MEWsoft is a small supplier of original software that first came to attention with its FAX*FILE package for the BBC micro. This was followed by an A4 Forms Designer and a Fancy Labels Manager. All three packages have been extensively rewritten for the Archimedes.
Although small in scale, any or all of these packages could prove very effective for the home user and others. All three can be run from the Desktop, but thereafter follow their own style for layouts, menus and the like. In fact, there is considerable variation here both within each package and between packages. I find this less satisfying than a consistent approach.
FAX*FILE is basically a computerised personal organiser, and all its printouts are designed to be of that size (MEWsoft can supply suitably sized paper). However, you can also use it purely as a screen-based aid. There is an address book and diary, a forms designer (design your own organiser forms), calendar, and small database. The address book allows only three lines for an address which I feel is limiting, but otherwise works well. As well as printing pages for your organiser, you can also print address labels, either singly or by tagging those required.
The diary promises month per page, week per page or two days per page formats, but the screen diary allows just one line per day. Choice of format is restricted to the printing phase. Options exist to create and edit entries, search, browse, save and load. I have never been a fan of computerised diaries, never having pockets large enough to carry a computer, and I would suggest the best use of the diary feature here is in the printing of blank or customised diary pages for insertion in your organiser.
The forms designer allows both text and vertical and horizontal lines to be combined in designing forms for your organiser, and some 12 sample forms are included on disc. The mini database allows up to 60 records of 4 fields, and a sample file is included. Facilities are simple but adequate for its purpose, while saved data can also be incorporated onto forms by the Forms Printer.
The Forms Manager allows a variety of forms to be designed up to A4 size, or to a size suitable for a personal organiser, and in both cases forms may be vertical or horizontal. Again, a dozen or so forms of various kinds are supplied, and these can also form the basis of further designs if you wish. It is also possible to print multiple copies of a form with different data inserted each time.
I have to confess that I found the instructions too brief, particularly on the principal subject of form design, to feel completely happy with this package. Additional information on design is supplied by way of three sample forms, but I would much prefer to have seen this in the manual for ease of reference.
Once all this information has been mastered, then form design is straightforward, with the screen acting as a window onto the form. The function keys and cursor keys are used to control most functions, with text being entered as in a word processor.
The software also uses the numeric keypad to enter corners, vertical and horizontal lines, and hatching (to one size). The samples supplied certainly help to show what can be achieved.
The main purpose of this package is to create all manner of labels with fancy frames and fonts. There is a frame editor to create borders (and over 40 different styles are supplied on disc), and also a font editor (with 12 different examples ready for use). In practice, creating a label involves designing or selecting the frame and font, setting the size for the label, and then typing in the required text message. Many examples are included, and the package is both easy and fun to use.
All three packages are clearly produced to a low budget, and that most obviously applies to the documentation. The manuals amount to 4 or (for FAX*FILE) 8 pages! Whilst I have no quibble regarding the quality of production, I feel that there are instances where greater clarity is desirable, and that more detail should have been included.
All three packages will provide a lot of fun as well as doing a useful job. I didn't like the considerable variety in menu styles used within the packages. The software also seems less than robust, but the author is clearly only too willing to listen to customers and amend the software as required. The price of £27.90 each inc. p&p seems reasonable, though a total of over £80 for all three strikes me as too high, and I would hope that the complete set could be offered at a lower price. On the whole, though, MEWsoft has produced a set of good, useable and practical applications which will satisfy many users.
Products FAX*FILE, Forms Manager, Fancy Labels Supplier MEWsoft 11 Cressy Road, London NW3 2NB. Tel. 01-267 2642 Price £27.90 each inc. VAT