Re: AW info needed

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4mm8mh$kfh@freenet-news.carleton.ca>,
Lionel Standing <bd330@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote:
> 
> Could anyone indicate what is the HIGHEST version of AppleWorks
> that will run on the IIe, please? 

All versions of AppleWorks will run on a sufficiently configured IIe.

AppleWorks 5.0 or 5.1 requires an enhanced IIe with at least 256KB of
RAM (more is strongly recommended), and a hard drive is also a good
idea.  It requires at least a 3.5" drive.

AppleWorks 4.0 through 4.3 will run on a 128KB IIe (it doesn't have to
be enhanced), but you will not be able to use all features, you will
only have a 20KB desktop, and it is pretty unusable on 5.25" drives.

AppleWorks 3.0 gives you a 40KB desktop on a 128KB IIe.  It is
bearable on 5.25" disks, but only if you have two drives.

(AppleWorks 2.1 and earlier give you a 55K desktop, and is fine on a
system with two 5.25" drives.)

> Also, is there any big advantage in moving up from v2.1 to v.3
> or v5 (assuming these will run on the IIe...)?

Each major version has added several significant new features.  From
memory:

Version 3 added the spelling checker, much better integration
between modules (copy from any module to any other module via
clipboard).  Lots of new spreadsheet functions, mostly dealing with
labels.  The maximum document sizes are much bigger (given lots of
memory).  More printers are included as standard versions.  With
enough memory, modules may be preloaded at startup time.  Disk
navigation is much easier (most useful for people with a hard drive).

Version 4 added lots of TimeOut utilities as standard, including
UltraMacros player (with mouse support), database is MUCH more
powerful (import/export, 60 categories, more reports, formulas,
formatting rules, glossaries, etc.), spreadsheet has several
improvements (including referencing other spreadsheets), more printers,
multiple custom printers.

Version 5 added cell notes to the Spreadsheet, UltraMacros compiler
(no documentation included), Outliner in the Word Processor, and
several useful little features.

The file formats have changed several times, and are generally not
backward-compatible unless you limit yourself to features available in
earlier versions.  The database file format changed completely in
version 4.0.

> Also, is there any way of turning an AW wordprocessor file
> back into an ASCII file?

Use AppleWorks to print it to a text file, or load it into an editor
which can read AppleWorks WP files and save as text.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand