Once again, Corel® has introduced an updated, more intuitive user interface version of its classic word processing software program to the loyal and faithful community of WordPerfect® users. While retaining many of the visual and procedural changes made earlier in Suite7, this version of WordPerfect Suite does have some noticeable performance improvements including improved file open, save and redraw speeds in all applications, a sma ller size, and better Internet support and integration. Included in the standard version are WordPerfect ®8, Quattro® Pro8, Presentations®8, CorelCENTRAL®8, Corel Photo House®, Corel Barista™, Envoy Viewer, Netscape ® browser, Quick View Plus, Bitstream® Font Navigator 2.0, and Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia ® 1988 (one CD) version.
The new version of PerfectExpert®— a task-oriented information system — combines the best features of Quick Tasks, templates and Coaches across all applications in the Suite while the new Application Bar lets you switch between documents, drag and drop data, and easily work with multipl e documents. The context-sensitive Property Bar changes in all applications, depending on the task you are doing. For example, when you click in a table in WordPerfect, the Table Property Bar is displayed automatically. But the ‘coolest’ one occurs when typing text, and the Property Bar displays synonyms for words “as you type” to assist the creative (and not-so-creative) writer in editing a paper. A suite-wide Scrapbook™ for Clipart has also been added.
The most significant change, however, in my opinion, is the improved Internet support. For starters, WordPerfect8 now includes HTML form support and enhanced HTML tables support while retaining its WYSIWYG Web display and editing of HTML pages. Quattro Pro8 provides an Internet expert and automatic update of links. Presentations8 lets you publish your slide show and notes to the WEB using either HTML format or Corel Bari sta™ (Corel’s Java™ language for Internet documents).
Here’s a brief synopsis of the improvements in each application included in the Suite8 package to provide you with enough information to make your decision regarding an upgrade.
CorelPerfect8: What’s new?
The first change you see is in the light grey margin lines which replaced the light blue ones in Suite 7. Also, the Shadow Cursor (colored light green) enables you to begin to type anywhere in the white space of your document or insert a graphics box any where you like. Using the Internet Publisher, you can now add form fields to your web document such as radio buttons, check boxes, selection lists and text boxes. With the QuickLinks feature turned on in Suite8 when you enter text that begins with “www,” “ftp”, “http,” or “mailto” it is automatically converted to an Internet link (in bright blue color). The new Drawer Layer lets you draw graphics objects directly on top of text, group graphics objects, and set the order of graphics objects. Also, you ca n now size rows dynamically within a table and quickly join or split cells with a single click and drag.
WordPerfect7 added Spell-As-You-Go to correct spelling errors as you type. WordPerfect8 adds Grammar-As-You-Go that lets you recognize and fix common grammar (and spelling) problems as you type. Uncommon phrases, such as “they is home,” are marked in the document (with a dotted blue underline) for you to right-click and choose from a list of possible suggestions or ignore and move on.
Quattro Pro8: What’s new?
Enhancements to Quattro Pro include the first editable WYSIWYG view in any major spreadsheet program. Also, drag any cell to the Application Bar at the bottom of the window to see its updated value as you change other cells elsewhere in the spreadsheet ( the QuickCell feature). Quattro Pro8 also creates Internet links from texts automatically as in WordPerfect8.
Presentations8: What’s new?
Presentations8 now takes advantage of Intel MMX™ technology for accelerated slide transitions and drawings on processors so equipped. Up to 180 backgrounds and layouts and 120 transition effects are now included with the program, and Clipart images from the Scrapbook™ are in one location for quick drag and drop capability in your slide show or drawing. You can now publish your slide show to the Internet with full support for animations, sound, transitions, and QuickLinks. TextArt, a feature in WordPerfe ct, is now fully integrated into Presentations8.
CorelCENTRAL8
The PIM (personal information manager) now included with the Standard Suite product is an all-in-one organization and communication application. It contains a calendaring and scheduling feature to organize and track your schedule and tasks and with speci al extensions to Netscape Communicator™, you can schedule meetings and events, or assign and track workgroup tasks over an Intranet or the Internet. The Suite Address Book lets you store all your contact numbers and addresses in one place and access thes e files throughout the suite to create mail merges in WordPerfect or to simply speed dial using the Phone Dialer. CorelCENTRAL also includes an Internet browser, e-mail discussion group and conferencing support through integration with Netscape Navigator .
Summary
By way of summary, the question of whether to upgrade (or purchase) the Corel WordPerfect Suite8 based on the above information is a tough decision. In my opinion, it is an improved product over Suite7 both in terms of overall performance and end-user fe atures. It’s like teaching, each semester we get to do it all over again, and each year we learn how to do it better. I believe Corel has tried with each new release to improve upon their product(s) and this version is the best one. If you are a current WordPerfect user, this upgrade is definitely worth your consideration.
Dr. Paul Raffoul, a HAL-PC member, and former leader of Group Purchase Sales, is a professor at the University of Houston, Graduate School of Social Work, where he directs the Computer Learning Center in addition to teaching courses in research methods, mental health and substance abuse.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.