A new world of Symphony. (Lotus Development Corp.'s Symphony 3.0 integrated software)(includes related article listing techniques for utilizing a graphical user interface) (Software Review) (Upgrade Clinic) (Evaluation)

Lotus Development adds WYSIWYG and other improvements with Release 3.0 of its venerable integrated application.

After two years of playing second fiddle to 1-2-3, Symphony has finally earned a moment in the spotlight with Release 3.0, expected to ship by the end of the summer. This upgrade may appease users anxious about the lag between releases and concerned about the product's long-term viability, but it may be less than satisfying to those anticipating improvements in all of the package's integrated modules.

Symphony has been enhanced and modernized with mouse support, color display options, additional graph options, and better on-line help. You can also use a mouse to directly manipulate worksheet windows. Even so, the only module that has been noticeably improved is the spreadsheet module. That module is now accompanied by the Auditor add-in and by WYSIWYG, the spreadsheet-publishing add-in. The upgrade makes no major changes in the word-processing, database, and communications environments, but you can now enhance documents and database reports by switching to the SHEET window and invoking WYSIWYG.

Symphony Release 3.0 is a kinder, gentler program than its antecedent, Release 2.2. New custom colors provide pleasing combinations that are easier on the eye than the earlier green-on-black display. Improved on-line help and mouse support eliminate the program's spartan look and feel, and an on-line tutorial helps curb Symphony's steep learning curve.

Other new features are more resonant. A utility lets you print files in the background, and a macro translator converts WR1 files to and from the WK1 format used by 1-2-3 Release 2.x and the WK3 format used by 1-2-3 for Windows and 1-2-3 Release 3.x. Macro commands are changed to suit the …