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From: hpoppe@bierstadt.scd.ucar.edu (Herb Poppe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Need Help Reading MacWrite Docs With Word 4.0
Message-ID: <6465@ncar.ucar.edu>
Date: 1 Mar 90 15:57:24 GMT
Sender: news@ncar.ucar.edu
Organization: Scientific Computing Division/NCAR, Boulder, CO
Lines: 37

In article <1205@swbatl.UUCP> george@swbatl.UUCP (George Nincehelser 5-6544) writes:
>
>Wouldn't it be nice if the word processing program publishers would
>put out at little or no charge a "lobotomized" version of their
>program that would only print or view their product's documents?
>
>Might this action increase sales by fostering goodwill amongst
>potential customers?
>
>Could Claris distribute a free MacWrite document viewer/printer
>ala Public Folder?

Claris is trying to promote "its" XTND (is that what it's called?)
technology, a laudable attempt to standardize the way different
applications import data from other applications
(i.e., Word 4.0 documents into MacWrite II). (I say "its" because,
if I remember correctly, this concept is based (or is compatible with)
the translators from DataViz (as is Apple File Exchange).)

Claris is trying to get other developers to adopt this approach. They
might try the "carrot" approach by writing such a document viewer/printer
and make it available for free. The "gotcha" would be that they
would only include the translators for those formats whose developers
had bought into the the technology. Authors of documents trying to reach
a wide audience would naturally select a word processor (draw program, etc.)
that they knew would produce a format that could be read by the free viewer.
This would but pressure on developers to "join the club". It would
also make a great demonstration of the technology: it would answer the
"The concept looks good, but does it work" type question.

I think Public Folder is a great PR tool. Here is another chance
for Claris to do themselves one better.

--
Herb Poppe      NCAR                         INTERNET: hpoppe@ncar.ucar.edu
(303) 497-1296  P.O. Box 3000                   CSNET: hpoppe@ncar.CSNET
		Boulder, CO  80307               UUCP: hpoppe@ncar.UUCP