Ragtime

RagTime is a computer tool. It helps people make papers. You can add words and pictures. You can also add charts. It can even show slides.

This tool uses frames. A frame is a box on a page. You put things inside the box. Text can flow from one box to another. This helps it stay in order.

Many people use it. Architects and schools use it. It helps them make reports. It also helps them make forms.

It started a long time ago. It first came out in 1986. It was made for a computer called a Macintosh. Later, it worked on Windows too.

It is still around today. People use new versions of it. It is a helpful way to work.

RagTime is a special tool for computers. It helps people make many kinds of papers. It works by putting many tools in one place. You can write words in it. You can also make charts and drawings. It can even show slide shows.

RagTime works using frames. A frame is a box on a page. You put your work inside these boxes. Sometimes, text can flow from one box to another. This happens through a pipeline. A pipeline is a link between two frames. This link helps the text move in order.

Many people use this software. Architects and schools use it to make reports. It also helps people make forms. It can even make brochures.

RagTime has a long history. It first came out in 1986. At first, it was only for Macintosh computers. In 1999, a version for Windows came out. The company has changed over the years. It even faced bankruptcy in 2007. A new company took over to keep it going. Today, RagTime still works on new computers.

RagTime is a special kind of computer software for business. It is called integrated software because it puts many tools into one program. You can use it to write words, make spreadsheets, and create simple drawings. It also lets you process images and make charts. This makes it a great tool for making reports, forms, and documents. Many different people use it, like architects, schools, and office workers.

This software works in a very specific way using frames. A frame is like a box on a page where you put your content. You can place things in a fixed spot inside a frame. If you are using text or a spreadsheet, the information can flow from one frame to another. This happens through a link called a "pipeline." All your different work, like text and images, stays inside one single document type.

RagTime has a long history that started in 1985. It was first made for Macintosh computers and was called MacFrame. It was released in 1986 with its current name. In the beginning, it was very popular in Europe. However, it was hard to sell in North America because it cost $395 in 1990. The North American office closed in 1991 after another company released a cheaper version.

There have been many versions of RagTime over the years. The first version came out in 1986 for System 3.0. In 1999, RagTime 5.0 was released for both Macintosh and Windows. The company went through some hard times and filed for bankruptcy in July 2007. After that, a new company called RagTime.de Development GmbH took over. They continue to make the software today.

Today, the software is very advanced and works on many computers. The current version is RagTime 6.6.5. It works on Windows 10 and various versions of macOS. You can even use special coding languages to make the software do tasks automatically. On a Mac, this is done with AppleScript. On Windows, it uses something called an OLE/COM API. This helps the software talk to other programs on your computer.

RagTime is a specialized type of integrated software designed for business publishing. Integrated software means it combines many different tools into one single program. It includes word processing, spreadsheets, image processing, and drawing tools. Users can also create charts and slide shows within the same environment. This variety allows people to build complex documents like reports, forms, and professional documentation. The software serves many different groups, including architects, educational institutions, and various business administrations.

The core design of RagTime is unique because it is frame-oriented. In most programs, text flows continuously down a page. In RagTime, all content must live inside a frame. A frame is a specific area on a page that holds information. Some content stays in a fixed position within its frame. However, text and spreadsheets can behave differently. They can flow from one frame into another using a connection called a "pipeline." This allows for complex layouts while keeping data organized. Because it uses a single compound document type, one file can hold many different layouts, such as a spreadsheet next to a text block.

RagTime offers several specialized modules to handle different tasks. The page layout module helps users create templates and forms. The spreadsheet module functions similarly to Microsoft Excel, allowing for complex data management. Users can apply formulas and functions to text, graphics, and spreadsheets alike. For visual elements, the software includes vector graphics tools. These allow for the creation of lines, polygons, and Bézier curves. The software also supports audio and video, as well as interactive buttons like pop-up menus and switches.

The history of RagTime began in 1985. It was originally developed for the Macintosh and was named MacFrame. It was officially released in 1986 under its current name. In the early years, the software became very prominent in the European Macintosh market. However, it struggled to find success in North America. In 1990, the software cost $395, which was a high price for many users. By 1991, the North American sales office closed. This happened shortly after Claris Corporation released ClarisWorks, which offered similar features at a lower cost.

For a long time, the developers focused only on Macintosh computers. They eventually released a Windows version called RagTime 5.0 in 1999. Even with this expansion, the software faced heavy competition from established packages like Microsoft Office. The company also experienced significant changes in its ownership. After disagreements among shareholders, the company filed for bankruptcy in July 2007. Following this, a new company named RagTime.de Development GmbH took over the rights. This company has been responsible for the continued development of the software.

RagTime has evolved through many distinct versions over the decades. The first version launched in 1986 for System 3.0. Version 4 was released in 1996, and it was the first to be coded entirely in C++. Earlier versions, from RagTime 1 through 3, were developed using a language called Pascal. Recent updates have focused on modern computer features. For example, the 2015 release of RagTime 6.6 included support for high-resolution "Retina" displays. The software continues to update for new operating systems, such as the recent RagTime 7.0.4 released for macOS 15 and Windows 11.

Advanced users can also use programming to automate tasks within RagTime. On macOS, the software supports AppleScript, which is a system-wide scripting language. Users can even use the AppleScript Editor to record their own actions and turn them into programs. On Windows, RagTime uses an OLE/COM API. This allows the software to interact with other programs through various programming languages. There are also several extensions available to add more power. For instance, "FileTime" allows access to FileMaker Pro databases, and "MetaFormula" allows users to calculate text as a formula. These tools help RagTime connect to larger systems and more complex data environments.