Magenta WP Features

Major Improvements for Wang Word Processing Release 5.0

Overview

• Provide long sought-after improvements for WP
• Prolong the useful life of your system
• Save operator time and avoid frustrations
• Increase operator efficiency
• Improve security
• Provide greater system control
• Speed-up, simplify or automate many tasks
• Allow simple access to more characters
• Integrate the handling of different languages
• Allow more than 53 document libraries
• Allow other applications to be run from within WP
• Protect against loss or damage to documents
• Facilitate conformities of document style
• Minimize the effects of inadvertent error
• Simplify the use of standard letters, forms etc
• Greatly enhance the uses of glossary
• Re-kindle operator enthusiasm

Introduction

Magenta WP Features ('MWPF') and Wang WP Release 5.0 ('WP5.0') together form the first major enhancement of traditional Wang word processing ('WP') for a decade. They answer many a wish and enable users to get more out of their friendly and familiar WP. MWPF is a product of Magenta Systems Ltd. Wang WP5.0 was developed jointly by Wang and Magenta

Tailor WP to your requirements:

MWPF allows WP to be configured to site requirements - by system, by user, by library and by document. Operator defaults are set by reference to User ID, named user groups or the workstation number.

The Features

Entering WP

• Access to Hi-Numbered VS Devices - On the VS, users on devices above 255 may now access Word Processing, provided the VS operating system allows such access.
• Accounting Information - If statistics are being collected according to account codes, the user may be asked to select an accounting code for the WP session before the WP menu appears. This only happens if the user has access to more than one account code.
• Speed & screen settings - The WP Menu appears more quickly, especially on VS.
• Beep/clicker levels and video are set automatically.
• Creation Library library can be: A specific default library (as before); or That current at the end of the last WP session.
• Last edited IDs - For document and glossary, the last edited IDs can be: Those current at the end of the last WP session; or Always the same default IDs.
• The glossary, attached automatically, can be either: A specific default glossary (as before); or That attached at the end of the last WP session. A 'start-up' glossary entry may be run automatically.

In the WP Environment

• WP interrupt - (-COMMAND-)(-HELP-) or (-COMMAND-)(-INDENT-) leaves WP (even in Insert, without text loss) for another program (such as Wang Office or a third party application) with later return to exactly the same position in WP.
• Duplicate libraries (more than 53 libraries) - It is possible to have more than one library with the same letter - in theory, one on each hard disk. A given user will, however, only have access to one of them. Libraries defined as 'common' are (subject to access rights) available to all users. If a 'document volume' is defined for a user, the system will (for that user) only check such volume for libraries which are not 'common'. Thus, libraries can be allocated to one department and re-allocated to another. It is also useful when several systems, with the same libraries, are replaced by one big one. Security is provided as users cannot access non-common libraries not on their document volume.
• The operator's mailbox may be their own, rather than that for the workstation. It can, optionally, be cleared automatically on entry to WP. When, during Edit, there is a message in the mailbox, 'M' can be displayed at the top of the screen and, if desired, the first line of the message can be displayed on the last line of the screen.
• Automatic time-out/log-off - Users have a one minute warning; any key will re-start the time-out. Text on Insert is no longer lost.
• The supervisor can force log-off, without damage to documents - to permit 'house-keeping' tasks etc.
• Full statistics covering all user activities within Word Processing are maintained, including which documents the user accesses and for how long. A utility allows these statistics to be fully reported and/or daily worktime accumulated into a database on which subsequent reports may be run covering specified periods. Daily worktime may be reported by user and device, with subtotals for departments and optional account codes. The number of pages printed is also maintained both by user and printer. An hourly accounting rate and page rate may be specified for the accounting report. Users may be restricted to a single account code, or allowed to select a specific code when entering WP depending upon the work being undertaken.

Choosing What To Do

• The Menus - Options have been added to some menus, simplifying access to them as and when when needed - including: Copy Document on the Document Filing menu, Queue Control on the Special Print Functions menu
• Menu item selection - Selection by keying the first character is possible, bringing WP in line with other Wang menu handling.
• New WP Utilities menu - On this optional new menu, extra items have been included and grouped logically. It is, automatically, verified to display only those items which are available.
• From Create/Edit to Print - (-CANCEL-)(-PRINT-) exits Edit directly to the Print menu. This is simpler and faster than via the WP menu.
• Keep edited and/or original documents - At 'End of Edit?', (-STOP-) saves both the edited and original versions - a 'do' and 'undo' function. An option ('X' after (-STOP-)) deletes the new version, re-instating the original - useful if operators wish to start again from scratch. Added protection is also given in the event of system failure during editing.
• Leaving WP - (-SHIFT-CANCEL-) can now be used on the VS.

Creating a New Document

• Library prototypes - The following (which are individually configurable) can be copied from the library prototype to new documents: Text on the pages, including pages H, F & W, Complete or partially pre-filled document summaries, The password and the VS file protection class.. The VS Access Control List. This saves time and aids conformity of style.
• Document glossary - A glossary ID on the document summary (such as 'GLS=1234 ' or 'GLS=5678a') will cause that glossary to be attached automatically on entering the document. Optionally, any previously attached glossary will be re-attached automatically on leaving the document.
• Document Language - Language governs the screen display of characters. It can be changed by a code on the document summary - e.g. 'LNG=DK' for Danish. The default can also be changed for individual users. Documents from overseas offices can be displayed as they would locally. Existing printing translation (e.g. '>' 'ç' 'ö' as '|' '' '½') can be used for the screen display. New languages can be created by selection from the full WP Plus character set. With most printers, characters can be printed as on the screen. With Magenta Printing, this can be automatic and does not use one of the 9 character sets.
• Document Summaries - The document's volume is displayed. If the document is passworded, '*' is shown after its ID. Document summary completion can be forced: Specified fields and minimum numbers of characters. Applicable to creation and, optionally, on edit. The operator field can (if blank) be updated automatically, on creation and edit, with the log-on ID of the operator. The Document Summary Statistics: Last Revised - can now be the actual revision details, unrelated to the last printing. Last Printed - can be updated on both hotprint and normal printing. The collection of statistics has been improved for those with a third party application which uses them.
• VS retention date/file owner/class - These can be set during creation and re-set during editing, improving security and easing house-keeping. Previously, protection was set using log-on procedures or by the administrator periodically protecting specific libraries. File classes and ACLs may be automatically added to documents. Various options are available.
• Creation by copying another document - Using Copy Document, a duplicate of a document can be made. This may be preferred to Create (followed by Supercopy) for standard letters etc as it is simpler and faster. Documents which are only available for view access (e.g. protected documents) can be copied.

Document Access and Editing

• Specifying the ID - (-COPY-) will recall a previously captured ID.
• Access to the document is now allowed in some circumstances in which it was not previously possible and no longer allowed in others, for reasons of security. A user may: View, or supercopy from, a document which is: Being printed, copied, supercopied or in TC; or In a view-only library; or A protected document; or An attached glossary. Edit a document being hotprinted. Not enter a document in a 'private' library.
• Stopping vertical scrolling - (-CANCEL-) stops vertical scrolling at any time, avoiding a long wait if (-GO-TO-)999(-EXECUTE-) or (-GO-TO-) (-SOUTH-) are keyed in error and the page is long.
• Information and character recall - (-COMMAND-)(-RETURN-) x will type the date, time, document ID, etc and those WP characters for which there may be no keys. It can be used in Edit and on the Document Summary. The options for 'x' are:

• Protection of text in Insert and Replace - (-CANCEL-) during (-INSERT-) or (-REPLC-) produces the warning 'Delete New Text?'. The user may respond with (-EXECUTE-) or (-CANCEL-). This can save much retyping if (-CANCEL-) is pressed by mistake.
• To the TOP of the last page - (-GO-TO-)999(-NORTH-) takes the user straight to the top of last page, avoiding unnecessary scrolling.
• Document ID 'capture' and 'recall' - (-COMMAND-) i stores a document or glossary ID from text, from the editable parts of the Document Summary, from the Document Index or from any ID field. (-COPY-) recalls the captured ID into any ID field.
• Supercopy - multiple access - Any number of users can now Supercopy the same document at the same time. This avoids access conflicts when operators share documents containing frequently used paragraphs, addresses, telephone numbers etc.
• Supercopy via an index in a document - If an index (e.g. of standard letters in one or more libraries) is kept in a document, the Supercopy 'target' can be selected without leaving edit. Such an index can be read much more quickly than the normal Index and it can be Searched. Some sites may use applications to keep indexes in, say, document 9999 in each library.
• Document size - The maximum has been increased by 50%; 'Too Long to Archive' does not appear when the size of an archive disk is reached. The page limit remains at 120.

Printing the Document

• The Print Document menu - A new Print Document menu contains the following: Duplex - double sided printing options. Soft Justify - partial justification option. Form 3 - support for an additional paper tray. Hotprint - allows editing to continue while printing. Remote System - printing on WSN M & WISE networks. The following can be retained for the next printing: 8 lines/inch; Printers 100 to 255; Soft Justify; Form 3. No. of Originals can be defaulted to '01'.
• Protected Printer Number - The user may be prevented from changing the printer number when queuing documents to print. Thus documents may only be queued to a printer previously used or that set in the prototype.
• Print Re-routing - For Printer Numbers 1 to 99 (as specified on the Print Document menu), there can be defined: The actual configured device number of the printer; whether hotprint is automatic; a remote system. This allows 'transparent' print routes and temporary diversions during maintenance or breakdown.

Filing, Backup and Security

• No stop on error - Filing no longer stops at an unprocessable document, avoiding the need to respecify selections which abort.
• Document copying - Copy Document allows the fast duplication of a document to a new ID in any library. Pages H, F & W, the print settings, etc are copied. It is an alternative to Create and can be used to make a copy before editing - in case of damage or to preserve the earlier version.
• Protected Documents - A document designated as a Protected Document can be viewed, copied, supercopied or (if a glossary) attached - but not edited. Its main use is to protect valuable documents (standard forms, address and telephone lists, glossaries etc) from accidental damage and to allow simultaneous access to them by any number of users. A supervisor is required to protect the document (and to unprotect it for further editing).
• Private and View libraries - Each individual user's access to each library will be: Edit (normal full access) or View (read-only access) or No access (none at all, not even to the index).
• Menu item access - Each WP Menu item and most Document Filing menu items may be restricted (by user ID) for security or to ensure that normal methods cannot be used if DP control is preferred for, say, document filing or creation.
• Keystroke restriction - (-COMMAND-)(-SUBSCRIPT-) may be barred in order to avoid VS diskette mounting problems. Alternatively, (-COMMAND-) (-SUPERSCRIPT-) may be required instead. (-SUPER-MOVE-) may be barred to avoid damage if it is inadvertently used instead of (-SUPER-COPY-).
• Automatic Back-up after editing - A back-up copy of the document can automatically be made, on another volume, on leaving Edit.

Glossaries

• Together, the new features (recalled by glossary), the new (-IF-) tests and the speed improvements open a new horizon to what can be done with glossary. Users can (unless it has been 'compressed') check glossary entries by (-SUPERCOPY-) or from Edit Old Document (view-only access) - even when the glossary is attached to other workstations.
• The glossary to attach can be supplied by (-COPY-) to recall a captured ID - possibly selected from the Library Index or (faster) an index kept in a document.
• The new (-IF-) tests: (-IF-) & - tests if in Autoscore, (-IF-) % - tests if not in Insert, Delete etc. These are useful when, for example, determining how many (-CANCEL-)s are required to exit from a document.
• All (-IF-) tests are almost instantaneous - 100 in about 1 (not up to 10) seconds - and there is no advantage in bracketing them. This, the ability to generate the document ID, name etc and to capture/recall IDs makes complex techniques unnecessary.

General

• Other improvements have been made to WP and most known problems and anomalies resolved. Greater speed results from fuller use of the screen memory and minimizing disk (or VS CPU memory) access.
• Changes to the way in which the document is updated to disk reduce the risk of text loss in the event of system failure, with no loss of performance. Messages are more informative and fatal errors (now much rarer) are logged on the VS for diagnosis.
• 64k workstations are required for MWPF/WP5.0; 4230 type are required for language display and 4230 type or PCs to display the message line. PS, Ergo, 48k and 32k workstations can still be used on the system.
• Duplex and Form 3 print settings are not supported by Wang peripheral software. Magenta Printing is required or, possibly, third party software. A few minor changes may be needed to some existing glossaries if they are to work under MWPF/WP5.0.
• The information in this overview reflects Version 5.5 of Wang WP5.0 and Version 2.0 of Magenta WP Features.

Pricing

See Price List

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