This episode features The Writers Tool, released in 1984 by Optimized Systems Software (OSS).

Podcast: Download

AdvertisingPrint ad from Antic January 1985:

Print ad from Analog August 1985:

MediaScan of the cartridge (orange version):

Box front:

Box back

Binder cover:

The Writers Tool in ActionBooting

• Main Menu

• Exit Print Menu

• Disk I/O Menu

• Directory
• Delete a file.
• Initialize diskette, drive selection
• Initialize disk, density selection
• Initialize disk, confirmation
• Load file
• Warning if cursor is not at beginning of file when saving
• Saving full text with an override
• Setting the save file name

• Save confirmation Editing

• Distraction free editing in 1984.

• Alternate cursor
• Marking text
• Pasting text
• Example document with text formatting commands embedded.
• CAPS LOCK is on.
• INVERSE (ding) is on.
• Searching is a lot like searching in the VI editor.
• Adding BELL note to all occurrences of the word Inverse.

• Print Preview

• View until line 20, then start printing.

• Not so much preview, more of an estimator. Configuration Customizer

• Print formatting customizations.
• Screen customizations.
• Saving customizations.

• Dictionary Manager

• Printer Customizer

• Menu

• Read config file (driver).
• Edit printer command codes. Get your manual out.

• Spell Checker

• Menu, and prompt to insert dictionary disk.

• File to check
• Word counts go up as it reads from the file.
• Checking…
• Option to check another dictionary (such as your own) and to save error list.
• How do you want to handle the spelling errors?
• Alternate filename for corrections to be saved in.
• Interactive replacement.
• Whoops! Definately spelled that wrong!
• Files

OSS DOS XL is used under the covers, but the interface is not accessible.

• Master/Program disk.
• Dictionary disk. ManualThere is a link below to a copy on the Internet Archive.

Print OutputOutput from the DEMO file:

S8E01-prt-DEMODownloadOutput from the FDEMO file:

S8E01-prt-FDEMODownloadOutput from the PDEMO file:

S8E01-prt-PDEMODownloadPrint output from disk directory:

S8E01-prt-DirDownloadShow Links* AtariMania: http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-writer-s-tool-_20522.html * Atari Wiki: https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=The%20WriterS%20Tool * Internet Archive – Manual: https://archive.org/details/thewriterstoolmanualver.2.0_201906 * OSS Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimized_Systems_Software * Antic Podcast Interview w/Paul Laughton: http://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-the-atari-8-bit-podcast-paul-laughton-interview * Antic Podcast Interview w/Bill Wilkinson: http://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-interview-7-the-atari-8-bit-podcast-bill-wilkinson-oss

Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway. It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.