Word processor - Revision history

Jnc: /* External links */ +Page Makeup by Postprocessing Text Formatter Output

2025-02-16T15:09:52Z

‎External links: +Page Makeup by Postprocessing Text Formatter Output

Jnc: /* See also */ +R

2024-02-17T21:25:22Z

‎See also: +R

Jnc: Probably more common

2023-06-08T14:33:18Z

Probably more common

Jnc: Cover the 'text processor' generation

2023-06-08T14:27:28Z

Cover the 'text processor' generation

Jnc: Expand a bit

2022-09-22T22:57:12Z

Expand a bit

Jnc: first was Bravo

2022-09-22T12:02:36Z

first was Bravo

Jnc: Stubby, but a start

2022-09-22T11:54:52Z

Stubby, but a start

New page

A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which a type of [[text editor]], used in document preparation systems. They usually show the document as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); they stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.

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[[Category: Software Basics]]
[[Category: Editors]]

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 A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which is a type of [[text editor]], used in '''document preparation systems''', for creating documents for publication.
-Originally (starting with the very first ones, [[RUNOFF]] and [[TJ1]]), they took as input plain text files with interspersed visible format control commands; e.g. ".ce Header" to center the header. These input files were prepared with an ordinary text editor (which itself had almost no formatting capabilities). They were usually called '''text processors''' in this generation.  [[UNIX]]'s [[roff]] and [[nroff]] (for [[character]] [[printer]]s), and [[troff]] (for devices such as [[laser printer]]s), were later developments in this ancestry.
+Originally (starting with the very first ones, [[RUNOFF]] and [[TJ1]]), they took as input plain text files with interspersed visible format control commands; e.g. ".ce Header" to center the header. These input files were prepared with an ordinary text editor (which itself had almost no formatting capabilities). They were usually called '''text formatters''' in this generation.  [[UNIX]]'s [[roff]] and [[nroff]] (for [[character]] [[printer]]s), and [[troff]] (for devices such as [[laser printer]]s), were later developments in this ancestry.
 In their later forms, using a [[bit-mapped display]], they usually show the document exactly as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); the so-called [[What You See Is What You Get|WYSIWYG]] interaction paradigm. They stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 8 June 2023
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−	A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which a type of [[text editor]], used in '''document preparation systems''', for creating documents for publication. ~~Using~~ a [[bit-mapped display]], they usually show the document exactly as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); the so-called [[What You See Is What You Get\|WYSIWYG]] interaction paradigm. They stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.	+	A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which is a type of [[text editor]], used in '''document preparation systems''', for creating documents for publication.
		+
		+	Originally (starting with the very first ones, [[RUNOFF]] and [[TJ1]]), they took as input plain text files with interspersed visible format control commands; e.g. ".ce Header" to center the header. These input files were prepared with an ordinary text editor (which itself had almost no formatting capabilities). They were usually called '''text processors''' in this generation. [[UNIX]]'s [[roff]] and [[nroff]] (for [[character]] [[printer]]s), and [[troff]] (for devices such as [[laser printer]]s), were later developments in this ancestry.
		+
		+	In their later forms, using a [[bit-mapped display]], they usually show the document exactly as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); the so-called [[What You See Is What You Get\|WYSIWYG]] interaction paradigm. They stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.

	The first word processor was [[Bravo]], created at [[Xerox PARC]] for the [[Xerox Alto\|Alto]]. In some ways, it was an intermediate between older [[screen editor]]s, and what we now recognize as a word processor; it had the ability to display the 'ready to print' form, but also had a more usual text editing display.		The first word processor was [[Bravo]], created at [[Xerox PARC]] for the [[Xerox Alto\|Alto]]. In some ways, it was an intermediate between older [[screen editor]]s, and what we now recognize as a word processor; it had the ability to display the 'ready to print' form, but also had a more usual text editing display.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which a type of [[text editor]], used in document preparation systems. They usually show the document as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); they stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.
+A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which a type of [[text editor]], used in '''document preparation systems''', for creating documents for publication. Using a [[bit-mapped display]], they usually show the document exactly as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); the so-called [[What You See Is What You Get|WYSIWYG]] interaction paradigm. They stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.
-The first word processor was [[Bravo]], created at [[Xerox PARC]] for the [[Xerox Alto|Alto]].
+The first word processor was [[Bravo]], created at [[Xerox PARC]] for the [[Xerox Alto|Alto]]. In some ways, it was an intermediate between older [[screen editor]]s, and what we now recognize as a word processor; it had the ability to display the 'ready to print' form, but also had a more usual text editing display.
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← Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, 22 September 2022
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	A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which a type of [[text editor]], used in document preparation systems. They usually show the document as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); they stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.		A '''word processor''' is an [[application]] which a type of [[text editor]], used in document preparation systems. They usually show the document as it would appear when printed (with multiple [[font]]s, bold and italic, etc); they stored their files in private formats (often including [[binary]] data), not intended for direct use by users. They always included an editing function, and can usually edit ordinary text files, as well as their private enhanced formats.
		+
		+	The first word processor was [[Bravo]], created at [[Xerox PARC]] for the [[Xerox Alto\|Alto]].

	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

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 * [[R (typesetting software)|R]] - early text formatter
 [[Category: Software Basics]]
 [[Category: Editors]]