S4E02 XLEnt Software First XLEnt Word Processor

This episode features the First XLEnt Word Processor, originally released in 1985 by XLEnt Software. It was written by David Castell. A follow up version (2.1) was released in 1986.

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Logo

Box and Supplement Scans

The XLEnt software packages were not shipped in boxes. They were packaged in 6″ x 9″ vinyl folders which included the disk, manual, and registration card. An insert on the front is a copy of the front cover of the manual. First XLEnt Word Processor may or may not have been distributed in this packaging. I can not confirm either way.

Ad showcasing the Antic Award for Outstanding Product as featured in the May 1985 issue of Analog Magazine:

First XLEnt Word Processor won an Antic Award in January 1987.

Ad from August 1985 Analog Magazine:

Ad from November 1986 Analog Magazine:

First XLEnt Word Processor in Action

Booting

Trying to boot version 2.1 (XE release) on an XL or 800 computer results in this message:

The initial menu for selecting which segment of the program to run:

Programs

Microscreen Picture Formatter

I decided not to go into much detail here, rather focusing on the word processor. First select your printer type:

Then select the function:

Printer Driver Construction utility

Here you enter the desired printer codes for the control key combinations. If your printer is not supported, here you can create the driver. You can also use this to custom map commands if you don’t like XLEnt’s mappings:

First XLEnt Word Processor

Version 1 initial editing screen:

Version 2.1 initial editing screen:

Editing in insert mode with a document:

Activating the menu:

Using the Camera icon to copy a section. Note the selected text is inversed:

Pasting text using the Paste Bottle icon:

The delete function asks how much you want to delete:

Using the search function. Note the menu icons are blanked out:

There are 3 way to check free memory. By character, by word,

Here is a neat trick. Editing with alternate fonts, of whatever you choose:

Mini DOS

Menu:

Directory. First select the drive (1 and 2 are supported), then view the results:

Loading a file. Select the type of load, the filename, and the drive:

Save File. Select how much of the file to save, enter (or accept) the filename, and specify the drive. If the file exists, you’re prompted to replace it (which can be very slow):

Delete file:

Format file. Select the drive and confirm:

Spool file. Enter the filename and drive, then it is scrolled on the screen:

DOS Errors are handled gracefully:

Printing

First you select the print options, the first page to print, whether to print the entire file or not, then choose screen printer or disk, and the type of paper: