
“Tests with Word 2003 were particularly fraught.To that, I’d ask: would anyone want PerfectIt running automatically all the time? Is this causing anyone else frustration? Before you can access the ribbon buttons, you have to click the far left ribbon button that says Launch PerfectIt.” “PerfectIt doesn’t run in Word automatically.My response to this is: how many editors find that to be true? Have more than 5% of users ever looked at the help file? How many have looked at every description of every test?

Perfectit 3 review software#
I think that a software review that addresses the challenges and benefits experienced by the user who writes the review can still be robust in its analysis. LH: I think a robust, as in uncompromising, review could include details of only the new features. Does not “robustness” require a fuller discussion? Again, here I’d question the appropriateness of your using the term “robust”.

Perfectit 3 review full#
My feeling is that the review title in question was acknowledging that those editors, proofreaders and writers who do have this confidence will be able to maximize PerfecIt’s functionality, and given that the review was written by a very experienced editor, it’s understandable that the article was positioned in such a way.ĭH: The reviews you’ve featured haven’t addressed in detail PerfectIt’s full functionality rather, they’ve just looked at the new features in Version 3. Having experience of using such tools gives one the confidence to experiment with their various features, and this in turn can have a really positive impact on one’s editorial business practice. I’m not just talking about PerfectIt, but a whole range of tools – from Word’s find/replace function, to both simple recorded macros and more complex scripted ones. Rather, I’ve come across many people in the international editorial community who are still nervous about using complementary tools to improve their efficiency and output quality. It’s not that newbies can’t use PerfectIt – they can, and I think they should. I do, however, suspect that to maximize the full functionality of the software, one would need to be reasonably comfortable with using Word and its plugins. LH: I don’t think someone needs to be an experienced editor (or proofreader or writer) to avail themselves of the benefits of PerfectIt. What about editors who have completed training but are just starting out? What about non-editors with a good grasp of language? Do you think someone needs to be an “experienced editor” to use PerfectIt? ĭH: One review was entitled “Quality Software for the Experienced Editor”. Having said that, I don’t think others should hold back on doing their own detailed exploration of the software, particularly given that you offer a try-before-you-buy option.

You’re correct that I haven’t yet done a public detailed review of PerfectIt 3 myself (though I’m using the software on a regular basis), and if it seems like my links to other people’s reviews are a case of time-strapped piggy-backing on other people’s hard work, you’re not far wrong!īut this isn't the only reason: as a proofreader who specializes in working for publishers on hard copy and PDF, I’m rarely in a position to take advantage of PerfectIt’s full functionality – it simply isn’t apporpriate for the kind of intervention my clients require. Louise Harnby: You make a fair point, Daniel, though I used the word “robust” in quite a general sense to mean “uncompromising” rather than in the more academic sense that some might be used to. I’m not sure I’d agree with you below I’ve provided some questions and examples to help illustrate the issues.īut for now, I’m interested to know why you used this term, particularly since I think it may be holding you (and others) from reviewing Version 3 themselves. You described one review of PerfectIt 3 as “robust”. In the interest of generating discussion, I’ve got some questions for you about PerfectIt 3.
