New Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, Version 5.0, offers features users requested most

Business Wire

November 14, 1991

REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) Thursday announced Microsoft Word for the Macintosh version 5.0, a new version of the leading word processor for the Macintosh.

Microsoft Word for the Macintosh was first introduced in 1985 and continues to be the most popular word processor among Apple Macintosh owners. With version 5.0, Microsoft improved and added features that were requested by users that make performing common word processing tasks much easier.

New features include an integrated grammar checker, drag-and-drop text, and a new Print Merge Helper. In addition, version 5.0 takes full advantage of System 7.0, including Balloon Help, TrueType fonts, Publish and Subscribe and support for AppleEvents. Microsoft also introduces plug-in modules, a new, modular architecture.

``With so many loyal users of Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, we felt it was most important to concentrate on adding the features users requested most,'' said Mike Maples, Microsoft senior vice president of applications.

``Our goal was to make everyday word processing easier. By compiling user input, analyzing data from Microsoft Product Support Services and doing detailed usability testing, we believe we have accomplished this goal.''

``The new Word for the Macintosh version 5.0 is a tremendous product in terms of making word processing easier,'' stated beta tester Joe Nagy, chief of the facilities engineering group at the United States Mint. ``With this significantly improved upgrade, Microsoft has furthered its commitment to make the product even more user friendly.'' New and Improved Features Macintosh Users Want and Need

Drag and Drop. With the new Drag and Drop feature, users can move words, sentences, and even paragraphs by simply clicking highlighted text and dragging it to its new location.

``When I'm editing, it is much easier to just grab a block of text and move it rather than cutting and pasting,'' stated beta tester Jonathon Duke, director of Information Processing Support at Boston College.

Integrated grammar checker. Microsoft Word for the Macintosh users' most requested feature was grammar checking and Microsoft Word for the Macintosh version 5.0 is now the only word processor for the Macintosh that features a fully integrated grammar checker.

``No other word processor for the Macintosh has this feature built in,'' stated beta tester Eric Weidl, staff analyst, Academic and Public Computing, at the University of Chicago. ``And everyone, especially students and professors, is aware of the importance of correct grammar.''

Find File. A new Find File document manager allows users to locate files even if they cannot remember the filename. This new feature makes it easy to search by document title, author, date or keyword. Users can also preview document contents and other information, and print files.

Print Merge Helper. The new Print Merge Helper is a graphical on-screen bar which guides users through a form letter step by step. The Print Merge Helper helps users create their data document, link it to their form letter and insert information in just a few steps. With the Print Merge Helper, even the most complex or personalized form letter is easy to create.

Ribbon. The new Ribbon on-screen bar makes text formatting extremely simple by allowing users to change fonts, format text, create columns or create a drawing with one click of the mouse.

More visual preferences dialog box. Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0 has a more visual look throughout to make common word processing tasks as simple and intuitive as possible. The new visual preferences dialog box, which allows users to set all preferences simply and intuitively, is just one example.

Drawing tools. Drawing tools let users create basic graphics directly from within their document. Graphics converters also enable users to easily integrate images in their documents.

Equation editor. A new graphical equation editor makes it simple to create complex formulas.

Voice annotation. Users can add and play back voice annotations to edit and comment on shared documents.

New spelling checker and thesaurus. A new spelling checker makes suggestions based on phonetic and punctuation errors, and the thesaurus is now fully integrated with the program.

Other user-requested features include format search and replace, shading and borders, and a change case command.

Conversion utilities. Conversion utilities for Microsoft Word for Windows, Microsoft Word for DOS, WordPerfect for DOS and MacWrite are included. Full Support for System 7.0

Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0 offers full support for System 7.0, including Balloon Help, TrueType fonts, and Publish and Subscribe. In addition to support for required AppleEvents, Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0 supports a suite of Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) AppleEvents defined by Microsoft.

This technology enables users to integrate information in a variety of ways. For instance, users can simply double click on an embedded equation in a Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0 document to access the product's full- featured equation editor. This equation editor is also accessible from other applications, including Microsoft Excel, that support OLE AppleEvents. New Modular Architecture

With Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0, Microsoft introduces plug-in modules, a new modular architecture. Users can now choose the specific features they want to install. Many of the features in Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0, including Find File, drawing, voice annotations and others, are actually plug-in modules.

Plug-in modules allow Microsoft to easily add functionality to Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, and they enable other software developers to tightly integrate their applications with the product. Microsoft announced plans to add a new module, WordBasic, to Microsoft Word for the Macintosh within six months. This editable macro programming language will be consistent with the one in Microsoft Word for Windows. Pricing, System Requirements and Availability

Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0 is scheduled to be available in early January 1992 for a suggested retail price of $495. System requirements include a Macintosh Plus or higher, System 6.02 or higher, and one megabyte of memory (two megabytes is recommended). Two megabytes of memory is required for use of the grammar checker.

Users of Microsoft Word for the Macintosh and other word processors for the Macintosh (including Microsoft Write, MacWrite, Nisus, WordPerfect, and WriteNow ) can upgrade to version 5.0 for $129. Users who acquire Microsoft Word for the Macintosh version 4.0 after Nov. 1, 1991 through the shipping date of version 5.0 can upgrade for free.

Microsoft Word for the Macintosh version 5.0 has been localized to meet the language-specific needs of international markets. The English version of Microsoft Word for the Macintosh v. 5.0 will be available in more than 120 countries worldwide.

French, German, French-Canadian, Italian and Swedish versions will be available in the first quarter of 1992. Dutch, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish versions will be available in the second quarter of 1992. Turkish and Portuguese versions are also planned.

Microsoft Corp. offers a complete family of applications for the Macintosh operating system. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Schedule +, and Microsoft Project are designed to work well together and are integrated to provide a comprehensive computing solution.

Microsoft Corp. develops, markets and supports a wide range of software for business and professional use, including operating systems, network products, languages and applications, as well as books, hardware and CD-ROM products for the microcomputer marketplace.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Microsoft and PowerPoint are registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. Apple, Macintosh and Mac are registered trademarks and TrueType is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. MacWrite is a registered trademark of Claris Corp. WordPerfect is a registered trademark of WordPerfect Corp. CorrecText Grammar Correction system is developed by Houghton Mifflin Co.; underlying technology developed by Language Systems Inc.

All prices listed are U.S. suggested retail prices.

CONTACT: Microsoft Corp., Redmond Sarah Charf, 206/882-8080 General Sales and Product Information, 800/426-9400 -or- Waggener Edstrom Gaby Adam or Russ Dorr, 206/637-9097 09:14 ET