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Marc Zeedar's Stone Table Software has just released version 1.2 of the innovative, non-linear word processor, Z-Write. Designed especially for creative writers, Z-Write adds to its solid set of word-processing and text manipulation features, the ability to separate a document into discrete sections, which can be accessed with a click in the Z-Write interface's second " section list" window.

Sections could be separate chapters of a book, different versions of a draft, contain research data and documentation for quick reference, or whatever works for you. Z-Write makes it easier to find and keep track of a huge amount of divergent material. You really have to experience this to grasp how cool it is, and I much prefer it to outliners.

If desired, sections can be combined into a single, linear document with a dialog selection. Sections, or the complete document, can be exported as plain text, HTML, RTF, or PalmDoc.

Marc kindly provided me with a pre-release copy of Z-Write 1.2 to check out over the weekend.

Z-Write 1.2 adds over forty improvements to the word processor, including new features such as style sheets for quickly formatting text, HTML templates which allow HTML export to be completely customized, import and export of Palm DOC format files, a recent files menu, better word count statistics, an automatic document backup system, and an autocorrect dictionary, as well as many smaller innovations and bug fixes.

The update also adds powerful text utilities such as Indent, Unindent, Strip HTML, and Remove Email Quotes.

New features in version 1.2 include:
€ Stylesheets
€ Editable HTML Templates
€ Recent Files Menu
€ New Text Utilities
€ Import/Export of Palm DOC Format files
€ Enhanced Word Count
€ AutoBackup
€ AutoCorrection Dictionary
€ Improved Drag-and-drop Interface
€ New Power User Prefs

Z-Write's Key Features
€ Unique non-linear writing system
€ Simple -- learn to use it in seconds
€ Convenient -- Z-Write remembers cursor location, text selection, window position and size, and last document edited
€ Customizable -- extensive preference settings
€ Electronic Bookmarks -- memorize locations in a document for instant access
€ Glossary -- quickly insert memorized snippets of text
€ View Windows -- browse multiple Sections simultaneously
€ Quickly imports an entire folder of text documents into a single Z-Write document, ready for editing
€ Export to text, HTML, and RTF
€ Hypertext links between Sections
€ A feature to insert one Section inside another upon export or printing
€ Text conversion features -- handy for formatting e-mails or text brought from a PC

€ Print Preview

€ Flexible print headers and footers

€ Hot Help -- point at buttons to learn what they do

€ Fully Mac OS "buzzword" compliant (supporting drag-and-drop, etc.)

€ 36-page User's Guide in PDF format

€ Affordable -- low price makes Z-Write the ideal addition to any writer's toolkit

Z-Write does NOT support:
€ Graphics
€ Tables
€ Footnotes
€ 100% WYSIWYG Display
€ Tabs (for text alignment)
€ Paragraph alignment

System requirements:
€ PPC Macintosh
€ System 7.5 or better
€ QuickTime

I would still like to see AppleScript support a la Tex Edit Plus, but Z-Write otherwise has most of the bases covered.

Z-Write is $20 shareware, fully functional for two-week preview period, and it won't orphan documents it creates even if you decide not to register.

Z-Write 1.2 is a free update to Z-Write 1.1.x.

For more information, visit:
http://www.stonetablesoftware.com/z-write.html

For my review of Z-Write 1.x, visit:

http://www.applelinks.com/mooresviews/zwrite.shtml

Cobweb Stone Table Software also offers a very cool little freeware HTML editor called Cobweb to compliment Z-Write.

Cobweb is a non-WYSIWYG HTML text editor -- my favorite sort. It is designed to work as a companion to Z-Write, but may be used by anyone needing a simple HTML editor.

Cobweb includes special features for editing Z-Write 1.2 HTML Template files.

Cobweb's key features include:
- Simple, elegant design
- Smart toolbar: inserts HTML tags in context - Syntax coloring
- Support for most basic HTML commands
- Supports fontsets, for use with the FONT tag - Support for 216-color web palette, tables, and images
- Multiple undos
- Free

System requirements:
Cobweb requires a Power Macintosh, Quicktime, and Mac OS 7.5 or better.

Cobweb is free for downloading from the Stone Table Software website:

http://www.stonetablesoftware.com/cobweb.html

Charles W. Moore

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