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{{Redirect|Scriptor|the scriptwriting word processor|Movie Magic Screenwriter}}
 
{{Infobox software
|name = SpeedScript
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|developer = [[Compute!]] Publishing
|screenshot = Speedscript_3.2_for_Commodore_64.png
|caption = SpeedScriptversion 3.2 running on a Commodore 64
|released = {{Start date and age|1984|01}}<ref name="brannon198401" />
|latest release version = 3.2
|latest release date = {{releaseStart date and age|1987|5}}<ref name="mitchener198606" />
|platform = [[VIC-20]], [[Commodore 64|C64]] [[Commodore 128| / 128]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit family|Atari 8-bit]], [[MS-DOS]]▼
|status = Abandonware
▲|platform = [[VIC-20]], [[Commodore 64|C64]] [[Commodore 128| / 128]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit family|Atari 8-bit]], [[MS-DOS]]
|programming language = 6502 [[assembly language]],<ref name="brannon198401" /><br>[[Turbo Pascal]]<ref name="thompson1989" /> (MS-DOS)
|genre = [[Word processor]]
}}
 
'''SpeedScript''' is a [[word processor]] originally printed as a [[type-in program|type-in]] [[MLX (software)|MLX]] [[machine language]] listing in 1984-85 issues of ''[[Compute!]]'' and ''[[Compute!'s Gazette]]'' magazines. Approximately 5&nbsp;[[Kilobyte|KB]] in length, it provided many of the same features as commercial word processing packages of the early [[8-bit]] era, such as [[PaperClip]] and [[Bank Street Writer]]. Versions were published for the [[Apple II]], [[Commodore 64]] and 128, [[Atari 8-bit familycomputers]], [[VIC-20]], and for [[MS-DOS]].
 
==Versions==
In April 1983 ''[[Compute!]]'' published '''Scriptor''', a word processor written by staff writer Charles Brannon in [[BASIC]] and [[assembly language]], as a [[type-in program]] for the [[Atari 8-bit familycomputers]].<ref name="brannon198304" /> In January 1984 version 1.0 of his new word processor SpeedScript appeared in ''[[Compute!'s Gazette]]'' for the [[Commodore 64]] and [[Commodore VIC-20|VIC-20]].<ref name="brannon198401" /> 1.1 appeared in ''Compute!'s Second Book of Commodore 64'',{{citation<ref>SpeedScript's needed|date=MarchLineage; 2015}}Pg 11 June 1986 Compute! https://archive.org/details/1986-06-compute-magazine/page/n11/mode/2up</ref> 2.0 on ''Gazette Disk'' in May 1984,{{citation<ref>The needed|date=MarchSpeedScript 2015}}Family; Pg 71 May 1987 Compute!'s Gazette https://archive.org/details/computes.gazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_47_1987_May/page/n71/mode/2up</ref><ref>Gazette Disk Premiere ad Pg 33 April 1984 Compute!'s Gazette https://archive.org/details/1984-04-computegazette/page/n33/mode/2up</ref> and 3.0 in ''Compute!'' in March and April 1985.<ref name="Brannon198503" /><ref name="Brannon198504" /> Corrections that updated 3.0 to 3.1 appeared in May 1985,<ref name="capute198505" /> and the full 3.1 version appeared in a book published by Compute!, ''SpeedScript: The Word Processor for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20''.<ref name="Brannon1985commodore" /> ASpeedScript: 3.2The updateWord appearedProcessor infor the DecemberCommodore 1985 ''Compute!''<ref name="Brannon198512" />64 and January 1986 ''Compute! Disk''<ref name="mitchener198606"VIC-20 https:/> and again later in the May 1987 ''Compute!'s Gazette'' issue with three additional utilities/archive.org/details/Computes_Speedscript</ref name="Brannon198705" />
 
SpeedScript[[PEEK wasand later [[PortingPOKE|portedPOKE]]s tofor the AtariVIC-20 and theC64, [[Appleto IIupdate family]]3.0 or 3.1 to 3.2, appeared in the December 1985 ''Compute!'' in May<ref name="Brannon198505Brannon198512" /> and Junethe 1985full respectively3.<ref2 name="Brannon198506"version />was available on the January 1986 ''Compute! Disk''.<ref name="mitchener198606" /> SpeedScriptThe wasPOKEs writtenfor entirelythe in64 assemblywere language,also andincluded Compute!in Publicationsthe laterfull releasedSpeedScript book/disk3.2 combinationsarticle thatwhen containedit thewas completereprinted commentedin sourcethe codeMay (as1987 well''Compute!'s asGazette'' issue and the machinefull languageprogram, inplus [[MLXthree (software)|MLX]]additional format)utilities, forwere eachavailable platform.<refon name="Brannon1985commodore"the /><refMay name="Brannon1985atari"1987 Gazette />Disk.<ref name="Brannon1985appleBrannon198705" />
 
SpeedScript 3.2, alongside SpeedCalc, Fontmaker, and five other utility programs, was included in the special Best of COMPUTE! & GAZETTE<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/1988-Best-Of-computegazette/page/n103/mode/2up | title=Compute! Gazette Issue 1988 Best of | date=December 1988 }}</ref> disk/magazine in 1988.
 
Also of note was the Reader's Feedback column in the January 1986 Compute! which had POKEs to eliminate the DISK or TAPE? question.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/1986-01-compute-magazine/page/n11/mode/2up | title=Compute! Magazine Issue 068 | date=January 1986 }}</ref> There was, however, a typo in the listing and that was corrected in the March 1986 CAPUTE! column.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/1986-03-compute-magazine/page/n127/mode/2up | title=Compute! Magazine Issue 070 | date=March 1986 }}</ref>
 
Ports of V3 for the Atari 8-bit computers and the [[Apple II]] were printed in ''Compute!'' in May<ref name="Brannon198505" /> and June 1985 respectively.<ref name="Brannon198506" /><ref name="mitchener198606" /> SpeedScript was written entirely in assembly language, and Compute! Publications later released book/disk combinations that contained the complete [[Comment (computer programming)|commented]] [[source code]] (as well as the machine language in [[MLX (software)|MLX]] format) for each platform.<ref name="Brannon1985commodore" /><ref name="Brannon1985atari" /><ref name="Brannon1985apple" />
 
A version of SpeedScript for [[MS-DOS]] was created in 1988 by Randy Thompson and published in book form by Compute! Books.<ref name="thompson1989" /> This version was written in [[Turbo Pascal]] with portions written in assembly language, and added incremental new features to the word processor such as additional printer commands, full cursor-control (to take advantage of the PC's Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys), and a native 80-column mode.
 
==80-column updates==
The original versions of SpeedScript were designed for the 40-column Commodore 64 and the 22-column VIC-20. When the [[Commodore 128]] was released, featuring an 80-column display, many users requested an updated version of SpeedScript to take advantage of this new capability. In June 1986, ''Compute!'s Gazette'' published SpeedScript-80, a short [[Patch (computing)|patch]] for SpeedScript 3.0 or higher, which enabled the use of the [[MOS Technology VDC8563|VDC]]'s new 80-column capabilities on a Commodore 128 running in 64 mode.<ref name="heimarck198606" /> However, this did not take advantage of the C128's expanded memory, and a few minor commands were eliminated due to the alterations to the existing code. SpeedScript-80 was enhanced soon after with SpeedScript-80 Revisited, by Bob Kodadek.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
 
[[File:SpeedScript 128 in action.png|thumb|right|SpeedScript 128]]
A native version for the C128 called SpeedScript 128, also written by Bob Kodadek, was finally released in October 1987 Compute!'s Gazette. This version eliminated the problems of the patch and took full advantage of the C128's 80-column screen, its expanded memory and the enhanced keyboard.<ref name="kodadek198710" /> A later update (SS128-Plus) appeared in September 1989 Compute!'s Gazette, adding full text justification, tab setting, and online help.<ref name=gruber198909 />
 
In December 1987, ''Compute!'s Gazette'' published ''Instant 80'', a utility for the C64 version of SpeedScript that allowed 80-column document previewing (though not editing) on a standard C64. This was done by using half-width characters on a high-resolution graphics screen.<ref name="mackinnon198712" />
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==Reception==
 
In a review of four word processors, ''[[The Transactor]]'' in May 1986 praised SpeedScript as "extremely sophisticated", citing its large text buffer, logical cursor navigation, and [[undo]] command. While criticizing its lack of [[typographic alignment|right justification]], the magazine concluded that SpeedScript was not only "an easy winner" among budget-priced word processors, but also "a serious contender even when compared with the higher priced programs".<ref name="bose" />
 
SpeedScript was sufficiently popular to receive coverage in reference works, such as the "Wordprocessing Reference Guide" of [[Karl Hildon]]'s popular ''Inner Space Anthology''<ref name="inner" /> and [[Mitchell Waite]]'s ''The Official Book for the Commodore 128''.<ref name="128book">{{cite book | chapterurlchapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/The_Official_Book_for_the_Commodore_128#page/n87/mode/2up | title=The Official Book for the Commodore 128 Personal Computer | publisher=Howard W. Sams & Co. |author1=Waite, Mitchell |author2=Lafore, Robert |author3=Volpe, Jerry | year=1985 | pages=76 | isbn=0-672-22456-9 | chapter=The C64 Mode}}</ref> [[Columbia University]]'s [[Kermit (protocol)|Kermit]] software for Commodore computers supported transferring SpeedScript files.<ref name="c64ker">{{cite web | url=http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/c64cross/c64ker.txt | title=File Transfers: Transferring Files | publisher=Kermit Project, Columbia University | work=Commodore 64/128 Kermit User's Guide | date=1 January 1992 | accessdateaccess-date=23 February 2016 | author=Sullivan, Kent | pages=18}}</ref>
 
==Gallery==
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|image1=VIC-20 SpeedScript.gif
|width1=392
|caption1=SpeedScript 3.0 for the [[Commodore VIC-20]]
|image2=SpeedScript 3.0.png
|width2=332
|caption2=SpeedScript 3.0 for the [[Atari 8-bit family]]computers
}}
<!-- should get a SpeedScript for Apple screenshot too -->
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|title=''SpeedScript'' Word Processor For Commodore 64 And VIC-20
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1984-01-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_07_1984_Jan#page/n39/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=18 February 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=7
|publisher=[[COMPUTE! Publications]]
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|url=https://archive.org/stream/1983-04-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_035_1983_Apr#page/n57/mode/2up
|title=''Scriptor'': An Atari Word Processor
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issn=0194-357X
|date=April 1983
|issue=35
|accessdateaccess-date=30 October 2013
|last1=Brannon
|first1=Charles
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|title=''SpeedScript 3.0'': All Machine Language Word Processor For Commodore 64
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-03-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_058_1985_Mar#page/n123/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=58
|date=March 1985
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|title=''SpeedScript 3.0'': All Machine Language Word Processor For Expanded VIC-20
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-04-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_059_1985_Apr#page/n101/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=59
|date=April 1985
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|publisher=[[COMPUTE! Publications]]
|___location=Greensboro, North Carolina
|isbn=0-94238-694-9}}
|url=https://archive.org/details/Computes_Speedscript}}
</ref>
<ref name="Brannon198512">{{cite journal
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|title=''SpeedScript 3.0'' Revisited
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-12-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_067_1985_Dec#page/n91/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=67
|date=December 1985
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|title=''SpeedScript 3.2'' For The Commodore 64
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-05-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_47_1987_May#page/n55/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=47
|date=May 1987
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|title=''SpeedScript 3.0'': All Machine Language Word Processor For Atari
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_060_1985_May#page/n103/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=60
|date=May 1985
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|title=''SpeedScript 3.0'': All Machine Language Word Processor For Apple
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-06-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_061_1985_Jun#page/n117/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=61
|date=June 1985
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|url=https://archive.org/stream/1986-06-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_073_1986_Jun#page/n11/mode/2up
|title=''SpeedScript'''s Lineage
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issn=0194-357X
|issue=73
|date=June 1986
|accessdateaccess-date=8 November 2013
|last1=Mitchener
|first1=Leo
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|isbn=0-87455-003-3
|url=https://archive.org/details/ataribooks-speedscript
|url-access=registration
}}
</ref>
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|title=PC SpeedScript
|date=1989
|publisher=[[COMPUTE! Books]]
|___location=Radnor, Pennsylvania
|isbn=0-87455-166-8}}
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|title=SpeedScript-80 For The 128
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1986-06-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_36_1986_Jun#page/n77/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=36
|date=June 1986
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|title=''SpeedScript 128''
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-10-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_52_1987_Oct#page/n23/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=52
|date=October 1987
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|title=''SpeedScript 128 Plus''
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-09-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_75_1989_Sep#page/n39/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=4 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=75
|date=September 1989
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|title=''Instant 80'': True 80-Column Preview For SpeedScript
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-12-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_54_1987_Dec#page/n75/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=54
|date=December 1987
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|title=''SpeedCheck'': An Expandable Spelling Checker For The Commodore 64 And 128
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-12-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_30_1985_Dec#page/n65/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=18 February 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=30
|date=December 1985
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|title=''SpeedCheck 128'': A Spelling Checker For SpeedScript 128
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1988-09-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_63_1988_Sep#page/n61/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=63
|date=September 1988
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|title=ScriptSave: Automatic Disk Saves For Commodore 64 ''SpeedScript 3.0''
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_060_1985_May#page/n85/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=60
|date=May 1985
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|title=ScriptRead
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-05-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_47_1987_May#page/n77/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=18 February 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=47
|date=May 1987
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|title=SpeedSearch
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-05-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_47_1987_May#page/n75/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=18 February 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=47
|date=May 1987
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|title=''SpeedScript'' Date and Time Stamper
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-05-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_47_1987_May#page/n76/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=18 February 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTE!'s Gazette]]
|issue=47
|date=May 1987
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|type=Column
|url=https://archive.org/stream/1985-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_060_1985_May#page/n99/mode/2up
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|workjournal=[[COMPUTECompute!]]
|issue=60
|date=May 1985
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|volume=6
|issue=6
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015
|last1=Bose
|first1=Ranjan
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|last=Hildon
|first=Karl J. H.
|authorlinkauthor-link=Karl Hildon
|date=March 1985
|title=The Complete Commodore Inner Space Anthology
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|pages=17&ndash;19
|isbn=0-9692086-0-X
|accessdateaccess-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>
}}
 
{{Word processors}}
 
[[Category:1984 software]]
[[Category:Word processors]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit familycomputer software]]
[[Category:Apple II word processors]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 software]]
[[Category:Commodore 128 software]]
[[Category:Commodore VIC-20 software]]
[[Category:SoftwareAssembly writtenlanguage primarily in assembly languagesoftware]]
[[Category:Commercial software with available source code]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpeedScript"