Ko‐Pilot: menu operation for WordPerfect
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb045150 |
| Published date | 01 March 1992 |
| Date | 01 March 1992 |
| Pages | 167-167 |
| Author | Lilyan Mastrolia |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Ko-Pilot: menu operation
for WordPerfect
Lilyan Mastrolia
Ko-Pilot is an add-on package for use with the WordPerfect
wordprocessor, which allows users
to
access WordPerfect
features through clear and simple menus. It runs on
PC-compatible computers and sells for $89.95 from Insight
Resources Inc.,
175
Prospect Avenue, Tarrytown,
NY
10591,
USA. Tel:
+1
(914)332 1589.
Ko-Pilot is
a tool
for
users
of WordPerfect, which has become
the most popular of all personal computer wordprocessing
packages. It serves as a handy guide to all the WordPerfect
functions. Experienced, regular users of WordPerfect may
have only limited use for Ko-Pilot; however, those who are
just starting to learn WordPerfect, and those users who do not
use wordprocessing every day, will find that Ko-Pilot pro-
vides a valuable introduction to WordPerfect as well as con-
venient reminders about the infrequently-used aspects of this
wordprocessor.
WordPerfect is cryptic
The need for Ko-Pilot stems from the fact that most existing
versions of WordPerfect do not offer menu access to their
functions. Instead, users are presented with a blank slate and
are expected to use key combinations to invoke the wordpro-
cessing function they need. Although WordPerfect supplies a
printed template that lists all the useful key combinations, the
descriptions on the template are rather cryptic and they pres-
ent the functions in a random, non-alphabetic order.
WordPerfect does offer users a HELP function that pro-
vides alphabetic lists of functions, as well as terse explana-
tions of key-combinations. However, these aids are not inte-
grated into regular wordprocessing operations and users have
to interrupt their work to view the HELP screens. To get full
explanations of functions, WordPerfect users have to turn to
the printed manual.
Ko-Pilot menus are convenient
When Ko-Pilot is in operation, the user presses the
F3
key and
a bar of pull-down menus appears at the top of the screen.
Menus are included covering groups of functions under the
headings Help, Document, Edit, Format, Settings, Print,
Tables, Advanced and Quit.
The pull-down menus cover all the WordPerfect functions
in
a
clear and well-organized manner. Listed functions can be
invoked by using a mouse and clicking on a desired item, by
using arrow keys to locate the item plus the Enter key to acti-
vate it, or by pressing a letter-key indicated by a highlighted
letter in the menu item description.
However, before a menu can
be
used it
has
to
be
activated by
pressing an arrow
key.
For
example,
when the Settings menu is
displayed, the user presses an arrow key and an item on the
menu is highlighted. The user
can
then press
the J
key to justify.
HELP explanations are supplemented
Ko-Pilot offers displayed textual explanations of every Word-
Perfect function from its menus. These explanations parallel
those provided by the normal WordPerfect HELP function.
Generally, the Ko-Pilot explanation text is better organized
and more directed to helping the novice or occasional user
than is the regular WordPerfect HELP text.
The Ko-Pilot user is given access not only to the Ko-Pilot
text but also to the WordPerfect HELP
text.
If they wish, Ko-
Pilot users can avoid the Ko-Pilot menus and remain entirely
in regular WordPerfect operations. However, shifting back
and forth from one to the other can be confusing, and users
will likely stay with what Ko-Pilot has to offer.
Step-by-step procedures
Ko-Pilot has a feature called LearnKwik, which spells out the
procedures offered by WordPerfect. Normally, WordPerfect
users are presented with lists of alternative keystrokes, with-
out much explanation of the function of those keystrokes.
LearnKwik takes the user through each sequence of key-
strokes needed to invoke a desired wordprocessing function.
This tool can cut training time for office personnel, since they
can begin working on documents immediately without need-
ing to go through a WordPerfect orientation.
Not a substitute for printed documentation
Ko-Pilot
does
not replace the regular printed WordPerfect do-
cumentation. For example, if users wish to print envelopes,
they will still have to read the printed manual.
Ko-Pilot requires a PC equipped with at least 640 kb mem-
ory,
and this may be a limitation for
some
users.
On the whole,
however, Ko-Pilot is easy to use and very helpful.
The Electronic Library, Vol. 10, No. 3, June 1992 167
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