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AppleWorks is an office suite of software applications sold by Apple Computer. Versions of AppleWorks exist that are compatible with Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, and Microsoft Windows. It started out as ClarisWorks, published by the Apple software division, Claris. It combined a word processor, a drawing program, a painting program, a spreadsheet, and a terminal program for communications. All the components were integrated to provide a seamless suite that worked in concert; for example, spreadsheets could be embedded in a word processing document, or formatted text into drawings, etc. A common misconception is that the components were derived from the existing Claris programs MacWrite, MacDraw, etc. In fact ClarisWorks was written from scratch, externally to Claris, and was then tailored to look more Claris-like after Claris bought the program from the original developers. Feature-wise, they are actually somewhat inferior to the MacDraw-line of applications.
With version 3.0 of ClarisWorks, the Assistants feature was introduced -- comparable to the Wizards of Microsoft Office. To this day, some Assistants remain in service, even in the Mac OS X version.
When the Claris company was disbanded and reabsorbed into Apple, the suite was renamed AppleWorks. (In fact, version 5 of the software was first called ClarisWorks; following the reabsorption, it was renamed AppleWorks.) The most recent version no longer contains the communications feature and adds a presentation features. It has also been Carbonized to work on Mac OS X. A major update is reputed to be in development.
While AppleWorks is available for purchase, it is also bundled with all consumer level computers including the iMac, iBook, and eMac.
AppleWorks was, and still is, an international programme, with different versions in different languages available.
Communities of AppleWorks users are linked with resources by Apple online, and by the AppleWorks User Group.
AppleWorks was originally the name of a similar office suite program available for the Apple II series of computers.
Related
External links
- Apple: AppleWorks
- A Brief History of ClarisWorks - A history of ClarisWorks/AppleWorks from one of the original developers Bob Hearn.