Ability (1985) 2 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.

• Plus 2.0

America Online (1992) 2 Web Browser Chat DOS Windows

America Online was a proprietary dial-up online service that eventually grew to offerer Internet access. In the mid 1990s AOL was very heavily promoted. Every month or two, you were sure to get a free AOL floppy disk or CD-ROM in the mail. AOL originated as PC-Link.

• 1.x

Autodesk AutoCAD (1984) 10 Graphics Engineering DOS

AutoCAD, from Autodesk and first released in 1982, is a powerful Computer Aided Design tool. It was, and still is, often considered the standard for CAD tools. Primarily for the IBM PC platform, it was ported to x86 machines with higher video resolutions such as the Zenith Z-100 and NEC APC. Intermittently, versions for the Macintosh appeared. Later versions use a dongle copy protection.

• r10 (DOS)
• r11 (DOS)

Better Working Eight-in-One (1989) 1 Word Processor Spreadsheet Graphics Communications Database DOS

Better Working Eight-in-One, from Spinnaker Software is an integrated office suite for DOS. It contains a word processor, a spelling checker, a data base, a spreadsheet, an outliner, a graphics program, a communications program and a set of desktop utilities - all in one single, consistent application.

• 2.x

BitFax (1992) 0 Communications DOS

BitFax is a basic fax program, used with compatible FaxModems. It was available for both DOS and Windows. BitFax/OCR includes optical character recognition used in conjunction with receiving fax documents.

• 4.x (DOS)

CADKEY (1988) 0 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

Citrix Multiuser Link (1991) 0 Communications DOS OS2

Multiuser Link is a telecommunications program that Connects a PC running DOS or OS/2 to a Citrix Multiuser system via standard RS-232C serial directly or with a modem.

• 1.0

CO/Session (1992) 0 Communications DOS

CO-Session is a remote communication access program that supports remote control, file transfer, automates session, and promoted itself as faster and more powerful than Carbon Copy Plus.

• 6.x

COMit (1994) 1 Communications DOS Windows

COMit is a small, lightweight, and easy to use telecommunications terminal emulator for MS-DOS systems. OEMs commonly bundled it with modem hardware.

• 1.x

CompuServe Information Manager (1989) 2 Communications DOS

CompuServe Information Manager is the client software used for accessing the CompuServe service.

• 1.x (DOS)
• 2.x (DOS)

Crosstalk (1983) 3 Communications DOS

Originally released in 1982, Crosstalk XVI, from Digital Communications Associates Inc of Alpharetta, Georgia, is a powerful telecommunications program for the IBM PC with many scripting features. "XVI" means "16", and refers to the powerful new 16-bit x86 CPUs found in IBM PC's and compatibles. It was followed up by the MK 4 and Communicatior products.

• XVI 3.7x
• MK.4 2.x
• Communicator 2.x
• XVI 3.8x

DanCAD 3D (1992) 1 Engineering DOS

DanCAD is a tool for producing technical line drawings and animations. It is designed for mechanical engineers to analyze and simulate 3d mechanisms, such as complex compound robotics motions. mathematical functions, animation, and PostScript printing.

• 2.5

DesignCAD 2D (1988) 2 Graphics Engineering DOS

DesignCAD is a low end, but well featured, drafting program. It was sometime a companion product to DesignCAD 3D.

• 3.x
• 5.x

DesignCAD 3D (1987) 3 Graphics Engineering DOS

DesignCAD 3D is a powerful, easy to use, and low cost DOS based CAD program that claimed to have all of the features of the more expensive CAD programs. It competed against low-cost CAD programs such as TurboCAD, Generic CADD, and Drafix. It was sometimes sold alongside DesignCAD 2D

• 4.x

DosFax (1992) 1 Communications DOS

Delrina DosFax is a DOS based program for sending and receiving faxes via a modem that has fax capabilities. This software was often bundled with modems or PCs. It was often accompanied by Delrina WinFax.

• 2.0

FastLynx (1990) 2 Communications DOS

FastLynx, originally called FastWire, is a high-speed file transfer program that operates on two computers connected together via a serial nullmodem or special parallel port cable. It competed against similar file transfer programs such as LapLink.

• 1.x
• 2.x

FastWire (1988) 3 Communications DOS

FastWire is a file transfer program that moves files between two PCs using a serial or parallel port. It is similar to Laplink.

• II

FaxDirect (1994) 0 Communications DOS

FaxDirect is a flexible resident command line tool for sending and receiving FAXes under DOS. It was bundled with copies of WordPefect.

• 2.x

Framework (1984) 10 Word Processor Spreadsheet Graphics Communications Database DOS

Originally created by Forefront Corporation for Ashton-Tate and first released in 1984, Framework was an early integrated office suite for DOS. It has a built in word processor, spreadsheet, database, outliner, graphing, and telecommunications.

• III
• XE
• IV

Generic CADD (1987) 0 Engineering DOS

Generic CADD, originally from Generic Software, Inc., was a popular low-cost 2D CAD program targeted at casual drafting users. Initially it competed against AutoCAD, and the budget TurboCAD. The original version offered a number of separately purchasable modules.

• 5.0
• 6.0

GroupWise (1997) 0 Communications PIM Server DOS

Originally created by WordPerfect Corp in 1987 as WordPerfect Office (groupware), and acquired by Novell in 1994 where it became GroupWise, GroupWise is a cross-platform collaboration platform that includes email, calendaring, personal information management, instant messaging, and document management.

• 5.x

HP Terminal Program (1988) 0 Communications DOS

The "HP Terminal Program" is a terminal emulator that graphically emulates a number Hewlett-Packard and standard terminal types. This product was bundled with some early HP Vectra computers. Supports CGA, EGA, Mono, and VGA graphics. It appears to be a lesser version of HP AdvanceLink.

• A.xx

IBM Classroom LAN Administration System (1990) 0 Utility Communications Education DOS

IBM Classroom LAN Administration System is a set of education oriented network administration utilities. courseware and 400 office utilities. This version requires Novell NetWare 3.12 server.

• 1.x

IBM FTTerm (1986) 0 Communications DOS

The IBM PC/Host File Transfer and Terminal Emulator Program, or "FTTERM", is a resident TSR program for interactively sending and receiving files between DOS programs and a remote host. Used with IBM mainframe products.

• 2.00

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.

• 1.30