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From: huxham@ucbvax.ARPA (Frederick Huxham)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: MacWrite V4.0
Message-ID: <5487@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 14-Mar-85 03:14:24 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.5487
Posted: Thu Mar 14 03:14:24 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Mar-85 00:00:37 EST
References: <396@aicchi.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Lines: 27

Be careful using MacWrite 3.xx or now 4.xx.  

I hadn't heard that 4.0 was actually released, even if it was, it was buggy
enough that now versions 4.1 and 4.2 exist.

One of the major parts of my job at the computer store on campus is to 
provide software support for the campus community (mostly Macs).

At least 10 people a week come into the store frantic because their zillion
page paper thats due in 10 minutes can no longer be opened or printed with
MacWrite and they never made any backups.

About 90% of the files can be recovered using SetFile (thats why I wrote the 
DA) by setting the type of the file to TEXT and then going in and editing
out all the garbage.  

But then there is that 10% whose files are mysteriously converted to total
garbage.   (version 3.96 is famous for this)

So, if you must use 3.xx or 4.xx, make lots of backups and don't use it for
anything tremendously important.  Use WORD or wait for the bugs to stop.

Fred A. Huxham
huxham@BERKELEY