Editing Timeworks Publisher

{{Short description|Desktop publishing application}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Timeworks Publisher, Timeworks DTP, Publish-It!
| author = [[Timeworks]]
| screenshot =
| caption =
| developer = [[GST Software]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1987|df=yes}} (Atari ST)<ref name="R1"/>
| latest_release_version = Publisher 4.6 (Windows)
| latest_release_date =  {{Start date and age|2009|df=yes}}<!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes}} --><ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Publisher-4-6-Home-Business-PC/dp/B002JCU1F6 |title = Publisher 4.6 Home & Business (PC CD) : Amazon.co.uk: Software|website = Amazon UK}}</ref>
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date = <!--  {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes}} -->
| programming language =
| operating_system = [[GEM (desktop environment)|GEM]], [[Classic Mac OS|Macintosh]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| genre = [[Desktop publishing]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[commercial software]]
| website = 
}}

'''Timeworks Publisher''' was a [[desktop publishing]] (DTP) program produced by [[GST Software]] in the [[United Kingdom]] and published by [[Timeworks|Timeworks, Inc.]], in the United States.

It is notable as the first affordable DTP program for the [[IBM PC compatible|IBM PC]].{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} In appearance and operation, it was a [[Ventura Publisher]] clone, but it was possible to run it on a computer without a hard disk.

==Versions==
===Timeworks Desktop Publisher===
'''Timeworks Publisher 1''' for [[Atari TOS]]<ref name="R2"/> relied on the [[Graphics Device Operating System|GDOS]] software components, which were available from Atari but were often distributed with applications that required them. GDOS provided TOS/[[GEM (desktop environment)|GEM]] with a standardized method for installing printer drivers and additional fonts, although these were limited to bitmapped fonts in all the later releases. GDOS had a reputation for being difficult to configure, using a lot of system resources, and was fairly buggy, meaning that Timeworks could struggle to run on systems without a hard disk and less than 2 MB of memory - but it was possible, and for many users Timeworks was an inexpensive introduction to desktop publishing.

For the [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]], Timeworks ran on [[Digital Research]]'s [[GEM (desktop environment)|GEM]] Desktop (supplied with the program) as a [[runtime system]]. Later versions ran on [[Microsoft Windows]].

'''Timeworks Publisher 2''' included full [[WYSIWYG]], paragraph tagging, manual control of kerning, text and graphics imports and more fonts.<ref name="R3"/> '''Timeworks Publisher 2.1'''<!-- possibly earlier since 2, probably later versions as well --> with [[GEM/5]] is known to have supported [[Bézier curve]]s already.

=== Acorn Desktop Publisher ===
In mid-1988, following the release of [[GST Computer Systems|GST]]'s word processor, ''[[1st Word|First Word Plus]]'', [[Acorn Computers]] announced that it had commissioned GST to port and enhance the Timeworks product for the [[Acorn Archimedes|Archimedes]] series.<ref name="acornuser198807">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser072-Jul88/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn reveals Arc DTP plans | work=Acorn User | date=July 1988 | access-date=14 April 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Being designed for use with [[RISC OS]], using the [[anti-aliased]] font technology already demonstrated on the Archimedes, utilising the [[Computer multitasking|multi-tasking]] capabilities of the RISC OS desktop environment, and offering printed output support for laser and dot-matrix printers, availability was deferred until the release of RISC OS in April 1989.<ref name="acornuser198811">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser076-Nov88/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Archimedes set for desktop publishing | work=Acorn User | date=November 1988 | access-date=14 April 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref> The delivered product, '''Acorn Desktop Publisher''', introduced Acorn's outline font manager and bundled 14 scalable fonts plus upgraded printer drivers (for Postscript-compatible and [[Hewlett-Packard]] [[Laser printing|Laserjet]]-compatible printers, plus Integrex colour inkjet printers) to provide consistent, high-quality output on screen and paper.

Despite being described as "streets ahead" of Timeworks on the Atari ST, offering "real desktop publishing, not the pale imitation possible with a [[BBC Master|Master 128]] or [[BBC Micro|model B]]", being comparable to "mid-priced DTP packages on the [[MacOS|Mac]] or IBM PC", the software was regarded as barely usable on a machine with 1&nbsp;MB of RAM and no hard disk (Acorn recommended 2&nbsp;MB to use the software alongside other applications<ref name="acorn_app255">{{ cite book | url=http://www.4corn.co.uk/archive/docs/AMPAPP/150/APP255%20(1st%20ed)%20-%20Desktop%20Publisher%20(1989)-opt.pdf | title=Power Over the Printed Page | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=May 1989 | access-date=19 April 2021 | issue=1 | pages=3 }}</ref>), and the limitations in editing and layout facilities led one reviewer to note that at the £150 price level and with other desktop publishing packages (notably [[Computer Concepts]]' [[Impression (software)|Impression]],<ref name="archimedean1992i5" /> [[BEEBUG|Beebug]]'s Ovation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ovation - Software - Computing History |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/36359/Ovation/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="acornuser199011" /> and Clares' Tempest<ref name="clares" />) announced if not yet available, purchasers would be advised to "wait and see" before making any decision.<ref name="acornuser198910">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser087-Oct89/page/n135/mode/2up | title=Hold the Font Page | work=Acorn User | date=October 1989 | access-date=14 April 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=134–135 }}</ref>

Nevertheless, with competitors still unavailable in early 1990, Acorn User deemed to be the platform's best desktop publishing package, noting that there was "little available yet for Archimedes DTP, although much is on the way soon".<ref name="acornuser199002">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser091-Feb90/page/n64/mode/1up | title=BBC Acorn User 1989/90 Awards | work=Acorn User | date=February 1990 | access-date=14 April 2021 | pages=63–65, 67, 69 }}</ref> Ultimately, Acorn would promote Impression as part of its Publishing System package.<ref name="archimedean1992i5">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/Archimedean_Issue_5_1992_Computer_Concepts_GB/page/n5/mode/1up | title=The Acorn Publishing System | work=The Archimedean | date=1992 | issue=5 | access-date=13 February 2021 | pages=6 }}</ref> Of the other anticipated competitors, Ovation was released later in 1990,<ref name="acornuser199011">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser100-Nov90/page/n92/mode/1up | title=In Ovation | work=Acorn User | date=November 1990 | access-date=16 April 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=91–93 }}</ref> and succeeded by Ovation Pro in 1996,<ref name="acornuser199609">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser172-Sep96/page/n31/mode/2up | title=DTP excellence | work=Acorn User | date=September 1996 | access-date=16 April 2021 | last1=Kreindler | first1=Jack | last2=Hill | first2=Martin | last3=Capper | first3=Alan | pages=32–35 }}</ref> having been previewed in 1995,<ref name="acornuser199508">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser158-Aug95/page/n41/mode/2up | title=Applause for thought | work=Acorn User | date=August 1995 | access-date=16 April 2021 | last1=Moxon | first1=Mark | pages=42–43 }}</ref> whereas Tempest was apparently never released, being absent from Clares' software catalogue.<ref name="clares">{{ cite web | url=http://www.claresmicro.com/prices.html | title=Price List | website=Clares Micro Supplies Ltd | date=11 January 2000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000118145835/http://www.claresmicro.com/prices.html | access-date=16 April 2021 | archive-date=18 January 2000 }}</ref>

Curiously, Tempest was itself described as being "based on the Acorn DTP package" but aiming to remedy deficiencies and provide enhancements such as multi-column frames, "text flow around regular shapes", and improved text editing support, along with memory management facilities. Developed by a freelance programmer for Clares, a pre-release version was demonstrated in late 1989, apparently requiring only 128&nbsp;KB of RAM, with work underway to optimise the display routines. A price of £129.95 including VAT was announced.<ref name="archive198911">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-11_OCR/page/n35/mode/1up | title=PC Show Report | work=Archive | date=November 1989 | access-date=16 April 2021 | last1=Look | first1=Adrian | pages=32–35 }}</ref> Initially destined for an autumn 1989 release,<ref name="riscuser198910">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/eu_RiscUser_1989-10_OCR/page/n4/mode/1up | title=New Products from Clares | work=Risc User | date=October 1989 | access-date=16 April 2021 | pages=5 }}</ref> it was postponed to an unspecified point in time in September 1989 with the specification having changed,<ref name="archive198909">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1989-09_OCR/page/n4/mode/1up | title=Forthcoming Products | work=Archive | date=September 1989 | access-date=16 April 2021 | pages=3 }}</ref> but hints of a 1990 release were subsequently made in early 1990.<ref name="archive199003">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1990-03_OCR/page/n38/mode/2up | title=DTP Column | work=Archive | date=March 1990 | access-date=16 April 2021 | last1=Lynch | first1=Ian | pages=36–37 }}</ref> Although a demo disk was apparently available,<ref name="archive199108">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/Archive_1991-08_OCR/page/n25/mode/1up | title=Using a Second Floppy Drive | work=Archive | date=August 1991 | access-date=16 April 2021 | last1=Colombat | first1=Tony | pages=23–24 }}</ref> the product was widely advertised, and a preview of the software appeared in a late 1990 magazine issue,<ref name="abcomputing199011_tempest">{{ cite magazine | title=Bruce's Software Workshop | magazine=A&B Computing | last1=Smith | first1=Bruce | date=November 1990 | pages=41–44 }}</ref> the product was evidently not completed. Clares later took over development of another Acorn product, the spreadsheet ''Schema'', in 1990.<ref name="acornuser199010_schema">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser099-Oct90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn Comes to Aid of Third Party | work=Acorn User | date=October 1990 | access-date=16 April 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>

===Publish-It!===
In the U.S., [[Timeworks Inc.]] marketed the program as '''Publish-It!'''. Released in 1987, there were versions available for IBM PC (running over the GEM environment), [[Mac (computer)|Mac]], and [[Apple II]] (Enhanced IIe or better) computers.<ref name="R4"/><ref name="R5"/>

Further versions were named '''KeyPublisher 1.0''' (versions 1.19 and 1.21) and produced by [[Softkey Software Products Inc.]] in 1991 for PCs with GEM.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winworldpc.com/product/key-publisher/1x|title=Key Publisher 1.x|website=WinWorld}}</ref>
Another version, aimed at the business market, was named '''DESKpress'''. A later [[Compact Disc|CD]]-based multilingual version for Windows was named '''Press International'''.

===Other names===
The product was also sold under other names including NEBS '''PageMagic '''(changed after objections from [[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]]), '''[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan Publisher]]''', '''[[Canon, Inc.|Canon]] Publisher''', and many other brands, distinguished by use of the .DTP [[file extension]]. The latest version was sold as '''[[Greenstreet Software|Greenstreet]] Publisher 4''' and is downwards file compatible with earlier versions.

==Releases==
* 1987 - Timeworks Publisher (IBM PC, Atari ST)
* 1987 - Timeworks Publish-It! 1.12 (IBM PC GEM-based) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winworldpc.com/product/publish-it/1x|title=Publish-IT 1.x|website=WinWorld}}</ref>
* 19?? - Publish-It! 1.19 by GST
* 1987 - Publish-It! ([[Apple IIe]])<ref name="R6"/>
* 1988 - Acorn Desktop Publisher<ref>[http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP149_DesktopPublisher.pdf Desktop publishing] Computing History</ref>
* 1990 - Publish-It! 1.20 (IBM PC) 
* 1990 - Publish-It! Easy 2.0 (Macintosh)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjwEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Publish-IT+Easy+2&pg=PT48|title=InfoWorld|date=8 October 1990|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* 1991 - KeyPublisher 1 by softkey (IBM PC)
* 1991 - Timeworks Publisher 2 (IBM PC, Atari ST) GEM-based
* 1991 - Timeworks Publish-It! PC 2.00 (IBM PC)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winworldpc.com/product/publish-it/20|title=Publish-IT 2.0|website=WinWorld}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RlAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Publish-IT+Easy+2.1&pg=PA14|title=InfoWorld|date=10 June 1991|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* 1991 - Publish-It! Easy 2.1 (Macintosh)<ref name="auto"/>
* 1992 - Publish-It! Easy 2.1.9 (Macintosh)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winworldpc.com/product/publish-it/easy-2x|title=Publish-IT Easy 2.x|website=WinWorld}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q7NWAAAAMAAJ&q=Publish-IT+Easy+2.1.9|title=Business Publishing|date=7 August 1992|publisher=Hitchcock Publishing Company|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* 199? - Timeworks Publisher 2.1 (IBM PC - [[GEM/5]]-based)
* 1992 - Timeworks Publisher 3 (IBM PC for Windows)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/TimeworksPublisher|title=Timeworks Publisher|date=7 August 1992|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
* 1994 - Timeworks Publish-It! 4 (Windows 3.1)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://winworldpc.com/product/publish-it/40|title=Publish-IT 4.0|website=WinWorld}}</ref>
* 2009 - Publisher 4.6 Home & Business (Windows XP, Vista)<ref name="auto1"/>

==See also==
* [[Fleet Street Publisher]]
* [[PagePlus]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="R1">{{cite web |title=Atari ST Timeworks DTP: scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms |website=Atarimania.com |date=2016-07-31 |url=http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-st-timeworks-dtp_23551.html |access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
<ref name="R2">{{cite web |title=Review: Desktop Publisher ST (Timeworks) |website=Atarimagazines.com |date= |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/st-log/issue27/188_1_REVIEW_TIMEWORKS_DESKTOP_PUBLISHER.php |access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
<ref name="R3">{{cite web |author-first=Bruce D. |author-last=Nelson |title=Atari Explorer, Z*Net, & ST Report: Z*Net: 10-Apr-92 #9215 |website=Atariarchives.org |date= |url=http://www.atariarchives.org/cfn/09/09/02/0221.php |access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
<ref name="R4">{{cite book |title=PC Mag |page=34 |date=1989-01-17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C6VFJIbxX7MC&pg=PA34 |access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
<ref name="R5">{{cite journal |title=It's No Contest! |journal=[[InfoWorld]] |page=10 |date=1989-09-11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rDAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 |access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
<ref name="R6">{{cite web |title=Publish-It! (Apple II, 5 1/4" Disk) Timeworks - 1987 USA, Canada Release |publisher=Eli's Software Encyclopedia |date=2010-03-07 |url=http://www.elisoftware.org/index.php?title=Publish-It!_%28Apple_II,_5_1/4%22_Disk%29_Timeworks_-_1987_USA,_Canada_Release |access-date=2016-08-09}}</ref>
}}

{{Desktop publishing software}}

[[Category:1987 software]]
[[Category:Atari ST software]]
[[Category:Desktop publishing software]]
[[Category:Discontinued software]]
[[Category:GEM software]]