WPS-8

WPS-8

Infobox Software
name = WPS-8



caption =
developer = Digital Equipment Corporation
released =
latest_release_version =
latest_release_date =
operating_system =
platform = PDP-8
language =
status =
support_status =
genre = Word processor
source_model =
license =
website =

WPS-8 was the name of a Word Processing System sold by Digital Equipment Corporation for use with their PDP-8 processors (including the VT78, VT278 DECmate, and PC238 DECmate II and PC24P DECmate III microcomputer systems).

WPS-8 supported a variety of 24 row by 80 or 132 column terminals including the VT52 family as well as the VT100 family and all subsequent ANSI-compatible terminals. A series of hierarchical menus allowed the user to command the system; the particular style of these menus became very-widely used by Digital, particularly within their "All-in-1" office system. Once a document was opened for editing, near WYSIWYG editing was provided using a ruler to indicate the text alignment and tab stops for any given portion of the text. A typical editing session might have looked like this:

Text conformed to the preceding ruler (now offscreen). ----L----T-----------------------------T---------------------------------------------R---- Text conformed to the ruler shown just above L -> Left margin R -> Ragged-right margin T -> Left-aligned tab ---------L----------------------------->---------------------.-----------------------J---- > -> Right-aligned tab . -> Decimal-aligned tab J -> Justified right margin (not justified on screen, only on printout) Aligned with the right tab Decimal-point aligned $5.99 1279.99 Using these various rulers, complex formatting could be achieved, even using a simple input device like a 24x80 character terminal. On ANSI terminals, character attributes such as bold and underline were shown on the screen. On the VT52 terminals (which could not display attributes), the operator could perform the same functions but only the printout would reveal the formatting.

As text was typed-in, the system automatically word-wrapped the text so that it conformed to the ruler currently in effect for that section of the document. Rulers could be added or modified and the text from that ruler forward to the next would automatically be adjusted to conform to the new ruler. Hyphenation could be semi-automatically performed (including "hidden" hyphens that would only be revealed if a line break exposed them).

Specialized editing functions were provided using the terminal keypad. A few functions could be commanded simply by pressing a keypad key, but a far wider range of functions could be commanded by prefixing them with the "Gold Key" (the PF1 key on the keypad, colored gold on systems equipped with the WPS-8 custom keycaps). This style of "gold key" editing also became endemic at Digital, later showing up in mainstream general-purpose text editors such as KED and EDT as well as the before-mentioned "All-in-1" office system. Printing was to any of several different letter-quality daisy wheel printers including a DEC variant of the Diablo 630.

WPS-8 normally ran from a single floppy diskette and user data could be stored on the system diskette or additional data-only diskettes. Up to four diskette drives were supported in a single system.

The system also supported the creation of data tables, the sorting of these data tables, arithmetic calculations using these data, and a mail-merge operation using these data and the arithmetic results. Through the extensive use of overlays, it managed all that on a 12-bit, 1.2-μs processor with 16 KWords of memory and 256 KB of diskette storage. The limited resources of the system did not permit a spell-checker, though, primarily because there was no place with adequate storage to contain the dictionary file.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • WPS — may refer to: Standards *Web Processing Service, a web service interface specification from the Open Geospatial Consortium *Welding Procedure Specification *Wi Fi Protected Setup Places or organizations *Walsh Public School, a public elementary… …   Wikipedia

  • .wps — wps,   Erweiterung einer Datei, die ein mit Works erstelltes Textdokument enthält …   Universal-Lexikon

  • WPS — I WPS   [Abk. für Windows Printing System, dt. »Windows Drucksystem«] das, Drucksteuerung: Software Schnittstelle für die Ausgabe von Druckdaten unter Windows (9x/Me). Sie setzt auf dem GDI auf und erweitert es um einige Funktionen. Das WPS… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • WPS — Die Abkürzung WPS steht allgemein für: Wandlungsfähige Produktionssysteme, die Möglichkeit nach der Planungsphase nachträglich Änderungen am Produkt vornehmen zu können Waterproof System, System bei Waschmaschinen Welding Procedure Specification …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • WPS —   Sigles d’une seule lettre   Sigles de deux lettres > Sigles de trois lettres   Sigles de quatre lettres   Sigles de cinq lettres   Sigles de six lettres   Sigles de sept… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • WPS — Список значений слова или словосочетания со ссылками на соответствующие статьи. Если вы попали сюда из другой стат …   Википедия

  • WPS Racing — V8 Supercar Team Short name =WPS Racing Manufacturer =Ford Principal =Craig Gore Manager =TBA Drivers =Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson Chassis =Ford BF Falcon Debut =2004 Drivers champ =0 Wins =0 Poles =0 Race Wins =1 WPS Racing was a motorsport… …   Wikipedia

  • WPS — Worldwide Port System …   Military dictionary

  • WPS — W P S Resources Corporation (Business » NYSE Symbols) **** Worker Protection Standard (Governmental » US Government) ** Welding Procedure Specification (Business » General) ** Workplace Solutions (Business » Firms) ** Wisconsin Physicians Service …   Abbreviations dictionary

  • WPS PA — W P S Resources Corporation Capital Trust I (Business » NYSE Symbols) …   Abbreviations dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”