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In view of the discussion regarding when A La Carte was added to Xywrite
and whether the plus was added before or after menus were added to Xywrite III+,
I did a search in the news database in Lexis-Nexis and found some articles which
may shed some light on the question and are enclosed below.
If anyone is interested in any more information from the news database of
Lexis-Nexis feel free to ask
mailto:avromf@xxxxxxxx or mailto:af413@xxxxxxxx
Personal Computing
August, 1989 SECTION: Vol. 13 ; No. 8 ; Pg. 111; ISSN: 0192-5490
LENGTH: 1759 words
HEADLINE: Buyer's guide: word processing; Software Review; includes related
article on benchmarks; evaluation
BYLINE: Antonoff, Michael
BODY: * * * The pulishers of XyWrite Ill Plus, hoping to address criticism that the program's two-character command structure is hard to learn, added a new help system called A La Carte since last year. * * *
Personal Computing
August, 1989 SECTION: Vol. 13 ; No. 8 ; Pg. 133; ISSN: 0192-5490
LENGTH: 5643 words
HEADLINE: XYWrite: headed into the mainstream; Software Review;
part of a comparison of eight word processors; evaluation
BYLINE: Reed, Sandra
BODY: XyWrite has been an insider's word processor for years, complete with a cult-like following of users spreading the word about its lean, mean personality. XyWrite, they proclaim, can do just about anything-once you get to know it. If that's true-and it is, largely-it's also true that anything less than complete devotion to its long list of commands can result in complete frustration. Enter A La Carte, a system of menus and help
screens designed to make XyWrite easier to get to know. Advanced
users probably won't need to spend the $30 to add A La Carte, but
it's definitely worth the price for those new to XyWrite, or those
who feel as if they've only scratched the surface of this powerful word
processor.
Xyquest developed A La Carte as a bridge
between ease of use and ease of learning. Menu-driven programs, like Microsoft
Word, are generally easier to learn while command-driven word processors, like
WordPerfect, tend to be faster and easier to use. Xyquest figures that many
users Wfll learn XyWrite through the menus and then rely on them
less and less as they master the cryptic command set that drives this
sophisticated program.
A La Carte adds a third line at the top of
the document editing screen. The Lotus 1-2-3-like system puts the main commands
on that third fine with the subset of commands on the second; each is executed
by moving the cursor onto the command and pressing Enter or F9. The extensive
menus are supplemented by context sensitive help that interprets error messages.
For instance, one of the most common errors in XyWrite occurs when
you define a block of type and then fail to release it after working on it. That
error generates a beep and a less-thanhelpful message that orders "Restore
Define." If you're using A La Carte and make the same
error, the help screen adds "Press F3 to release the defined block of text. You
cannot start a new line if there is already text defined."
* * * * XYWRITE III PLUS 3.55 Xyquest, Inc. 44 Manning Rd. Billerica, MA 01821 508-671
-0888
Price: $445 ($30 to upgrade from XyWrite III
Plus, $50 from XyWrite III, $150 from XyWrite II
Plus)
* * * InfoWorld October 24, 1988 SECTION: TO THE EDITOR; Pg. 52 LENGTH: 81 words
HEADLINE: Xywrite Clarification
BYLINE: Jeffrey Clark, Marketing Communications, Xyquest, Billerica,
MA
BODY: Thank you for your good coverage of Xywrite III Plus for Networks and the new A La Carte menu shell (September 26). I would like to correct two important points about the prices
and compatibility of A La Carte for our customers. A La
Carte menus will only work with the most current version of the
program, Xywrite III Plus. The cost to receive the menu shell
is $30. Owners of Xywrite III can upgrade to version III Plus
for $50 and get A La Carte at no additional cost.
InfoWorld September 26, 1988 SECTION: SOFTWARE; News Briefs; Pg. 20 LENGTH: 183 words
HEADLINE: Xywrite Updates to Offer Expanded Help, Menu Shell,
and Networking
BODY: Xyquest will release next month A La Carte, an expanded help function with a menu interface for Xywrite. The company will also be shipping its network version of the word processor. Users will be able to choose and execute commands from A
La Carte or can refer to it for help and return to the program to edit,
said John Hild, Xyquest's president. The new system works with
Xywrite, Versions III and III+, and will be built into future versions as
well as current shipments of III+, Hild said. Current users of Version III
can upgrade for $30, and Version III+ users can upgrade for $50.
Xywrite III+ costs $445.
Xywrite, Version 3.5 is a multiuser product and
features a log-in with password, time- and date-stamped redlining, files-use
status screens, and read-only access that also lets users copy information into
another file. It includes the new menu and costs $795 for the file server
copy and $195 for each network node. Upgrade information will be available
upon the product's release, Hild said.
Xyquest Inc., 44 Manning Road, Billerica, MA 01821; (617)
671-0888.
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