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Stone Table Software has released Z-Write 1.2.1, a free maintenance update of their "non-linear" word processor for creative writers.

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.

Z-Write 1.2.1 fixes several problems with the recent Z-Write 1.2, including an issue with Mac OS 9.1 that occasionally prevented Z-Write from launching.

This update also fixes problems with HTML Export, the File Import command, and creation dates being lost on saved files.

This update fixes several bugs in the 1.2 release. All users are encouraged to update Z-Write to this version.

The following new features were added:
• Section rename dialog: support for Select All command
• Excalibur Spelling dialog: enlarged
• Insert Bookmark: selected text is used for Bookmark name

This release fixes the following problems:
• Quit on Launch under OS 9.1: NilObjectException error if ZW couldn’t find recent document
• File Import: no text files showed up in file selection dialog
• Set HTML Editor: no apps showed up in app selection dialog
• File creation date lost on save: Z-Write now preserves creation date
• Slow Section Rename: with hundreds of Sections, renaming was very slow
• Broken links on HTML Export: inserted links were broken on HTML Export
• Multiple links lost on HTML Export: only the first link in a Section was exported
• Now preserves a saved document's original creation date
• Fixed AutoBackup bug that occasionally prevented Autosave from kicking in
• Fixed AutoBackup bug: it now "recircles" properly (after it reaches the max number of backup docs it starts resaving at #1 again)
• Made it so inserting a bookmark with text selected, uses the selected text as the bookmark's name
• Fixed major HTML Export bug: multiple links in same Section only linked first one.
• Fixed major HTML Export bug: quote marks in links were incorrectly rendered as special HTML characters, breaking the links
• Fixed Recent Documents bug that caused ZW to quit on launch (NilObjectException) if it could not find the recent file

Z-Write is the world's first non-linear word processor. Instead of the nightmare of managing hundreds of separate word processing files of notes, ideas, chapters, revisions, character bios, bibliography information, quotations, website locations, etc., Z-Write allows the writer to store unlimited documents in a single file!

With support for unlimited Sections of information, Z-Write makes finding and organizing the disparate snippets of text associated with large writing projects a snap. Users are free to organize information any way they want. Move, combine, and print out just the Sections needed. Manage multiple versions of chapters, export a completed book as linked HTML files or Rich Text Format, even view multiple Sections at the same time.

Unlike a personal information manager (PIM), Z-Write is real word processor, designed for handling huge novels and complicated research projects. Unlike "idea managers," Z-Write knows that ultimately your Sections need to be combined to create a uniform piece of writing.

Z-Write eschews the bloat of many of today's word processors, offering simplicity and elegance. Streamlined for writing, it stays out of your way so you can actually get work done.

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
• Style sheets for instantly formatting text
• 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, RTF, and Palm DOC formats
• 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
• Recent files menu
• Auto-Save and Auto-Backup
• 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

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

Z-Write costs U.S. $20 for an individual license and is available for purchase and download from the Stone Table Software website. Z-Write may be previewed for free with no limitations for two weeks. After 30 days without registering, Z-Write reverts to a demonstration version.

The 1.2.1 upgrade is free and may be downloaded from the STS website at:
http://www.stonetablesoftware.com/z-write.html

You can downlaod either a patch to update your installation of Z-Write 1.2, or the full installer. I downloaded the patch, which worked fine.

New users may download and use the full version with no limitations for fourteen days.

For more information, visit:
http://www.stonetablesoftware.com/

For my full 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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