Software for the PCW

Soon after the first PCW8256 went on sale in 1985, a great many software authors jumped on the bandwagon to produce software for it. Some of it was ported over from other machines such as the CPC6128 and a lot was written specifically for the PCW. As further models appeared so the flow of software increased to a flood.

There has truly been a tremendous amount of software available for the PCW range, much of it very good indeed, but where is it now? Most of the software firms who wrote for the PCW have ceased trading or have turned their skills to other fields. Some have placed their products into the Public Domain thus allowing us to continue to use and distribute them with a clear conscience, but others have simply abandoned them.

In this section I hope to trace and identify those firms and individuals that are still selling and supporting their software for the PCW and also to make a round-up of those programs and firms which were once the mainstay of the PCW. Your help in this would be appreciated.

Companies and Individuals who support the PCW with current software

SD Microsystems PO BOX 99, Thetford, IP24 1NA Tel.07000 736427
Sell the Locoscript range, financial programs, DTP/Graphics, Games, Education, many budget programs. Software for the PcW16

Ansible Information 94 London Road,Reading, Berks, RG1 5AU Tel:01424 720457
Ansible Index- Makes an index for your Locoscript masterpiece

Composit Software 19 Leasowe Gren, Lightmoor, Telford,TF4 3QX Tel:01952 595436
"Composer's Pen" a sort of word processor for writing music scores. V.Good

Creative Technology
(Microdesign Ltd) 10 Park St. Uttoxeter, StaffsST14 7AG Tel: 01889 567160
Microdesign 3 DTP package and PcW16 software

John Craggs 60 Belmont Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO53 3FJ tel: 01703 364821
"Writer's Desk" Disc of tutorials, advice and Locscript templates by an acknowledged expert.

R P Hill 84 Wincheap, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RS
Basic 98 A major step forward for Mallard Basic users including a compiler

This is not a complete list by any means so if you are a vendor of new software for the PCW I would be pleased to hear from you, with a view to including it in this column. These vendors are trying, against the odds, to keep the PCW flag flying, so please support them. Use it or lose it.

TO BE CONTINUED

These we have loved; where are they now?

Business Mini-Office Professional-- A suite of integrated programs by Database Software comprising a word-processor, database, spreadsheet, graphics and comms. There is also a book by John M Hughes which supplements the manual supplied with the software.

Graphics
Master Paint--Database Software- Wimp (windows,icons,menus and pointer) Easy to use graphics package. Uses Kempston, AMX or Electric studio mouse.
DR Draw-- Digital research- Drawing utility which is not easy. Really needs mouse
DR Graph-- Digital research- Can produce line graphs, pie charts, bar charts etc. very flexible but needs a plotter for best results.
STOP PRESS Desktop Publishing--Database Software-An excellent DTP and graphics program. Can be used with keyboard or mouse

Databases
Atlast Plus --Simple database by Rational Solutions. uses memory efficiently thus OK for PCW8256.
Masterfile 8000--More powerful database by Campbell Systems
CambaseII-- Cambrian Systems. Needs two drives
Retrieve-- Sagesoft. Needs two drives
Datastore II-- Digita. Interesting; written in Jetsam of Mallard Basic

Spreadsheets
Cracker2/Cracker Turbo-- Software Tech- Turbo is an upgrade. Max size of spreadsheet 320K
Scratchpad Plus -- Caxton - Very powerful and large (By PCW standards)
Supercalc2 -- Amsoft/Sorcim- Best seller similar to Scratchpad but smaller
First Calc -- Minerva Systems - Easy to use

Programming Languages

Hisoft C -- Hisoft- Good C compiler- produces .COM files -compact code-no floating point arithmetic.
Arnor C -- Arnor- Includes text editor and floating point arithmetic- not so compact as Hisoft but may be available still from Comsoft, address as in first section under Protext
Pascal--Hisoft- Wirth version with compiler and text editor
Pascal/MT+--Digital research- ISO standard DPS/7185 Pascal
LForth-- Hisoft -Compiler and editor
Devpac80 MKII--Hisoft- PCW Hackers development program with powerful assembler
Maxam II-- Arnor- Similar to Devpac but probably better. These progs need knowledge of Z80 programming. May still be available from Comsoft, address as in first section under Protext
MIX C-- American compiler marketed by Advantage.
Modula 2-- FTL/Grey Matter- includes compiler and libraries.

Education, Edutainment and Games

At the moment I'll just say that there has been a vast amount of software that is in this category. Foreign language programs are usually just vocabulary exercises, but still worth getting to increase vocabulary.They usually include exercises on verbs.
There have been loads of educational programs for children in subjects such as maths, spelling and English vocabulary dressed up as games. They are "edutainment"
With the limitations of memory and monochrome screen the game-playing capabilities of the PCW is limited but still enjoyable. A favourite type of game is the "adventure" where the player has to solve a series of puzzles to achieve a goal. Typical of these is "Hitch-hiker", "Gnome Ranger" and "Silicon Dreams". Then there are the classic games such as Chess, of which there are several excellent examples, Backgammon, Bridge and other card games. Arcade games included such favourites as "Tetris", "Head over heels" and "Bounder". Simulation is found in several football games, flying planes and helicopters, or driving cars.
Unlike today's games coders for the PC, the PCW programmer did miracles in finding ever more economic ways of coding into the memory available. And these games are still well worth playing today.

To write a game for the latest PC, with it's vast memory, hard drive and colour SVGA screen requires a huge amount of time and varied technical skills, so it is done by a team of maybe 20 people with a story writer, artist, various advisers and coders. PCW games were often written by one person. Unfortunately the market for new software for the PCW is now small, but it's an exercise worth doing for it's own sake. Why not learn BASIC and have a go?
Ron King

Andover, England
Email .... Ron@king27.freeserve.co.uk