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PC-Write
PC-Write is a computer word processor and was one of the first three widely popular software products sold via shareware. It was originally written by Bob Wallace in early 1983.
PC-Write is a modeless editor, using control characters and special function keys to perform various editing operations. By default it accepts many of the same control key commands as WordStar while adding many additional features. It can produce plain ASCII text files, but there are also features that embed control characters in a document to support automatic section renumbering, bold and italic fonts, and other capabilities. A feature that is useful in list processing (as used in Auto LISP) is its ability to find matching open and closed parenthesis "( )"; this matching operation also works for other paired characters: { }, [ ] and < >.
Lines beginning with particular control characters, a period (.), or both contain commands that are evaluated when the document is printed, e.g. to specify margin sizes, select elite or pica type, or to specify the number of lines of text that would fit on a page.
PC-Write's implementation of free-form editing can copy and paste a block of text anywhere. For instance, if one has a block of information, one per line, in the format Name (spaces) Address, one can highlight only the addresses section and paste that into the right-hand part of a page.
While Quicksoft distributed copies of PC-Write for $10, the company encouraged users to make copies of the program for others in an early example of shareware. Quicksoft asked those who liked PC-Write to send it $75, in return for which they would provide a printed manual (notable for its many pictures of cats, drawn by Megan Dana-Wallace), telephone technical support, source code, and a registration number for the user to enter into their copy of the program. If another person paid the $75 to register a copy of an already-registered copy, the company would pay a $25 commission back to the original registrant (and issue a new number to the new buyer), providing a financial incentive for users to distribute and promote the software. In later versions, registered copies would include a thesaurus.
A configuration file allows customization, including remapping the keyboard. In addition, there is vocabulary available in other languages, such as in German. Utilities are provided to convert PC-Write files to and from other contemporary file formats.
One limitation of the software is its inability to print directly from memory; because the print function was a separate subprogram, a document must be saved to a file before it can be printed.
PC-Write was reportedly still selling well in 1988, with more than 27,000 registered users paying $1.5 million a year. Bob Wallace found that running Quicksoft used so much of his time he could not improve the PC-Write software. In early 1991, he sold the firm to another Microsoft alumnus, Leo Nikora, the original product manager for Windows 1.0 (1983–1985). Wallace returned to full programming and an updated version of PC-Write was released in June 1991.
Hub AI
PC-Write AI simulator
(@PC-Write_simulator)
PC-Write
PC-Write is a computer word processor and was one of the first three widely popular software products sold via shareware. It was originally written by Bob Wallace in early 1983.
PC-Write is a modeless editor, using control characters and special function keys to perform various editing operations. By default it accepts many of the same control key commands as WordStar while adding many additional features. It can produce plain ASCII text files, but there are also features that embed control characters in a document to support automatic section renumbering, bold and italic fonts, and other capabilities. A feature that is useful in list processing (as used in Auto LISP) is its ability to find matching open and closed parenthesis "( )"; this matching operation also works for other paired characters: { }, [ ] and < >.
Lines beginning with particular control characters, a period (.), or both contain commands that are evaluated when the document is printed, e.g. to specify margin sizes, select elite or pica type, or to specify the number of lines of text that would fit on a page.
PC-Write's implementation of free-form editing can copy and paste a block of text anywhere. For instance, if one has a block of information, one per line, in the format Name (spaces) Address, one can highlight only the addresses section and paste that into the right-hand part of a page.
While Quicksoft distributed copies of PC-Write for $10, the company encouraged users to make copies of the program for others in an early example of shareware. Quicksoft asked those who liked PC-Write to send it $75, in return for which they would provide a printed manual (notable for its many pictures of cats, drawn by Megan Dana-Wallace), telephone technical support, source code, and a registration number for the user to enter into their copy of the program. If another person paid the $75 to register a copy of an already-registered copy, the company would pay a $25 commission back to the original registrant (and issue a new number to the new buyer), providing a financial incentive for users to distribute and promote the software. In later versions, registered copies would include a thesaurus.
A configuration file allows customization, including remapping the keyboard. In addition, there is vocabulary available in other languages, such as in German. Utilities are provided to convert PC-Write files to and from other contemporary file formats.
One limitation of the software is its inability to print directly from memory; because the print function was a separate subprogram, a document must be saved to a file before it can be printed.
PC-Write was reportedly still selling well in 1988, with more than 27,000 registered users paying $1.5 million a year. Bob Wallace found that running Quicksoft used so much of his time he could not improve the PC-Write software. In early 1991, he sold the firm to another Microsoft alumnus, Leo Nikora, the original product manager for Windows 1.0 (1983–1985). Wallace returned to full programming and an updated version of PC-Write was released in June 1991.