WordPerfect Corporation

WordPerfect Corporation was a leading developer of word processing software, founded by Bruce Bastian and Alan Ashton in 1979. The company's flagship product, WordPerfect, was widely used in the 1980s and 1990s by individuals and organizations, including IBM, Microsoft, and Apple Inc.. WordPerfect Corporation was also a major player in the development of software for CP/M, MS-DOS, and Windows, competing with other notable companies like Lotus Software and Corel Corporation. The company's success was closely tied to the growth of the personal computer market, which was driven by innovations from companies like Intel Corporation and Hewlett-Packard.

● History

WordPerfect Corporation was founded in 1979 by Bruce Bastian and Alan Ashton, two Brigham Young University graduates who developed the first version of WordPerfect for Data General minicomputers. The company's early success was fueled by the popularity of CP/M and MS-DOS, and it quickly became a major player in the word processing market, competing with other notable companies like Microsoft and Lotus Software. In the 1980s, WordPerfect Corporation expanded its product line to include WordPerfect Library, a suite of software applications that included a spreadsheet program, a database program, and a presentation program, similar to Microsoft Office and Corel WordPerfect Office. The company also developed software for Apple Macintosh and IBM PC, and formed partnerships with other major companies, including IBM, Apple Inc., and Hewlett-Packard. WordPerfect Corporation's growth was also influenced by the development of the Internet and the World Wide Web, which was driven by innovations from companies like Netscape Communications and America Online.

● Products

WordPerfect Corporation developed a range of software products, including WordPerfect, WordPerfect Library, and Corel WordPerfect Office. The company's flagship product, WordPerfect, was a word processing program that was widely used by individuals and organizations, including Microsoft, IBM, and Apple Inc.. WordPerfect Corporation also developed software for legal professionals, including WordPerfect for Law Firms and Corel WordPerfect for Law Firms, which competed with other notable products like LexisNexis and Westlaw. The company's products were also used by government agencies, including the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and by major corporations like General Electric and Procter & Gamble. WordPerfect Corporation's products were often compared to those of other major software companies, including Microsoft, Lotus Software, and Corel Corporation.

● Features and Technology

WordPerfect Corporation's software products were known for their advanced features and technology, including Reveal Codes, a feature that allowed users to view and edit the underlying code of a document, similar to HTML and XML. The company's products also included macros, which allowed users to automate repetitive tasks, and templates, which provided pre-designed layouts for common documents, similar to those found in Microsoft Word and Google Docs. WordPerfect Corporation's software was also compatible with a range of file formats, including Microsoft Word and Rich Text Format, and could be used with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. The company's products were often praised for their ease of use and flexibility, and were widely used by writers, editors, and designers, including those at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Adobe Systems.

● Impact and Legacy

WordPerfect Corporation had a significant impact on the development of the software industry, and its products were widely used by individuals and organizations around the world, including NASA, The White House, and The United Nations. The company's flagship product, WordPerfect, was a major competitor to Microsoft Word and other word processing programs, and its advanced features and technology helped to drive innovation in the industry, influencing the development of other notable products like Google Docs and Microsoft Office Online. WordPerfect Corporation's software was also used by a range of notable individuals, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Linus Torvalds, and the company's products were often featured in major publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Wired. The company's legacy can be seen in the many software products that have been developed since its founding, including Corel WordPerfect Office and LibreOffice, which continue to be used by millions of people around the world, including those at Amazon, Facebook, and Google.

● Company Timeline

WordPerfect Corporation was founded in 1979 by Bruce Bastian and Alan Ashton. In 1980, the company released its first product, WordPerfect for Data General minicomputers. In 1982, the company released WordPerfect for CP/M and MS-DOS, and in 1985, it released WordPerfect Library, a suite of software applications. In 1994, the company was acquired by Novell, and in 1996, it was acquired by Corel Corporation. Today, WordPerfect Corporation is a subsidiary of Corel Corporation, and its products continue to be used by individuals and organizations around the world, including those at Microsoft, IBM, and Apple Inc.. The company's history is closely tied to the development of the personal computer market, which was driven by innovations from companies like Intel Corporation and Hewlett-Packard, and its legacy can be seen in the many software products that have been developed since its founding, including Microsoft Office and Google Docs.