Re: Version confusion.

[Leslie Bialler lb136@xxxxxxxx]

Michael Edwards wrote:
>
>                          Michael Edwards.
>
>   Amongst many recent postings has been some comment about the relative
> merits of versions 3 or 4, although I must admit that I don't follow it all, due
> to my igorance about the detail of the program. But it would appear that these
> versions have different strengths, and that I should not assume that the latest
> version is necessarily the best one to get.

Please _do_ assume that version 4 is the best one to get. It has many
improvements, among the best being wildcard search and replace (i.e.,
you can replace Jack or Jock or Jake with Jill), as well as its superior
ability to handle large files.

>   I was also interested to read that version 3 was "castrated" in some manner
> after a certain version because of a law-suit. (A pretty unfortunate reason to
> have to change a program, it strikes me.) It was to do with the search and
> replace function. Once again, I didn't follow this properly, but it sounds like
> some people think the last "uncastrated" version 3 is the best. Would it be
> worthwhile (and not too difficult) to try looking for that?
>

The last uncastrated version of 3 plus was 3.55. (There were three
more.) The feature put into 3.55 was restored in version 4. This is an
issue that, like the fight between the two versions itself, matters a
great deal to a small group of people and I shall not further roil the
waters, which verges on religious warfare.
It has to do with an autocorrect spelling feature--but, having seen what
autocorrect spelling features can do to a file (especially in Word), I
am reluctant to use them in any way, shape, or form. That said, however,
I must in all honesty point out that with the feature activated, you
will find that if you top teh for the a lot, matters will, as if by
wizardry, be rectified. Of course, inevitably, just after you activate
the feature, you will find that a Chinese person named Teh has entered
your word processing world.

My understanding is that the Tech Group, run by the elusive K. Frank,
Esq., has on its web page a version of XyWrite "lite," which is actually
the last version of 3 plus--a version numbered, according to Carl,
3.58b.

My understanding, too, is that it's available free and downloadable on
tgrp.com

>   Does anyone have any thoughts about these version questions - or should I
> forget it all and just accept the recent version 4 I've been offered?

Ah. Well if you have been offered the version 4, please accept it and
enjoy. For day to day use it makes little difference, and only people
who use XyWrite for its unsurpassed ability to edit formatting and other
specialized tasks have a strong preference for one over the other.

I try to write XPL programs that are compatible with both versions
because some of our freelancers still have 3 plus on their machines.
Sometimes, however, I forget; and to be honest with you, when somebody
complains I will, if in a harried mood, shrug and say, "well get version
4 then or do it the long way." Sometimes I feel guilty later. But if I
do, it's usually not for long. ;-)

Hope this helps.

--
Leslie Bialler, Columbia University Press
lb136@xxxxxxxx
New Address:
61 W. 62 St, NYC 10023
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