Lotus SmartSuite
Encyclopedia
SmartSuite is an office suite
from Lotus Software
. The company made versions of its office suite for IBM OS/2
and Microsoft Windows
.
, and supported with fixes and fixpacks on Windows 2000
and Windows XP
. SmartSuite is not officially supported by IBM on the Windows Vista
operating system, but it does work on the 32-bit version of Vista if the installer and applications are run in compatibility mode (this isn't needed to install or run Organizer 6). IBM has no plans to release specific Vista-compatible versions of SmartSuite or Organizer.
In 2007, IBM introduced a new office suite called IBM Lotus Symphony
, unrelated to the Lotus Symphony integrated application suite that Lotus previously released.
files. The Microsoft programs, however, are capable of reading only a few vintage formats of the Lotus programs, such as the older 1-2-3 .wks and .wk1 files. Furthermore, several of the SmartSuite components provide functionality not found in the Microsoft Office suite, for example Lotus FastSite and Lotus SmartCenter.
, Judge Jackson determined that because of IBM's marketing of Lotus SmartSuite, and other alternatives to Microsoft products, Microsoft "punished the IBM PC Company with higher prices, a late license for Windows 95, and the withholding of technical and marketing support."
Microsoft did not grant IBM OEM
rights for Windows 95 until 15 minutes prior to the release of Windows 95, August 24, 1995. Because of this uncertainty, IBM machines were sold without Windows 95, while Compaq
, HP
, and other indulgent companies sold machines with Windows 95 from day one.
Office suite
In computing, an office suite, sometimes called an office software suite or productivity suite is a collection of programs intended to be used by knowledge workers...
from Lotus Software
Lotus Software
Lotus Software is a software company with headquarters in Westford, Massachusetts...
. The company made versions of its office suite for IBM OS/2
OS/2
OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
Status
SmartSuite is in maintenance modeMaintenance mode
In the world of software development, maintenance mode refers to a point in a program's life when it has reached all of its goals and is generally considered to be "complete" and bug-free. Continued development is deemed unnecessary or ill-advised, but occasional bug fixes and security patches are...
, and supported with fixes and fixpacks on Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
and Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
. SmartSuite is not officially supported by IBM on the Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
operating system, but it does work on the 32-bit version of Vista if the installer and applications are run in compatibility mode (this isn't needed to install or run Organizer 6). IBM has no plans to release specific Vista-compatible versions of SmartSuite or Organizer.
In 2007, IBM introduced a new office suite called IBM Lotus Symphony
IBM Lotus Symphony
IBM Lotus Symphony is a suite of applications for creating, editing, and sharing text, spreadsheet, presentations and other documents, and is currently distributed as freeware. First released in 2007, the suite has a name similar to the 1980s DOS suite Lotus Symphony, but the two programs are...
, unrelated to the Lotus Symphony integrated application suite that Lotus previously released.
Components
The following applications are included in SmartSuite for Microsoft Windows:- Lotus Word ProLotus Word ProLotus Word Pro is word processor software produced by IBM's Lotus Software group for use on Microsoft Windows-compatible computers and on IBM OS/2 Warp. Word Pro can be obtained as part of the Lotus SmartSuite office suite....
— word processorWord processorA word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
; previously called Ami Pro; .lwp files - Lotus 1-2-3Lotus 1-2-3Lotus 1-2-3 is a spreadsheet program from Lotus Software . It was the IBM PC's first "killer application"; its huge popularity in the mid-1980s contributed significantly to the success of the IBM PC in the corporate environment.-Beginnings:...
— spreadsheetSpreadsheetA spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
; .123, .wk1, .wk3, .wk4 files - Lotus Freelance GraphicsLotus Freelance GraphicsLotus Freelance Graphics is an information graphics and presentation program developed by Lotus Software . Lotus Freelance Graphics is a part of the Lotus SmartSuite office suite for Microsoft Windows...
— presentation software; .prz files - Lotus ApproachLotus ApproachLotus Approach is a relational database management system included in IBM's Lotus SmartSuite for Microsoft Windows.Start-up company Approach was first formed in 1991, won over 30 awards the first year, including "best of show" at Comdex...
— relational databaseRelational databaseA relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
; .apr (data entry and reports), .dbf (database) files - Lotus OrganizerLotus OrganizerLotus Organizer is a personal information manager. It was initially developed by Threadz, a small British software house, reaching version 3.0. Organizer was subsequently acquired by Lotus Development Corporation, for whom the package was a Windows-based replacement for Lotus Agenda...
— personal information managerPersonal information managerA personal information manager is a type of application software that functions as a personal organizer. The acronym PIM is now, more commonly, used in reference to Personal information management as a field of study...
; .org, .or2, .or3 files - Lotus SmartCenter — a toolbarToolbarIn a graphical user interface, on a computer monitor, a toolbar is a GUI widget on which on-screen buttons, icons, menus, or other input or output elements are placed. Toolbars are seen in office suites, graphics editors, and web browsers...
that let users quickly access programs, calendar, Internet bookmarks, and other resources - Lotus FastSite — web design software; .htm files
- Lotus ScreenCam — screen recording software for demos and tutorials; .scm, .exe, .wav files
Microsoft Windows
- 1994 — 2.1 (Ami Pro 3.0, 1-2-3 4.0, Freelance Graphics 2.0, Approach 2.0 and Organizer 1.1)
- SmartSuite 3.1 (Windows 3.11) — (Lotus 1-2-3 vers. 5, Approach 3.0, Ami Pro 3.1, Freelance Graphics 2.1, Organizer 2.1, ScreenCam 1.1).
- (1996) — SmartSuite 97 — Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 (1-2-3 97, Word Pro 97, Approach 97, Freelance Graphics 97, Organizer 97, ScreenCam 4.0 and SmartCenter)
- (1999) — SmartSuite Millennium Edition (9.5) — (Organizer 5.0, Fastsite release 2, WordPro Millennium Edition, 1-2-3 Millennium Edition, Freelance Graphics Millennium Edition, Approach Millennium Edition, SmartCenter and ScreenCam).
- October 2002: Latest version: SmartSuite Millennium Edition 9.8. Fixpack 2 was the last version provided to the general public. All subsequent releases are only available to IBM Passport Advantage subscribers. Fixpack 3 was released in October 2005 and Fixpack 4 in October 2006. A subsequent Fixpack 5 was released in October 2007 followed by Fixpack 6 in December 2008, although these Fixpacks only contain changes to the Lotus Approach database software, perhaps indicating that active maintenance of this product is drawing to a close.
Compatibility
Most or all SmartSuite programs are capable of reading and writing the corresponding Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
files. The Microsoft programs, however, are capable of reading only a few vintage formats of the Lotus programs, such as the older 1-2-3 .wks and .wk1 files. Furthermore, several of the SmartSuite components provide functionality not found in the Microsoft Office suite, for example Lotus FastSite and Lotus SmartCenter.
IBM vs Microsoft
In his finding of facts for United States v. MicrosoftUnited States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft was a set of civil actions filed against Microsoft Corporation pursuant to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 Section 1 and 2 on May 8, 1998 by the United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states. Joel I. Klein was the lead prosecutor...
, Judge Jackson determined that because of IBM's marketing of Lotus SmartSuite, and other alternatives to Microsoft products, Microsoft "punished the IBM PC Company with higher prices, a late license for Windows 95, and the withholding of technical and marketing support."
Microsoft did not grant IBM OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
rights for Windows 95 until 15 minutes prior to the release of Windows 95, August 24, 1995. Because of this uncertainty, IBM machines were sold without Windows 95, while Compaq
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
, HP
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
, and other indulgent companies sold machines with Windows 95 from day one.
External links
- Lotus SmartSuite page
- SmartSuite technical forum
- The XpertSS - Support for Users of the Lotus SmartSuite
- [ftp://ftp.lotus.com/pub/lotusweb/product/smartsuite/Kvlotus.exe Free viewer for Lotus SmartSuite products (EXE)]
- Fix list for SmartSuite for Windows 9.8 and fix packs
- Getting Smartsuite running under Vista64