As many users have noticed, this blog has not been updated in some time. This does not mean that development has stopped on PageFour, only that over the past year I got side tracked with other projects. A lot of work is planned for PageFour over the next couple of months, and I’ll be reporting on that work here as it’s completed.
The beta version that many users have already downloaded has recently been finalised into a release version (1.70), with appropriate documentation. Full details can be found in the post below. The reason this version was released as is, is that I wanted to make a stable version containing the Word DOCX format changes available before any other changes are made with the upcoming release.
Many of the new features planned for the next release are based on user feedback, and comments left on previous posts on this blog.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Great news! Thanks for your continued development of this tremendously useful software.
March 6th, 2009 at 3:32 am
I really enjoy using the program and it’s good to hear that it’s in development!
I keep switching back and forth between PageFour and LSB XE and can’t quite to commit to one or the other. They both have their +s!
March 11th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Thank for your continued work on this program. This is the closest software I can find for windows that comes close to the functionality offered by Scrivener for the mac!
Thanks a lot.
March 11th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I was delighted to discover today that P4 is still in development. I’ve been using it almost every day for well over a year without a single problem.
It is a superb writing tool.
I do hope however that it becomes possible to develop a version that will run off a USB portable flash drive. I frequently find myself working at other computers where I cannot install, nor do I want to install, Page Four.
Rick Grant
Calgary Canada
March 11th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I’m pleased to hear PageFour is continuing to be developed. I’d started to look for alternatives, thinking support would soon be withdrawn, or PageFour would not support up and coming Window versions.
A better Thesaurus and spelling library would be at the top of my wish list…
I look forward to my upgrade….
March 28th, 2009 at 12:46 am
A portable version of PageFour would be very appreciated.
Thanks for all your hard work David.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Sorry, lack of sleep, I meant Darren not David.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Quote: “Many of the new features planned for the next release are based on user feedback, and comments left on previous posts on this blog.”
Any chance that you’ll tell us what features are planned?
May 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I’d like to Jeremy, but until they’re completed, there’s always a possibility that they won’t make the cut. At which point, there’d be a lot of “But you told us…” comments.
May 25th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Just checking up on how my favourite Windows creative writing software is going and so happy to hear that a big update is planned.
I actually think it is pretty perfect for what it does do, but I would love to see four things added (in order) that would mean that I don’t need to use other programs (or waste paper):
1. Some sort of corkboard/note card organisation feature a la Scrivener
2. A Full Page View that uses a white page like a piece of paper (like the print view in Word) - for some reason, I’m most comfortable with writing like this - maybe because it feels like I’m writing on a real piece of paper. It would mean having to use Word less.
3. A Full Page View like Darkroom (where you only have the words and no formatting controls) - it’s sometimes good for a change and eliminating distractions.
4. Some way of only seeing current notebooks in the notebook section or maybe adding folders for the notebook section rather than just for pages - sometimes seeing old projects is distracting.
I’m sure it’s way too late to make much difference but thought I’d pipe up anyway!
May 26th, 2009 at 12:33 am
I am sorry, but Nos.2, 3 & 4 suggestions by Cat are quite weird, not needed to the majority of the users, and show just his inability to concentrate.
Some noteboard (always on top) might be useful, but it was suggested earlier.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Hi Darren,
Just a quick question. I’m evaluating Page4 right now to see if it suits my needs. If it does, then I will buy it. I am curious, when version 2 is release will I need to purchase a new license? If so would I be better off waiting for version 2 and buying it, rather then buying version 1.x now?
Regards
Steve
May 26th, 2009 at 9:50 am
@Cat: Variations of numbers 1 and 4 are on the cards, though they won’t be obvious. The intent is to work them in in such a way that users who are happy with PageFour as it us won’t even know they exist.
@Steve: The license covers all upgrades, so you wouldn’t need to purchase a new license.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am
@Darren: Thanks for the update - #1 would definitely the coolest.
@defoe: I was little surprised that you thought that my #2 and #3 suggestions were “weird”. An uncluttered page view is a common device that writers use to help them get in the zone. #2 is a standard view option in most word processors including Word and #3 is an advertised feature of Scrivener and is so popular that there are many standalone programs that only provide this simple view. I was only suggesting them as view options - if they didn’t appeal then they could be safely ignored.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
The only thing I need is a cork board like Scrivener, and PageFour will be for me the perfect tool.
June 7th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I think PageFour is an extremely useful software the way it already is, and that including a lot of new features won’t necessarily improve it. In the end, its appeal lays in the fact it is a -and I say this with all the respect in the world- “dumbed-down” word processor, which is straightforward to use and doesn’t overwhelm the user with a lot of toolbars and features.
What appeals me the most about PageFour is its two pane interface and the way it can organize and display within the same interface several files. If I had to see PageFour mutating into something new, I’d love that you could put diferent kinds of files -like pictures, audio,…- in the left panel and that it could display in the right panel most of them or, if not, call for the external application that opens them by default. That way, PageFour would become an extraordinary research asistant. There are problably applications out there that can do this, but those I know of -some free form databases- are rather uncomfortable to use and their interfaces aren’t as lean as the one in PageFour. If I could ask for new features in PageFour, that would be it. But I’m aware that isn’t the purpose of this software and I don’t expect it to take that shape.
June 7th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Yes, I can use OneNote for the research stuff, but the interface is just silly. Two pane simplicity is the way to go.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
If I were to recommend one thing, it would be to step back from the actual use of fonts (or make it an option not to use them) — to allow people to assign types or styles to their headers/text so that they would more accurately represent what they want to do. (Of course, this would be difficult because you store everything as RTF).
July 9th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Any interesting updates on what types of things are being built and when they might be released?
July 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Not yet Daniel. Still working on it.
July 12th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Glad to hear there’s a new version in the works–good luck and kudos on the great app!
September 15th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Any update on the progress of the next version? Looking forward to it!
September 27th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Are you considering live word count as a feature for the upcoming version? Even a counter displaying how many words left to a given wordcount. Those would be pretty cool and useful features, but only if they don’t clutter the interface, which is close to perfection as it is.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Thanks for the suggestion Nelson.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hi Darren,
Any news ? In March you said “A lot of work is planned for PageFour over the next couple of months” Surly you can tell us something now ???
Looking forward to PageFour v 2010 !!
Thanks, and have a great Christmas….
Chris
January 4th, 2010 at 2:09 am
What Chris G said ^^ !
Hope you had a good new years!
January 18th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
about the live word count, i would find that very distracting while i’m typing. personally, i’d rather just see how i’m doing after i’ve finished and not worry while i’m typing. for that reason, if this is incorporated, then i recommend that the user is able to hide it.
any news on how long we have to wait for the upgrade?
January 26th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
I’m also really looking forward to the new version (hint, hint), but for now, just have a question; I accidently added a misspelled word to my dictionary. How can I remove it?
Thanks-Patrick
January 26th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Working furiously.
Spelling Menu, Options, Dictionaries button at the bottom of the dialog, select the dictionary with your name (Patrick?), and click Edit.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Further to the suggestions above.
The corkboard feature is excellent.
And the ability to run it from a USB device would be a great feature - I, for one, type on a couple of different laptops and this would be worthwhile for me.
N
January 27th, 2010 at 4:37 am
Excellent! Thank you for the walk through. Now if I can remember those steps for all the times I’m bound to do this in the future ; )
Thanks again Darren!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
hi darren, i think it would be a good idea to have full screen 2-page reading, like in ms office word 2007. when i discovered it in word, i was incredibly impressed and it felt just like i was reading a real book. with the book writing ethos of page-four, i think a 2-page view where you can’t edit would fit-in just perfectly as a tool to review your work/progress.
i also have another recommendation. it would just be a fancy addition if you were able to make a primitive design of your book cover; just something simple like what you would write on the front, side, and back. i think it would be really cool. and of course, it would oppose the simplicity of pagefour if you start adding all the features of adobe photoshop; but i do think a simple section for the cover would be a positive.
finally, i was hoping that you could give us some indication as to when this version is coming out.
thanks,
sulaiman
January 29th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Some interesting ideas there Sulaiman.
Work on the next release is underway, and I expect to be reporting on it in about 6 weeks. No guarantees on features at this stage though.
January 30th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
i appreciate the update, and i’m glad it to be of service
February 19th, 2010 at 7:08 am
Just want to add to the suggestions, if not just basically repeating some of them…
A full-screen view editor, no menus at all, no borders on the sides of the window. As someone has mentioned, if you could somehow set the “width” of the column to emulate a paper page, it would be nice. At the very least, making the program window black when using ctrl O so that the sides are completely gone.
Quick color formating (?)… I find it useful to sometimes have a dark background, light font (at night, wife sleeping) and light background, dark font… if we could assign (2) universal color profiles and quickly switch between them, it would be nice, instead of having to change the background and selecting all the font at each page…
Installing to a portable flash drive so that any computer can become our novel would be nice too…
Last, I would add a voice AGAINST any photo adding / editing of any sort. I like keeping it simple for a change; there are other options available for a bunch of features.
Thanks for the wonderful product.
February 19th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I agree with Richie on most parts.
- Fullscreen mode similar to Q10 is what i crave most (with active word count, custom fonts and colors).
- Quick color formating is a great idea.
- Installing to flash drive, i don’t nessarally need this. But seems like a highly requested feature.
- Currently you can view .rtf files with photos already added. I think a simple “Insert photo” option would be have little to no intrusion at all.
I would also like to add
- Active word count in statusbar. More statusbar customization would be nice too.
- New Icons, current ones are dated. Notebook icons dont even look like notebooks.
- User groups (google groups mabye, you can create one in just a couple minutes.)
February 19th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I clicked submit before finishing my post.
I beleive active word count and Q10 like full screen writing are the two main reasons why i don’t use PageFour to type up my work and mainly for organizing. If these were added i would have no reason to stick to Q10 anymore.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:00 am
I checked out Q10 and would have to agree that that full screen mode is a beauty.
Merge the full-screen mode, status bar and the ease of changing their options and features (font, background color, ect.) in that program with Pagefour’s system and I think this would become a writer’s software heaven…
March 7th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
i think having the ability to have more than one pagefour file at the same time, like ms word, would be good. i am currently starting a number books, all which have different sections. each book would benefit from pagefour’s folder system, but it would be nice if i could keep different genre’s/topics in totally seperate. say for example i wanted to email someone my work on a certain field, such as biology, i wouldn’t want them to see my work on theology as well.
even if it was just a matter of having the option of seperate files, i would opt for that availability.