Procomm Plus (1985) 6 Communications DOS

ProComm, from Datastorm technologies, was a powerful and very popular telecommunications program for DOS and Windows. TERMULATOR, written to fill the gap left by shareware PC-Talk when its author died. protocols for uploading and downloading, and automatic redial. The commercial "ProComm Plus" includes a scripting language, more terminal types, additional file transfer protocols, context sensitive help, support for 8 COM ports, and a professionally written manual (telecommunications)](/product/microsoft_access_business_information_access_program), Crosstalk, Relay Gold, and PFS Access. Later, it competed with QModem and Telemate.

• 1.1 (shareware)
• 1.1

Prodigy (1988) 0 Communications DOS

Prodigy was an online service that offered on-line news, forums, stock information, games, banking, online shopping, and e-mail. Its primary feature was that it used a fully graphical user interface, however it was limited to very low resolutions and slow dial-up speeds, making it impractical for displaying photographs or detailed graphical documents.

• 2.x

Prokey (1989) 0 Utility DOS

Prokey is a DOS TSR macro recording and playback program. It adds lotus-style menus to applications, lets users create their own help messages, can copy text from the screen, remembers the last 300 keystrokes, and supports timed reminder alerts.

• 5.x

Protec (1985) 0 Utility DOS

Protec is a DOS menu shell that restricts access of files and programs to specific users. It hides files so they can not be easily seen by unauthorized users, includes encryption tools, and features access audit logging.

• 2.x,3.x

PubTech File Organizer (1989) 0 Utility Publishing Windows

The PubTech File Organizer is an alternate desktop shell for Windows that attempts to mimic the Macintosh Finder. It features drive icons directly on the desktop, a Garbage icon, and folders that open in new cascaded windows with icons representing files. Applications are easily accessible from an "Applications" menu. Files and programs may be placed directly on the File Organizer desktop. In many ways, it is similar to the Windows 95 desktop, but the earlier versions work under Windows 2!

• 2.11

Q&A (1988) 3 Database DOS

Symantec Q&A is a low end flat-file database manager that includes a word processor and a natural language query and reporting interface. While the package is forms-based like Professional File, it is more sophisticated and powerful. Symantec also sold a companion word processor called Q&A Write.

• 3.x

Q-DOS (1989) 0 Utility DOS

Gazelle Systems Q-DOS is a text mode based file manager for DOS. Q-DOS is a simplified file manager that presents all DOS functions visibly. It competed against many other file managers including Norton Commander and Xtree

• 2.x

QAPlus (1989) 1 Utility DOS

QAPlus is an extensive set of tools to test the functionality of a PC, measure performance, and optimize the configuration. It can test motherboard resources, RAM, video cards, I/O ports, and floppy drives. Later versions supported Microsoft Windows. It competed with tools like Checkit and AMI Diagnostics.

• 3.x

Quarterdeck Manifest (1988) 0 Utility DOS

Manifest is an easy to use diagnostic program that provides incredibly detailed information about DOS resource usage, loaded programs, IO devices, and memory usage including EMS, XMS, and UMB memory. It was available as a standalone program and bundled with QEMM and Deskview. Tools like this were essential for resolving compatibility problems between poorly behaved DOS programs and highly customized environments, especially in task switched or multitasking environments.

• 1.x

Quattro Pro (1987) 5 Spreadsheet DOS

Quattro Pro, initially just named "Quattro", is a spreadsheet application from Borland International. It competed against Lotus 1-2-3 and Excel, and had several advantages including tabbed sheets, and the ability to handle up to a million rows. Quattro Pro was the subject a lawsuit by Lotus, simply because because Quattro Pro copied their menu user interface, but Lotus claimed this was not allowed. This also affected The Twin and VP-Planner.

• 1.0
• Pro 1.x

QuickEntry (1988) 0 Database DOS

QuickEntry is an easy to use tool for creating standalone dBase entry forms. It works with any existing dBase compatible database file. It includes a menu-driven form builder that lets you simply "draw" your form on the screen. QuickEntry runs as its own DOS program, rather than as part of a database application, such as those created by Fox & Geller's QuickCode Plus dBase code compiler.

• 1.x

R:Base (1985) 3 Database DOS

R:Base, from Microrim and first released in 1983, was a popular relational database that competed with Ashton Tate's dBASE product. R:Base was the first relational database for the IBM PC, also notable as earlier relational databases typically required more powerful hardware. R:Base also includes a form and report generator that is optimized for the capabilities of the IBM PC and features the ability to add or remove fields without losing data or relationships.

• 5000
• System V
• 2.x

RapidFile (1987) 0 Database DOS

Rapidfile is an easy to use and flexible flat-file database with an integrated word processors. It supports customizable data views and reporting. It was aimed at those who need databases for simple tasks for which relational databases would be an overkill.

• 1.0

Relay Gold (1988) 0 Communications DOS

Relay/PC Gold is a powerful telecommunications program targeted at corporate users. It supports multiple communications sessions, scripting, file transfers, IBM 3270 connectivity, DEC Terminal emulation, and TCP/IP connectivity.

• 3.0

RightWriter (1987) 2 Utility DOS

RightWriter is a grammar / structure checking utility. You can feed it a document, and it will produce a marked up copy listing high level critiques such as readability, delivery strength, and jargon. It competed with Grammatik, but RightWriter generally produced superior results.

• 2.x
• 3.x
• 3.2 for DeskMate

Roland Midi Music Recorder (1984) 0 DOS

The Roland Midi Music Recorder is an 8-channel music recorder, editor, and player designed for use with the Roland MPU401 MIDI adapter card. The MPU401 enables MIDI compatible musical instruments to connect to an IBM PC.

• 1.x

Samna Plus (1988) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet DOS

Samna "Plus" is an integrated word processor/spreadsheet based on Samna Word.

• iv

Sidekick (1984) 7 Utility PIM DOS OS2

Borland Sidekick is a DOS based PIM (Personal Information Manager) and one of the first widely-used TSR (terminate and stay resident) programs. The key feature of Sidekick was that one could use Sidekick's utilities while using most other MS-DOS applications. This was important because MS-DOS had no built-in multi-tasking or task switching capabilities.

• 1.x
• Plus
• 1.0 for OS/2

Sideways (1985) 0 Spreadsheet Utility DOS

Sideways is a printing utility that enables you to print a spreadsheet sideways (landscape) when using a graphics printer. While that might seem like a common basic function these days, this is something that early spreadsheets lacked. Using continuous form (tractor feed) paper, a Sideways printout may seamlessly span multiple pages without having to tape or glue pages together. Sideways was sometimes bundled with spreadsheet products. "Sideways leaves no text un-turned".

• 3.11

Smartcom (1989) 0 Communications DOS

Hayes Smartcom is an easy to use communications program geared toward beginners. Hayes was a well known and popular maker of hardware modem products, and sold Smartcom alongside their hardware as a complementary product.

• II

SmarTerm (1987) 2 Communications DOS

SmarTerm, from Persoft, is a series of terminal emulators that provide access to mainframe systems and time-sharing services. It emulates various models of "dumb" terminals and includes binary file transfer capability. It claims to feature more accurate emulation over competing products.

• 240

SmartWare (1986) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet Communications Database DOS

SmartWare, also called "Smart Software System" originally from Innovative Software and later purchased by Informix, is an integrated office suite that was primarily successful in the European market. It includes a communication module, word processor, database, spreadsheet, and spreadsheet graphing.

• 3.x

Softerm (1984) 0 Communications DOS

Softerm is a powerful and flexible communications manager and terminal emulation program that operates on a variety of personal computers. It provides basic terminal communications to a variety of host computer, timesharing services, and information services such as The Source, CompuServe, and Dow Jones News/Retrieval. Softerm also functions as an exact look-alike for many popular CRT terminals which enables applications written for a specific CRT terminal to operate with your personal computer system transparently and without programming changes.

• 1.x

SoftLogic Disk Optimizer (1987) 0 Utility DOS

Disk Optimizer, from SoftLogic Solutions Inc., was a low cost disk defragmentation utility that competed directly against the Norton Utilities. Like other disk optimizers, it re-arranges where files are stored on a hard drive to decrease file access time. It was, however, not as full featured or robust as the Norton Utilities.

• 2.x

Software Bridge (1989) 0 Utility DOS

Software Bridge is a set of executable word processor file converters. It can convert between a large number of word processors while preserving formatting.

• 3.x