Corel Office for Java

Corel Office for Java
Shows Quattro Pro 1996 Alpha spreadsheet running on OS/2 Warp 4 - Photo copyright: Christopher B. Wright

An office suite for the Java environment originally released in alpha form in early/mid 1996 as WordPerfect Suite in Java but it got such negative feedback due to the size and slowness of the application that caused all Network Computer vendors to reject the application suite en masse. The announcement and eventual release of the much more lightweight and nimble Lotus Kona caused Corel to rethink the applications, slim them down considerably and release it again in alpha form in late 1996 and beta form in early 1997, this time under the name "Corel Office for Java" and it was frequently referred to by the company as simply "Corel for Java".

Corel Office for Java had one interesting feature that never made it to WordPerfect Office for Windows or other similar office programs, compound documents, these were a much simpler implementation than what OpenDoc offered and reminiscent of some of the old Oberon ideas and worked quite well.

Version

• Last known version: Corel Office for Java Beta 1 - March 1997

Download at the bottom of the screen, includes all that is necceseary for running on OS/2 and executing from OS/2 server, mirrored on Hobbes.

Components

• WordPerfect - Word processor
• Quattro Pro - Spreadsheets
• CorelCHART - Chart graphics.
• Corel Presentations - Business graphics
• InfoCentral - Personal Information Manager and E-Mail app.
• Corel Desktop

Links and publications

• Christopher B. Wright: First Looks: Corel Office for Java - A quick look at the Corel Office for Java Alpha - From OS/2 e-Zine December 1996
• Brad Morray: Corel Office puts Java to work - From InfoWord magazine 28 october, 1996, page 95
• Dana Cline: Corel Office for Java - A preview originally published in Dr. Dobbs Journal on October 1, 1997.
• Novell: Corel Office for Java Certified 100% Pure Java - May 1, 1997.
• Pardhu Vadlamudi: Office for Java adds groupware - From InfoWorld magazine December 23-30, 1996.

Publisher

• Corel