New Wordperfect Can Save in Epub Format

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I was thinking it was maybe one of your clients "messy" files. I've seen what can come from Word and it can be an abomination.

No, not for that type of testing. For some things, like TransTools, yes--I'd test that against one of our typical OMG files.

But to see what type of HTML a program would generate, no. I'd want to see what it would do with a "typical" file that we'd pre-cleaned, as we always do.

Hitch

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I think the problem was that the Wordperfect team sat on their respective butts and were late to the game when it came to developing a Windows version.

Corel is where software goes, not to die, but to be mummified. Ask any photographer about how much they love Corel and what they do to the software they buy.

A new feature of substance in ANY Corel product is so rare that any sort of celebration will go for naught because none of us may live long enough to see another!

As far as Word Processors go, I use MS Word because it can be used on my Android tablet as well as my PC. I used to use LibreOffice but when I subscribed to Microsoft OneDrive (Office 365), MS Office Suite came with it. I've taken to using Wavemaker for 'creative' writing, again because of the cross-platform compatibility.

Microsoft is under the impression that I bought 365 for the suite and the OneDrive account is an extra. They don't know what they are talking about!

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Microsoft is under the impression that I bought 365 for the suite and the OneDrive account is an extra. They don't know what they are talking about!

The point of bundles is that it doesn't matter what part of the bundle drives the sale. Getting the foot in the door is what matters mostm

I got Microsoft365 (neé Office 365) for the 5TB online storage. Enough for me and my sibs. Word on Android is a bonus. The other apps, I use once in a while to rarely. But I get what I need and don't need to buy much else in the productivity arena. (A few Softmaker cheapies.)

The same with Amazon Prime; some buy for it for the shipping, some for the media. I don't do much music streaming but what I do is fine from my (ripped CDs) or Amazon. The video has a couple nice series. And my mother enjoys the free ebooks. It adds up.

Done right, bundles are great business. Whatever drives you, *they* get the customer and the competitors don't.

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I heard GRR Martin still uses Wordstar!

Offtopic a bit, but I'm kinda curious how that workflow goes, with wordstar being so ancient and him presumably running it on ancient hardware, how does he get the files from his computer to the publisher?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Offtopic a bit, but I'm kinda curious how that workflow goes, with wordstar being so ancient and him presumably running it on ancient hardware, how does he get the files from his computer to the publisher?

Probably like all the other dilettantes out there--through the not-so-careful application of clericals.

Hitch

[JSWolf]

@Hitch, is there any Word processor out there that with a properly formatted document can make an ePub that's got decent code?

[Quoth]

Libre Office Writer -> saveAs DocX -> Calibre -> epub2.
But everything, especially the usage of the LO Writer has to be "just right" or it's wrong! Must not edit the docx, only native odt and SaveAs an extra copy in docx.
Headings, anchors, links, paragraph styles must be correct. Character styles don't work except the automatic ones for links, but inline bold or italic without a character style is OK.
No snap to grid, register true or other stuff only suitable for PDFs / POD paper versions.
Tables and footnotes (end notes) are possible, but best avoided.
I'd only use epub / mobi / azw for fiction / novels, not comics or graphic novels or technical documents or text books. Images need testing on 4" phone app, 6" kindles, 7" Kobo and 10" tablet.
Any "new" style needs checked on the real targets to make sure what seems like OK CSS & HTML & Images actually does what I think.
I practice by exporting ebooks as RTF, import the RTF to LO Writer and apply my style template / rules.
I have two templates for ebooks, one is default. The version of Word I was using seems tricker on styles and docx than LO Writer (word 2002 with updates). Word 2003 and Word 2007 are supposed to be best.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Offtopic a bit, but I'm kinda curious how that workflow goes, with wordstar being so ancient and him presumably running it on ancient hardware, how does he get the files from his computer to the publisher?

That is the point. The WordStar is so ancient that on the computer running it it is impossible to do anything else but write. Perfect distraction-free writing. Also, you will not be wasting any time wrestling with styles, formatting, ... just pure writing.
Oh ... and the Wordstar doesn't try to be helpful. It does no spell check, it doesn't capitalize letters unless you press Shift with the key, doesn't do any automatic formatting you have to undo - actually, any of the mainstream word processors can be configured that way, after more of less tweaking and frustrated desk-banging, but Wordstar is configured like that after you load it from an 8" floppy disk or drum memory, or perforated tale or whatever media you prefer ;-)

I have not found any interview or article where he describes how he exports the text for his publisher or how he makes a back-up of his work. Such an old DOS machine can fail at any moment. I want to believe he is prepared for that eventuality.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by kacir

I have not found any interview or article where he describes how he exports the text for his publisher or how he makes a back-up of his work. Such an old DOS machine can fail at any moment. I want to believe he is prepared for that eventuality.

I wonder if this Wordstar thing is more myth than fact at this point. I suspect the computer and software exists, somewhere. But I suspect once one becomes an industry, actual typing is done by others.

[Dr. Drib]

I think I'd rather use an IBM Selectric typewriter. They were great to write with during their day.

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I wonder if this Wordstar thing is more myth than fact at this point. I suspect the computer and software exists, somewhere. But I suspect once one becomes an industry, actual typing is done by others.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if he's running it on ancient hardware or in either DOSbox or FreeDOS which... should make it easier to export.

(And I suspect he can get away with stuff that a no-name author couldn't because he's George R. R. Martin, the guy behind Game of Thrones.)

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I wonder if this Wordstar thing is more myth than fact at this point. I suspect the computer and software exists, somewhere. But I suspect once one becomes an industry, actual typing is done by others.

Quite possible: write it on WS, print, flip to Secretary. Or FTP the file. There are still document format converters that understand WordStart, xyWrite, Word 1.0, and even WANG. Not always cheap but if you still have data trapped in dinoware any price is cheap.

You'd be surprised at the high level types that still don't bother with useful software. Some use Notepad or whatever text editor they learned once upon a time. Or dictate to tape.

Scott MacNeally (CEO OF SUN in its heydey) insisted nobody needed anything but CUT, PASTE, & DELETE in a Word Processor. Around the same time one of the big media companies released a review of the Original PalmPilot breathlessly proclaiming it all the computer anybody would ever need. And then there's the Post-PC myth, the iPad=computer marketing, the endless attempt to sell phone docks...

Plenty of people fail to grasp any computing needs beyond email and social media. And the more money they have the less they have to. They "have people for that".

[kacir]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I wonder if this Wordstar thing is more myth than fact at this point. I suspect the computer and software exists, somewhere. But I suspect once one becomes an industry, actual typing is done by others.

There is a famous interview of GRRM with Patrick O'Brien where he describes his DOS computer running wordstar. And the interview isn't *that* old.

Some authors have very peculiar choices regarding the system of writing. Rowling writes in pen on paper. Jonathan Franzen famously typed blindfolded in a completely dark, almost empty room he rented for just that purpose, so he could concentrate better on his characters.

Once you are famous enough, you can get away with almost anything [as long as you keep producing manuscripts].

When I become a very famous writer I will be bragging that I write in Vim ;-).

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by kacir

When I become a very famous writer I will be bragging that I write in Vim ;-).

On behalf of Emacs users everywhere, I shall start organizing the boycott right now.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by kacir

When I become a very famous writer I will be bragging that I write in Vim ;-).

It's better for drinking.

https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/vim