Several months ago I received a three-piece software “package” for review from Jim Clatfelter (3361 Sand Ridge Rd., Placerville, CA 95667). VIEWord, MAIList, and FORMail are for the T/S 2068, and the three title package is priced at $25 (postage included). My reason for the delay in writing this software review, is that I wanted to really put these programs to use and get to know their features, instead of just jotting down a few comments from a hasty evaluation.
VIEWord, MAIList, and FORMail are utility programs that would be most suited for the small business environment or personal home computing. VIEWord is an interesting (but easy-to-use) word processor. MAIList, as the name implies, is an address manager, and FORMail is a utility that uses files from both VIEWord and MAIList, to print formal type letters. My initial impression of this package, is the over-all professional appearance it has. Not just the labeling or instruction sheets, but in the programs themselves. Obviously Mr. Clatfelter has spent a good deal of time in developing and programming them.
To give you a little background, the programs are mainly written in BASIC, except for a print-driver routine. Output can be sent to either the T/S 2040 printer, or to a full size printer using the Aerco Centronics interface (the bytes for the Aerco interface have already been programmed in). I feel that it would be quite easy to customize the programs for your own printer interface such as the Tasman.
One very striking feature of this software package, is that it is “integrated”. A feature found on much costlier software for computers like IBM PC. In other words, commands and procedures found on one program would operate exactly the same in the other programs. Once you have learned VIEWord (for example), working with MAIList is a breeze.
As a word processor, VIEWord is much simpler to use (for first time users), than say MSCRIPT. Yet it is much more sophisticated than some of those “what you type is what you get” word processors. You can set your line-length to either 32 or 64 col. To use the extensive editing features from the menu, just enter a key-letter on the first command line. Going back and fixing up a mistake later on is handled differently than on most word processors. You indicate what the mistake is, retype what should be there and the computer compares the two and inserts the new information. The user never operates the cursor or delete key in this operation. Other features include: block cut and paste, tabs, centering, page numbering, embedded printer control codes, and a type of word-wrapping. The only two complaints that I have are, it would be nice if the word wrap feature was automatic, and there is no right column justification.
MAIList is a real gem. I have seen the gamut of address managers for 2068 and Spectrum computers. None of them are as comprehensive as this one. Along with the normal data entry, there is also record keeping of telephone numbers, catagories like birthdays or special filing codes, a section to put a special comment that can be printed on the label, or not if the user so desires. You can save a total of 200 addresses in one file. Printing can be done on “one-across” label sheets, or a “master list” on fan-fold paper. A label file can be ordered by zip code, last name, or phone number. The time it took to order a full file was about two minutes. All of the extensive editing and searching features that VIEWord has, are in MAIList also.
VIEWord and MAIList files can be loaded into FORMail, and then other information can be introduced like a header date and a salutation. Then it is all sent to a printer which makes a nice note with custom name and address on each letter.
Although the programs were in BASIC, they operated faster than I expected. Being in BASIC also allows for customizing to suit a particular need.
I think that you would find this software package to be versatile and comfortable to work with. At $25, that is only $8.33 per program…a very good deal. If you do happen to take Mr. Clatfelter up on this “deal”, I think that you would be suprised at how much you get…as I was.