4.10APPLEWORKS & MULTIRAM

W o r d P r o c e s s o r F l i e s

AppleWorks limits word processing files to 2,250 lines. This is the equivalent to 45 single—spaced, typewritten pages with standard margins. While AppleWorks supports print lines up to about 140 characters, it only displays about 74 characters on a screen line. Given these restrictions, you can create a word processor file that uses 130K of memory. 122K on disk, and takes 1:08 minutes to load or save from floppy disk.

If you wanted to create a larger file, you could save the current file on disk when you reached its limit and then create a new file from scratch by choosing selection I, “Add a file to the Desktop’ from the main menu. Continue entering text into the new file from where you left off with the first file. Be sure to use the same file specifications (platen width, top margin, left margin. etc.) as on the first part of the file. If you leave both files in memory, you say jump back and forth between files using the [Open Apple]+Q command and you can transfer text between them using the clipboard and either [Open—Apple]+C (Copy) or [Open-Apple]+M (Move).

Several peculiarities occur in the AppleWorks word processor when the file size approaches 2,250 lines. When the cursor is on line 2,250, the “Delete” key usually will not work. Also, with 2,250 lines in memory, you will be unable to use the [Open—Apple]+O (Print options) or [Open—Apple]+P (Print copy) commands. To be safe, you should end your word processor files a few lines short of 2.250 lines.

There is no discernible slowing of most commands when working on a large word processor file. The [Open—Apple]+1 and [Open—Apple]+9 cursor commands bring you to the top or bottom of the file in a flash. Speed of text entry is also uneffected. However, copying and moving text around, along with re-formating text (ie., changing platen width from 8.0 inches to 8.5 inches) can take a long time. Inserting text from the clipboard can take from 8 to 26 seconds, depending on how much or where the text is placed. Certain commands such as [Open—Apple]+D (Delete) and (Open—AppleA]+S (Save) may also take a bit longer to function.

Keep these potential delays in mind, and don’t panic if the keyboard refuses to respond. Wait a minute or so. and allow the program to finish its task.

Spreadsheet Files

In the hands of an experienced user, a spreadsheet can grow to enormous proportions. The AppleWorks spreadsheet is limited to 126,873 cells, which is less of a limitation than available memory.

Before creating large spreadsheet files, please keep in mind that speed and efficiency suffer with larger spreadsheet files. For example. a spreadsheet file consisting of 12,000 celia (primarily formulas of the form “n=n + 1”) took up 309K of memory and required over 2:40 minutes to recalculate. Spreadsheet files should be kept as small and compact as possible for best results.