it come out right?  It seems that it should really 
still be WYSIWYG, since Courier is a monospaced font.


Thanks to everyone who has helped me by making suggestions as to which 
word processor to use!


-Joe
______________________________________________________________________________
Joseph E. Walsh  |  Game Designer for Marc Miller's Traveller
_________________|  Atari 1200XL and Apple IIGS User and Programmer