3.637 wordprocessing and textbases, cont. (82)
Willard McCarty (MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca)
Wed, 25 Oct 89 17:35:05 EDT
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 3, No. 637. Wednesday, 25 Oct 1989.
(1) Date: Tue, 24 Oct 89 18:29:42 EDT (18 lines)
From: cbf@faulhaber.Berkeley.EDU (Charles Faulhaber)
Subject: Re: 3.629 software? scholarly journals? (77)
(2) Date: Wed, 25 Oct 89 09:10:03 EDT (44 lines)
From: Jan Eveleth <EVELETH@YALEVM>
Subject: Textbase and wordprocessing
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 89 18:29:42 EDT
From: cbf@faulhaber.Berkeley.EDU (Charles Faulhaber)
Subject: Re: 3.629 software? scholarly journals? (77)
For Mr. Grosman. I would not recommend replacing WordPerfect 5.0
with Nota Bene. For most scholarly purposes WordPerfect 5.0 is
perfectly adequate. The only real advantage of Nota Bene is its
ability to construct a text data base of notes, something which
I have generally not found necessary.
WordCruncher is a program which allows one to find single words,
phrases, and words or phrases within a specific context in a
text. It will also produce concordances. If you wish to do such
things I would recommend TACT from the U. of Toronto Computing
Centre, which I found more user-friendly (and cnsiderably less
expensive).
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------52----
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 89 09:10:03 EDT
From: Jan Eveleth <EVELETH@YALEVM>
Subject: Textbase and wordprocessing
Perhaps this will be of some help to Ernesto L. Grosman and Jacqueline
Brown.
WordCruncher is a text retrieval and indexing software package. It
features textual analysis, word search and frequency, indexing, organizational
automation for bibliographies and electronic text collections and interactive
use with some wordprocessors. It will support only those foreign language
characters supported by your DOS. This information comes from a
representative of the manufacturer of WordCruncer, Electronic Text
Corporation. For more information about the program and its suitability for
your needs contact Greg Johnson, Dir. of Marketing/Academia, Electronic Text
Corporation, 778 South 400 East, Orem, Utah 84058 (801-226-0616). Mr. Johnson
gave a demonstration of the program at Yale 2 1/2 weeks ago. The product is
very powerful. From my perspective it seems to be the type of product that
will allow researchers to generate new approaches to their research, new
questions. For those with a set task in mind, talk extensively with the
company to make certain the package will meet your expectations. Educational
cost is $199.00.
Another text management software package is IZE which is perhaps more
along the lines of what Jacqueline Brown is requesting. IZE is also an
indexing, word-frequency, text database program. It has built in word
processing capabilities. Since I don't have a manual here, I cannot tell you
if it will support foreign language characters or sophisticated output
formatting. Again, the best approach would be to contact the vendor and ask
detailed questions about the products suitability for your needs. IZE is
produced by Persoft Corp., 465 Science Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53711
(608-273-6000). Educational price is $195.00.
Yet another pc program worth looking into is WordBench which is available
from Addison Wesley Publishing Co., Route 128, Reading, Mass., 01867 (617-944-
3700). WordBench was given Best Writing Software award by Educom in their com-
petition. As reported in the 9/13/89 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Ed, "the
software combines a word processor, a thesaurus, and a spelling checker with an
outline generator, a searchable data base for recording and filing notes, a
bibliography generator, and 'brainstorming' aids." Cost is listed at $189.
Unfortunately, I don't know enough about Nota Bene to address the question
of its virtues compared to those of WP5.0. My impression has been that Nota
Bene appeals strongly to those in the humanities whereas it is not well
received by scientists or clericals. (Those in the humanities claim that the
manual is very readable and understandable whereas others feel strongly that
it is dense and unnecessarily obtuse. These impressions are from a very
informal collection of comments.)