PC-Write
Encyclopedia
PC-Write was a computer word processor
and was one of the first three widely popular software products sold via the marketing
method that became known as shareware
. It was originally written by Bob Wallace
, in early 1983.
PC-Write was a modeless editor, using control character
s and special function key
s to perform various editing operations. It could produce plain ASCII text files, but there were also features that embedded control characters in a document to support automatic section renumbering, bold and italic fonts, and other such. Lines beginning with particular control characters
and/or a period (.) contained commands that were evaluated when the document was printed, e.g. to specify margin sizes, select elite or pica type, or to specify the number of lines of text that would fit on a page.
While Quicksoft distributed copies of PC-Write for $10, the company encouraged users to make copies of the program for others in an early example of shareware
. Quicksoft asked those who liked PC-Write to send it $75. The sum provided a printed manual (notable for its many pictures of cats, drawn by Megan Dana-Wallace), telephone technical support
, source code
, and a registration number that the user entered into his copy of the program. The company paid $25 to a registered user for each copy of PC-Write with a registration number that resulted in a $75 sale.
A configuration file allowed customizing PC-Write, including remapping the keyboard
. Later versions of the registered (paid for) version of the program included a thesaurus
(which was not shareware) along with the editor. Utilities were also provided to convert PC-Write files to and from other file formats that were then common.
Bob Wallace found that running Quicksoft used so much of his time he could not improve the PC-Write software. In early 1991, he sold the firm to another Microsoft
alumnus, Leo Nikora, the original product manager for Windows 1.0
(1983–1985). Wallace returned to full programming and an updated version of PC-Write was released in June 1991.
One feature unique to PC-Write that even the latest word processors cannot perform was to copy and paste a block of text anywhere. For instance, if one had a block of information, one per line, in the format Name (spaces) Address, one could highlight only the addresses section and paste that into the right-hand part of a page.
When the market changed to multi-program software, office suite
s combining a word processor
, spreadsheet
, and database
programs, Quicksoft went out of business in 1993.
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
and was one of the first three widely popular software products sold via the marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
method that became known as shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
. It was originally written by Bob Wallace
Bob Wallace
Bob Wallace , was the ninth Microsoft employee, first popular user of the term shareware, creator of the word processing program PC-Write, founder of the software company Quicksoft and an "online drug guru" who devoted much time and money into the research of psychedelic drugs...
, in early 1983.
PC-Write was a modeless editor, using control character
Control character
In computing and telecommunication, a control character or non-printing character is a code point in a character set, that does not in itself represent a written symbol.It is in-band signaling in the context of character encoding....
s and special function key
Function key
A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions...
s to perform various editing operations. It could produce plain ASCII text files, but there were also features that embedded control characters in a document to support automatic section renumbering, bold and italic fonts, and other such. Lines beginning with particular control characters
and/or a period (.) contained commands that were evaluated when the document was printed, e.g. to specify margin sizes, select elite or pica type, or to specify the number of lines of text that would fit on a page.
While Quicksoft distributed copies of PC-Write for $10, the company encouraged users to make copies of the program for others in an early example of shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
. Quicksoft asked those who liked PC-Write to send it $75. The sum provided a printed manual (notable for its many pictures of cats, drawn by Megan Dana-Wallace), telephone technical support
Technical support
Technical support or tech support refers to a range of services by which enterprises provide assistance to users of technology products such as mobile phones, televisions, computers, software products or other electronic or mechanical goods...
, source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
, and a registration number that the user entered into his copy of the program. The company paid $25 to a registered user for each copy of PC-Write with a registration number that resulted in a $75 sale.
A configuration file allowed customizing PC-Write, including remapping the keyboard
Keyboard layout
A keyboard layout is any specific mechanical, visual, or functional arrangement of the keys, legends, or key–meaning associations of a computer, typewriter, or other typographic keyboard....
. Later versions of the registered (paid for) version of the program included a thesaurus
Thesaurus
A thesaurus is a reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning , in contrast to a dictionary, which contains definitions and pronunciations...
(which was not shareware) along with the editor. Utilities were also provided to convert PC-Write files to and from other file formats that were then common.
Bob Wallace found that running Quicksoft used so much of his time he could not improve the PC-Write software. In early 1991, he sold the firm to another Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
alumnus, Leo Nikora, the original product manager for Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating environment, developed by Microsoft and released on 20 November 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a multi-tasking graphical user interface-based operating environment on the PC platform. Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows...
(1983–1985). Wallace returned to full programming and an updated version of PC-Write was released in June 1991.
One feature unique to PC-Write that even the latest word processors cannot perform was to copy and paste a block of text anywhere. For instance, if one had a block of information, one per line, in the format Name (spaces) Address, one could highlight only the addresses section and paste that into the right-hand part of a page.
When the market changed to multi-program software, office suite
Office suite
In computing, an office suite, sometimes called an office software suite or productivity suite is a collection of programs intended to be used by knowledge workers...
s combining a word processor
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
, spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
, and database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
programs, Quicksoft went out of business in 1993.
External links
- PC-WRITE: Quality Word Processing at a Price That's Hard to Beat Review of PC-Write in COMPUTERS and COMPOSITION 2(4), August 1985, page 78.
See also
- PC-FilePC-FilePC-File was a flat file database computer application most often run on DOS. It was one of the first of three widely popular software products sold via the marketing method that became known as shareware...
- Jim Knopf, also known as Jim Button
- PC-TalkPC-TalkPC-Talk was a communications software program. It was one of the first three widely popular software products sold via the marketing method that became known as shareware...
- Andrew FluegelmanAndrew FluegelmanAndrew Cardozo Fluegelman was a publisher, photographer, programmer and attorney best known as the inventor of what is now known as the shareware business model for software marketing...