SoftMaker.com

In TextMaker tables, how do I format a range of table cells to display as British pounds?

David,

you should use PlanMaker for this purpose. TextMaker does not offer a currency cell format.

_________________
Sven Leßmann
SoftMaker Software GmbH

I purchased SoftMaker Office 2010 as a replacement for IBM Lotus SmartSuite, which IBM have said will never be upgraded to run on a 64bit OS.

However, although SoftMaker Office 2010 is easy to use, I have been surprised by the lack of functionality when compared to IBM Lotus SmartSuite in many areas. Considering that the last release of IBM Lotus SmartSuite was version 9.8 in 2005, which did significantly improve on the Millenium Edition, I am surprised that SoftMaker Office 2010 does not compare well in terms of features and functionality, and lacks many capabilities that make IBM Lotus SmartSuite so easy to use and so productive. I feel that I have taken a real step backwards in many areas.

Is this stripped down lack of functionality intentional, to keep the software simple?

Regards - David

David...

Although IBM Lotus SmartSuite old age clearly shows IBM's -- and the previous owners -- lack of real caring about their customers IMHO, that was intended to be a corporate only office suite in almost every aspect.

Many SM Office users find SM Office 2010 to be a great deal more widespread in functions and usage, and not really targeted ONLY to corporates, although it appears very useful in that arena.

Although you do not have to "write a book" on the differences you see or need, why not detail at least a short list here in the Forum that you feel SM Office 2010 is lacking in ? Perhaps a "top five or ten" points ? with as much detail as you find prudent to list.

That would go a long way towards furthering the discussions, and perhaps even expedite bringing SM 2010 products further along.

Joe

_________________
Win7 Pro 64bit | Intel Multi Core i5 3.46gHz | 8GB DDR3 | 1GB Nvidia GT-9800 SP @ 1152x864 | ASUS | SoftMaker Office user / NetObjects Fusion 12 user / Serif WebPlus X5 and PagePlus X6 User / MoviePlus X6 / DrawPlus X5 / PhotoPlus X5

I disagree that IBM Lotus SmartSuite was intended to be a corporate only office suite. I have been using Lotus 123 since 1984 and Wordpro it since Lotus purchased Samna and acquired the Ami wordprocessor. It is a powerful but very easy to use package. Much superior to Microsoft Office.

Here are two things that were causing me problems with SoftMaker Office 2010 (SMO):

1. I print documents on a Laserjet and labels using a thermal label printer. SMO cannot even remember which printer each type of document should go to, and I have to manually change the printer for each one. And if I want two copies of a label in two different font sizes, I have to do all of the changes manually.

2. I issue monthly statements to customers showing transactions and an account balance. Textmaker cannot format table cells as currency, and its formula capability is very poor.

In desperation I was searching for a solution and discovered that IBM reported that some customers had successfully installed SmartSuite on Windows 7 64bit, so I decided to give this a try. To my amazement, it worked and I now have Lotus 123 and Wordpro working under Windows 7 64bit. Here is how I tackled the problems I listed above:

1. I print each thermal label twice, in 12 point and then 16 point Arial. The 16 point goes on the packaging, the 12 point on the insurance document. SMO made me do all these changes manually. With Lotus Wordpro I record these actions as a script, and attach this script to a new button that I design and place on the tool bar. Now to format my labels in Arial, send them to the printer in 12 point and then in 16 point takes one single mouse click, saving me a lot of time and RSI. This cannot be done in SMO.

2. My monthly statements have a Wordpro table that I can update with transactions from the month. Wordpro formats the credit, debit and balance columns as British pounds, and calculates a running balance with a simple formula. This cannot be done in SMO.

These two simple examples show how limited the functionality of SMO is compared to SmartSuite. I return to a decade-plus older product with superior capabilities, with great relief.

Regards - David

As a member of Lotus's and IBM's Beta test team for the first and second iteration of Lotus Smart Suite, I beg to differ with your disagreement. It goes diametrically opposite what we were told many years ago by both Lotus and then IBM staff.

RE: AmiPro and then Lotus Smart Suite.... I was fortunate to have been a long time AmiPro user and a confidant to Samna, the Atlanta GA firm that designed and produced AmiPro.

Yes indeed, AmiPro was one of the most wonderful and useful graphical word and page processors of its time, and even as a 16bit only Windows application, it was overall far in front of any of it's then, and some newer, competitors.

AmiPro was for almost all, a true joy to behold and productively use. In fact, even AmiPro's competitors then and now respect and admire what it did.

Many users link AmiPro and then Lotus Smart Suite and IBM's iteration of same, and Wordpro, as being related or based on AmiPro codes or design.

In reality, no, nearly nothing of Lotus or IBM's offerings were based on AmiPro, although that was back then the fervent users hope and prayer -- that major companies would take AmiPro from 16bit and further enhance it as the renowned power-house for both new and experienced users, beginning with the 32bit incarnation.

Unfortunately, and sadly, the page layout methodology, underlying code and ridiculous complexity of Lotus and then IBM SmartSuite were based on Lotus and IBM's own internal design teams that were ordered to build a nearly corporate-only product.

What Many Will Refuse, yet It's Proven True: Both Lotus and then IBM deliberately bought out AmiPro -- more precisely Samna, the company that developed it -- to get it off the market, one major reason it was allowed to die. This is also the reason AmiPro never made it to 32bit code status or improvements.

More Importantly...

HOWEVER, that said, your further SmartSuite vs. SM Office 2010 comments are VERY interesting, and are being absorbed here.... very to-the-point.

I firmly believe that one can be sure your comments will be read over by SoftMaker staff as well.

While features we "loved" about AmiPro may or may not be able to make it into any or all current products such as SM 2010, your comments are clearly thought provoking.

I humbly would support your "here are two things" comments.

In particular, it might be best if the same table cell formula in SM PlanMaker can be duplicated in SM TextMaker-- including Currency and Formula settings/options -- as that would allow the products to track the same in that area, improving the users experience.

Let us see what develops.

Joe

_________________
Win7 Pro 64bit | Intel Multi Core i5 3.46gHz | 8GB DDR3 | 1GB Nvidia GT-9800 SP @ 1152x864 | ASUS | SoftMaker Office user / NetObjects Fusion 12 user / Serif WebPlus X5 and PagePlus X6 User / MoviePlus X6 / DrawPlus X5 / PhotoPlus X5