================================ Writer's Companion Release Notes ================================ ============================ Version: 2.61.5 Date: August 9, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Ideas are now rearranged by default when entering Sequence Mode. This can be changed by unchecking the "Rearrange before sequencing" checkbox in the General Preferences dialog box. * The OS X installer now sets file permissions so that non-administrator users can run the program without any permissions related warnings or errors. ====================== Windows Specific Notes ====================== Printing in high resolution can be somewhat slow in Windows. To speed up printing you can select "Draft Mode" from the General Preferences dialog box. This dialog box is launched from the File menu. ======================== Macintosh Specific Notes ======================== Writer's Companion uses the standard Macintosh speech system for text-to-speech. In order for text-to-speech to work in OS 9, make sure that both the Speech Manager extension and the Speech control panel are selected in Extensions Manager. In OS X, speech is controlled by the Speech panel in System Preferences. =================== Contact Information =================== Sales and presales information: phone: 800-877-0858 email: info@teamvistech.com web: http://www.toolsforteachers.com Main Website: http://www.writerscomp.com Technical support: phone: 866-215-8155 (toll free) web support form: http://www.mythicwave.com/support.htm email: support@mythicwave.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for using Writer's Companion. We will strive to respond to your needs and to provide updates in a timely manner. Please let us know what you think. Your friends at Visions Technology and Mythic Wave Productions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================ Version: 2.61.4 Date: June 28, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Documents can now be opened by double-clicking their icons in Windows and Macintosh. If Writer's Companion is not running, it will be launched before the document is opened. ============================ Version: 2.61.3 Date: June 10, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed a problem that would sometimes cause new material not to appear after going from Publish to Brainstorm or Organize mode. * When sending email from Edit mode, you are no longer asked for the RTF file name. ============================ Version: 2.61.1 Date: June 1, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * On Mac OS X, in the dictionary dialog box, definitions are longer cut off when there are more than three. * Fixed a problem that would sometimes cause online updates to fail. ============================ Version: 2.61 Date: May 18, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * "Writer's Companion Walk Through" has been placed on the Help menu so that the Walk Through can be opened as a "template" regardless of your current working directory. * On Mac OS X, the default speech voice is now Victoria. ============================ Version: 2.60.9 Date: April 20, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Edit menu functionality has been improved. It is now easy to copy and paste between Writer's Companion and other applications either by using the Edit menu or hotkeys such as Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V in Windows and Cmd-C and Cmd-V on Macintosh. * After the spell check finishes a dialog box now appears telling you that it is complete. * In Windows, Writer's Companion can now be launched, and a document can be opened by double-clicking a Writer's Companion document file. This functionality will be implemented on Macintosh in an upcoming version. * On Macintosh, choosing Cmd-S to save a document no longer puts the letter "s" in an active edit field. ============================ Version: 2.60.8 Date: January 28, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * When choosing not to require logins from the Administrator Preferences dialog box, the starting open/save folder will now be the one specified by the operating system for the current user. For example, in Windows, this will be the "My Documents" folder for the user who is currently logged on. * Fixed a problem that was sometimes causing script errors in OS 9 when checking for updates. ============================ Version: 2.60.7 Date: January 20, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed a problem that was causing script errors when opening certain old files. * Added training videos to the installation. ============================ Version: 2.60.5 Date: January 17, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed a bug that was causing a "duplicate serial number" message even when a site license was installed. * Added footnote layouts to Publish mode. ============================ Version: 2.60.3 Date: January 9, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed a bug that would cause a script error when entering Publish mode under certain conditions. * Allowed files without a valid Mac file type to be opened in OS X. This was necessary to allow files created in Windows to be opened in OS X. ============================ Version: 2.60.1 Date: January 4, 2005 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * When installing to run without a login, the program is now set to allow the user to browse for the open and save folders. ============================ Version: 2.60 Date: December 27, 2004 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Improved English spell checking. * Improved installation and serialization. Site licensing allows ghosting without the use of the Companion Network Server. * Class, student, and password management. * Zoom in Brainstorm, Organize, and Sequence modes. * Ideas now edit at a size big enough to work in, even if sized small. * F4 now works in Sequence for Rearrange * User interface is moved down a bit on Mac in 800x600 and 1024x768 to prevent menu bar from being obscured. * Many miscellaneous bug fixes. ============================ Version: 2.52 Date: June 25, 2004 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * When clicking the minimize button in the upper right corner, the application now minimizes in Windows and hides on Mac rather than being reduced to a small window. * A problem was fixed in Publish mode where the text would not reflow correctly into one of the page templates. * A problem was fixed in Publish mode where one of the page templates was incorrect when running in 800 x 600 resolution. * If client doesn't receive a response from the server within a specified time, it now automatically logs on again. * If the server can't be communicated with, the client is now locked until the server comes on line again. * If the program won't start because of a conflict with an installed speeech engine, speech can be disabled by setting "useSpeech=0" in the wrt.ini file. If you suspect you are having this problem, please contact technical support for instructions. * If you try to run on the same computer as Companion Network Server is running, the program will now warn you and then quit. * Fixed a bug that was causing the buttons to become disabled in Publish mode after switching languages. ============================ Version: 2.50 Date: May 10, 2004 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Public release of Companion Network Server and the network version of Writer's Companion. Writer's Companion can now be run as a client or as before, in stand alone mode. There is no longer a need to type in serial numbers on each computer. * The font menu now shows each line in the given font. * The Rearrange button has been added to sequence mode. * A check box was added to the General Preferences dialog box to allow multiple main ideas per line when rearranging. The default is to rearrange with only one main idea per line. * The cross hair now initializes in the upper left corner rather than the center. * Memory Monitor was removed from the Tools menu. * Input is now locked during a mode change. This prevents problems associated with fast random clicking of buttons. * The Spell Checker now colors the current misspelled word red. * The Spell Checker now checks for commonly misspelled words. * Removed duplicate words from the American English Spell Checker. * All text no longer gets selected in Edit mode when a dialog box is brought up. * A file now opens in the same mode it was saved in. For example, if you save a file while in Venn Diagram mode, you will be brought to Venn Diagram mode automatically when opening that file again. * Extra blank pages no longer appear when going to Publish mode. * The serial number now appears in the About dialog box in stand alone mode. * Fixed a problem in Publish mode where the "Choose Graphic" dialog box would sometimes fail to appear. * Fixed a problem in Publish mode that would cause a script error when using the Font, Size, or Style menus immediately after choosing a graphic. * When clearing the file in Publish mode using the File/New menu item, all pages are cleared, but the first page is retained. * When using the File/New menu item, all modes are now cleared. Previously, if File/New was selected while in Edit or Publish mode, only that mode would be cleared. * Added a "Check for Updates" item to the Help menu. This will automatically check for and download the latest program updates. An internet connection is required. * All text formatting shortcut keys now work correctly. * Captions and headings are now retained in Publish mode when returning to Publish mode from another mode and when reflowing text within Publish mode. ============================ Version: 2.05 Date: January 20, 2004 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Added a "Walk Through" demo document available when logging on under the "Demo Class". * Fixed a problem that caused duplicate serial numbers to be detected on the network when there were no duplicates. ============================ Version: 2.04 Date: December 8, 2003 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Added a "Rearrange" button in Organize mode which will rearrange ideas in Cluster format. The same feature was already available from the Format menu. * Miscellaneous bug fixes. ============================ Version: 2.03 Date: November 10, 2003 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Updated thesaurus so that if a word has a certain synonym, that synonym also has the word as one of its synonyms. ============================ Version: 2.02 Date: October 20, 2003 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * New ideas are now created with the current font, font size, and font style. * After the Link button is pressed, linking is now cancelled after the background is clicked. * Fixed a problem with the Writer's Web button on Mac OS 9, where the web browser would sometimes fail to launch. ============================ Version: 2.01 Date: October 8, 2003 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed spell checker so that words in single or double quotes are now correctly identified. * Improved speed of moving and sizing ideas. Ideas that are being moved or sized are now shown as a transparent gray rectangle rather than a black line. * Fixed crash in Venn Diagram printing that was introduced in version 2.00. * Fixed bug in Time Line that prevented ideas from snapping to the timeline after they were dragged. * Fixed printing of timeline so that ideas correctly align with timeline branches. * Fixed bug that caused the selection of links to appear offset. * Fixed a crash that occasionally happened when a file was opened. * Fixed a problem which caused a message to be displayed and a "beep" to be heard when deleting characters from a text box with the backspace or delete key. * Fixed a problem, introduced in version 2.00, where ideas which were moved or scrolled would be saved with incorrect positions. * Fixed a problem in Publish mode where all the text in a cell would be selected after changing the layout or reflowing text. * Miscellaneous other bug fixes. ============================ Version: 2.00 Date: September 26, 2003 ============================ Changes for this version ------------------------ * Addition of Spanish interface, and Spanish and U.K. English dictionary and spell checking. Language can be changed from the General Preferences dialog box while the program is running. * On Macintosh it is no longer necessary to install Writer's Companion for each user. One installation works for every user. * Speed improvements. * Numerous minor bug fixes. ======================== Version: 1.10 Date: June 18, 2003 ======================== Changes for this version ------------------------ * First release of Macintosh OS X version of Writer's Companion. * When printing poster size in Publish mode, the borders are no longer cut off. * Page numbers are no longer cut off when printing. * Unlinked ideas are now retained after going from Brainstorm, Organize, or Sequence mode to Draft or Publish mode and back again. The unlinked ideas appear below the bottom of the newly created linked ideas. Their original relative positions are retained. * Main window can now be dragged. To drag it, just hold the mouse down on near one of the borders and move the mouse. * Main window can now be minimized. Click the button in the upper right hand corner. The window will change to a very small window containing the Writer's Companion logo. To restore the size, click the small window. The small window can also be dragged like the full size window. * Ideas created with the New Idea button now have their text boxes activated. * Body font can now be set from the font dialog box. * Font menu now has a check mark next to the current font name. * Shift-linking now works when holding down the shift key after answering "Yes" when asked whether you want to link the detail to a different main idea. * The font name, size, and style menus are now disabled in Sequence mode. * The menus now behave as a normal menu bar. If one menu is activated, others can be activated by passing the mouse over their respective buttons. * On Macintosh, if speech is not installed or enabled, there is no longer a script error after logging in or when opening the General Preferences dialog box. * Fixed script error that would happen in Venn Diagram mode after being warned that a link could not be created between ideas in different sections of the Venn Diagram. Changes for this version ------------------------ * If the spell checker does not find any misspelled words, a dialog box now tells you so. * The spell check dialog box is no longer dismissed and relaunched for every misspelled word. It now stays active for the entire time. * When the spell checker finds a misspelled word, the word can now be added to the spell check dictionary. * A word that is not found in the dictionary can now can be added to it. * If no text is selected when trying to use the dictionary or thesaurus, you are now warned. * Shift-click to link ideas now works in Venn Diagram mode. * If forced to quit because of a duplicate serial number, you are now asked to save. * Fixed script error that occurred in demo after the "expired" dialog box was dismissed. * Sequence numbers with more than 2 characters, such as "10a", "10b", etc. are no longer cut off. * When using the online registration option, if the registration fails because of a bad or nonexistent internet connection, you are now told about it, and that you'll be asked to register again later. * Voices are now "auditioned" in the general preferences dialog box. * Added "Purchase Info" choice under the Help menu. Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed script error that would occur when clicking a detail after opening a new file. * Fixed problem where another link would be deleted when shift-linking a detail to a different main idea. * Implemented rudimentary "dirty" logic so that you will not be asked to save every time you try to open a document. * Fixed script error that would occur when switching from publish to organize mode if rough draft was empty. * Version number now appears in startup screen. * Cleaned up resizing of main window on startup. Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed problem which prevented graphics from being chosen in publish mode if the previously used path no longer existed. This also fixed a similar problem with the user-specificed documents folder. Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed problem that prevented two or more copies of Writer's Companion from running simultaneously on the network even if the serial numbers were different. * Fixed "shift" of login screen during startup. * Fixed problem in Rough Draft that prevented text from scrolling to the top in some cases. * Removed 8 point font choice from font selection dialog box. * Fixed script error which occurred when font selection dialog box was used when no ideas were present. * Improved redrawing speed after scrolling in sequence mode. Changes for this version ------------------------ * Fixed button "shift" when entering program after signing in.