Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!ihuxv!foster
From: foster@ihuxv.ATT.COM (r. foster)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: V.I.P. Professional
Summary: Recommendation for VIP PRofessional
Keywords: VIP Professional, Spreadsheets
Message-ID: <3103@ihuxv.ATT.COM>
Date: 5 Jan 89 14:49:42 GMT
References: <2086@van-bc.UUCP> <968@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 30



I have used VIP for some time. It comes in 2 versions, GEM and
Non-GEM. I have both but use only the non-GEM version. I am a constant
user of 123 on a PC during the day so I like the familiarty of the
interface. It is an exact clone of release 1 of 123. Reads and writes
.WKS files with no problems as I often ship files back and forth
from the PC to the ST.

As for performance, the Recalc speeds seem about equal to those on an
8086 based PC at 6Mhz. Screen draws are noticably slower but not
irritating unless you have a lot of the area of the screen reversed 
via a Range operation.  I use the advanced features of VIP(database,
macros, etc.) heavily and have not had any problems. The main
deficiency in VIP is it's graph handling capabilities. The screen
graphs are inferior to 123 and the printed graphics only support
Epson printers. Not having an epson printer, I have never used the
print graph program.

Early versions of VIP were pretty buggy. The latest version which I
got on an upgrade in May 1987 has few bugs that I am consciously aware
of. Most have to do with what is put on the screen after executing
a /WWH command or a /WT command in some circumstances. The /WWH
bug has a workaround(move the undisplayed column off the screen and
then move it back). The /WT bug is only a minor irritant.(It displays
the wrong row number on the screen.)  I would
highly recommend it if you are looking for a 123 compatable
spreadsheet.

Bob Foster