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Definition: XyWrite
Pronounced "zy-write." A venerable text editor and word processing program developed by XyQuest, Inc., Billerica, Massachusetts. Introduced for DOS in 1982, XyWrite was used extensively throughout the 1980s and 1990s in the newspaper and magazine industry as well as by professional writers who needed complete typographic control over the page layout.
From DOS to Windows to Nota Bene
A Windows version was also created (see XyWrite for Windows). In 1992, XyWrite products were acquired by The Technology Group, Baltimore, MD, which closed its doors in 2001. However, XyWrite lives on in the form of Nota Bene, a technical word processor based on XyWrite code (see Nota Bene).
XyWrite Format Codes
Custom Menus
Totally Customizable
From DOS to Windows to Nota Bene
A Windows version was also created (see XyWrite for Windows). In 1992, XyWrite products were acquired by The Technology Group, Baltimore, MD, which closed its doors in 2001. However, XyWrite lives on in the form of Nota Bene, a technical word processor based on XyWrite code (see Nota Bene).
Like HTML, XyWrite uses embedded tags that are normally hidden (top) but can be instantly revealed (bottom). This encyclopedia was written in, and is maintained in, a custom-programmed version of XyWrite. At month end, conversion programs written in C turn the XyWrite files into an XML master from which several formats are derived. See Windows CDE and HTML.
Although XyWrite was a command-driven application, custom menus could be programmed. This is some of the underlying code to create a Search Forward function. As is quite apparent, the programming language was downright obtuse.
XyWrite could be customized in every way possible, and this is the 640-page programming manual.