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XyWrite is a word processor for DOS and Windows modeled on the ATEX mainframe program1. XyWrite was the "official word processor" of the New York Times from 1989 to 1993. XyWrite was produced by XyQuest from the early 1980s through 1992, after which it was acquired by The Technology Group. The latest version for DOS is 4.18; for Windows, 4.13.
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Features
- Its file format consists of plain text (IBM437, or so-called "extended ASCII") with markup (within guillemets « »). This capability is useful for typesetters who need to convert to various formats, e.g., LaTeX. A plug-in for ANSI characters is available.
- XyWrite is written in assembly language, allowing it to run faster than similar word processors.
- It has a flexible macro-programming language (XPL) that offers many advantages for quick search and replace, copy-editing and reformatting of raw text. Users, including DiStefano and Holmgren (cited below), continue to write and share macros extending XyWrite features (printing to USB devices, for example). An active user listserv is xywrite@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
- Plain-text, editable configuration files allow easy customization of the keyboard--for remapping keystrokes and for execution of complex commands with individual keystrokes--as well as customization of what is loaded on launching the program.
- Commands can be typed in directly on a command line, without the use of a mouse. Commands are usually in simple English, such as "Save," "Print," and "Search," or their shorter versions, such as "Sa" for "Save" (commands are case-insensitive).
- Up to 9 files can be opened for editing at one time in separate "windows" that allow quick copy-and-paste among several files. Two files may be opened on the same screen for easy comparison of changes; a XyWrite command will do the comparison automatically, putting the cursor on the location at which the two files first differ (from which the user can move to the next difference).
- Version 4 has full WYSIWYG graphical editing capabilities including on-screen display of bitmaps.
- An extensive package of plug-ins, offering a greatly expanded feature-set, has been crafted by DiStefano and Holmgren: http://www.serve.com/xywwweb/
History and current usage
After IBM canceled an agreement to create a new GUI version of XyWrite for DOS, XyQuest released the product as Signature. This version was buggy and slow. A debugged version was released by the Technology Group (which had bought XyQuest) as XyWrite IV, but this did not increase XyWrite's share of the word processing marketcitation needed despite added versatility and customization potential.
Several versions of XyWrite for DOS and Windows were also localized for use in European countries. For example, the programs were offered in Germany under the name "euroscript" by North American Software GmbH.
A descendant of XyWrite called Nota Bene is still being actively developed. Nota Bene, which runs on the XyWrite engine, is popular among academics. Nota Bene for Windows is now in version 8+.
Thanks in large part to the work of users of XyWrite, the program is still very usable with Windows (or MS-DOS, and thus Linuxcitation needed). Even on Pentium and similar hardware, it remains noticeably faster than MS Word or OpenOffice.org. Despite these advantages in speed, XyWrite does not have as many features as Word or OpenOffice.org. For example, XyWrite is unaware of Windows ANSI or Unicode character sets and Nota Bene does not support languages (such as Chinese) that require double-byte characters.
See also
References
- ^ PERIPHERALS; Mastering XyWrite, New York Times, 1988
- PERIPHERALS; Mastering XyWrite, New York Times, 1988
External links
- Nota Bene (corporate site)
- xyWrite resources by Diane Fischer (concentrating on XyWrite III)
- XyWrite history within Diane Fischer's site
- XyWWWeb by Carl Distefano and Robert Holmgren (concentrating on XyWrite IV)
- XyWrite.com A General XyWrite Resource by Brian Henderson
- The Xy Files Feature article on Salon.com about people who continue using XyWrite.
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 15 September 2008, at 20:24.
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