Perfect Writer (1983) 0 Word Processor DOS

Perfect Writer, from Perfect Software, Inc, is a simple word processor for MS-DOS and CP/M-80 systems. It was bundled with many 8-bit CP/M systems and some early MS-DOS and IBM PC compatible computers. It was generally considered a low end entry-level product, but it was designed with portability in mind.

• 1.x

Personal Pearl (1983) 0 Database DOS

Personal Pearl is an easy to use relational database information manager targeted at home users. It originated on the CP/M-80 operating system and was bundled with many 8-bit computers such as the Osborn, Morrow, and Epson computers.

• 1.x

PFS:File (1982) 0 Database DOS

PFS:File is an easy to use flat file database that started off as "PFS: The Personal Filing System" on the Apple II and then ported to the IBM PC, TRS-80, and other platforms. OEM version were available from various companies including IBM. Later it evolved in to PFS:Professional File, and IBM rebranded a version as IBM Filing Assistant.

• 1.00 (IBM)
• Axx
• Bxx

PFS:Report (1982) 0 Database DOS

PFS:Report is a companion product to PFS:File. It prepares and prints tabular reports, according to your specifications, from the information stored in a PFS file. IBM rebranded a version as IBM Reporting Assistant. The functionality of this product was later integrated in to PFS:Professional File

• 1.0x (IBM)
• Axx
• Bxx

PFS:Write (1983) 0 Word Processor DOS

PFS:Write, originally from Software Publishing Corporation and later sold to Spinnaker Software, was an early and easy to use word processor for the IBM PC and Apple II. It was also licensed by IBM as IBM Writing Assistant. It can exchange data between PFS:Graph, PFS:File, and PFS:Report. SPC later replaced PFS:Write with Professional Write. Early versions had no built in spell checker, and were instead used with PFS:Proof.

• Axx
• 01.00.00 (Tandy 2000)
• Bxx
• Cxx

R:Base (1985) 7 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

RealType (1985) 2 Word Processor DOS

RealType is a small commercial program that lets a computer and printer act as a typewriter. This can be useful for filling out pre-printed forms. It includes Trubo Pascal source code.

• 2.x

Samna Word (1985) 1 Word Processor DOS

Samna Word is a word processor based on the look and feel of the Lanier enterprise word processing system's software. The product was targeted at Lanier users that wanted to move to IBM PC systems. The user interface is very non-intuitive. Samna Word features multiple fonts and a graphical print preview. It competed against DOS based word processors such as Wordstar, WordPerfect and MultiMate. the company began a merger with Lotus. eventually became Lotus AMI Pro.

• III

Select Freestyle (1985) 0 Word Processor DOS

Freestyle is a word processor that features a powerful outlining system used to organize and retrieve information in a document.

• 1.x

Select Word Processor (1981) 0 Word Processor CPM

The Select Word Processor, from SELECT Information Systems, Inc., is a word processor for generic CP/M-80 based systems. There were also versions for MS-DOS and CP/M-86.

• 1981

Spellbinder (1982) 0 Word Processor CPM

Spellbinder, from Lexisoft and later Ltec Inc, is a word processing program originally created for CP/M and OASIS operating systems and eventually competed with WordStar. It was designed as a work-alike of the NBI Word Processing system and featured spell checking, grammar checking, footnotes, two-column print, proportional printing, and macro programming language. It was bundled with machines from Eagle Computers, Hewlett-Packard, and Xerox.

• 5.x

StarProof Bridge (1984) 0 Word Processor Utility DOS

The StarProof Bridge is a utility that enabled IBM Word Proof to work with WordStar documents.

• 1.00

T/Maker (1985) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet Database DOS

T/Maker, first released in 1980 for 8-bit CP/M, was one of the first "integrated" software programs. It brings together File Management, Word Processing, Spell Checking, Spreadsheet, Database Management, List Processing, Data Transfer, Graphics (Bar Charts), and Programming. These components can work together, for example a document can contain functional spreadsheet fields.

• 4.x

Textra (1985) 2 Word Processor DOS

Textra, from the University of Michigan based Ann Arbor Software, was a small and fast word processor highly optimized for speed and rapid data entry. First released in 1982 Textra, like many other early PC word processors, was born out of the lack of a decent IBM PC editor/word processor. Textra featured a full set of text manipulation commands, common text formatting abilities, and full screen editing. It was specifically designed for the IBM PC, giving it faster load and save times and the most responsive user interface possible. It was priced much lower than most other text editors or word processors.

• 3.x

The Benchmark (1984) 0 Word Processor DOS

The Benchmark was an early, and somewhat short lived, word processor. This version is for the NEC APC running CP/M-86.

• 3.x

Valdocs (1984) 1 Word Processor Spreadsheet Graphics Communications CPM

Valdocs is an office suite that was bundled with the Epson QX-10 (and later QX-16) Z80 based computer. It was "WYSIWYG" in that it could display different fonts of different sizes in the editor on the screen. It could also embed images in the document, and print the document to a graphics printer.

• 2.00
• Plus

VersaForm (1984) 0 Database DOS

VersaForm is a business oriented database based around business forms and procedures. It features easy integrated form creation, entry, and reporting. Pascal system, and supported large databases on Corvus hard drives.

• 2.x
• 3.x

VisiFile (1983) 1 Database DOS

VisiFile is a flat file data base management system. This version is for the IBM PC, there was also an earlier version for the Apple II. by VisiCorp. Creative Computer Applications followed up with a product called "TurboFile" application suite that also included VisiWord, VisiCalc, VisiSpell, VisiTrend/Plot, and VisiTutor.

• 3.0

VisiSpell (1983) 0 Word Processor DOS

VisiSpell is a standalone spell checker for DOS, that is intended for use with VisiCorp VisiWord but can be used with any text document.

• 1.00

VisiWord (1983) 1 Word Processor DOS

VisiWord is a solid and well designed word processor for the IBM PC from VisiCorp. It was part of VisiCorp's integrated office application suite that also included VisiCalc, VisiFile, VisiSpell, VisiTrend/Plot, and VisiTutor. It competed against EasyWriter and Volkswriter. This software runs under DOS 1.x and DOS 2.x. A follow up update to VisiWord offered better integration with VisiSpell. a GUI based environment. But that did not catch on. The similarly named Visi On Word word processor is not directly related to VisiWord.

• 1.00

Volkswriter (1982) 11 Word Processor DOS

Volkswriter, from Lifetree Software Inc, was an early easy to use word processor for the IBM PC. Development of Volkswriter was inspired by the horridness of EasyWriter, and for a brief time it was possibly the only usable word processor for the IBM PC before an IBM version of WordStar was released. The "Deluxe" version will work with larger documents and has more features.

• 1.2
• Deluxe 2.x

WordPerfect (1983) 106 Word Processor DOS

During the late 1980's, WordPerfect was THE standard word processor for DOS based PCs in big business. Under DOS, it competed mostly against Wordstar. WordPerfect for Windows enjoyed some success in the early Windows environments, but was quickly displaced by Microsoft Word for Windows. Later Windows versions were part of Borland Office/Novell PerfectOffice/Corel Office/Corel WordPerfect Office.

• 3.x (DOS)
• 4.x (DOS)

WordStar (1981) 49 Word Processor CPM DOS

WordStar, originally from MicroPro, was a popular word processor during the early 80s. It was ported to a number of CP/M architectures as well as Unix and PC/MS-DOS. It competed directly against many word processors, including WordPerfect, Microsoft Word for DOS, and Multimate. By the late 80s most business word processing had moved to WordPerfect. In the early 90s, Microsoft Word for Windows took over.

• 2.x
• 3.00
• 3.30
• for PCjr
• 2000

WordVision (1983) 2 Word Processor DOS

WordVision was a word processor from 1983 for the IBM PC with some features unique for the time period, such as unerase, automatic document saving, and long descriptive filenames at a time when DOS did not contain that support. self booting: You booted from it to create working copies. The typical error beep was also replaced with a more pleasing "chime" sound while the program operated.

• 1.x

XyWrite (1984) 0 Word Processor DOS

XyWrite is a word processor for MS-DOS and Windows modeled on the mainframe-based ATEX typesetting system. Popular with writers and editors for its speed and degree of customization, XyWrite was in its heyday the house word processor in many editorial offices, including the New York Times from 1989 to 1993. XyWrite was developed by David Erickson and marketed by XyQuest from 1982 through 1992, after which it was acquired by The Technology Group. The final version for MS-DOS was 4.18 (1993); for Windows, 4.13. An offshoot descendant of XyWrite called Nota Bene is still being actively developed.

• II Plus v1.10