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 me breath, though.
What computer ads would you like to see in the future? Please comment below. If you enjoyed, please share with your friends and relatives. Thank you.
I found a few tidbits:
This technical report on text processing discusses a very early version of Crystal Writer. Apparently it was developed in UCSD Pascal for a Western Digital system.
https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA142570/page/195/mode/2up?q=crystalwriter&view=theater
There was a fancier version called the Crystal Document Management System. This article has a screenshot of that:
https://books.google.be/books?id=szsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT23&lpg=PT23&dq=%22Crystal+Document+Management+System%22&source=bl&ots=ASwo2UDL6H&sig=ACfU3U3BqJq7ewp3oE4Hl50xBxrGrahpDQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiumdrciLH6AhUOGewKHanoBYwQ6AF6BAglEAM#v=onepage&q=%22Crystal%20Document%20Management%20System%22&f=false
Finally, it looks like testing Crystal Writer was mandatory for Unix 93 certification:
http://www.opengroup.org/csq/csqdata/blanks/INTUX.html