CompuServe Messages

#Biz Grafix

    06-Aug-91 10:12:39
Sb: #30710-#Biz Grafix
Fm: PETER S. WASON 76505,2615
To: Vic Wagner 76046,3004
PFS Write is a great example; it is so EASY to use. It doesn't have all the features you might need in a law office, but for the average letter/invoice/memo type wp needs it is very good. You can store descriptions along with your file, which you can see when searching a directory, etc., has recordable macros, all of the basic functions and can mailmerge with PFS File databases, has it's own internal address book and spell checker with custom dictionary. Granted, it's not something you write code in, but all of the menu choices are on-screen ALL the time and if you cannot figure out how to use it then you cannot read either. There are a bunch of decent word processors on the Amiga, don't get me wrong; WP and communications software abound; it's the database, spreadsheet and biz graphics, along with networking/import&export functions that are in need. Spreadsheets and databases in particular need to be able to read/write all of the most popular DOS software file formats like 123, DBase, Paradox, DCA (wp), etc. so they can be used on a Novell (or similar) network with mostly DOS machines. That way adding an Amiga to your net is not only justified because of the Amiga's benefits, but it is not an island unto itself where other apps are concerned. In the case of databases, there are things that data entry folks do that can be done fine on DOS machines, but there are data manipulation and representation that an Amiga might be better suited to, and rather than have to export/convert the database it would be _nice_ to just have a different front end on an Ami that could do what you want. I know, DBase file format _is_ supported by most progs including Can-Do and Amigavision, but Paradox is a VERY popular relational database manager (for very good reason, too), Quattro is a very nice spreadsheet (with it's own file format) and as fer graphics… ..there are so many darn file formats it's hard to keep em all straight! -Scott