Lotus articles from June 1992

Lotus archives from June 1992

"Once in a lifetime." (history of Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software)(Brief Article) (Editorial)
June 1, 1992... Ten years ago, nobody knew what 1-2-3 was about to do to the world of computing, not even Lotus Development Corp. founder Mitch Kapor. As Kapor related in an interview for this special commemorative issue of LOTUS, Personal Software...

atErr. (Correction Notice)
June 1, 1992... LAST WORD ON WINDOWS/DOS DEBATE An end to the Windows-versus-DOS skirmishes is long overdue. Microsoft Windows is not an alternative to DOS, and vice versa. DOS and Windows are only tools that provide an interface between...

Good news for Notes. (Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus Notes office automation software) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... In keeping with its new emphasis on the Lotus Notes groupware package, Lotus Development Corp. announced at the Comdex/Spring '92 trade show in Chicago a multipart agreement with networking giant Novell Inc. Also on tap: a deal to sell...

Lotus for less. (Lotus Development Corp.'s SmartSuite office automation software package) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... Some four months after Lotus Development Corp. debuted its Working Together campaign, designed to showcase the merits of using its entire line of Microsoft Windows applications, the company has sweetened the pot for buyers. Through September...

Home is where the atHRT is. (Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus 1-2-3 for Home spreadsheet software)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Just when you thought it was safe to go back into your rec room...Lotus Development Corp. rolls out 1-2-3 for Home. Priced at an easy-to-swallow $149, the program is based on core code from 1-2-3 Release 2.3, minus 1,966,080 cells and a few...

The advancing spreadsheet horde. (competition in the spreadsheet software industry) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... Which spreadsheet has the most to offer 1-2-3 users in the Microsoft Windows environment? Both the recently announced Excel 4.0 from Microsoft Corp. and the upcoming Quattro Pro for Windows from Borland International are billed as highly...

Microsoft's numbers game. (Microsoft Corp.'s Microsoft Windows 3.1 graphical user interface and Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing operating system)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Locked in a battle with IBM over the hearts and minds of PC users, Microsoft Corp. has armed itself with a mass of numbers. After months of promotion and after feedback from more than 15,000 betatest users, Microsoft Corp. announced and...

Borlus Development or Lotland International? (rumors of a possible merger between Borland International Inc. and Lotus Development Corp.) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... Comdex, the computer industry's semiannual trade show, has always been rife with rumors and off-the-record business gossip. But Comdex/Spring '92 was even spicier: Chicago was the starting point for a slew of persistent stories that Lotus...

Streamlining with subroutines, part 1. (Tutorial)
June 1, 1992... Cut development time and create compact, well-organized macro code. Knowing how to fully exploit the subroutine facility in 1-2-3's macro language may be your most important tool for building efficient, elegant macros. Subroutines...

10 years of 1-2-3. (Lotus Development Corp.'s 1-2-3 spreadsheet software)(Introduction to Special Edition) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... Ten years ago, a small band of anonymous programmers and computer visionaries were at work in a rundown section of Cambridge, Mass., hustling to create and sell a new software program. IBM had just introduced its first PC and the business...

How spreadsheets changed the world. (Lotus Development Corp.'s 1-2-3 spreadsheet software)(includes related article on the negative aspects of the spreadsheet software industry)(Special Edition)
June 1, 1992... 1-2-3 profoundly altered the way America does business, and its success helped make the PC industry what it is today. The potent combination of spreadsheets and personal computers forever transformed corporate management, planning, and...

Chuck Miwa: early starter. (Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software user profile) (Special Edition - user perspectives) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... At the tender age of 27, Chuck Miwa has already logged nine years of experience with 1-2-3. He leveraged his expertise into a succession of advancements, including his current position as chief information officer for a banking-industry...

Colin MacKenzie: saved by the Bell. (profile of New England Telephone Co.'s Capital Planning network consultant and the Lotus Development Corp. products he uses) (Special Edition - user perspectives) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... In 1986 Colin Mackenzie was ready to switch careers. He wanted to leave his job as an analyst at New England Telephone Co.'s Capital Planning department in favor of operations-related work. The reason: too much paperwork. Then two...

Tom Mooney: attention to detail. (Profile of TRM Computers founder and Lotus Development Corp. Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software user) (Special Edition - user perspectives) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... As a former hardware engineer and project manager, Tom Mooney learned the importance of attention to detail. 1-2-3 provided the tool and the market he needed to parlay that attentiveness into TRM Computers, the company he helped found and now...

1-2-3 through the years. (Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software and related software development projects)(includes related article on Jazz for the Macintosh product development)(Special Edition)
June 1, 1992... From the first release to today's high-powered graphical versions, 1-2-3 has been refined, revamped, and reinvented. Which release of 1-2-3 do you use? A crisp, clean, fast DOS version with its roots in the original program code? A big,...

Bill Clayson: a job saved. (Continental Bank's Vice President Bill Clayson and his Lotus 1-2-3 template Profile) (Special Edition - user profile)
June 1, 1992... In tough economic times, spreadsheet expertise can help keep you out of the unemployment line. Just ask Bill Clayson of Chicago's Continental Bank. Clayson survived years of staff reductions at Continental as the commercial bank struggled...

The marketing wars. (Lotus Development Corp.'s product development, product discontinuations and marketing strategy)(Special Edition)
June 1, 1992... On its tenth birthday, Lotus Development Corp. is entering middle age looking better than it has in years. A cogent, long-term strategy centered on its Lotus Notes groupware product, along with fresh plans for a slew of graphical...

Stephen Beck: efficient government. (Finance Manager Stephen Beck and his use of Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software at the State of Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs)(Special Edition - user perspectives) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1992... Each 1-2-3 upgrade made life easier for Stephen Beck. For the last 10 years he has worked for the State of Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, in Baton Rouge. Beginning with Release 1A, Beck has used nearly every version of 1-2-3...

Mitch Kapor looks back. (Lotus Development Corp.'s Founder Mitch Kapor) (includes related articles on Lotus 1-2-3 programmer Jonathan Sachs and Lotus' first employee Janet Axelrod) (Special Edition) (Interview)
June 1, 1992... For almost four years, Mitch Kapor to all appearances was on top of the world. He had built Lotus Development Corp. from an unknown startup to an industry giant with more than $225 million in revenue--essentially on the sales of one main...

What's next for 1-2-3. (Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software)(Special Edition)
June 1, 1992... Look for big changes in its role and function, but don't give up on the familiar spreadsheet metaphor. Half a millennium ago, the introduction of cheap and prosaic ledger books revolutionized, accounting and business practice. Today,...

Joe Lee: a multitasking corner. (Prodata Systems Inc. Vice President and business entrepreneur Joe Lee) (Special Edition - user perspectives)
June 1, 1992... What's the difference between an entrepreneur, a lawyer, and a computer consultant? Nothing--if you're Joe Lee, who used 1-2-3 and Symphony to wear all three hats in the last 10 years. A decade ago, Lee was building a legal practice and...

Donald Kraft: the accidental consultant. (profile of Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software user) (Special Edition - user perspectives)
June 1, 1992... Donald H. Kraft worked for IBM for 23 years, in areas ranging from sales to systems engineering to training. When he left Big Blue in 1980 he was no stranger to computers, but it was his knowledge of spreadsheets that enabled him to build a...

Let your data do the walking; use the PUT command to automatically post data in large worksheets. (Tutorial)
June 1, 1992... As you probably already know, entering data into large work-sheets can be time-consuming. One of the most annoying tasks is simply moving the cell pointer back and forth between widely separated parts of the worksheet. Fortunately, you can...

Are some customers better than others? (evaluating customer profitability)
June 1, 1992... Analyze customer profitability to pinpoint high-margin accounts. Are all your customers profitable? If you hesitate even a moment before answering, you need to consider how your company studies customer profitability. The benefits...

Mix-and-match worksheets. (improving efficiency in spreadsheets by using the File Xtract and File Combine commands) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1992... The File Xtract and File Combine commands help you create an efficient system of smaller, more-responsive files. If you're in charge of an analysis in 1-2-3 that involves a lot of data, it's important to manage the data in a way that will...

Cell hopping behind the scenes. (creating macros for Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1992... Tell the cell pointer exactly where to move with simple macro keywords. One of the first things you learn in 1-2-3 is how to move the cell pointer around the screen. It doesn't take much trial and error to discover that the Arrow keys...

Answers to your questions about Lotus products. (Lotus Development Corp.)(question-and-answer) (Column)
June 1, 1992... 1-2-3 / Symphony Extract value from label Q I have a large worksheet that lists information on securities. Column A contains data for each security, including its name and number, as shown in the following figure: ...

Contest. (Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony users submit formulas for converting a value to a string that displays two, three or four decimal places)
June 1, 1992... This month we ask users of 1-2-3 and Symphony to submit the best formula for converting a value to a string that displays two, three, or four decimal places. If the value contains zero, one, or two decimal places, the result should be a...

More tips on using Lotus products. (Lotus Development Corp.)(Good Ideas) (Column)
June 1, 1992... 1-2-3 Horizontal lines in WYSIWYG To create a horizontal line through the middle of a worksheet cell, you can use WYSIWYG's superscript formatting sequence. A A B C 1 2 3 Position A 4 5 ...

LotusWorld entries. (solicitation of good ideas for using Lotus development Corp. software)
June 1, 1992... As the sponsor of LotusWorld, to be held June 8-11 in Boston, Lotus Publishing Corp. will hold a special prize drawing for attendees who drop by our booth to hand in their favorite good ideas for using Lotus Development software. Bring...

Norton Desktop for DOS. (Symantec Corp.'s Norton Desktop for DOS file management software) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1992... Symantec brings the power of its desktop interface down to DOS. Rock and roll is here to stay, and despite challenges from Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows NT, OS/2, and Unix, so is DOS. But that doesn't mean DOS can't change with the...

A dressed-up Baler. (Baler Software Corp.'s Baler 6.0 and BalerXE 2.0 spreadsheet compilers) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1992... Baler Software adds publishing capabilities, mouse support, and dialog boxes to its accomplished spreadsheet compiler. Nothing widens a good spreadsheet's potential audience like Baler Software Corp's spreadsheet compiler, which lets you...

Financial software for HP's palmtop. (HP 95LX portable computer) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1992... All manner of publishers have tried their hand at financial applications for Hewlett-Packard's 95LX. LOTUS picks the best. In the 13 months since Hewlett-Packard Co. debuted its 11-ounce HP 95LX computer, several hundred software and...

db.Spell. (Alpha Software Corp.'s spelling checker)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Protect your worksheet and database files from typos with db.Spell, a $99 DOS-based spelling checker that works with 1-2-3, several popular databases, and ASCII files. A $149 Programmer's Edition catches spelling errors in programs written...

Page Greats! (Logic Arts' Page Greats! add-in software)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Creat professional-looking documents in Ami Pro 2.0 with Page Greats!, a library of predesigned documents and forms. Choose from 50 style sheets that incorporate preformatted fonts, graphics, and frames. $49, from Logic Arts, Glen Allen, Va....

atCimple. (Cimple Solutions Inc. atCimple templates)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Cimple Solutions Inc. has announced four 1-2-3 templates for the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) market. The @Cimple templates support forecasting, inventory management, production planning, scheduling, and statistical process...

Quick Reference Guide for 1-2-3 Release 2.3 and Quick Reference Guide for 1-2-3 Release 3.1. (DDC Publishing's 200-page guides)
June 1, 1992... DDC Publishing has announced Quick Reference Guide for 1-2-3 Release 2.3 and Quick Reference Guide for 1-2-3 Release 3.1. The 200-page guides offer step-by-step, illustrated instructions on using various 1-2-3 features. $7.95, from DDC...

How to Use 1-2-3 for Windows. (FlipTrack OneOnOne Computer Training's How to Use 1-2-3 for Windows audiocassette training)
June 1, 1992... The How to Use 1-2-3 for Windows self-paced audiocassette course includes instruction on creating graphs, writing simple macros, and using 1-2-3/W's database functions. At any point in the tutorial, students can gain extra knowledge or...

Stanford Graphics for Windows. (3-D Visions Corp.'s presentation software) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Most people are familiar with presentation-graphics software, but Stanford Graphics for Windows 1.01 is something else again. 3-D Visions Corp.'s new program includes the high-quality output and time-saving features users expect from desktop...

atTrieve. (Synex Systems Corp.'s atTrieve data base management system) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... In 1987, Personics Corp.'s @Base addin changed the way 1-2-3 users worked by allowing them to link worksheets directly to dBase files. But that solution left accountants out in the cold, because many high-end accounting packages are based...

Enterprise Computing Database System: Enterprise Computing Market Disk. (International Data Group's CD ROM data bases)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... International Data Group's Enterprise Computing Database System line of CD-ROM databases features articles from selected IDG publications and market data from IDG market research companies. The most recent addition to the line, the...

Synergy. (SynApps Software Inc.'s utility program)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Customize 1-2-3 for Windows and other Microsoft Windows applications with Synergy. This Windows utility has nine programs that let you assign common operations to a floating panel of buttons, take "snapshots" of images to include in...

HiJaak for Windows. (Inset Systems' data conversion software)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Convert, view, enhance, and print graphics images with HiJaak for Windows. The graphics utility supports graphics formats for hundreds of applications. $249, from Inset Systems, Brookfield, Conn. 800-828-8088.

Software Bridge. (Systems Compatibility Corp.'s Software Bridge 5.1 data conversion software)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Version 5.1 of Software Bridge word-processing conversion software now supports WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows and Microsoft Word for Windows. The program converts files from more than 60 word-processing, database, and spreadsheet programs to...

FastBack Plus Windows and FastBack Plus Network. (Fifth Generation Systems' backup software packages)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Fifth Generation Systems has added two packages to its line of high-speed backup products: FastBack Plus Windows and FastBack Plus Network. The Microsoft Windows version lets you run backup routines in the background while using other...

The Norton Backup 2.0 for DOS. (Symantec Corp.'s backup software)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Schedule unattended backups to tape, network drives, or local floppy-or hard-disk drives with The Norton Backup 2.0 for DOS. The utility offers password protection, support for Novell networks, and can run under Microsoft Windows. $129;...

Kodak Diconix 701. (Eastman Kodak Co.'s portable ink-jet printer)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... Print at your desk or on the go with the Kodak Diconix 701 mobile ink-jet printer. The 5.6-pound, 2.4-by-7.4-by-11.7-inch unit can produce two pages per minute at 300-by-300-dots-per-inch resolution. It has a built-in sheet feeder; a NiCad...

BetterYet IV. (Output Technology Corp.'s accelerator board)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... The BetterYet IV accelerator board and cartridge for HP LaserJet printers provides faster Laser III (PCL 5) and PostScript emulation, automatically switches between the two emulations on networks, and has enhanced resolution of 600 by 300...

TimeSlips. (TimeSlips Corp.'s)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... TimeSlips Corp. has upgraded the DOS version of its TimeSlips timetracking, billing, and profitability-management software. Version 5, designed for large professional-service companies, includes redesigned screens, larger client capacities,...

Madison Ave. (Eclipse Technologies Inc.'s multimedia presentation software) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1992... If multimedia presentations are an option that you would like to explore, you can do so cheaply with an inexpensive sound board and Eclipse Technologies' Madison Ave. This $169.95 desktop presentation program lets you design screen shows...

Spreadsheets in the fifth decade. (fiction)(Essay)(Special Edition)
June 1, 1992... SEATTLE, 2032--I'm 80 years old and sitting alone in my room. I've never been much of a mathematician, but I'm experiencing a kind of math unknown to even the most brilliant before my generation. I'm navigating through what might have once...