MacWrite
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== File identification == | == File identification == | ||
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The first two bytes of a MacWrite file are a [[Endianness|big-endian]] integer distinguishing MacWrite versions. | The first two bytes of a MacWrite file are a [[Endianness|big-endian]] integer distinguishing MacWrite versions. | ||
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== Format details == | == Format details == | ||
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MacWrite 2.2 stored text in a compression scheme where the (language-specific) most common characters (for English, " etnroaisdlhcfp" in that order, with the space character first) were stored as one nybble each (half a byte), where the values 0 through E corresponded to the characters in the most-common list. The nybble value F signaled that a different character followed, meaning that characters not on the list took three nybbles (a byte and a half) to store. This usually averaged out to a savings, since the most common characters typically make up a high portion of the text. | MacWrite 2.2 stored text in a compression scheme where the (language-specific) most common characters (for English, " etnroaisdlhcfp" in that order, with the space character first) were stored as one nybble each (half a byte), where the values 0 through E corresponded to the characters in the most-common list. The nybble value F signaled that a different character followed, meaning that characters not on the list took three nybbles (a byte and a half) to store. This usually averaged out to a savings, since the most common characters typically make up a high portion of the text. | ||
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==ScreenShots== | ==ScreenShots== | ||
[[Image:MacWrite1.0-About.png|350px]] | [[Image:MacWrite1.0-About.png|350px]] | ||
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| + | == Sample files == | ||
| + | * {{DexvertSamples|document/macWrite}} | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Latest revision as of 02:45, 29 December 2023
MacWrite was the word processor on early Macintosh computers. It originally was released by Apple as one of the programs that came with a Macintosh, but was later spun off to Claris as a separate software product; this did not succeed in competition with other word processors, so it was eventually discontinued by the mid-1990s.
Contents |
[edit] File identification
The first two bytes of a MacWrite file are a big-endian integer distinguishing MacWrite versions.
MacWrite versions 1.0 - 2.2 used version 00 03 in this field.
MacWrite versions 4.5 - 5.0 used version 00 06 in this field.
MacWrite II used version 00 2E in this field.
MacWrite Pro used version 00 04 in this field.
[edit] Format details
MacWrite 2.2 stored text in a compression scheme where the (language-specific) most common characters (for English, " etnroaisdlhcfp" in that order, with the space character first) were stored as one nybble each (half a byte), where the values 0 through E corresponded to the characters in the most-common list. The nybble value F signaled that a different character followed, meaning that characters not on the list took three nybbles (a byte and a half) to store. This usually averaged out to a savings, since the most common characters typically make up a high portion of the text.
MacWrite 3.x and up used a different compression system, and were designed so files could be edited directly on disk without loading the entire file into memory.
[edit] Version History
| Version 1.0 | 1984.01.24 | Encore Systems | WORD/MACA |
| Version 2.2 | 1984.05 | Encore Systems | WORD/MACA |
| Version 4.5 | 1985.04 | Encore Systems | WORD/MACA |
| Version 4.6 | 1987.07 | Encore Systems | WORD/MACA |
| Version 5.0 | 1988.03 | Claris | WORD/MACA |
| Version II | 1989.01 | Claris | MW2D/MWII |
| Pro 1.0 | 1993.03 | Claris | MWPd/MWPR |
| Pro 1.5 | 1994 | Claris | MWPd/MWPR |
[edit] Programming libraries
[edit] ScreenShots
