DS Backup (1986) 0 Utility DOS

DS Backup Plus is a simple hard disk backup utility. It was not as full featured or robust as other backup products, but it got the job done. Backups can be done from within the program or from the command line. It supports wildcards, filespec inclusion/exclusion, backup to any DOS drive type, automatic disk formatting, incremental backups, and claims to be faster than DOS backup and restore.

• Plus 1.x

Media Master (1986) 1 Utility DOS

Media Master is a disk utility for interchanging files between MS-DOS and certain CP/M or non-DOS systems. Supported disks must be MFM or FM decodable by the computer's floppy disk controller, therefore formats like Apple II or C64 can not work.

• 3.x

Swift Spread Sheet (1986) 0 Spreadsheet DOS

The Swift & Easy Spread sheet is a very low end, very low cost spreadsheet targeted at budget conscious users. It features ease of use, general purpose functions, split screen, automatic calculations, and programmable macros. It was written by David Middleton of Metamorphosis developments LTD and published by COSMI/Celery Software

• 4.x

SmartWare (1986) 1 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

Lotus HAL (1986) 1 Spreadsheet DOS

Lotus HAL (Human Access Language) is a natural-language querying interface for Lotus 1-2-3 r2. That is, one can enter standard English phrases instead of typing "complex" formulas.

• 1.x

EZ-DOS-IT (1986) 3 Utility DOS

EZ-DOS-IT was a very low-cost low-resource multitasking program for DOS on the IBM PC and compatibles. It claimed compatibility with most popular software of the time. However, the initial 1.0 release had serious bugs, was copy protected, and was not compatible enough for many people. Although these issues were quickly fixed and copy protection removed, it earned them bad reviews.

• 4.x

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
• 3.3

Microsoft Excel (1985) 83 Spreadsheet OS2 MacOS Windows

Excel, from Microsoft, is a powerful spreadsheet application for Mac, Windows, and OS/2. Excel was first released for the Mac. When it was ported to Windows 2.x, they started at version "2.0" to one up current Mac version. There was never a DOS version. Instead, DOS and 8-bit platforms used the older Microsoft Multiplan. Excel was later bundled as part of Microsoft Office

• 2.2
• 3.x

Enable (1985) 0 Word Processor Spreadsheet Communications Database DOS

Enable, from The Software Group, is an integrated office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, telecommunications program, and database. It was designed to compete with Lotus Symphony, and was sometimes bundled with Zenith computers.

• 1.10

PC Tools (1985) 39 Utility DOS

PC Tools, from Central Point Software, is a system and disk utility suite similar to the Norton Utilities. Central Point also produced a similar set of tools for the Apple Macintosh known as MacTools. Central Point Backup, bundled as part of PC-Tools, was also offered as a standalone product.

• 1.x
• 2.x
• 3.x
• 4.x
• 5.x
• 6.x
• 7.x
• 8.x
• 1.0 for Windows
• 9.x

Procomm Plus (1985) 18 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
• 2.x (Shareware)
• 2.x

XTree (1985) 20 Utility DOS

XTree is an easy to use text-mode file manager. It pioneered the use of a GUI-like hierarchy tree, and provides many integrated file viewers. It competed against many other file managers including Gazelle Q-DOS and Norton Commander

• 1.x
• 2.x
• Pro 1.x
• Pro Gold 1.x
• Gold 2.x
• Easy
• Gold 3.x

TopView (1985) 12 Utility DOS

Released by IBM in 1984, TopView was a text-mode windowed multitasker for the IBM PC, XT, and AT computer. It featured preemptive multitasking, text-based windowed task sessions, overlapping windows, and supports the use of a mouse. In part, it was one of the reasons why overlapping windows were added to Microsoft Windows 2.0. TopView was later overtaken by DesqView, OS/2, and Windows. For more information, see the Topview 1.00 Software Spotlight.

• 1.x

Freelance Graphics (1985) 12 Presentations Graphics DOS OS2

GCI/Lotus/IBM Freelance Graphics is a vector based presentation and graphing package developed for DOS, OS/2, and Windows. It was intended for use alongside Lotus 1-2-3. Later versions were part of SmartSuite. Before it was acquired by Lotus it was known Freelance, from Graphic Communications.

• 1.0 (DOS)
• 2.0 (DOS)
• 1.0 (OS/2)
• 4.0 (DOS)
• 2.x (Win)

Ability (1985) 1 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Communications Database DOS

Originally released in 1984 by the Canadian company Xanaro that went bankrupt, and then by Migent, Ability is an integrated office suite for DOS that includes word processor, spreadsheet, database, telecommunications, business graphing, presentation graphics capabilities, and built in file management. It features good integration between the different components, with the ability to import, share, and dynamically update data between them. It was advertised as a very easy to use and a quick to learn system.

• 1.0
• Demo
• 1.2
• Plus 1.0
• Plus 2.0

V-Spell (1985) 0 Utility DOS

V-Spell, from CompuView, is a spell checking product designed to accompany VEDIT. VEDIT was a powerful, customizable, and portable editor designed for programmers and power users.

• 1.x

IBM PC Local Area Network Program (1985) 1 Communications Server DOS

The IBM PC Local Area Network Program (1.00 is just named "IBM PC Network Program") is an IBM rebadged version of Microsoft's MS-NET (later Lan Manager). It is a program that lets any workstation on a network share resources, such as drives or printers, with other workstations.

• 1.00
• 1.10
• 1.20
• 1.30

Chart-Master (1985) 0 Presentations Graphics DOS

Chart-Master, originally introduced in 1981 by Decision Resources, Inc., was the first software that could produce presentation quality graphics with a plotter on a personal computer. Decision Resources also produced Sign-Master and Diagram-Master. They were acquired by Ashton-Tate in 1986. This program was also bundled in the Master Graphics Presentation Pack.

• 6.x

Diagram-Master (1985) 1 Presentations DOS

Diagram-Master, from Decision Resources and later Ashton-Tate, is a graphics tool specifically geared toward making organization and Gantt charts. It can produce very high-quality presentation graphics using laser printers and plotters. Supports CGA, EGA, and the IBM Professional Display. This program was also bundled in the Master Graphics Presentation Pack.

• 5.x

Javelin (1985) 0 Spreadsheet DOS

Javelin, from Javelin Software Corporation, is an analysis and reporting tool that offers features in excess of those found in spreadsheets. Unlike common spreadsheets, Javelin features the ability to manage complex relationship models between data and formulas. This gives users the ability to audit and document financial analysis models. Although some might argue that Javelin is more of an analysis tool than a spreadsheet, and defining rules is placed before data entry, one of its model "views" is a spreadsheet view that can be used similarly.

• 1.0
• Plus 1.0

GEM Graph (1985) 1 Presentations DOS

GEM Graph is an easy to use, but simplistic, tool for creating presentation graphs. It runs within the GEM Desktop, has a very Macintosh-like user interface, and was sold alongside the GEM Desktop product. It can import lotus (*.wks) spreadsheets and others.

• 1.x

Copy II PC (1985) 10 Utility DOS

Central Point Copy II PC is a disk duplication program that can successfully copy many copy protected disks using only standard IBM PC hardware. It is generally considered the best software-only solution for duplicating such disks. "snatchit".

• 2.xx
• 3.xx
• 4.xx
• 5.xx
• 6.00

IBM Document Retrieval Assistant (1985) 0 Utility DOS

IBM Document Retrieval Assistant is a tool that enables you to easily search through a large number of documents for specified keywords. It is designed to work with documents produced with any of the IBM Assistant Series applications.

• 1.00

Turbo Pascal Toolbox (1985) 76 DOS CPM

The Borland Turbo Pascal Toolbox consists of several sets of sample source code for different purposes. They are designed for use in conjunction with the Turbo Pascal Compiler product. The sets include Turbo Graphix Toobox, Turbo Database Toolbox, Turbo GameWorks Tooolbox (new in 1986 with TP 3), and Turbo Editor Toolbox (new in 1986 with TP 3). Also see the Turbo Pascal Tutor.

• 1.x
• 4.0

Springboard The Newsroom (1985) 0 Publishing DOS

"The Newsroom" is a very simplified desktop publishing program aimed at novices and children. It uses a simplified step-by-step interface similar to the original "The Print Shop", and bundles a variety of fun clipart images. requires a PC or PCJr with one floppy drive, CGA, and 128K of ram. Additionally, there were versions for the Apple II, and Commodore 64. transfer documents between any two instances of The Newsroom, even between the IBM/Apple/C64 platforms.

• 1985
• Pro 1989