REVIEWS COURTESY OF ZXSR

Tasword 128K
Tasman Software
1986
Your Computer Issue 2, Feb 1988   page(s) 38,39,42,43

A WORD IN YOUR SPECTRUM

The Spectrum is under-estimated as a word processing machine, says John Wase. Here he reviews eight programs in support of his argument.

Word processing does not require much computer power. PipeDream on the new Z-88 uses exactly the same Z-80 chip as all versions of the venerable Spectrum. Thus the Spectrum, too, should, in theory, provide good word processing facilities, although in practice there are limitations like memory. A 48K Spectrum has around 41K for both program and text file, around 110K for the 128K version, and the screen display at only 32 columns.

Nevertheless, I found eight readily-available packages, plus variants for various models, of assorted prices, features, sophistication and complexity. Each has been written with some particular purpose in mind and all have virtues and vices associated with what is, after all, a compromise, for no word processing program suits everyone or all applications.

The constraints of the 32-column screen are overcome in a variety of ways. In some programs text lines continue along a second or third display line and end with some recognisable symbol, while in others the screen is re-defined to up to 80 characters per line, further augmented by multiple lines or sideways scrolling, giving as many as 148 characters per printer line.

While it is possible to provide a good deal of the information about the packages in tabular form, it really gives little feeling for the strong and weak points, the aims and the overall success of each package. Therefore I have chosen a combination of tables and comment to provide sufficient information to guide you in choosing packages suitable for your needs. The packages are Mini-Office, a suite of programs for younger children; Ramprint, an add-on printer interface with integral word processor; Spectral Writer, bundled with Wafadrive; WordMaster; Word Manager; The Last Word; The Writer and finally, the Tasword family. They are listed in table one, along with the outstanding features of each package, the cost and supplier.

The easiest thing to do is to take them in groups. First, Mini-Office, which has a very simple set of instructions on a cassette-sized book; interpretation by an adult will be necessary. There is a simple test piece to be typed-in; it appeared in big letters an inch or more high in yellow on a black background on my old TV; it is very easy for a child to write a simple letter but with very little more scope.

The normal mode is insert and there is also a crude copy, so letters or lines can be added or deleted; crude tabs complete the features. The main menu offers the usual save, verify, load or options with a further choice of double height, double width, margin setting and characters per line.

It could have been an excellent program to introduce a child to an integrated suite had it been revamped but there are no facilities to use a printer other than the obsolete Sinclair gadget or compatibles, and the other options integrate badly into the word processor. You would need a suitable printer for your child to make the most of it.

The next pair are proper programs, both intended for the serious user, and both released relatively early. Tasword 2, a development of Tasword on the ZX-81, provides a 64-character line, a fixed text length of 320 lines - 10-and-a-bit pages of double-spaced A4. Spectral Writer is similar but with squarer letters some say much more legible. In both programs insertion is by opening a word or a line and then re-justifying; there is no auto insert mode.

LINE AND COLUMN

Line and column are given on-screen but there is no word count. The cursor will move by line, character, or to the start or finish of the text; in Tasword 2 it is very slow. Word wrap is automatic, characters and lines can be deleted, blocks can be moved and copied and there is a crude search and replace.

Text can be justified with smooth or ragged right margin and centred and margins can be set for tables but there are no tabs in Tasword 2 and no headers, footers or auto-page numbering, no mail-merge, conditional printing or macros; just start and finish lines, one copy only. You can put eight printer codes in the program at once and change them whenever you like.

Both programs are good, straightforward, very simple word processors. You can achieve professional results very quickly Spectral Writer scores by having tabs, a line-end bell and is a little slicker but it normally is only bundled with Wafadrive, Tasword 2 is ubiquitous and bundled with Microdrives.

The chief advantage of both programs is that they are very simple; much is in Basic and is easily user-adapted. The major disadvantage is that printer control codes in the text destroys WYSIWYG concept unless you adopt low cunning or a patch. For simple letters of only a few pages they are easy and adequate.

The other processors are, in general, more sophisticated and it is probably easier to deal with their main features in a large table and just comment briefly on their strengths and weaknesses. The simplest is probably Ramprint, a printer interface and joystick port with a built-in word processor on ROM. I found the documentation brief but the gadget easy to use.

Although it contains most features one needs, there are disadvantages. It will work only with tape or Microdrives, for instance, and it will display only 32 columns when you are entering text, making complex work almost impossible, although it will display a 64-column screen to show you what the work will be like at the end.

That apart, having the works in an EPROM means that there is no software to load; plug it in, type one command and go. For straightforward documents, also those needing underlining, italics and other such fancy bits, even page numbering, it works and works well.

Word-Master again is for the Spectrum owner who has no discs. It works well with tape or Microdrive and an EPROM-driven interface. Within limitations I found a program which was specifically aimed at crude desk-top publishing. The documentation could be improved and I did not particularly like its 64-column character set. A further problem is that right justification could not be implemented on-screen, although was satisfactory when printed; that does not help DTP layout.

Against that, several files can be held in memory at once, page numbers, headers and footers are catered for and printer control codes are handled beautifully, either in a command line which does not print but affects the text below or as special characters for the more common sorts, so that H2O can be printed readily without upsetting justification.

PICTURES

Pictures can be incorporated with the graphic commands and text can be printed either to the right or to the left of it; again, instructions are a little sparse. Graphmate, a separate, stand-alone program, produces bar charts or pie charts easily but with provision for labelling axes left to Word-Master. The programs are independent and the products of Graphmate have to be saved before incorporation.

Cardex also supplied Headliner on a separate tape. It will produce headlines in a variety of styles for subsequent incorporation. This is a useful suite as it stands; further development and the production of disc/128K versions using more interfaces would make it still better.

Word Manager 4 is aimed at a different end-user, evident from its being bundled with Mail and Address Manager II. The review version 4.2 has a number of improvements over earlier issues, including a completely re-written Address Manager II. All saves and loads are in Basic and I liked particularly the single keypress to modify and transfer everything to disc. The 64-column character set looked almost like script, unlike any of the others; I liked it. The normal screen is bright. Lines longer than 64 characters are wrapped round and shown on the line below - not bright.

The instruction book was adequate. Some features were easy to use but I did not like the constant switching between modes to use cursors and delete, the lack of on-screen prompts - particularly caps - or the way in which paragraphs were completed before on-screen justification took place.

Page numbering is there but not headers or footers. Address Manager II is a database specific for Word Manager; Mail Manager takes the text from Word Manager and the names and addresses from Mail Manager and integrates them. There are conditional indices for Mr. Mrs. M/s or Miss but no real conditional printing is available.

For circulation of simple club letters or even, at a pinch, a short club magazine, this would do the trick satisfactorily if you get used to the vagaries involved in editing and, at the price which includes all three programs, it is unbeatable.

In contrast, The Last Word has a very well-produced and extensive manual. I found it very easy to use. Again, all the loads and saves are in Basic but you will have to type-in some new lines - supplied - to get it working from Microdrive or disc; a novice might not like this.

The screen display is changeable from 40, 48, 60 or 80 characters per line - not too good on a monitor, better on a large television set where the slight fuzz causes the eye to assume a good deal. It has most of the features one might expect, like headers, footers, page numbers, selected printing from Basic and mail-merge, with its own data files.

Because lines are terminated by a carriage return symbol there is no insert mode; you have to split a line to insert letters or words. Screen refresh is a trifle slow and the program is 48K, although the author says that there is the possibility of a 128K program in the future.

That said, everything else is good. Control codes do not disturb justification; by screen wrap-around you can get up to 148 characters per line; formatting is very flexible, exiting into Basic to insert your own routines is encouraged and examples given.

Tutor files loaded from tape help you to learn to manipulate text and load and save mail-merge information. Although I had never used it previously and am very familiar with another processor, I found the keys logical and liked the program.

NO COLOURS

The Writer is in two versions, 48K and 128K. Although Softek was very helpful on the telephone and promised to send both programs, plus The Artist, plus a pre-release version of The Filer, they did not arrive in time for this review. Fortunately I was able to borrow a 48K version of The Writer. It is well-presented with a good instruction book. No colours are used; the screen is uniformly white letters on a black background and looks very smart.

The 64 characters a line lettering is clear, square rather like Spectral Writer - and easy to read. The normal text manipulations are on symbol or extended mode and the program starts in insert mode. Press "Edit" and move the arrow over the top-line menu; up comes an overlay menu with obvious choices for all the things like file handling, saving and so on.

Printing includes mail-merge, conditional printing and can include calculations. All in all, a very impressive package. I found it easy to use, too, and liked it. The 128K version contains a pagemaker facility which imports pictures from The Artist. I had hoped to be able to look at this, too, and compare it to the Word-Master DTP facilities.

Finally, the Tasword series. Tasword 3 uses the same black on white character set as Tasword 2 - adequate and readable but scarcely exciting - but there the similarity ends. Because, unlike several of the other programs, all loads and saves are in machine code, there are a number of versions to fit various machines and devices, including Microdrive. Opus and Disciple discs, but there is no tape version, because to fit in all the features and still keep a respectable length file, the main menu is fed in as an overlay; it is frustrating to have to wait seven seconds for it to load from Microdrive or Opus.

All the standard features are present; mail-merge from Masterfile or from its own address lists produced from within the program, headers, footers, pagination, plenty of control codes to send, print several text files sequentially, print multiple copies, customise program, overtype - standard - or insert mode, word count, space remaining - do not fill it too tightly, though.

The main menu is, like all the Spectrum Taswords, accessed by symbol shift and A; the rest is easy. The manual is well-printed and laid-out and a tutor file is included. The 128K versions are almost exactly the same, except for the control key for insertion and some tidying as the Amstrad Spectrums no longer have symbols on the keys.

The main menu appears instantly and the text file is large, between 40 and 50 pages of double-spaced A4, which is a tremendous advantage if you write complicated documents and need to keep referring to what has gone before. The new +3 version appears similar to the user but contains code enabling a spellchecker to work and the extended mode bug which locks the main menu has been fixed.

The biggest disadvantage is the lack of justification when control codes are inserted - redeemed by a patch from Seven Stars Software; against this is the ease of use and the fact that Tasword and Masterfile are both available on a range of machines, even PC compatibles. Again, I liked Tasword; it works well and is good value.

Compared to most other machines, the choice of word processors on the Spectrum is wide and some are technically very good. There is no need to buy that new Amstrad or PC-compatible if all you want is a word processor, particularly if you have a +2 or a +3 with their good keyboards. After all, Tasword is very similar on the PC. Moreover, the PC will not play budget games as well when you are not using it.


REVIEW BY: John Wase

Blurb: "There is no need to buy that new Amstrad or PC-compatible if all you want is a word-processor."

Blurb: "Word-Master is for the Spectrum owner who has no discs. It works well with tape or Microdrive..."

Blurb: Table 1. General Features and sources of programs. Program: Mini-Office Version: Availability: Cassette. Price: £6.95 Intent: Children's suite (5-9 years). Source: Database Software, Europa House, 68 Chester Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5NY. 061 456 8383 Program: Ramprint Version: Availability: Printer Interface with built-in processor. Price: £34.95 Intent: Simple program, adequate for letters. Source: Ram Electronics (Fleet) Ltd, Unit 16 Redfields Industrial Park, Redfield Lane, Church Crookham, Aldershot, Hampshire. 0252 850031 Program: Spectral Writer Version: Availability: Wafer - bundled with the Wafadrive - still available from some dealers. Price: Intent: Simple program, rather like a slightly improved Tasword 2 with squarer characters. Adequate for letters and short documents. Source: Logic Mail Order, 17 Leofric Square, Eastern Industry, Peterborough, Cambs. 0733 313870 Program: WordMaster (incorporating Graphmate) Version: 1.03 Availability: Cassette - built-in transfer to Microdrive. Price: £14.95 Intent: Sophisticated program. Strength in the room left for add-in programs with simple desk-top publishing in mind. Source: Cardex, 11 Marsh Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 2AE. 022936957 Program: Word Manager +80 (incorporating Mail and Address Managers II) Version: 4.2 Availability: Cassette - transfer with one keypress to Microdrive and popular disc systems. Price: £12.95 Complete package. Intent: Sophisticated 48K program - strong on records and mail merge - designed with the Club secretary in mind. Source: W.N. Richardson, EEC Ltd, 18-21 Milsbourne House, Chiltern Hill, Chalfont St. Peter, SL9 9UE. 0753 888866 Program: The Last Word Version: SP2 1.0, SP3 1.0 Availability: Cassette, instructions provided to modify Basic for Microdrive or any popular disc system. Spectrum +3 disc. Price: £13.95 (SP2 1.0), £19.95 (SP3 1.0) Intent: Straightforward sophisticated 48K word-processor, 80-column screen, user-friendliness and clever interaction with Basic particular features. Source: Trojan Products, 166 Derlwyn Dunvant, Swansea, SA2 7PF. 0792 205491. Program: The Writer 48K, The Writer 128K, The Artist 48K, The Artist 128K, The Filer (pre-issue issue review copy) Version: Availability: Cassette. Will convert to most popular disc system. No +3 version yet. Price: £14.95 (The Writer )48K, £17.95 (The Writer 128K), £14.95 (The Artist 48K), £17.95 (The Artist 128K) Intent: Straightforward sophisticated word processor. Will combine graphics like pictures or plans with text. 128k Pagemaker facility better for this. Source: Softek International Ltd, 36-38 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7HE. 01-831 1801 Program: Tasword 2 Version: Availability: Cassette - Basic can be converted to any other system. Price: £13.90 Intent: Simple 48K program - adequate for letters, short reports. Source: Tasman Software, Springfield House, Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LN. 0532 438301 Program: Tasword 3 Version: Availability: No cassette - Microdrive or Opus disc. Patch available for Disciple* Price: ££16.50, £19.50, £5.95 cass, £7.95 disc Intent: Sophisticated 48K program, good for general-purpose use. Makes own files or compatible with Campbells* Masterfile. Source: Tasman Software, Springfield House, Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LN. 0532 438301 Program: Tasword 128; Tasword +2 Version: 1.02 (Tasword +2) Availability: Cassette can be transferred to Microdrive. Opus disc. Patch available for Disciple* Price: ££13.90, £13.95, £19.50, £5.95 cass, £7.95 disc Intent: Same features as Tasword 3 but greatly-enlarged text file. Source: Tasman Software, Springfield House, Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LN. 0532 438301 Program: Tasword +3 Version: 1.00 Availability: Disc Price: £19.95 Intent: Same features as Tasword +2 but modified for spellchecker - extra cost, available about now. Source: Tasman Software, Springfield House, Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LN. 0532 438301 *From the Micro Shop, 271, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow G11 6AB. 041 334 6163.

Blurb: Table 2. The pros and cons. RAMPRINT Text length (words): 6,556 Maximum line width: 64 chars Mode: Overwrite (insert available) Help in program: No Word count: No Page break display: No Word wrap: Yes On-screen justification: Only on display screen Block move: Yes Block delete: Yes Block copy: Yes Block save: No Autonumber: Yes Print header: No Print footer: No Multiple copies: No Mail merge: No Conditional printing: No WORD MASTER Text length (words): 4,800 Maximum line width: 255 chars Mode: Overwrite (insert available) Help in program: On-screen Word count: Yes Page break display: No Word wrap: Yes On-screen justification: Ragged right only but will print right-justified Block move: Yes Block delete: Yes Block copy: Yes Block save: Yes Autonumber: Yes Print header: Yes Print footer: Yes Multiple copies: No Mail merge: No Conditional printing: No WORD MANAGER Text length (words): 3,750 Maximum line width: 128 chars Mode: Overwrite (insert available) Help in program: On separate screen Word count: Yes Page break display: No Word wrap: Yes On-screen justification: Only after completion of paragraph Block move: Yes Block delete: Yes Block copy: Yes Block save: No Autonumber: Yes Print header: No Print footer: No Multiple copies: Yes Mail merge: Yes Conditional printing: Very limited THE LAST WORD Text length (words): 4,000 Maximum line width: 148 chars Mode: Overwrite (split word or line, then insert) Help in program: On-screen Word count: No Page break display: No Word wrap: Yes On-screen justification: Yes Block move: No Block delete: Yes Block copy: Yes Block save: Yes Autonumber: Yes Print header: Yes Print footer: Yes Multiple copies: Yes Mail merge: Yes Conditional printing: From Basic THE WRITER Text length (words): 3,760 (48K), 5,500 (128K) Maximum line width: 127 chars Mode: Insert (overwrite available) Help in program: On-screen Word count: No Page break display: (In menu) Word wrap: Yes On-screen justification: Yes Block move: No Block delete: Yes Block copy: Yes Block save: Yes Autonumber: Yes Print header: Yes Print footer: Yes Multiple copies: Yes Mail merge: Yes Conditional printing: Yes TASWORD Text length (words): Maximum line width: Mode: Help in program: Word count: Page break display: Word wrap: On-screen justification: Block move: Block delete: Block copy: Block save: Autonumber: Print header: Print footer: Multiple copies: Mail merge: Conditional printing:

Transcript by Chris Bourne

All information in this page is provided by ZXSR instead of ZXDB