View source for PC-Write

{{Short description|Early word processing shareware}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = PC-Write
| logo                   = <!-- Image name is enough -->
| logo alt               = 
| screenshot             = Abc-write greek.png
| caption                = Intro screen of PC-Write version 2.5 translated in Greek. PC-Write was the de facto word processor in many branches of the Greek public sector during the early 1990s. Other versions presented a blue screen and white letters. Character matching on later versions used other colors, such as magenta, cyan, etc.
| screenshot alt         = 
| collapsible            = 
| author                 = [[Bob Wallace (computer scientist)|Bob Wallace]]
| developer              = 
| released               = early {{Start date and age|1983}}
| discontinued           = 
| latest release version = 
| latest release date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| programming language   = 
| operating system       = [[DOS]]
| platform               = 
| size                   = 
| language               = 
| language count         = <!-- Number only -->
| language footnote      = 
| genre                  = [[Word processor]]
| license                = [[Shareware]]
| alexa                  = 
| website                = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
| standard               = 
| AsOf                   = 
}}
'''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]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://paulspicks.com/help/history_of_shareware.aspx | title = The History of Shareware | last = Callahan | first = Michael E. | publisher = Paul's Picks | accessdate = 2008-05-13 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100428064443/http://paulspicks.com/help/history_of_shareware.aspx | archivedate = 2010-04-28 }}</ref> It was originally written by [[Bob Wallace (computer scientist)|Bob Wallace]] in early 1983.<ref name = "InfoWorld Sep 1983">{{cite magazine | last = Markoff | first = John | title = Word-processing package costs $10 under new marketing scheme |magazine= InfoWorld | volume = 5 | issue = 3 | page =3 | date = September 19, 1983 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1y8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3 | issn = 0199-6649
}}</ref>

==Overview==
PC-Write is a [[modeless]] editor, using [[control character]]s and special [[function key]]s to perform various editing operations. By default it accepts many of the same control key commands as [[WordStar]] while adding many of its own features. It can produce plain [[ASCII text]] files, but there are also features that embedded control characters in a document to support automatic section renumbering, bold and italic fonts, and other such. A feature that is useful in [[LISP|list processing]] (as used in Auto LISP) is its ability to find matching open and closed [[parenthesis]] "( )"; this [[Brace matching|matching operation]] also worked for the other paired characters: { }, [ ] and < >.

Lines beginning with particular control characters n
<!-- Note: (check into what they are) -->
and/or a period (.) contain commands that are 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,<ref name = "InfoWorld Dec 22, 1986">{{cite magazine | last = King | first = Steve | title = Bargain Shareware Has Power Of High-Priced Competition |magazine= InfoWorld | volume = 8 | issue = 51 | page =42 | date = December 22, 1986 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UjwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 | issn = 0199-6649}}</ref> such as in [[escape sequences]].

PC-Write's implementation of free form editing can [[copy and paste]] a block of text anywhere. For instance, if one has a block of information, one per line, in the format Name (spaces) Address, one can highlight only the addresses section and paste that into the right-hand part of a page. Today, [[Emacs]] and [[jEdit]] are also capable of performing this function.

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. If anyone else paid the company $75 to purchase an already-registered copy of the software, the company paid a $25 commission back to the original registrant, and then issued a new number to the new buyer, thereby giving a financial incentive for buyers to distribute and promote the software. {{r|InfoWorld Sep 1983}}{{r|shapiro198807}}

A configuration file allows customizing PC-Write, including [[Keyboard layout|remapping the keyboard]]. Later versions of the registered (paid for) version of the program include a [[thesaurus]] (which was not shareware) along with the editor. In addition, there is vocabulary available in other languages, such as in German. Utilities are provided to convert PC-Write files to and from other contemporary file formats. One limitation of the software is its inability to print directly from memory; because the print function was a separate [[subprogram]], a document must be saved to a file before it can be printed.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/Whole_Earth_Software_Catalog_for_1986_1985_Point/Whole_Earth_Software_Catalog_for_1986_1985_Point_djvu.txt|title=Whole Earth Software Catalog|year=1989 |isbn=9780385233019 |last1=Brand |first1=Stewart |publisher=Quantum Press/Doubleday }}</ref>

PC-Write was reportedly still selling well in 1988,<ref name="shapiro198807">{{Cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Ezra |date=July 1988 |title=From Shareware to Hyperware |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-1988-07_202104/page/213/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2025-04-12 |magazine=[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]] |pages=211–213}}</ref> with more than 27,000 registered users paying $1.5 million a year.{{r|falkner19880229}} 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).<ref name = "Seattle Times Jan 1991">{{cite news | last = Andrews | first = Paul | title = Software Company Is Sold | newspaper = [[The Seattle Times]] | date = January 23, 1991 | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910123/1262096/software-company-is-sold}} Leo Nikora purchases Quicksoft, Bob Wallace stays as lead programmer.</ref> Wallace returned to full programming and an updated version of PC-Write was released in June 1991.<ref name = "Seattle Times Jun 19913">{{cite news | last = Andrews | first = Paul | title = Quicksoft Is Updating Shareware Pioneer PC-Write | newspaper = The Seattle Times | date = June 25, 1991 | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910625/1291033/quicksoft-is-updating-shareware-pioneer-pc-write}}</ref>

When the market changed to multi-program software ([[office suite]]s combining [[word processor|word processing]], [[spreadsheet]], and [[database]] programs), Quicksoft went out of business in 1993.<ref name = "InfoWorld Nov 15, 1993">{{cite magazine | last = Johnston | first = Stuart | title = PC-Write publisher Quicksoft fails to find partner, closes |magazine= [[InfoWorld]] | volume = 15 | issue = 46 | page = 27 | date = November 15, 1993 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DDsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 | issn = 0199-6649}}</ref><ref name = "Seattle Times Nov 1993">{{cite news | last = Andrews | first = Paul | title = Software Firm Quicksoft Closes Doors -- Maker Of PC-Write Failed In Efforts To Find A Partner | newspaper = [[The Seattle Times]] | date = November 8, 1993 | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19931108/1730657/software-firm-quicksoft-closes-doors----maker-of-pc-write-failed-in-efforts-to-find-a-partner}}</ref>

The first [[Trojan horse (computing)|Trojan horse]] (appearing in 1986), PC-Write Trojan, masqueraded as "version 2.72" of the shareware word processor PC-Write. Quicksoft did not release a version 2.72.

PC-Write had one of the first "as you type", in "real-time mode" [[spell checker]]; earlier spell checkers only work in "batch mode".<ref name="bb" /><ref>
Steve King.
[https://books.google.com/books?id=UjwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45 "Bargain Shareware Has Power Of High-Priced Competition"].
InfoWorld.
1986 Dec 22.
p. 44 - 45.
</ref><ref>
Charles Spezzano.
"Professional Word Processing Packages".
Section
[https://books.google.com/books?id=HDwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42 "PC-Write Version 2.71"].
InfoWorld.
1987 April 13.
p. 42.
</ref>

The '''Brown Bag Word Processor'''
is based on 
PC-Write's source code,
licensed by Brown Bag Software,
with some minor modifications.<ref name="bb">{{Cite magazine |last=Sagman |first=Stephen |date=1987-02-24 |title=Brown Bag Word Processor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=phxlBt4dX3oC&pg=PA131 |access-date=2025-04-15 |magazine=PC Magazine |page=131}}</ref>

==Reception==
''[[PC Magazine]]'' in 1984 stated that version 1.3 of "''PC-Write'' rates extremely well and compares favorably with many word processors costing much more". It cited very fast performance, good use of color, and availability of source code as advantages, while lack of built-in support for printing bold or underline and keyboard macros was a disadvantage.{{r|pitt19840221}} In a 1987 review of low-cost word processors, the magazine approved of version 2.7 power and speed, stating that its features "compare well against even some of the best professional word processors". While another program with [[WYSIWYG]] and [[context-sensitive help]] might be better for a novice, ''PC'' said, PC-Write "may be the only word processor you'll ever need".<ref name="sagman19870224">{{Cite magazine |last=Sagman |first=Stephen |date=1987-02-24 |title=PC-Write |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=phxlBt4dX3oC&pg=PA131 |access-date=2025-04-15 |magazine=PC Magazine |pages=154, 156}}</ref> The same article said of Brown Bag Word Processor that those who wanted a [[DOS shell]], [[outliner]], and other utilities should choose it over PC-Write, while those who did not should buy the otherwise-identical latter and save $40.{{r|bb}} ''PC'' in 1988 said that version 2.71 was an "excellent personal word processor ... with speed and capabilities well beyond the needs of the average user". While noting its 60K file size limit, and difficulty of remembering its many key combinations, the magazine concluded that "If you can get through the learning curve, you won't be disappointed".<ref name="falkner19880229">{{Cite magazine |last=Falkner |first=Mike |date=1988-02-29 |title=PC-Write |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CmNNyCje8oAC&pg=PA264 |access-date=September 28, 2025 |magazine=PC |pages=264–267 |volume=7 |issue=4}}</ref> ''[[Compute!]]'' complimented PC-Write's "clean implementation of standard editing features", cited its "truly staggering" level of customization, and after mentioning a few flaws stated that they should be "viewed in context of the program's overall excellence".<ref name="leemon198501">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-02-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_057_1985_Feb#page/n83/mode/2up | title=PC-Write Word Processor For PC & PCjr | work=Compute! | date=January 1985 | accessdate=30 October 2013 | author=Leemon, Sheldon |page=82}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Andrew Fluegelman]]
*[[Jim Knopf]], also known as Jim Button
*[[PC-File]]
*[[PC-Talk]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="pitt19840221">{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UCIvSU6Y2GAC&pg=PA189 | title=Word Processing On The Honor System |magazine=PC Magazine | date=1984-02-21 | accessdate=24 October 2013 | author=Pitt, Joel |page=189}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100507091846/http://computersandcomposition.osu.edu/archives/v2/2_4_html/2_4_08_Waddell.html 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.

{{Word processors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pc-Write}}
[[Category:1983 software]]
[[Category:Shareware]]
[[Category:Word processors]]
[[Category:DOS text editors]]