Complete WordStar 7.0 Archive

Robert J. Sawyer, a Canadian science fiction writer and winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards, has created a complete online archive of WordStar 7.0, a word-processing program he and other writers, including George R.R. Martin, continue to use despite its abandonment since 1992. The archive includes the WordStar program, extensive user resources, and fully searchable PDFs of original manuals, totaling over 1,000 pages. It is designed to run on modern operating systems using MS-DOS emulators like DOSBox-X and vDosPlus, with detailed instructions provided for installation. The archive is comprehensive, weighing 700 megabytes and containing over 3,600 files, including utilities and resources from the CompuServe WordStar Forum, where Sawyer was a sysop. Sawyer emphasizes the program's efficiency and logical interface, which he believes surpasses modern alternatives like Microsoft Word. The archive also features various versions of WordStar, each with different help levels and color schemes, catering to user preferences. Additionally, Sawyer has included customization options and tips for maximizing the program's functionality, such as editing multiple documents simultaneously and swapping keyboard functions for improved usability. The archive aims to preserve the legacy of WordStar and provide a resource for writers who appreciate its unique features. For those interested, the archive is available for download, along with detailed documentation and guides for effective use.