The cassette versions of Tasword 464/Amsword word-processor received rave reviews when they were released last September. Now the official disc-only version has arrived, and it's even better!

For the uninitiated, using the screen as your "paper", you type text into your machine. Don't worry about typing errors, just type over the top and they disappear; don't worry about fitting words on to a line, Tasword does it for you, and you can choose either right justified or ragged text just like a typewriter. If you want to alter a sentence then it's there on the screen; make any alterations you want, reshape your paragraph, then away you go again.

Blocks of text can be moved around and copied to another place; you can reset margins, print headings, auto number pages, and print footnotes easily and automatically, then save the lot onto disc. When you want copies printed, your printer obliges, so documents can be stored on disc to be recalled whenever you need them, without having to go through all the pain of having to type them again. And perhaps the nicest thing, Tasword is very king to lousy typists like me! No having to start all over again when I make a real mess of my typing.

All the above features of the earlier version are in the same place, but now when accessing the menu, another section of program loads from disc. Adopting this approach means that there is almost twice as much room for text, over 20,000 characters. If a really long document is called for, occupying several full text files, you can command Tasword to call them one at a time from disc, and print them as a single document with no further commands.

Perhaps the most impressive addition is the data-merge facility. You first create a file of names and addresses, labelling each part with a code, up to the maximum file size. You then type one letter, to be sent to your names, and Tasword will print all of them with the appropriate names and addresses in the correct places; a massive saving in time. But there's more! It can do it intelligently, thus you can specify conditions which would lead to letters only being printed to certain customers, and lines of customised text if you want them. Any number of different standard letters can be used this way, and by including other details in your name and address list, you could choose to write to particular areas or customers who bought certain products. You can even print up the address labels for the envelopes.

The whole thing is explained very clearly in the manual, with excellent self-teaching tutorials, and an on-screen help page. Users with two drives are also catered for, and the program will interface with Masterfile 464 through additional software for more complex use.

A comprehensive and user friendly package for both home and professional use at a price which makes technology accessible to everyone. Highly recommended.

D.M.