PC-Write

PC-Write was a computer word processor and was one of the first three widely popular software products sold via the marketing method that became known as shareware.[1] It was originally written by Bob Wallace in early 1983.[2]

PC-Write
Original author(s)Bob Wallace
Initial releaseearly 1983 (1983)
Operating systemDOS
TypeWord processor
LicenseShareware

Overview

PC-Write was a modeless editor, using control characters and special function keys to perform various editing operations. By default it accepted many of the same control key commands as WordStar while adding many of its own features. It could produce plain ASCII text files, but there were also features that embedded control characters in a document to support automatic section renumbering, bold and italic fonts, and other such; also, a feature that was useful in list processing (as used in Auto LISP) was its ability to find matching open and closed parenthesis "( )"; this matching operation also worked for the other paired characters: { }, [ ] and < >.

Lines beginning with particular control characters n and/or a period (.) contained commands that were evaluated when the document was 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,[3] such as in escape sequences.

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. The sum provided a printed manual (notable for its many pictures of cats, drawn by Megan Dana-Wallace), telephone technical support, source code, and a registration number that the user entered into his copy of the program. If anyone else paid the company $75 to purchase an already-registered copy of the software, the company paid a $25 commission back to the original registrant, and then issued a new number to the new buyer, thereby giving a financial incentive for buyers to distribute and promote the software. [2][4]

A configuration file allowed customizing PC-Write, including remapping the keyboard. Later versions of the registered (paid for) version of the program included a thesaurus (which was not shareware) along with the editor. In addition, there was vocabulary available in other languages, such as in German. Utilities were also provided to convert PC-Write files to and from other file formats that were common at the time. One limitation of the software was 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 could be printed.[5]

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).[6] Wallace returned to full programming and an updated version of PC-Write was released in June 1991.[7]

One unusual feature of PC-Write was its implementation of free form editing: it could copy and paste a block of text anywhere. For instance, if one had a block of information, one per line, in the format Name (spaces) Address, one could highlight only the addresses section and paste that into the right-hand part of a page. Today, Emacs and jEdit are also capable of performing this function.

When the market changed to multi-program software (office suites combining word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs), Quicksoft went out of business in 1993.[8][9]

The first Trojan horse (appearing in 1986), PC-Write Trojan, masqueraded as "version 2.72" of the shareware word processor PC-Write. Quicksoft did not release a version 2.72.

PC-Write had one of the first "as you type", in "real-time mode" spell checker; earlier spell checkers only worked in "batch mode".[10][11][12]

The Brown Bag Word Processor is based on PC-Write's source code, licensed by Brown Bag Software, with some minor modifications and additions.[10]

Reception

PC Magazine stated that version 1.3 of "PC-Write rates extremely well and compares favorably with many word processors costing much more". It cited very fast performance, good use of color, and availability of source code as advantages, while lack of built-in support for printing bold or underline and keyboard macros was a disadvantage.[13] Compute! complimented the software's "clean implementation of standard editing features", cited its "truly staggering" level of customization, and after mentioning a few flaws stated that they should be "viewed in context of the program's overall excellence".[14]

See also

References
  1. Callahan, Michael E. "The History of Shareware". Paul's Picks. Archived from the original on 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  2. Markoff, John (September 19, 1983). "Word-processing package costs $10 under new marketing scheme". InfoWorld. Vol. 5, no. 3. p. 3. ISSN 0199-6649.
  3. King, Steve (December 22, 1986). "Bargain Shareware Has Power Of High-Priced Competition". InfoWorld. Vol. 8, no. 51. p. 42. ISSN 0199-6649.
  4. Pournelle, Jerry (July 1984). "The West Coast Faire". Byte. p. 136. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  5. Brand, Stewart (1989). Whole Earth Software Catalog. Quantum Press/Doubleday. ISBN 9780385233019.
  6. Andrews, Paul (January 23, 1991). "Software Company Is Sold". The Seattle Times. Leo Nikora purchases Quicksoft, Bob Wallace stays as lead programmer.
  7. Andrews, Paul (June 25, 1991). "Quicksoft Is Updating Shareware Pioneer PC-Write". The Seattle Times.
  8. Johnston, Stuart (November 15, 1993). "PC-Write publisher Quicksoft fails to find partner, closes". InfoWorld. Vol. 15, no. 46. p. 27. ISSN 0199-6649.
  9. Andrews, Paul (November 8, 1993). "Software Firm Quicksoft Closes Doors -- Maker Of PC-Write Failed In Efforts To Find A Partner". The Seattle Times.
  10. "Brown Bag Word Processor". PC Magazine. 1987 Feb 24. p. 131.
  11. Steve King. "Bargain Shareware Has Power Of High-Priced Competition". InfoWorld. 1986 Dec 22. p. 44 - 45.
  12. Charles Spezzano. "Professional Word Processing Packages". Section "PC-Write Version 2.71". InfoWorld. 1987 April 13. p. 42.
  13. Pitt, Joel (1984-02-21). "Word Processing On The Honor System". PC Magazine. p. 189. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  14. Leemon, Sheldon (January 1985). "PC-Write Word Processor For PC & PCjr". Compute!. p. 82. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
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