Claris Works 2.0
Shannon Kohl
who have used it. Is there anything that you miss from full-featured word
processor, spread sheets, etc? Any bugs?
I am also interested in reviews of MacWrite Pro and the 2? new Claris Draw
programs (are they out yet?).
I am unsure if I should go with the full-featured ones (I don't think I really
need 90% of that junk) or go with ClarisWorks 2.0.
Help me out!
--Shannon (c55...@mizzou1.missouri.edu)
Andrew Laurence
Get CW2! As a word processor, it leaves very little to be desired.
I'm an english major, and I've switched intirely to CW. THe ONLY thing
it doesn't have that I kind of wish it did was a hyphenate function.
Other than that, it's all there: headers, footers, footnotes, a bitchin'
outline tool, and the best thing about it is that the integration is frame
based. Need a table? Just drag one into place. (Here's a secret: the table
is really a spreadsheet frame.)
Imbedded graphics, charting, drawing and painting. I asked Claris for the
demo of 2.0, and was so impressed i actually BOUGHT it. (oooh)
I'll stop now.
--Andrew
mathew
>who have used it. Is there anything that you miss from full-featured word
>processor, spread sheets, etc? Any bugs?
Things I miss:
* No pre-defined style information attached to text. So I can't
easily say "Hmm, I'll try all the sub-headings in 10pt instead of
11pt... Naah, let's stick them all in italic..."
* I can't seem to get the outline mode to start at a number I want,
rather than 1.
Bugs:
* International support is screwed up. It completely ignores your
preferences for measurements when setting up rulers etc.
I find this *really really annoying*.
>I am unsure if I should go with the full-featured ones (I don't think I really
>need 90% of that junk) or go with ClarisWorks 2.0.
Well, I've used CW2 to set up a spreadsheet for RPG characters,
complete with multiple column text, boxes, diagrams and stuff. It was
much easier than using a full spreadsheet and a DTP program. The only
hint is to remember that the program seems to use points as its unit
of measurement internally, so don't try aligning things more precisely
than 2pt, it's a waste of effort.
mathew
Rich Scarlet
>who have used it. Is there anything that you miss from full-featured word
>processor, spread sheets, etc? Any bugs?
I read the great reviews and got enthusiastic. I'm working with a diverse
group with mixed PC's and Macs. (I'm on a Mac.) I thought we'd all get
ClarisWorks, in the Mac and Windows version, for easy compatability. So I
called Claris to check into it.
No Go! They tell me the Windows version is only compatible with
ClarisWorks 1.0 for the Mac, which is no longer sold or supported. Worse,
they tell me ClarisWorks 2.0 for the Mac can't even save in a format that
the Windows version can read. Phooey!
Has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with sending Mac CW 2.0 documents
to PC's? By whatever means...
Thanks. Rich Scarlet rsca...@world.std.com
dav...@relay.upenn.edu
Styles are the main thing missing from the wp. But Claris puts out a fact sheet
that describes how to use the outliner to simulate styles.
The database is surprisingly full-featured. The main thing missing here, in
terms of what I've actually tried to do, is variable-size body section on
reports. For example, my name and address database entries vary a lot:
sometimes I have name, phone #, and four lines of address; sometimes 3 lines;
sometimes only phone #. CW requires me to define a report body large enough to
hold the largest entry. It doesn't make the body smaller for entries with fewer
lines, even if the "slide up" option is checked.
The comm tool is good. Main thing missing here is the ability to print selected
text from the scrollback buffer. Makes it hard to select just one Email message
and print it off. You have to copy into the wp and print from there.
I like the program a lot. Apart from the issues I mentioned, my main problems
are that (a) EVERYTHING defaults to Helvetica, and there are limits to what you
can do to change this, even if you change the stationery options. For example,
I have a stationery file called "Email" that has font and margins set for the
kind of paste operation I described above. But if I paste text into this
document, it shows up as Helvetica and has to be readjusted. I HATE Helvetica.
Claris obviously loves it.
(b) While faster than some programs, I still find the wp to be slow for typing.
This has been true for every version of every Claris program I've ever tried; I
don't know what the technical reason is. The difference between the "Apple"
version of HyperCard and the "Claris" version was immediately noticeable in
this regard, especially with large scrolling text fields. I get tired typing in
it because I find myself banging the keys harder to try to make the text show
up faster. So I still use WriteNow for any kind of extensive writing. This is
mostly subjective, and may vary greatly with your hardware (I'm using a Classic
II).
Still I would recommend it without hesitation for anyone who wants a good
all-purpose piece of software.
Tad Davis
dav...@a1.relay.upenn.edu
Jeff Strain
C55...@mizzou1.missouri.edu (Shannon Kohl) wrote:
> I am thinking about buying ClarisWorks 2.0. I would like to hear from people
> who have used it. Is there anything that you miss from full-featured word
> processor, spread sheets, etc? Any bugs?
First, let me say that I very much want to use CW 2.0. The interface is
nothing short of spectacular, the integration of spreadsheet and drawing
apps provides functionality simply not available in other environments, and
I consider it to be a model software application.
Unfortunately, there are some features missing in the word processing
package that I cannot live without. Notably:
* widow/orphan control (!!)
* paragraph styles
* multiple column settings per page (i.e. sections)
* non page view
I am, to my dismay, forced to use Word. The most important omission is that
of widow/orphan control. Can any CW 2.0 user tell me if I just somehow
missed this?
Good luck!
--
Jeff Strain
wst...@ppe.ppd.ti.com
Brian Parry
: I am thinking about buying ClarisWorks 2.0. I would like to hear from people
Shannon,
I am delighted to see your interest in CW and MW Pro. I am
also very happy with all the positive input others have
offered.
If you have any specific questions about CW, MW Pro, or
the upcoming Claris graphic products I will do my best
to give you specific answers.
=Beech=
aka Brian Parry
Software Test Pilot for
ClarisWorks 1.0
MacWrite Pro
ClarisImpact
Disclaimer: I do not speak on behalf of Apple or Claris. My words
and opinions are my own and are not always a proper substitute for
good Claris Technical Support.
....they made me say that....kinda)
mathew
Jeff Strain <wst...@ppe.ppd.ti.com> wrote:
>Unfortunately, there are some features missing in the word processing
>package that I cannot live without. Notably:
>
>* widow/orphan control (!!)
>* paragraph styles
>* multiple column settings per page (i.e. sections)
Er, what? You can set up whatever column arrangements you like in
CW2.
>* non page view
Have you tried using the rightmost menu to turn off the "Page view"
option?
mathew
dav...@relay.upenn.edu
> Has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with sending Mac CW 2.0 documents
> to PC's? By whatever means...
I've successfully moved docs between CW 2.0 and WordPerfect for Windows using
the WP xtnd that comes with CW.
Tad Davis
dav...@a1.relay.upenn.edu
William Chang in Marr Lab
>If you have any specific questions about CW, MW Pro, or
>the upcoming Claris graphic products I will do my best
>to give you specific answers.
Ah, thank you for the offer! Here goes...
What I really want is an integrated text, painting, and drawing program
where I can type, scribble (with a pen/tablet), and draw right on the
same page. Specifically, I want to be able to rotate text (or bind
text to a curve), and have it anti-aliased on the screen (a must for
small sizes) and print at 300 dpi. And, it should be easy to use,
e.g. "select <text binding above/below line/curve> tool; select line/curve;
type away", rather than "text; then free rotate".
That's how I use paper or blackboard, so that's what I want.
So, does Claris' upcoming products do this? How close do they come?
By the way, the $27 Expert Color Paint has anti-aliased text; the
$29 Expert Draw has text along a curve. So what I want seems technically
quite feasible. Is there already a product that does what I want?
-- Bill Chang (wch...@cshl.org)
Brian Parry
: -- Bill Chang (wch...@cshl.org
Bill,
You are going to hate me, but until specific features of ClarisDraw
ClarisImpact I can only comment generally (and still keep my job!)
No integrated package will give you all the WP text features you
want and then do text on a curve. CW will rotate text frames for you.
As for text on a curve, MacDraw Pro did text on a curve so it would
be safe to assume that that feature is in heavy demand for draw/paint
packages and Claris would be foolish to omit it from future graphic
applications.
=Beech= "Please don't try to make me walk on PR water"
)
Tom Olin
(Andrew Laurence) writes:
In article <16C5714C0...@mizzou1.missouri.edu>,
Shannon Kohl <C55...@mizzou1.missouri.edu> wrote:
>I am thinking about buying ClarisWorks 2.0.
>Help me out!
Get CW2! As a word processor, it leaves very little to be desired.
I'm an english major, and I've switched intirely to CW. THe ONLY thing
^^^^^^^^
Not to mention the handy spelling checker. :)
--
Tom Olin t...@partech.com (315)738-0600, Ext 638 (FAX)738-8304
PAR Technology Corporation * 220 Seneca Turnpike * New Hartford NY 13413
SYSTEM 0PERATOR
... stuff deleted
>
> No Go! They tell me the Windows version is only compatible with
> ClarisWorks 1.0 for the Mac, which is no longer sold or supported. Worse,
> they tell me ClarisWorks 2.0 for the Mac can't even save in a format that
> the Windows version can read. Phooey!
>
> Has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with sending Mac CW 2.0 documents
> to PC's? By whatever means...
>
> Thanks. Rich Scarlet rsca...@world.std.com
>
Rich:
Despite what Claris says we have been able to take PC Clariworks
documents, put the disk from the PC into the Mac (have to have PC
Exchange running), and have ClarisWorks 2.0 load up the file. It will
see it (properly) as a Cworks 1.0 document. We haven't tried this with
the spreadsheet part, but I assume it will work. I can't recall if we
have tried going Mac to PC. This would probably fail with the native
document given that you are going down in rev levels from Mac to PC. A
way around this, at least for text, would be to use MACLinkPlus PC,
which has lots of translators. Save the Mac ClarisWorks 2.0 document as
a Mac Microsoft Word 5.0 document and then convert using MacLink Plus to
a PC Microsoft Word document. This will work, again, for WP documents
only. -- a lot of work, I know. Claris told us that the next release of
Works will be cross platform compatible, so hopefully the problem should
be solved by the end of the year or so.
Peter Brooks
============================================================================
Peter Brooks___...@labrnth.chi.il.us
Labrynth Technologies, Inc. 322 N. Fairfield Ave. Lombard, IL 60148
(708) 953-8171
============================================================================
Cutter Information
a new default font in CW. Plus I find the word processor clunky -- I
use MS Word 5.1 for most of my word processing and use CW only for
database, spreadsheet, draw, and paint. I don't use it for communications
because it employs the Apple Modem tool, which doesn't as yet support
V.42bis MNP 5 modems (hardware handshaking), which is what I happen to
use.
CW is definitely better than Microsoft Works, although I do think the
MS WOrks database is a little easier to use. The MS Works wordprocessor
is lousy and VERY slow.
Rick Zeman
CI> From: Cutter Information <ge...@igc.apc.org>
CI>
CI> I would echo Tad Davis's comments about Helvetica -- you can't choose
CI> a new default font in CW. Plus I find the word processor clunky -- I
CI> use MS Word 5.1 for most of my word processing and use CW only for
CI> database, spreadsheet, draw, and paint. I don't use it for
CI> communications because it employs the Apple Modem tool, which doesn't
CI> as yet support V.42bis MNP 5 modems (hardware handshaking), which is
CI> what I happen to use.
Huh??? I use the Apple Modem tool (1.1.1) with my Intel 400e (14.4)
with the port at 38.4 using good old RTS/CTS (hardware) handshaking and cruise
peachily. (The tool has some cosmetic flaws but it handshakes well enough.)
Sounds like you need to grab the latest version of Apple's Basic Connectivity
Set.
+ rze...@his.com This is the mystery of the quotient, quotient+
| Rick Zeman Upon us all, a little rain must fall|
| Fidonet: 1:109/70.943 Just a little rain....|
+ Will Rogers never met Bill Clinton --Led Zeppelin, 'The Rain Song'+
Rich Scarlet
>rsca...@world.std.com (Rich Scarlet) writes:
>>
>> No Go! They tell me the Windows version is only compatible with
>> ClarisWorks 1.0 for the Mac, which is no longer sold or supported. Worse,
>> they tell me ClarisWorks 2.0 for the Mac can't even save in a format that
>> the Windows version can read. Phooey!
>>
>> Has anyone had experiences (good or bad) with sending Mac CW 2.0 documents
>> to PC's? By whatever means...
>> Thanks. Rich Scarlet rsca...@world.std.com
>Rich:
>Despite what Claris says we have been able to take PC Clariworks
>documents, put the disk from the PC into the Mac (have to have PC
>Exchange running), and have ClarisWorks 2.0 load up the file. It will
>see it (properly) as a Cworks 1.0 document. We haven't tried this with
>the spreadsheet part, but I assume it will work. I can't recall if we
>have tried going Mac to PC. This would probably fail with the native
>document given that you are going down in rev levels from Mac to PC. A
>way around this, at least for text, would be to use MACLinkPlus PC,
>which has lots of translators. Save the Mac ClarisWorks 2.0 document as
>a Mac Microsoft Word 5.0 document and then convert using MacLink Plus to
>a PC Microsoft Word document. This will work, again, for WP documents
>only. -- a lot of work, I know. Claris told us that the next release of
>Works will be cross platform compatible, so hopefully the problem should
>be solved by the end of the year or so.
>Peter Brooks___...@labrnth.chi.il.us
>Labrynth Technologies, Inc. 322 N. Fairfield Ave. Lombard, IL 60148
> (708) 953-8171
Peter - Thanks for the response. It figures that PC to Mac would work but
there are problems the other way due to version differences. I've used
translators a lot - using CW won't help me if I have to keep using them,
and anyway I find translators to be quite imperfect!
More troublesome, the use of Word (for example) as an intermediary will
work (more or less) for word processing documents, but what do we do for
graphics and spreadsheets? It will get real messy, and I'm trying to work
with users who don't want to spend a lot of time with computer issues.
Does anyone have a good idea of when a platform-compatible version is
likely? (Experience with MacWrite Pro predictions from Claris do not give
one much confidence...)
Thanks Rich Scarlet rsca...@world.std.com
Dr. S.P.Wilkinson
wrote:
> In article <wstrain-29...@strain.ppe.ppd.ti.com>,
> Jeff Strain <wst...@ppe.ppd.ti.com> wrote:
> >Unfortunately, there are some features missing in the word processing
> >package that I cannot live without. Notably:
> >
> >* widow/orphan control (!!)
> >* paragraph styles
> >* multiple column settings per page (i.e. sections)
>
> Er, what? You can set up whatever column arrangements you like in
> CW2.
>
Please tell me how. My CW 2.0 can only have one set of column settings *per
page*. Sure you can draw text boxes etc but if you change the number of
columns then that affects the whole page.
> >* non page view
>
> Have you tried using the rightmost menu to turn off the "Page view"
> option?
>
>
> mathew
"Page View" is always greyed out when I am in the WP module.
Steve
--
Dr. S.P.Wilkinson
Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
University of Western Australia
s...@uniwa.uwa.edu.au
Holger Skok
>
>"Page View" is always greyed out when I am in the WP module.
>
>Steve
>
greyed because in the WP module you're always in page view mode.
This menu item is only functional in the other modules (haven't
tried the comm module, though. Neither do I remember what the manual
said about that).
HSK
--
***********************************************************************
* sk...@itwds1.energietechnik.uni-stuttgart.de *
***********************************************************************
mathew
Dr. S.P.Wilkinson <s...@uniwa.uwa.edu.au> wrote:
>In article <28ejcq$j...@news.mantis.co.uk>, mat...@mantis.co.uk (mathew)
>wrote:
>> CW2.
>
>Please tell me how. My CW 2.0 can only have one set of column settings *per
>page*. Sure you can draw text boxes etc but if you change the number of
>columns then that affects the whole page.
So don't do it that way. Draw your columns as linked text boxes.
>> >* non page view
>>
>> Have you tried using the rightmost menu to turn off the "Page view"
>> option?
>
>"Page View" is always greyed out when I am in the WP module.
Someone tells me Page View isn't switchable in WP. I'd never noticed
that, and assumed it would work like it does in the other modules...
mathew
Richard H.S. Kim
writes:
| I would echo Tad Davis's comments about Helvetica -- you can't choose
| a new default font in CW. Plus I find the word processor clunky -- I
|
| <stuff deleted>
Do you use System 7?
Hmm, I just create a blank page with a different font and size set. Save
it. Exit to Finder. Use Get Info to change that file to a stationary.
Now when I double-click it, I get an untitled sheet, in the font and
size I want. Works for me.
| CW is definitely better than Microsoft Works, although I do think the
| MS WOrks database is a little easier to use. The MS Works wordprocessor
| is lousy and VERY slow.
Definitely better.
email> rk...@mars.calstatela.edu
Michael Peirce
In article <TRO.93Se...@sunrise.uucp> (comp.sys.mac.apps), t...@sunrise.uucp (Tom Olin) writes:
> In article <2CA92E...@news.service.uci.edu> and...@bookstore.acs.uci.edu
> (Andrew Laurence) writes:
>
> In article <16C5714C0...@mizzou1.missouri.edu>,
> Shannon Kohl <C55...@mizzou1.missouri.edu> wrote:
> >I am thinking about buying ClarisWorks 2.0.
> >Help me out!
>
> Get CW2! As a word processor, it leaves very little to be desired.
> I'm an english major, and I've switched intirely to CW. THe ONLY thing
> ^^^^^^^^
>
> Not to mention the handy spelling checker. :)
Yeah :-), but if only it supported the spell-as-you-type mode of operation
I'd be a happy man...
--
-- Michael Peirce -- pei...@outpost.sf-bay.org
-- Peirce Software -- Suite 301, 719 Hibiscus Place
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