Is Vista necessary for writing?

No.  The Vista operating system has been one of the more "buggy" Microsoft OS products in recent memory.  It is slower than its predessesors, is currently incompatible with dozens of sofware products and hardware drivers, and adds nothing of substance to the experience of writers who work, do research, and keep up with other writers online.  Our advice?  Hold off until at least SR2 if you can.  If you are considering buying one of Dell's package deals, select the XP operating system package -- it's cheaper and safer in the short term, and you can always upgrade them at a later date when Vista settles down.

Vista-compatible versions on hold

We regret to report that we must postpone the release of the Vista-compatible versions of our add-ons because Microsoft has once again delayed the release of the Vista SR1 service pack.  We cannot release our upgrades until they release theirs without putting our users at risk of a major headache if the Vista SR1 release introduces new "bugs."

WGAw Script Registration Services

The Writers Guild of America offers both members and non-members a place to register scripts and other intellectual property.  The fee is nominal and registration can be done online or by mail. Visit www.wgawregistry.org for details.

Office 2007 is here!

February 15, 2007.  Office 2007 has been in release for a few months now and we are pleased to report that our '06 applications are all compatible. Here's what one of our long-time clients had to say:

"I just wanted to tell you how thrilled I am to continue to have ProsePro as part of my writing day.  The more I use it, the more I appreciate it. I would add that the last time I reported to you on PP20006 and Office 2007 it was Office 2007 Beta and it worked almost 100%. I have recently installed the final distribution version of Office 2007 and find that ProsePro 2006 works flawlessly and seamlessly.  I continue to recommend PP2006 to all my students."

Our menus have been re-positioned under the new Ribbon menu structure and we are working on 2007 releases that will have up to date documentation for the new menu organization.  We will, as always, offer an import utility to get your old projects into the new Word format quickly and easily.  In the meantime, here's what you should look out for if you decide to move up to Word 2007:

• For long-time users, this is the most radical change in Microsoft Word since the product was first released.  Gone are the menus you know like the back of your hand.  Gone is the conceptual organization that you finally mastered.  You will open the new Word 2007 and not have a clue as to what you’re looking at or where to start.

• Menus for Script Wizard, ProsePro, or Student Assistant, you will find menus under the Add-ons tab on the Ribbon. 

• For writers who are also amateur (or professional) macro or VBA programmers, this is a brave new programming world:  the fundamental Word document and template structure has been changed (to Open XML format).  Customizing the interface is not the same relatively simple drag-and-drop proposition it once was.  You are in for some grief and it seems highly likely that hobbyist macro developer will go the way of the Dodo.  It’s VBA, VB.NET, C#, or nothing.

That being said, there are three features which, all by themselves, may make it worth the time, money and unusual headaches involved in upgrading to this version: 

• Word 2007 has built-in “blogging” functionality with a toolbar “publish” button that publishes your Word document straight to your blog.

• The ability to create a PDF version of your manuscript or other documents will be available (via a special download from Microsoft) from a button on the File menu in Word.  No need to buy Acrobat or another separate program, no muss, no fuss.  Click and - voila - mydoc.pdf.

• For Writing and Production Teams, document collaboration features have been dramatically expanded and improved in this version of Office/Word.  More details later.

Our advice for now? If you are a professional writer with active contracts and revenue on the line, hold off on upgrading to Office 2007 until you have had an opportunity to test drive it thoroughly.  If you own more than one computer, install it only on one to begin with, so that you have the ability to go back to work without any downtime if something goes wrong or it just isn’t working for you.

We’ll let everyone know when our 2007 versions are ready.  Stay tuned.

Welcome to Script Wizard Software...

[Press Release] August 1, 2006, Los Angeles.  Stefani Warren & Associates has announced the split off of their software development and publishing business under a new business name, Script Wizard Software.  The new company will be responsible for the continued development and support of Script Wizard®, Prose Pro® and the new Student Assistant™, all add-ons to Microsoft® Word.   Consulting services and custom application work will continue to be offered by Stefani Warren & Associates.  The new company website, http://www.scriptwizardsoftware.com/ launched in July 2006, has been expanded to include news and information about writers resources and services.  Both companies continue to be owned and operated by Stefani Warren.