MacLinkPlus Deluxe 13

MacLinkPlus Deluxe 13

If there is a Swiss army knife of Macintosh applications, it must be DataViz’s MacLinkPlus Deluxe 13. Not only does this file conversion utility translate dozens of Windows and Mac word processor, spreadsheet and graphic formats, it accomplishes its task with ease and simplicity. And in the era of expensive software, it’s a bargain.

MacLinkPlus Deluxe 13 represents DataViz’s first product that is compatible with Mac OS X. It also works with previous versions of the Mac operating system starting with Version 8.1. Since most law offices will not move to Mac OS X until more native applications are available, most of my testing was done using Mac OS 9.1. Under OS X, I only looked at speed and available features.

The application retains its familiar drag-and-drop main window where files are dropped for batch processing. Once you complete adding files, select your translation preferences from a drop-down menu of available translators, select a destination folder to save the files to, and the program batch converts the files you added.

The Power to Convert
The program supports file conversion among dozens of the most popular word processing and spreadsheet formats together with several image editing, compression and database formats.

DataViz has added translators for both Office 2001 on the Windows side and the Windows Office 2002 versions of Word and Excel. Interestingly, however, is the absence of a direct translator for AppleWorks 6.0, Apple’s latest integrated text, spreadsheet and database application. To get a document to 6.0, you must first translate it into AppleWorks 5.0, then open it in 6.0. When it’s opened in 6.0, AppleWorks translates the 5.0 document into 6.0. Also absent is a text translator for Nisus Writer 6.0 files, although support for Versions 3.0 and 4.0 is included.

Actual file conversion is good, but not flawless. For example, the program’s translation of a Windows Word 6.0 file to AppleWorks 6.0 kept formatting intact, but failed to include a signature line at the end of the page. A translation to WordPerfect Mac 3.5e worked flawlessly, however. Spreadsheet and database translations, especially between and among mainstream applications, performed without any problems, although FileMaker database translations are not supported.

HTML translation is minimal, although the program correctly translated all that I threw at it. I also was able to convert the popular graphics formats between Mac and Windows. These included TIFF, GIF, JPEG, PICT, PCX, EPS, WordPerfect graphics files and a few others. The program would not convert Adobe Acrobat .pdf files.

Control-click Issues
Although not available in Mac OS X, a convenient feature is the ability to view information about a file by control-clicking on it. (Mac OS X doesn’t currently support control-clicking.) Simply select a file in the Finder while holding down the “Ctrl” key on your Macintosh and MacLinkPlus Deluxe provides a contextual menu with which to view its contents in a small window on the screen. You can then send the file to the program for full file conversion. The ease with which DataViz has implemented this functionality is as significant as the fact that it’s lacking in the OS X version.

I discovered one anomaly using the control-click feature. Having control-clicked on a file to preview it, I clicked the dialog box to send the file directly to MacLinkPlus. A text preview of the file appeared, but the actual file had to be manually loaded to translate it. This is an annoyance, but isn’t significant.

MacLinkPlus Deluxe 13 recognizes and translates Windows files without reference to their file extension designation. This permits a misidentified Windows file to be translated into a compatible Windows file using this Mac utility complete with the correct extension. There were several instances where I was able to translate unreadable Windows word processing files to another Windows format for my PC brethren in my office building.

Finally, DataViz provides decompression capabilities for compressed MacBinary, Gzip, StuffIt, TAR, Z and Zip files. Simply drag the compressed files to the program window and decompress them to a designated folder.

Flaws Are Few
If there are shortcomings with MacLinkPlus Deluxe they remain with the unfinished status of Mac OS X. Aside from the absence of the control-click contextual features in X, most deficiencies in Apple’s newest OS reveal sluggish performance when using MacLinkPlus Deluxe in X. No doubt this will improve with the recent release of Mac OS 10.1, and its promised speed improvements.

For attorneys, however, MacLinkPlus Deluxe runs well in the classic environment of 9.1.

DataViz Inc.
(800) 733-0030
www.dataviz.com

Price: $99.95, single-user license; $39.95, upgrade; $449.95, 5-user license

Mac OS 8.1 to Mac OS X (Not Mac OS X native, but compatible)

Reviewed by David Saraceno, a practicing
attorney and operator of MotionLaw,a forensic animation consulting firm in Spokane, Wash.

Dec/Jan '02 Issue

PROS
Solid interface with excellent translations capabilities for popular Windows and Macintosh text, database and spreadsheet formats. Great price.

CONS
Lacks some important translators on the Macs side; limited support for HTML and some graphics formats. No .pdf, FileMaker or PowerPoint support. Mac OS X lacks classic features.

VERDICT
Despite some shortcomings, attorneys will benefit from its primary focus on mainstream file conversion.