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gmw · 08-21-2013, 01:49 AM

I don't have Word installed here, so I can't really help. You are probably best advised to contact the developers and ask them. But I have been looking at the "Editor" program from Serenity Software. It's interesting - so thanks for mentioning it.

Since I don't have Word I am forced to try and use their "Editor" program directly - and the interface is pretty appalling. It still looks like a Windows v3 program, and the windows are constrained so that you can't take advantage of a large screen, nor can you easily keep a view of the "draft" in sync with the list of errors/suggestions. But, with that gripe aside, the list of things that it finds is pretty impressive.

The list is obviously not intended to be taken directly, many are simple word combinations that may or may not be what you intended. For example, since I am writing with British rules, it suggests that when I write "make out" I may want to use "snog" - which can be pretty funny when I'm using it to mean "decipher" or "discern".

The biggest part of its output (against my draft) appeared to mainly a (very long) list of things I might want to take a second look at, and to that extent I think it works quite well. If their Editor interface made it easier to filter and synchronise with the list it could actually be useful even outside Word. As it is I've had to save their output out so I can view them in external editor windows that I can actually move and size etc.

The list of usage issues puts me in mind of the output of a lint processor over a large C source code library - set at maximum verbosity. Lots of hints, the majority of which are irrelevant because the software can't understand the context, but useful anyway to draw your attention to things worth double-checking. And, like a lint processor, some of the hints are damned if you do and damned if you don't. For example some word combinations (eg: "set up") will give you a hint if there is a hyphen, and if there isn't.

If the Editor was a proper IDE and better filtering capabilities it could be very good, as it is I'm thinking the output is simple enough that I might be able to write my own.

So sorry I can't answer your question, but the software is interesting.

08-21-2013, 01:49 AM	#2
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I don't have Word installed here, so I can't really help. You are probably best advised to contact the developers and ask them. But I have been looking at the "Editor" program from Serenity Software. It's interesting - so thanks for mentioning it. Since I don't have Word I am forced to try and use their "Editor" program directly - and the interface is pretty appalling. It still looks like a Windows v3 program, and the windows are constrained so that you can't take advantage of a large screen, nor can you easily keep a view of the "draft" in sync with the list of errors/suggestions. But, with that gripe aside, the list of things that it finds is pretty impressive. The list is obviously not intended to be taken directly, many are simple word combinations that may or may not be what you intended. For example, since I am writing with British rules, it suggests that when I write "make out" I may want to use "snog" - which can be pretty funny when I'm using it to mean "decipher" or "discern". The biggest part of its output (against my draft) appeared to mainly a (very long) list of things I might want to take a second look at, and to that extent I think it works quite well. If their Editor interface made it easier to filter and synchronise with the list it could actually be useful even outside Word. As it is I've had to save their output out so I can view them in external editor windows that I can actually move and size etc. The list of usage issues puts me in mind of the output of a lint processor over a large C source code library - set at maximum verbosity. Lots of hints, the majority of which are irrelevant because the software can't understand the context, but useful anyway to draw your attention to things worth double-checking. And, like a lint processor, some of the hints are damned if you do and damned if you don't. For example some word combinations (eg: "set up") will give you a hint if there is a hyphen, and if there isn't. If the Editor was a proper IDE and better filtering capabilities it could be very good, as it is I'm thinking the output is simple enough that I might be able to write my own. So sorry I can't answer your question, but the software is interesting.