Dream Word

This one is from my archives. Written in July 1997, this article is about what I felt (then) would have been cool features to have in a word-processor. Many have since been implemented and are standard features now. Many of the points are still valid though.

O, LORD PC! COULD I WRITE A LETTER ON YOU? . . . PLEASE!

Auto-Scroller tab

User keeps his mouse on the tab and the document keeps scrolling automatically. User can suspend by moving the mouse away or by pressing, say, Ctrl-V. It is very important to have an alternate key. Pressing another key, say PgUp or PgDn while in auto-scroller could bring another function.

Advanced OLE : Drag and select

User should be able to choose objects and text with a special drag. Maybe the concept of a right-button drag should be introduced.

Make-It-Fit!

Selected text or advanced OLE could be made to fit in a specified number of pages or a region created by special dragging.

Fonts

Super-scripting and sub-scripting should be available easily. Say by pressing a special key combination, say, Ctrl-Alt-F

Toolbars

Rather than themewise arrangement, a global toolbar with most universally and commonly used options should also be there. Themewise arrangement should also be there. Switching of toolbars must be simpler. Also, the program should keep a log of menu-items most used by the user and automatically place them on the toolbar.

Typo-Quikorrect!

Interchanging of letters to form words which do not exist can be easily identified. So why not correct it as well? But before correcting, program should go through the proper authorization channels. Flash it on the status bar whereupon the user can press a key to confirm. If the user does not press the key, he must be allowed to continue typing. No alarm-bells ringing! If the program is so particular that its message be heard, keep it in the error-bin, the user at the end of his session may or may not click the error-bin, a dialog box should open with various errors highlighted. User can then edit out unwanted corrections, press a confirmation key and lo, everything set right.

Equation format

All the word-processors can have a common format for scripting the equation. Type the numbers with codes, like, say, `^= for `raised to= etc. Drag it, block it and presto, encryption disappears and you have a well written equation on your hands. Neat! Wonder why it has not been implemented as of yet.

Menus

Arrangement of menu items should be more coherent and uniform. As far as possible, items common to all the word-processors must be grouped under menus with same or equivalent names.AUniformity by itself is no good.@ Jot it down! It=s a quote and what=s more, it is quotable! The logical arrangement of menu-items is a must-must.

WOFIWOG experience: Eh, what's that?

All in all, a WOFIWOG (What yOu Feel Is What yOu Get) experience is what all of us are searching for. Currently, what we are getting seems to be more of WIFIWYG.You guessed it right! Yes, a What I Feel Is What You Get experience, the I in the acronym standing for the PC and the You for you of course! (Who else? Did I really need to tell you that?) Got that Bill? Thank you!