Writer's Workbench Release 8.16

Writer's Workbench Release 8.3 is Now Available!

Writer's Workbench 8.3 (June, 2009) provides 8.2 enhancements plus -

Assessment Scores Module

R Choose which scores to display in the Assessment Scores module

R Bold suggestions make it easier to see what areas need improvement

R Acceptable scores now indicate why goals
are acceptable

R Ability to control which scores are displayed, set goals, and turn on or turn off tracking writing scores from single network file

Options Menu

R More intuitive in making selections

R "Browse-to" for selecting and for creating alternate directories for setup files

R “Browse-to” for selecting folders for WWB usage and WWB Assessment data files

Print analyses to printers other than the default printer

International Characters (like the “é” in “café”) – now converted to provide more accurate results

50 Word Minimum – WWB 8.3 now analyzes as few as 50 words to check short works - 100 word minimum in previous releases

2.2 Style Statistics with Support – nominalizations – printed even when acceptable percentage is met

Unreported Diction Bug fixed – sporadic problematic word or phrase missed at beginning of paragraph - fixed

WWB Keyboard Shortcuts

R <Alt-B> - Open our sample document, “The Tempest”

R <Alt-Ctrl-Shift-A> - Enter the Assessment Scores Configuration Menu

R <Alt-Ctrl-Shift-O> - Enter the WWB Options Menu

R <Alt-Ctrl-Shift-P> - Edit Pet Peeves lookup and suggestions for 5.1 Diction Alerts

R <Alt-Ctrl-Shift-S> - Set Word's WWB Windows Sizes (Windows 2000 and later)

R <Alt-Ctrl-Shift-W> - Set Word's WWB Windows Sizes (Windows '98, Windows ME)

WWB Support and Training – With permission, remote control of your computer for support and training using GoToAssist

Institutions that have renewed their licenses will receive these exciting new enhancements free of charge.

Writer's Workbench 8.2 (June, 2008) provided 8.18 enhancements plus -

	More "Word 2007 friendly" – now works with Word 2007’s ribbons AND uses toolbars for previous Word releases
	A new "Pet Peeves" module, where teachers or users can add their own problematic words and phrases to the Diction analysis and modify suggestions if the program finds those words or phrases
	Easier to read WWB Analysis menu and STEPS Writing Exercise menu
	More statistics in the Assessment module – now analyzes 22 statistics that can easily be used to track writing improvement through Excel or a database program – Can be used to help grade papers - Create your own writing standards!
	No need to uninstall previous release - upgrade overrides appropriate files from previous installations		New, more descriptive message boxes that help guide users through navigation of the programs
	Compatibility enhancements for Word ’97, Word 2000, Word XP, Word 2003, and Word 2007		New WWB Help and documentation reflect WWB in previous Word releases and in Word 2007’s new interface

Writer's Workbench 8.18 (June, 2007) provided 8.17 enhancements plus -

	Now compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Word 2007 in addition to Windows ’95, Windows ’98, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Word ’97, Word 2000, Word XP, and Word 2003
	New, sophisticated Writing Mechanics Assessment Statistics (WMAS) Module		A new method to track writing improvement using the WMAS module
	New, more descriptive message boxes that help guide users through navigation of the programs		New checks to help Word recover from problems that can leave the computer looking as if the application had “died”
	New mechanism to set thresholds and corresponding “threshold not achieved” messages for 18 quantifiable writing mechanics statistics-

Writer's Workbench 8.17 (June, 2006) provided 8.16 enhancements plus -

	More versatile display resolutions – now including support for high-resolution monitors and display settings to compensate for non-standard toolbar selections		Word’s window sizes (composition and analysis) now can be reset with keyboard macros
	Better error checking and better messages to help debug problems with schools’ security programs		Better handling of abbreviations and strange punctuation as Writer’s Workbench determines sentences
	Timeout now adjustable for slower computer systems (Writer’s Workbench Options Menu)		Writer’s Workbench Manuals, Faculty Guides, Orientations, Ordering Information, PowerPoint Show, and Brochures now installed with the software – click “Start, (All) Programs, Writer’s Workbench, Documentation” – feel free to view or print these documents as needed
	A new button on the WWB Analysis Toolbar allows the writer, after making changes to the composition, a quick rerun of his or her analysis

Writer's Workbench 8.16 (June, 2005) provided 8.15 enhancements plus -

	New video tutorials on the Writer's Workbench CD and on our website		Numbered analyses and STEPS programs for easier reference
	Improved Style Sheet		Flagging sentences ending in prepositions (Diction Analysis)
	New one or two page orientation to help teachers and students quickly become familiar with Writer’s Workbench		New faculty guides on the WWB CD to help instructors fold WWB into the writing curriculum

Writer's Workbench 8.15 (June, 2004) provided Word 2003 compatibility
plus all of the features and improvements in Version 8.13 -

	New Analysis - Self and Personal Pronouns Flags First-, Second-, and Third-Person Pronouns		Better handling of abbreviations and non-traditional use of periods
	Displaying only those sentences with flagged items – Verbs, Clarity, Words, Punctuation		Diction and Check Analyses – much easier to interpret and make revisions
	Providing one or more bold statistics at the top of each analysis		Easier to navigate between analysis and composition - more conducive to making revisions based on feedback
	New analysis: "Comma, Semicolon, Colon" – Provides rules for internal-to-sentence punctuation		Manual (Adobe PDF) displayable through the STEPS menu
	Dramatic performance enhancements (Word 2000, 2002 (XP), and Word 2003)		Automatic setup - install and start using WWB
	Easier to focus on problematic areas		New manual and help files

Click here or call (888)366-8326 (U.S.Toll-free) or (630)548-4219 (Direct) to order a personal copy of Writer's Workbench.

Last modified 07/29/09.