Learn about Davka Hebrew Writer Version 2, the essential Hebrew-English word processor for iPad and iPhone! Click for more info and to purchase.
One might think that rabbinical students spend much of their days sitting in the beit midrash arguing over sections of the Talmud containing the debates of the medieval sages. That’s only partially correct. When I was in rabbinical school, I remember the arguments we had (students and teachers) over which is the best Hebrew word processor.
When it comes to typing a document in English, the most popular choice is certainly Microsoft Word, with a minority of law firms and businesses still using WordPerfect. When it comes to typing a document in Hebrew (or mixing Hebrew text with English), there are a handful of options on the market. For years, there hasn’t been just one Hebrew word processor that really stands out.
I’ve had a chance to work with many of the Hebrew word processor applications out there and used Dagesh Pro (from TES Software) for many years and found it to be very good. Some of its impressive features include adding vowels automatically and the ability to include trope marks (cantillation notes). It comes with over 100 fonts and has a very good Microsoft Word filter and can save documents as HTML code.
For the Mac, Nisus Writer Pro (from Nisus Software, Inc.) is an impressive application. The latest version of Nisus came out in May and boasts the abilty to track changes within the document. The new version also comes with drawing tools and watermarks.
Both Nisus Writer Pro and Dagesh Pro offer free trial downloads of their software online. These two applications have certainly advanced in their capabilities in the past few years.
The best Hebrew word processor for Windows, however, is now DavkaWriter 7 (from Davka Corp.). This latest version of DavkaWriter, which was released in 2011 works perfectly on Windows 8 and Windows 10. It has over 25 new features and enhancements. They did a complete redesign of the application, allowing it to run faster and be much more user-friendly. Many of the improvements in DavkaWriter 7 are features that users have become accustomed to in Microsoft Word. In ealier versions of DavkaWriter, I found myself copying the text and pasting it into Word so I would have the use of all of Microsoft’s features. However, now the majority of those features are available within the DavkaWriter app itself.DavkaWriter 7 includes screen capture, draggable document tabs, and a zoom slider for instant page adjustment. It features an accurate display of Hebrew vowels and cantillation marks, as well as a built-in text library of vocalized Hebrew texts (including the Tanakh, Mishnah and Siddur with the text of the Torah and Haftarah readings). It also comes with the Rashi commentary on the Chumash.
Whether you’re looking to use a Hebrew word precessor for scholarship or simply to type a few Hebrew words in a Hebrew font, DavkaWriter 7 is exceptionally easy to use. I tested it on Windows 7, Vista and XP without any problems. It sells online for $159 (comprable to Dagesh Pro), but discounts are available if you’re upgrading from a previous version. The competition for the best Hebrew word processor on Windows will likely continue as each company improves its product, but for now the answer is DavkaWriter.
Update: The following is information on DavkaWriter Mac Version:
DavkaWriter 7 for Mac is a specially modified version of our renowned Hebrew-English word processor that brings a rich set of Hebrew word processing features – including perfect nikud and trop placement, Hebrew-English spell checker, on-screen Hebrew/English keyboard, and built-in Jewish text library – to your Macintosh.
We’ve partnered with CodeWeavers, makers of the popular CrossOver Mac product, to create this special Mac-friendly version.
DavkaWriter 7 for Mac has most of the look and feel of a Mac program, and it uses familiar Mac keyboard commands — Command-P to print, Command-S to save, etc. While there are elements of the program that resemble its Windows origins, the program is easy to learn and use.
DavkaWriter 7 for Mac features:
- Mac pull-down menus
- Mac installer that installs DavkaWriter Mac to Applications folder
- Files are saved in DavkaWriter folder in your Mac’s Documents folder
- Uses Mac print drivers for standard printing and PDF export
DavkaWriter 7 for Mac includes most of the features that come with the regular DavkaWriter 7 for Windows, with the exception of FlexiText and thematic borders.
If you have DavkaWriter documents that you created on your Windows PC, they will open seamlessly in DavkaWriter 7 for Mac and go back to Windows just as easily. And if you’re new to DavkaWriter, you’ll enjoy the ease of use, convenient switching between Hebrew and English, and built-in text libraries including Tanach, Mishnah, Siddur, and Parashat HaShavua that have made DavkaWriter famous worldwide.
Built for Hebrew from the Ground Up!
- Switch languages with a click
- On-screen Hebrew keyboard
- Nikud and trop align perfectly
- Hebrew-English spell checker and individual word translator
- Wide variety of Hebrew fonts, all with nikud and trop
- Support for Shva-na, kamatz katan, and chataf-kamatz
- Search and replace for nikud and trop
- Individual coloring of nikud and trop characters
- Look up Tanach and Mishnah by book, chapter, and verse
- Hebrew/English footnote and page numbering
- Hebrew/English sorting
- Hebrew/English dates, using Jewish or secular calendar
- Built-in Text Library and clip art included!
DavkaWriter 7 includes vowelized Hebrew texts, integrated into the program for instant access:
- Tanach
- Weekly Torah readings & Haftarot
- Rashi on Chumash
- Mishnah
- Siddur
- Also includes 350 photos and Judaic clip art images
Flexible and Powerful!
- Open and edit DavkaWriter files on your Mac that were created with DavkaWriter for Windows
- Create files with DavkaWriter for Mac that can be opened on DavkaWriter for Windows
- Draggable document tabs for efficient on-screen organization
- Multiple object selection
- Zoom Slider adjusts page zoom instantly
- Drawing layer – Place all graphical elements anywhere, with a variety of text-wrapping options
- Use text boxes to place text and flow it from box to box
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts, toolbars and menus
- Place footnotes into their own set of columns, independent of the main text columns
- Drop caps — by the letter or by the word
- PowerStyles — Control font, style, and paragraph automatically
- Select by Style – Change only the text that’s in a specific font, size and style
System Requirements:
Mac with 4 GB RAM, OS X 10.6 or higher. Compatible with OS X Mountain Lion, Mavericks, and Yosemite.
Tagged with: Computer Software, Davka, Davkawriter, Hebrew, Hebrew Generator, Hebrew Typewriter, Hebrew Typing, Hebrew Word Processor, Jewish, Mac Software, Software, Technology, Windows 10
Posted in Jewish Techs Blog
Posted in Jewish Techs Blog
Private | |
Industry | Software |
---|---|
Founded | 1982 |
Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , |
Products | Judaic games, encyclopediae, word processors, etc. |
Website | http://www.davka.com/ |
Davka Corporation was a software company specializing in applications related to Jewish history, customs and traditions and the Hebrew language.[1][2] Founded in 1982, Davka is notable as the publisher of several early games for the Apple II series of computers including The Lion's Share (1983 video game) by Robert Aaron and The Philistine Ploy by Robert Aaron and Alan Rosenbaum.[3][4] The company has published numerous software titles for the PC, Macintosh and Palm platforms including the ubiquitous Davkawriter Hebrew/ English Word processor.[5]
- 3Davkawriter
Name[edit]
The name Davka comes from a Hebrew word that is difficult to translate. At times the intent is to say 'exactly so';[6] often, the word 'specifically' can be used as a synonym, but it has many other translations.
From the Urban Dictionary: Davka - 'A Yiddish word used in English by Yiddish speakers or in general speakers of Jewish-influenced English, because there's no precise English equivalent. It is variously translated as unexpectedly, just to spite, despite everything, whaddayaknow, of course, just my luck, in fact, actually... basically it's an adverb which captures the essence of Murphy's Law, 'because of course, something HAS to go wrong'.' Some pronounce it Dafka.[citation needed]
About[edit]
In the late 1990s and somewhat beyond, its major competitor wasJerusalem-based Torah Educational Software.[7]
Davkawriter[edit]
DavkaWriter is a Hebrew-English word processing program for Windows. (A Mac version is available as well.)
Its built-in tools include a dictionary, a thesaurus, and a translating tool. It comes with the complete Hebrew texts of the Bible and many other volumes of Jewish literature. Its spellchecker recognizes both English and Hebrew words.
DavkaWriter Platinum[8] was reviewed in 2002, 2004 and 2006 issues of The Jewish Press, referring to updated versions.[9]
CD-ROM - Soncino Classics Collection[edit]
Davka also released a CD-ROM named Soncino Press#Soncino Classics Collection that contains:[10]
- Hebrew and English of Tanach
- Aramaic and English of the Soncino Talmud
- Soncino Midrash Rabbah
- Soncino Zohar
In addition to the New York Times' 9 paragraph 1998 review, a full page was devoted in The Jewish Press to this CD in 2003.[11]
See also[edit]
- Jewish Nonviolent video games,
References[edit]
- ^'Helping the amateur cantor to lead'. The Jerusalem Post. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 2008-11-07.[dead link]
- ^'A textual treasure: Study while you write'. The Jerusalem Post. 22 January 2006. Retrieved 2008-11-07.[dead link]
- ^Persson, Hans; Stefan Meier. 'Adventureland: Davka'. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^Hague, James. 'The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers'. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^Davka Corporation. 'About Davka'. Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^Wadler, Joyce (May 14, 1983). 'Bytes &'. Washington Post.
- ^Jon Kalish (December 31, 1998). 'For the Oldest of Lessons, the Newest of Tools - The New York Times'. The New York Times.
- ^From an image of the box Shimon Lewin (December 6, 2002). 'Davka Writer Platinum'. The Jewish Press. p. 41.
- ^'Davkawriter Platinum 4.0'. JewishPress.com. December 29, 2004.
- ^'From the Torah to the Zohar - Soncino Classics Collection'. NYTimes.com. December 31, 1998.
- ^Shimon Lewin (May 30, 2003). 'Soncino Classics Collection'. The Jewish Press. p. 36.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Davka&oldid=916283590'