NEW BEAGLE BROS PRODUCTS FOR APPLE II COMPUTERS review
By Wayne Short
Copyright (c) 1991 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
The name BEAGLE BROS, is synonymous with the Apple II. For ten years the software company has been publishing innovative programs which push its envelope of uses outwards. In recent years, they have concentrated on productivity tools for Appleworks... making a good program greater.
APPLEWORKS 3.0 COMPANION
The Appleworks 3.0 companion consists of a series of patches for the various modules of Appleworks.
The installation program will install a default set of patches or you may opt to customize you working copy of Appleworks with whatever patches you like the most.
The following list is by no means exhaustive but illustrates some of the more "useful" patches available:
* Force IIGS to use "slinky" RAM for the desktop
* "yes" is now highlighted at Appleworks prompts
* change "->" to mousetext checkmark
* change "subdirectory" to mousetext file folder
* change "disk" to mousetext disk folder
* change cursor blink rate
* use GS system beep instead of Appleworks bell
* let program run on write-protected disk
* imported textfile name becomes Appleworks filename
Word Processor
* change <cr> symbol
* keep file unchanged after printing
Database
* tab from last category moves to next record
* restore cursor position when loading file
Spreadsheet
* change default column width
* change default label format
* change default value format
* restricts spreadsheet to 999 rows (increase speed)
As a bonus, several new Timeout Accessories are included on this disk. The most useful of these is 'TextLoader Plus'. Textloader allows you to load directly an ascii text file into word processor via the same easy set of prompts currently only available to formatted Appleworks files (no longer will I have to remember those clumsy pathnames). You may load up to 12 text files in a single batch into the desktop.
OUTLINER
OUTLINER, by Randy Brandt, is a productivity tool which brings outline processing to AppleWorks 3.0. Outliner lets you organize information up to six levels deep. Use it to create a list, plan a project or write a project. Any information that you organize into different topics or levels can be processed with Outliner. It is compatible with Beagle Bros' Timeout series.
One of the main attractions of outlining software is that it allows you to examine information from various perspectives. This makes it easier to grasp both the "big picture" and specific details.
Outliner is installed as a patch of the Appleworks word processor. Supplied as part of the package is both 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch disks. As with all Beagle Bros' products, an installer program simplifies installation on an individual disk or Prodos pathname. It doesn't need to be reinstalled unless you wish to customize it.
Integration with the Word processor is seamless and just one keystroke away. When you press Open-Apple-+, you are taken from the normal edit mode of the word processor to outline mode. Outline topics can be inserted, edited, moved around, arranged alphabetically, hidden or expanded to reveal subtopics and body text. You can shift a topic up or down levels and the associated subtopics and body text will move along with it. You can choose how many levels deep the outline mode should display and you can even edit body text for specific topics while in Outliner.
Outlining is available up to six levels deep. Indentation of each level is preset but is a customisable feature. Labels are created according the currently selected type by the user. It is possible to change label sets within a document or even use your custom label set.
To create its outlines in the word processor, Outliner uses the "set marker" command to create markers for formatting within the document. Several marker codes are used for this purpose.
Printing may be performed from within the OUTLINER, however, I found that with large documents form-feeding did not function correctly.
The supplied disk contains several example documents to illustrate the use of the outline processor. Bonus macros are also included for Timeout UltraMacros Users. This product is worth considering if you have a need to produce large documents on a regular basis.
The following two software products, are both members of the Beagle Bros 'Timeout' series of AppleWorks enhancements. (A software patch of Appleworks allows you access to a menu of new utilities via the Open-Apple-Escape sequence).
TIMEOUT TEXTTOOLS
Timeout Texttools is a set of 10 enhancement tools for the Appleworks Word processor. They are compatible with AppleWorks 3.0 or later.
After installing timeout and these applications programs into the appropriate folder along with AppleWorks your Word Processor now has the following :
Timeout Glossary
Stop typing the same thing again and again... Glossary is a program designed for creating menus containing commonly used names, address, jargon or even whole paragraphs! Your glossary is created from a word processor file with special formatting commands. When you compile this file with Timeout Glossary a unique timeout application file is created.
Your compiled glossary when selected from the timeout menu presents you with a group of keywords which when selected inserts set text into the document. The ability to have multiple glossaries makes this a powerful writing tool!
Timeout MarkMerge
MarkMerge is replacement for Appleworks awkward mail merge facility.
It supports two different methods of mail merging. The first method, which is used for printing most form letters will actually reformat the text in the word processor file.
For example, if you're printing a letter that contains the name of a person or company in the middle of a paragraph, the paragraph will automatically be adjusted to allow for varying lengths in the name that will be inserted into the paragraph. The second method for merging is for filling out pre-made forms where the data must be printed in exact locations and formatting is not desired.
Timeout Multiprint
Prints up to 100 word processor files at once! Files are selected via the familiar appleworks "index card" interface. These files may even be linked together for continuous page numbering. (The only catch is you may only print from one subdirectory of your disk at a time.)
Timeout BlockCopy
An easy way to get multiple columns exactly the way you want them - and fast too! Any shape or size block of text can be superimposed over existing text. Great for adjusting tabbed columns.
Timeout QuickTabs
If you've ever used tab rulers within a document to precisely control formatting you will know how cumbersome they are to construct. Now you can quickly edit them with QuickTabs. You can even create a menu of pre-defined rulers that make your formatting consistent from page to page, document to document.
Timeout QuickStyles
QuickStyles lets you set any combination of printer options instantly. Margins, headers, underline and all other Open-Apple-O printer options can all be used. Keep all your common formats in a handy menu.
Like Glossary, your Stylesheet is created from a word processor file with special formatting commands. When you compile it with Timeout QuickStyles a unique timeout application file is created.
Timeout Superfind
Superfind used is to Find and Replace all printer options and embedded commands. This is something Appleworks cannot do! For example, automatically change every occurrence of boldface to underline.
Timeout Analyst
Analyst creates a list of all words in your processor documents and tells you how many times you used each one. A great way to check your writing style.
Analyst also includes an option to build a list for the Indexer. If you choose Yes to this option, Analyst only builds a list of words (no word count is included).
Timeout TOC
One of the most time-consuming word processing jobs is now the easiest. Timeout TOC generates a table of contents for you. Include chapters, sections, and paragraphs up to five levels deep with no typing!
TOC Generator uses the markers available in the word processor. To mark a line of text for use in the Table of Contents, you place a marker directly before the line.
Different marker numbers are used for different types of TOC entries:
* Chapter Number 151
* Chapter Title 152
* Section Heading 153
* Subsection 154
* Sub-Subsection 155
* Figure 156
* Table 157
Indentation of the generated Table of Contents is one of the configurable options.
Timeout Indexer
Generate an index for any document. First use "Timeout Analyst" to create the word list for you. Select the words you want indexed, and Indexer automates the entire process.
TimeOut Indexer now uses the clipboard to store its index. Because of this, any information put on the clipboard will be lost (just like when you copy to the Clipboard).
CR Stripper
CR Stripper is a handy utility that lets you add or remove carriage return markers from a block of text. Use it in conjunction with Copyblock to make multiple-column setup a snap, or use it to remove unwanted Return markers from imported text files.
TIMEOUT SUPERFORMS
Superforms is a form-generating and form-filling program. It allows you to design and edit forms on screen, then print then using the separate program, Timeout Superfonts. To run "Timeout Superforms" you will need Appleworks 3.0 and "Timeout Superfonts version 3.0" (or later).
Forms are designed within the framework of the word processor module... you access Timeout via Open-Apple-Escape and select Superforms. Open-Apple commands are used for quick design of invoices, order forms, answer sheets, grade cards and more. Custom logos can be added by importing Double Hires or Print Shop Graphics.
Superforms requires several fonts (in various sizes) to be available when it is being used. These are:
* Superforms.A
* Superforms.B
* Apple.II
The specialised fonts allow you to paint lines and boxes in a variety of styles and thicknesses. They are non proportional in style to allow all of the special symbols to line up correctly. Optional fonts may also be used and they may be proportional (eg. Times or Helvetica) providing they are not used on the same line as a non-proportional font.
Data from the Database, Spreadsheet or another word processor file may be merged into the form after being copied to the clipboard. This is accomplished via marking the form via markers to delineate the start of each field.
The "formfill" option allows data to be added in tabular or line form. This data may be left or right justified within the field or truncated where necessary.
Although each form is limited to a single page in size, the actual number of forms printed is dependent on the number of records occupying each form and the number of records copied to the clipboard. For example, I designed an address list with 12 names per form. If I copy 20 records from my Rolodex database and print the resulting forms, I will get two pages of the address form.
Like all Beagle Bros products both 3.5 inch and 5.25 inch disks are provided. An installer utility is supplied to copy the timeout application onto your Appleworks disk. Excellent sample files are provided on disk to show you the use of these Appleworks enhancements and a well written manual completes each offering.
Program : AppleWorks 3.0 Companion, Outliner,
Timeout TextTools, Timeout Superforms
Publisher : Beagle Bros, Inc.
Hardware : Apple IIe/IIc/IIGS, 128K of Ram
5.25, 3.5 inch disk
Australian
Distributor : DataFlow (02) 606-9343
Price : AW 3.0 Companion, (price unavailable)
Outliner, $99.95 Australian,
Timeout Texttools, $84.95 Australian,
Timeout Superforms, $99.95 Australian.

THIS CONTENT COPYRIGHT © 2007, APPLE MACINTOSH USERS' GROUP, SYDNEY
Permission has been obtained to make this material available on the Internet.

Permission is hereby granted for non-profit user groups to republish this content.
PLEASE CREDIT THE AUTHOR AND THE SOURCE: Applecations, publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia

THIS PAGE COPYRIGHT © 2007, ANDREW ROUGHAN