Volkswriter
Dan Tobias (Talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Document |extensions={{ext|vw}}, {{ext|vw3}} }} '''Volkswriter''' was a popular word processor for the PC-DOS platform in the 1980...") |
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|formattype=electronic | |formattype=electronic | ||
|subcat=Document | |subcat=Document | ||
| + | |subcat2=Word Processor | ||
|extensions={{ext|vw}}, {{ext|vw3}} | |extensions={{ext|vw}}, {{ext|vw3}} | ||
| + | |released=1982 | ||
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| − | '''Volkswriter''' was a popular word processor for the PC-DOS platform in the 1980s. Originally released by Lifetree Software, it was later bought out by some of its employees and spun off as a separate company (which was lauded for a while as a successful move), but never managed to successfully transision to the newer, Windows-based PC market. | + | '''Volkswriter''' was a popular word processor for the PC-DOS platform in the 1980s with a name inspired by Volkswagen. Originally released by Lifetree Software, it was later bought out by some of its employees and spun off as a separate company (which was lauded for a while as a successful move), but never managed to successfully transision to the newer, Windows-based PC market. |
Like most word processors of that era, Volkswriter was not that far removed from a text editor (the distinction between text editors and word processors was nowhere near as solid then as now). The plain-text parts of a document are stored as normal [[ASCII]], and so should be recoverable even lacking a program with specific Volkswriter import capability. However, a number of special embedded commands such as control codes and "dot command" lines were used, which might cause a document to show up with lots of enbedded gibberish if loaded into a program that doesn't understand these codes. | Like most word processors of that era, Volkswriter was not that far removed from a text editor (the distinction between text editors and word processors was nowhere near as solid then as now). The plain-text parts of a document are stored as normal [[ASCII]], and so should be recoverable even lacking a program with specific Volkswriter import capability. However, a number of special embedded commands such as control codes and "dot command" lines were used, which might cause a document to show up with lots of enbedded gibberish if loaded into a program that doesn't understand these codes. | ||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
* [[Wikipedia:VolksWriter|Wikipedia article]] | * [[Wikipedia:VolksWriter|Wikipedia article]] | ||
| + | * [https://archive.org/details/FileFormats-MoreForPopularPCSoftwareAProgrammersReferenceJeffWaldenOCR/page/n151/mode/2up Volkswriter 3 File Format Specs] | ||
* [http://www.personalcomputernews.co.uk/pcnb/html/076/personal_computer_news_076_volkswriter_deluxe_ibm_pc.html Volkswriter review] | * [http://www.personalcomputernews.co.uk/pcnb/html/076/personal_computer_news_076_volkswriter_deluxe_ibm_pc.html Volkswriter review] | ||
* [http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-02-01/business/0190390031_1_layouts-program-easy-to-learn 'Volkswriter 3' Is Word-processing Program Not Likely To Be Outgrown] | * [http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-02-01/business/0190390031_1_layouts-program-easy-to-learn 'Volkswriter 3' Is Word-processing Program Not Likely To Be Outgrown] | ||
* [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Volkswriter+turnaround.-a09631667 The Volkswriter Turnaround] | * [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Volkswriter+turnaround.-a09631667 The Volkswriter Turnaround] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:00, 21 October 2022
Volkswriter was a popular word processor for the PC-DOS platform in the 1980s with a name inspired by Volkswagen. Originally released by Lifetree Software, it was later bought out by some of its employees and spun off as a separate company (which was lauded for a while as a successful move), but never managed to successfully transision to the newer, Windows-based PC market.
Like most word processors of that era, Volkswriter was not that far removed from a text editor (the distinction between text editors and word processors was nowhere near as solid then as now). The plain-text parts of a document are stored as normal ASCII, and so should be recoverable even lacking a program with specific Volkswriter import capability. However, a number of special embedded commands such as control codes and "dot command" lines were used, which might cause a document to show up with lots of enbedded gibberish if loaded into a program that doesn't understand these codes.
(TO DO: if somebody can find a Volkswriter manual or other documentation which explains the specific embedded commands, that would be very useful information to add here.)
Due to its popularity at the time, there was sometimes a Volkswriter import mode in slightly-later word processors including WordPerfect. However, this is rarely found now since Volkswriter is considered so archaic.
[edit] Software
- WinConv - software to handle text conversion between various formats including Volkswriter; commercial software with limited trial mode
