Lotus Manuscript (1989) 0 Word Processor DOS

First released in 1986, Lotus Manuscript is a sophisticated word processor geared toward scientific technical writing. It features easy table editing, the ability to easily edit and print mathematical equations, and can handle very complicated documents. It also includes footnoting, document tracking, import from 1-2-3, and mailmerge. Version 2 adds macro and downloadable font support.

• 2.x

Key Form Designer (1989) 0 Publishing DOS

Key Form Designer, from SoftKey Software Products Inc, is an inexpensive tool for quickly producing, filling, and printing professional looking forms.

• 1.x (DOS)

LogicTree (1988) 0 Database DOS

Logictree, From CAM Software, is an easy to use Expert System program that makes decisions based on a programmed "tree" of information.

• Demo

DeluxePaint (1988) 8 Graphics DOS

DeluxePaint, from Electronic Arts, is a bitmap pixel graphics editor that was ported to DOS from the Amiga.

• 1.x
• 2.x

Q&A (1988) 1 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

PFS Professional File (1986) 0 Database DOS

PFS Professional File is an easy to use flat-file database for DOS. It is a combination of the earlier PFS:File and PFS:Report products.

• 1.x
• 2.0

KeyMailer (1988) 0 Database DOS

KeyMailer is a professional and easy to use mailing list managment program.

• 3.1

Floor Plan (1988) 0 Graphics DOS

Floor Plan, from Insight Industries, was a budget shape-based drawing tool oriented towards 2D floor layout. essential features.

• 1.1

Print Magic (1988) 1 Publishing DOS

Print Magic is a sign, card, and banner printing program, similar to Print Master. Compared to others of the time, its functionality is rather crude, lacking previews or undo.

• 1.0

GEM Desktop Publisher (1988) 0 Publishing DOS

GEM Desktop Publisher, from Digital Research, is a GEM 3.x based Desktop publishing program. It is not as sophisticated as Ventura Publisher. It uses a VMM (Virtual Memory Manager) in place of EMS/XMS, and requires a hard disk. It can be used with GEM Artline to provide illustrations.

• 2.x

Borland Sprint (1988) 8 Word Processor DOS

Sprint is a text-based word processor for DOS that features a powerful scripting language, multiple user interfaces, exceptional speed, the ability to handle very large files, and powerful PostScript capabilities. "Mark of the Unicorn", and bought by Borland where it was renamed to "Sprint" in 1987. WordPerfect, Microsoft Word for DOS, and Multimate. preview at a time when that was clearly the way forward. However Sprint was targeted towards power users that needed advanced features WYSIWYG editors did not yet provide.

• 1.0x

Fontware (1988) 0 Publishing DOS Windows

Bitstream Fontware is a tool that converts commercial vectored fonts in to formats for use with applications such as Aldus Pagemaker running under Microsoft Windows 2. The program itself is DOS-based but the fonts it generates are for Windows.

• 2.0

Popcorn Misspeller's Dictionary (1988) 0 Word Processor Utility DOS

Popcorn Misspeller's Dictionary, from Popcorn Software, is a TSR program with a popup list of commonly misspelled words. You may find a word by typing it, but it does not make corrective suggestions.

• 1.x

VersaCAD (1988) 0 Graphics Engineering DOS

First released in 1983 by T & W Systems Inc (later Versacad Corporation) and based on their earlier T-Square product, VersaCAD is a sophisticated professional object design and drawing tool for the IBM PC. It competed heavily against AutoCAD. A very in-depth history of VersaCAD can be found on Cadhistory (PDF Link)

• 5.3

MindReader 2.0 (1988) 0 Word Processor DOS

Mindreader, originally by Kalman Toth of BusinesSoft and later from Brown Bag Software, is an "Artificial Intelligence based word processor" that learns the way you write, and anticipates what you are going to type next. It may suggest words, phrases, or entire paragraphs that you may add with a single keystroke.

• 2.0

IBM Primary Editor (1988) 0 Word Processor Graphics Education DOS

Primary Editor Plus is a student's toolkit for writing and language arts activities in Kindergarten through grade eight. The program is a flexible entry-level word processor appropriate for young students or anyone who is new to word processing and computers.

• Plus 1.00

Samna Plus (1988) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet DOS

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

• iv

Show Partner (1988) 0 Presentations Graphics DOS

Show Partner is a powerful desktop presentation graphics tool for MS-DOS. With it, you can create or edit graphics, capture screen shots, and assemble them in to an automated redistributable slide show. It supports animations, scripting, and numerous transition effects. It includes screen capture tools for DOS and Windows 1.x/2.x. Show Partner is designed to show presentations directly on your computer screen, rather than printouts or slides. CGA. However, this version supports IBM EGA and VGA. does not include automated graphing capabilities like Harvard Graphics or PowerPoint. Microsoft Mouse 6.00 driver software.

• 3.x

Spinnaker Splash (1988) 0 Graphics DOS

Splash is a VGA-centric paint program created by Spinnaker Software in 1988. Considering that VGA was only introduced in 1987 in conjunction with the IBM PS2 line, this is a pretty early entry in the VGA-compatible paint program market. pixel-level editing, an extensive internal help system, and can export images to TIFF and PC Paintbrush compatible files.

• 1988

Home Video Producer (1988) 0 Video DOS

Home Video Producer is a home video title creation program for the IBM PC and compatibles. There were also versions for the Apple II and Commodore 64. It provides fonts, backdrops, animations, and makes use of CGA color artifacting for 16 colors.

• 1988

GEM 1st Word Plus (1988) 0 Word Processor DOS

Gem 1st Word Plus is a word processor sold by Digital Research alongside their GEM operating environment. It supports text formatting, embedded images, multiple windows, mail merge, and includes a spell checker.

• 2.00

CADKEY (1988) 1 Graphics Engineering DOS

CADKEY is a 2D/3D mechanical CAD (computer aided design or computer aided drafting) software application released for various DOS, Solaris, and Microsoft Windows operating systems. Originally released for DOS in 1984, CADKEY was among the first CAD programs with 3D capabilities for personal computers.

• 1.x

dBASE Mac (1988) 0 Database MacOS

dBase Mac, originally developed by a small company named DigiCorp and then marketed by Ashton-Tate under the dBase name, was a unique and powerful database program for the Macintosh. It featured a sophisticated graphical user interface, a procedural programming language, and the ability to access data from other databases and spreadsheets. 1.00 was released in 1987.

• 1.x

FullWrite (1988) 0 Word Processor MacOS

Originally developed by Ann Arbor Softworks and Aquired by Ashton-Tate, FullWrite is a full-featured word processor, targeted at professional writers, that includes both powerful editing capabilities, as well as advanced WYSIWYG layout abilities. Supports styles, revision highlighting, table of contents, indexes, footnotes, hyphenation, spellchecker, and thesaurus. It also includes a graphics editor, and import/export functionality.

• 1.0

MyLabelMaker (1988) 0 Publishing DOS

MyLabelMaker is a low-end budget title that aids in making labels using your printer. It is the perfect way print cards for your Rolodex, or labels for your audio cassettes!

• 1.x