Intelligent word processing - Microsoft Corp.'s Word for Windows 6.0 software - Software Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, March, 1994 by Carol Ellison

Word 6.0 for Windows automates the chores of document creation in ways that cut the pro forma aspects of writing down to size. Using a technology Microsoft calls IntelliSense. the program essentially does most of the rote tasks for you. With the ability to automatically detect and correct common typographical and spelling errors, format text and tables to a variety of styles, and insert graphics, addresses, and large passages of boilerplate text, the latest version of Word may be the intelligent word processor that we've all been waiting for.

Veterans of the program, who are accustomed to the interface, will notice a number of enhancements the moment they load it. First, up pops a Tip of the Day box that explains everything from how to hide screen elements by using the Full Screen option to starting a new line in a paragraph by pressing the Shift and Enter keys. Altogether, there are more than 300 tips, including several lighthearted ones that offer such advice as "Plaid shirts and striped pants rarely make a positive fashion statement" and "You can hurt yourself if you run with scissors ."

Unless you're an expert typist, you won't get far into a document before you encounter the new AutoCorrect feature. Microsoft identified the most common typos and misspellings that people make to develop AutoCorrect, which corrects errors and transposed letters on the fly (for example; teh instead of the). It's easy to adjust AutoCorrect's sensibilities-- you can delete words from its list or add words that you commonly misspell.

No good thing is ever without problems, however, and there are a few nuances to AutoCorrect that the careful writer should note. There may be times when you don't want it to automatically correct a misspelling-such as when writing in the vernacular. Additionally, AutoCorrect assumes that all periods signal the end of a sentence. If, for example, you write the phrase 6 mos, in the middle of a sentence, Word will automatically capitalize the next letter.

Word's stylesheets have been enhanced by Wizards, forms, and an AutoFormat feature that automatically applies appropriate typefaces, font sizes, and spacing to styles selected from a gallery. The gallery includes everything from resumes to purchase orders--just point and click to select the one you want. Wizards, now found in a number of Microsoft's applications, adjust document formatting by basing it on your answers to design-related questions.

Word's new forms are centered on design principles that Microsoft identified after collecting business forms from more than 100 companies worldwide. Multiple styles are offered for each form, and every one is customizable. If you finish your document before applying a style, you can simply click on AutoFormat, select one, and the program will make all the appropriate formatting changes-- giving you the option to confirm those you want.

AutoText, another IntelliSense feature, lets you designate an entire block of text and graphics in a kind of boilerplate buffer so that it can be inserted into a document whenever you want. This feature is reminiscent of the glossary functions found in earlier versions--only much easier to use.

New table formatting features are similar to those used in Excel. People familiar with that spreadsheet will feel right at home with AutoFit, which automatically adjusts the sizes of columns and rows. The AutoFormat feature for tables lets you first preview and then select the look of your table from more than 30 customizable styles.

Thirteen predefined toolbars can be opened and dragged and dropped anywhere onscreen; clicking on the fight mouse button brings up a context-sensitive menu with options such as cut, copy, and paste.

Other niceties include 100 levels of undo and redo, a multiple- page view that displays up to six pages simultaneously.

There's also plenty of help available for people moving from WordPerfect to Word. The update includes a special Help menu that features instructions on how to access Word's equivalent of various WordPerfect functions. And there's even an improved file import filter that will automatically convert documents created in WordPerfect to the Word for Windows file format.

There is so much that's new and dramatic in Word 6.0--so much to like--that it seems almost petty to point out its flaws. There are, however, some notable irritants. For starters, the program requires you to load DOS Share. And even though Share typically uses only 6K to 20K and can be loaded into high memory, this might irk those with RAM-tight configurations. Printing was also noticeably slower with my LaserJet IIIP than when printing from Word for Windows 2.0. The spell-checker, although much improved, still stumbles over some unlikely words. But with the ability to add words to both the spell-checker and the AutoCorrect feature, these gaffs are quickly forgotten. Once you've tuned the program to your own preferences, you can start loving Word 6.0for Windows for its remarkable ability to work the way you do.