Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!pro-generic.cts.com!jacky
From: jacky@pro-generic.cts.com (Jacky Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: AppleWorks Enhancement
Message-ID: <8907040717.AA03729@crash.cts.com>
Date: 3 Jul 89 19:43:59 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: pnet01!pro-simasd!pro-generic!jacky@nosc.mil
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 66

(Sorry I messed up my previous message.  Here it goes again...)


The following is a (wanted) list of enhancement for AppleWorks that I have
accumulated over the years.  They are things that I've always wanted to see 
in AppleWorks for a long time...

==============================================================================

The standard Apple disk formatting routine is extremely noisy.  When 
formatting 5-1/4" disks, the drive seems to be "grinding" against
something...very unpleasant to the ears!  Most public domain software 
nowadays has begun to use a "smarter" and much quieter formatting routine 
for doing the same job, look at Shrinkit for example.  I wish AW3.0 would
somehow incorporate that routine instead.  (Let me know if you do.)

==============================================================================

Also, the screen dumping is not really accurate.  For example, wherever 
there is a MouseText character on screen (like the OA-?) the program would 
dump the ASCII image of the character instead of the actual thing.  
What if I'm writing an article about AW, am I stuck with an ugly thing 
like "@" rather than an Open-Apple symbol?  The ImageWriter II is capable of
printing MouseText characters.  Hence, AW 3.0 must take advantage of Apple
product's own power.

==============================================================================

As we are on the subject, I'm always puzzled by the reason why Apple (or 
Claris for that matter) didn't "dress up" the appearance of AppleWorks???  
Look at any powerful IBM programs, pretty as can be with colorful ANSI 
screens (...well, colors can be distracting sometimes...).  But why not use
more MouseText characters to dress up the screens?  For example, why use a
dashy line ("-----") at the bottom of the screen when a solid MouseText 
line can be used? The big file folders in the menus can use a few MouseTexts 
to fill up the "gaps".  And, the top line where it says "File: ...", use the
MouseText FOLDER icon in place of it.  That will make AppleWorks more
attractive and even easier to understand for first time users.  (Am I right?)

==============================================================================

Also, the status line at the bottom right hand corner of the screen is 
suposed to be informative.  But it will be even more informative if it is up 
to the user's decision to display which type of information with a stroke of 
an OA-<key>.  For example, the user can select to see how much memory is 
left or what time and date it is or what key activates help screens, and so
on...

==============================================================================

Hope my suggestions will appear in future versions of AppleWorks.  These 
little things can sum up to millions and millions of buckaroos...DO NOT 
IGNORE THEM!!!

==============================================================================


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