| Since its debut in 1991, ClarisWorks has become the
dominant integrated software package for the Macintosh,
toppling the longtime leader Microsoft Works and
overtaking two other contenders (WordPerfect Works,
formerly known as BeagleWorks, and Symantec's GreatWorks).
With the recent release of version 2.0, Claris's
leadership position is now even stronger. It's not hard to see why. ClarisWorks is the most smoothly integrated product in its class and is a good match for Apple's growing line of hot-selling, affordable Macs. The most popular Macs are street-priced between $800 and $1400, and Apple now offers more than half a dozen models in that range. The people who are buying those machines tend to want software that's priced proportionally, and ClarisWorks offers almost everything they need for less than $300. In fact, some buyers (particularly those who choose Performas, Apple's consumer-oriented Macs) will find that ClarisWorks is included when they buy their computers — a strategy that has significantly boosted Claris's market share. Hundreds of Enhancements ClarisWorks 2.0 offers more than 300 enhancements over version 1.0, including three completely new modules. In addition to the word processor, spreadsheet, flat-file database manager, drawing program, and telecommunications module, there's now an outliner, a 256-color paint program, and a slide-show module that lets you chain ClarisWorks screens together for business presentations. Every module has been upgraded, and a new "shortcuts" feature lets you click on a floating palette of miniature icons to access the most commonly used functions. In the word processor, you can now define custom text styles, set up multiple columns with a single click, and flow text around graphics. Text wrapping is supported within spreadsheet cells, too, and the charting features are greatly improved. You can easily generate pictograms, like the ones popularized by USA Today, with stacks of graphical objects instead of plain bar charts. The database filer in ClarisWorks 2.0 can automatically validate fields and contains more than 50 predefined formats for Avery mailing labels. The drawing module now has 32 black-and-white and color gradient fills, plus two new polygon tools. Even more impressive, ClarisWorks 2.0 delivers all these features (and hundreds more) while bucking the trend toward fatware. At 601 KB, it's hardly larger than version 1.0 and still runs comfortably in as little as 1 MB of RAM. Full installation — including folders filled with sample files, tutorials, file translators, spelling dictionaries, and a thesaurus — requires less than 5 MB of hard disk space, and you can get by with much less. A Spreadsheet in Your Word Processor Something else that hasn't changed in 2.0 is its seamless integration, the salient feature of ClarisWorks. Instead of simply bundling a collection of mini-applications that can share files, Claris takes a more flexible, frame-based approach to software integration. For example, if you want to add a table or a chart to a business letter, you can simply click on the spreadsheet tool, open a spreadsheet frame anywhere in the word processing document, and either start entering numbers manually or paste a range of cells from an existing worksheet. When you click outside the spreadsheet frame, you're back in word processor mode. If it weren't for the context-sensitive menus and tool palettes, you'd never know you were switching from one application to another. ClarisWorks is like a glimpse of the interoperable future promised by Apple and Microsoft; if operating system and application vendors live up to their promises, we'll be able to work like this with all applications. Of the three new modules in ClarisWorks 2.0, the paint module plugs the most obvious gap. Version 1.0 had a drawing module, but it's often handier to work with pixel-based graphics rather than vector graphics. Version 2.0 gives you the choice of using either, and the frame-based integration lets you combine both kinds of graphics in a single document. The only drawback to combining the two is that vector frames cease to behave independently once you click them into paint graphics. In other words, the frame is no longer an application module; it is converted into a pixel-based image, just like the rest of the paint document. This brings up a small but important point: The integration in ClarisWorks is often so seamless that it leads to momentary confusion. Even after extensive experience with ClarisWorks, I sometimes still click on a multiframe document and lose track of which module I've activated. Often your only clues are subtle changes in the tool palette and menu bar. The new outliner in ClarisWorks is integrated with the word processor and offers several different formats. In addition to the common numeric and diamond outlines, you can choose from Harvard and legal formats and bulleted or checkmarked lists, or you can design your own custom format. Subtopics can be expanded, collapsed, and shuffled within the 16-level hierarchy. You can define custom styles for headings and other text, just as you can in the word pro-cessor. The new slide- show module is a great addition, especially for PowerBook users. ClarisWorks is already an ideal PowerBook companion, and now, without buying any extra software, you can turn your documents into slides for presentations. You can even create slides that play QuickTime movies. Failure to Communicate Some things in ClarisWorks could stand more improvement. The communications module, a weak link in 1.0, still suffers from major deficiencies. Claris has added a phone directory, Kermit file transfers, and unlimited scroll-backs through captured text, but there's still no scripting language for automating on-line sessions, and the macro recorder is no substitute. For instance, I spent 3 hours trying to record a macro that would simply log on to CompuServe, with both ID and password. Finally, I gave up and telephoned Claris's technical support. I was courteously informed that a ClarisWorks macro can respond to only one string of incoming text — something not mentioned in the manual. That means you have to record a separate macro for each prompt (User ID:, Password:, and so on) and then record yet another macro to link all the other macros together. A Logical Decision Despite a few shortcomings, ClarisWorks 2.0 is a remarkably versatile package whose modules compare favorably to some stand-alone applications. For home, school, and small-business users who are new to the Mac, ClarisWorks is the most logical first software purchase. For many people, ClarisWorks may also be the last major application they'll ever have to buy. What's New in ClarisWorks 2.0 — 256-color paint moduleThe FactsClaris Corp.Screen: ClarisWorks' spreadsheet/charting module lets you turn ordinary bar charts into pictograms by repeating a graphical element. The chart remains linked to the spreadsheet and mirrors any changes. Screen: Charts created with the spreadsheet module can be pasted into the draw or paint modules for additional manipulation. Only in the drawing environment, however, does the chart remain linked to the worksheet. Screen: ClarisWorks 2.0 lets you transform text in 12 different ways, including these perspective effects. Screen: The new slide-show module lets you display ClarisWorks documents in a predetermined sequence for group presentations. Tom R. Halfhill is a BYTE senior news editor and a longtime Mac user. You can reach him on BIX as "thalfhill." Copyright 1994-1997 BYTE |