Not entirely off-topic, old software, yada, yada:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/397729/ ... ve-up.html
The articles is from 2019, but still...
Last week I received an email notice from Microsoft informing me that, as of January 14, 2020, they will no longer support Windows 7, which I still have on one of my desktop computers. Why? Because I have some legacy software that is incompatible with Windows 8 and 10: dBase III+, Paint Shop Pro 7, PageMaker, several graphics programs and plugins—one is the first version of Andromeda, which offers some amazing graphic effects—and a few other applications that were originally DOS-based.
Here are six programs I found that people just won’t quit.
The list:
Office 2003 (imagine my lack of shock).
Corel Draw! and PaintShop Pro, specifically Paintshop pro versions 5 and 7 (imagine my lack of shock).
I can't say I'm entirely surprised the next two are on a list, but the fact that they rise to make it even to a top ten does kinda surprise me:
dBase III+ and Lotus 1-2-3
The reasons provided by most of the individuals I asked are:
Familiarity with the software
Easier to configure and customize
Uses less system resources (memory, disk space, virtual, etc.) and therefore, processes faster
The macros and programming are modeled after the actual commands.
For example, in Lotus, /FS is the command equivalent to File > Save, and the macro command for File > Save. You can easily write macros in Lotus if you know the menu commands, no programming experience needed—and all the menu commands are right there on the screen. Lotus also has a macro recorder, which placed the macro in an “out-of-the-way location” on the same spreadsheet to simplify editing.
Macros in Excel are not so easy. You can use the macro recorder for the basic stuff, but you must know Visual Basic to do anything complex or to even edit the macro. This is no problem for programmers, but everyday users just want the software to work without the hassle of learning a programming language.
Note: While researching information for this article, I recently learned that you can configure dBase III+ to work on the 32-bit versions of Windows 8 and 10 by making a few adjustments through the Control Panel and Command Prompt.
Regarding Lotus, 1-2-3, perhaps if I were just a tad older and had become accustomed to entering formalas in the manner Lotus accepts them, maybe I wouldn't be surpised. I have to admit also that having something simplier than VB macros sounds nice. I did, on a few occasions, use WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3 way back when, but got a lot more time in with MS Works during that time.
I think that I've mentioned Truis Inc, giving away their really old versions of Lotus 1-2-3 work-alikes (not so sure I would go as far as 'clones').
And '!', I swear to you this is the company that made and sold these products, they absolutely have the right to give them away...
DOS Version:
http://www.triusinc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10
Windows Version:
http://www.triusinc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9
Obviously, I haven't looked at these thoroughly, but did install them and took a minor peek. They're not my cup of tea, for the reasons I mentioned above. Also, note that Truis DOES NOT provide support for these things anymore. There may be some issues getting either of them to run on newer Windows.