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From: tomr@dbase.A-T.COM (Tom Rombouts)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Sage Professional editor
Message-ID: <1991Feb11.183120.27054@dbase.A-T.COM>
Date: 11 Feb 91 18:31:20 GMT
References: <4684@gumby.Altos.COM>
Reply-To: tomr@dbase.UUCP (Tom Rombouts)
Organization: Ashton-Tate
Lines: 37

In article <4684@gumby.Altos.COM> jerry@altos.Altos.COM (Jerry Gardner) writes:
>
>Has anyone used the Sage Professional Editor (advertised in Dr. Dobbs)?
>I'd be interested in your opinions, especially how it compares with other
>editors such as vi and brief.

We use Sage as a quasi-"offical" editor in our little development group
here.  It is a fine product, especially if you have used BRIEF.  It's
most notable plus over BRIEF is extensive mouse support.  (We all use
the BRIEF emulation mode - if you are masochistic, vi emulation is
also provided :-)  )

Also, Sage can tie in directly to Polytron's PVCS version control
software.  (Polytron now sells Sage, in case it is unclear.)

HOWEVER, Sage's printed documentation just does not compare to BRIEF.
(If you are already a BRIEF user, and choose BRIEF emulation, this
is not a big deal.)  Also, converting BRIEF LISP-like macros to the
Sage AWK-like language via their conversion utility is much harder
than their lit would make it seem.  Also, some people suggest that Sage
is a good dealer slower than BRIEF, especially when running complex
language extensions.  And, their AWK-like language documentation
is also minimal, suggesting at times to refer to "The AWK Programming
Language" book.  (Not what I would consider "complete" docs.)
And, when you get v. 1.1, prepare to spend an hour scribbling corrections
and additions from the "README" file into the massive, yet terse,
language reference manual.

Sage has a toll-free info number at 1-800-547-4000.  Also, their
BBS is apparently open to anyone.  You can get the BBS number
from the 800 number, and, if you are really into it, log on and
see what kind of postings other real users have placed. 

Just my personal opinions, and not any sort of official endorsement.


Tom Rombouts  Torrance 'Tater  tomr@ashtate.A-T.com  V:(213)538-7108