Documentation, Word Perfect 4.1 by Satellite Software International (SSI)

Description:

This documentation is for WordPerfect version 4.1, a word processing software package released by SSI of Orem, Utah, in 1985. Included this version were five new features—a built in thesaurus, the ability to view two documents simultaneously made possible by the split screen feature, two versions of text columns, line drawing, and the ability to sort lines or paragraphs. The documentation box includes a binder containing the installation guide and user manual. In 1985, the software sold for $495 (about $1,200 in 2019 dollars).

The concept for WordPerfect was the work of Dr. Alan Ashton, a computer science professor at Brigham Young University, and came about in 1977. His idea was to create a program that did not require typing function codes and one that would display the text like a printed page with correct line endings and page breaks. During his summer break that year he developed design specifications. To help write the code, he enlisted the help of Dr. Bruce Bastian, a graduate of Brigham Young’s Computer Science Department.

In the spring of 1979, they completed P-Edit, a very basic word processing program. To promote the software, they contacted Don Owens, a marketing executive. In September, the three of them incorporated the business as Satellite Software International. P-Edit was soon replaced by SSI*WP, a more robust program. When the DOS version of the software for IBM compatible computers was completed in 1982, the product name was changed to WordPerfect. (Briefly, in the mid-1980s, the company distributed the program under the name SSI Software.) In late 1986, the company name changed to WordPerfect Corporation.

For several years thereafter, it was the best-selling word processing software in the world. However, by the early 1990s the WordPerfect Corporation was struggling to complete a Microsoft’s Windows compatible version. Not only was the WordPerfect windows version delayed, but their WordPerfect Office program had operational problems. In 1994 Novell Inc. purchased WordPerfect and in 1996 they sold it to Corel Corporation. Corel continues to distribute the product as WordPerfect Office X9.

See related objects: 2009.3071.033-.035; .038-.044; .601; 753 (computer advertising buttons)

References:

InfoWorld, November 18, 1985, pg. 70 (advertisement)

[last accessed 2019-10-22]

https://www.corel.com/en/our-story/

https://www.infoworld.com/article/2639497/how-did-wordperfect-go-wrong-.html

https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_0intro.shtml

https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap01.shtml

https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap03.shtml

https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap07.shtml

https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap13.shtml

https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_prol.shtml