Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Wordperfect 12- The pinnacle of word processing

This is topic Wordperfect 12- The pinnacle of word processing in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001331

Posted by JBShearer (Member # 9434) on :

If any of you haven't heard, my champion wordprocessor, Wordperfect, has made a startling change. . . .

On the whole its the same as 11, but there are many new features that make it stand out. Foremost of all of these (and pure genius, I think) is the option to use Microsoft Word's layout. No more will Word users have to shun Wordperfect (even though it has much more functionality) because with a click of a button, it looks and runs just like word.

Even more, you can also use the layout (and familiar blue screen) from Worperfect 5.1. Long held as a favorite among writers, the blue screen is back with all the functionality of the modern proc's.

Is the no end to the perfection that is Wordperfect? It's just . . . in a word . . . perfect.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

I have always been disappointed with the decline Word Perfect. It came along and nearly wiped Word off the market then it disappeared only to be revived by Corell. Unfortunately, I work on the computers at work and they all come with standard Word. Oh well. C'est la vie!

Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :

What about MS Word styles?! That is the key things I'd be interested in knowing. Does that functionality carry over, because it's the way MS Word was always intended to be used. Most people just don't know about it-- not sure why, probably because Microsoft is Microsoft. Those who complain about Word's shortcomings often stop when they've been shown how Word Styles can simplify your life several hundred times over.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

HSO, any chance you'd be willing to start another topic and tell us all the cool things that can be done with Styles?

If a topic won't work, I have a MS Word document that explains the cool things you can do critiquing with Word's tracking feature that I can email you and you can create a similar document for Styles.

I can make that document available through email, too.

Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :

While I do like styles some of the time, they can also be a pain thanks to the MS "it's not a bug, it's a..uh..Feature!" mindset.

Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :

Kathleen, I would be happy to do so. In fact, MS has already created a document that covers it brilliantly. Sadly, it's buried in their help pages and nearly impossible to find because it says it's for "Legal Companies"... but it still applies nonetheless. It's also a huge download (consisting of a bunch of 'unnecessary stuff' and documents) which would deter most dial-up users, I suspect. Why MS doesn't "teach" people this from the start is obvious: They want you to pay to learn their software. Take those MSC classes and stuff. Bah!

Additionally there are several websites I've found to be a wonderful resource. I will compile those for all of you, too. I just need a little time, since it's nearly midnight here in London and I'm running on reserve power as it is -- with a story to finish sometime before bed.

But yes, it would be my pleasure to assist anyone with styles and I've even created a manuscript template using them that would be be a "fair" starting point in learning how to make your own templates...

Best wishes.

HSO

Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :

As much as I dislike Word and Styles, I must use them, so (sigh) HSO would you be so kind as to send me that template so that I can learn from it?

I have used Word Perfect since DOS version 2 and it has always outperformed Word. I prefer it, but my clients don't.

Hmmm, thinking back further, there was a word processor that I did my thesis on that would have been very suited to this forum. It was called "Magic Wand" and it ran in CPM. It had this marvelous feature that we affectionately called "search and destroy". We had one of those "toaster" floppy drives that held 2 of the 10-inch floppies, vertically. You would put Magic Wand in one, and your thesis floppy in the other, and peck away. If you were lucky you would save before exiting. If you were even luckier, the toaster would not live up to its name. My thesis ended up being typed by hand. Overnight. By a very talented and understanding lady, for $300! I ate rice until my defense.

But now I get to suport Bill Gates' lifestyles and do Styles. Sigh.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

Great, HSO. I'm looking forward to it.

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

quote:
Even more, you can also use the layout (and familiar blue screen) from Worperfect 5.1.

And there I was, just about to suggest that the actual pinnacle of achievement _was_ wordperfect 5.1.

If only I still had the function key reference bar that you were supposed to stick onto your keyboard. Not that modern keyboards have space for one...

Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :

Ahh, memories. learning to type on that old blue screen. I can remember the thrill I had when I was typing too fast for it and got to sit back and watch my words appear like magic.

Then I moved to 6 and stayed there a long time. but then the Install disk's got currupted, (alas evil bit decay!) so now I run 9. 12 sounds great I can't wait for many years to pass so I have a box that can run it.