Syntactics' CrystalWriter
A Mystery and an Enigma
Usually when I research a product from one of these old computer magazines, I either find a little bit of information or a lot. This time, I found almost nothing. Searching the name CrystalWriter brought up a bunch of links related to the art of writing, but nothing about this application. Scattered among those links were a few tidbits of information.
Here is what I found:
The name CrystalWriter was trademarked on August 1, 1983 by Syntactics Corporation. The trademark expired on May 14, 2005.
STart Vol. 2 No. 6 - Special Issue #3 (1988) said the following about CrystalWriter “CrystalWriter Plus (Syntactics) is an object-onented, WYSIWYG ("what you see is what you get") word processor. It offers automatic formatting, on-line help, spell-checking and mail merge, as well as a library of predefined document formats.”
An ad for Microport Systems in the December 1986 issue of Byte said this about the application: “CRYSTALWRITER PLUS is a comprehensive word-processing system for the multi-user office. It allows concurrent use of files, layouts and printers, as well as supporting a full range of terminals.”
The ad above refers to a review for CrystalWriter in Unix World Volume 1 Number 3. Would you believe that I can’t find that issue on the web for love nor money? I only have the short quote from the ad, which says, “…one of the best kept secrets in the world of UNIX System application software…a truly superior package”
The most information I found was in a software catalog from National Semiconductor Corporation.
Crystal Writer
Description: Object-based Word Processing System, designed for managers, secretaries, and professionals, including programmers.
Host H/W: N/A
Host S/W: UNIX
Target HIW: Series 32000-based microcomputer systems
Target SIW: All flavors of UNIX, including GENIX, XENIX, and UNITY
Language: Pascal and C
Interface/Compatible with other National Software? Yes, compatible with, and readily portable to, all variants of UN IX, including System V, Berkeley, GENIX, XENIX, and UNITY.
Availability Date: 60 days following request from computer manufacturer
Key Product Features:
Plain English commands
Clear, concise dynamic help on screen
Easy-to-understand documentation and direct telephone support
Predefined and user-definable document layouts
Automatic formatting and reformatting of whole documents, on the screen
Spooler handles multiple printers, multiple queues, sheets and forms
Key Product Benefits:
For the occasional user: no need to relearn constantly
For the full-time user: fast, efficient, automatic
For the engineer: it's a superior multi-file programming editor, too
For the whole office: coordination of documents and document layouts
Supports many peripherals, AND takes advantage of their features
Coordinates with UNIX utilities
I even had a hard time finding any information about Syntactics Corporation. There is currently a company with that name, but it was started in 2002.
If you have any information about CrystalWriter, let me know, and I’ll update this article. I won’t hold my breath, though.
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I visited Syntactics in i think 1986 or 1987, and ported CrystalWriter to the Torch Computer, running Unix, in the 1980s. It was in Pascal & ran on a wide range of Unix systems.
I wrote a lot of the code; what would you like to know?