Why can I just use the outlining feature in Microsoft Word or the “book” feature of other word processors to duplicate Z-Writes functionality?
The short answer is you can, to an extent, if you’re comfortable with the “outlining” mode of thinking (most people hate outlines). But Z-Write offers much more than just helping you plan or visualize your document structure. First, Z-Write stores everything in a single file. This makes backups and working on multiple computers easy. Most word processors’ “book” features rely on creating a “chain” of linked documents. Changing the order is a pain, and moving your project from your desktop to your laptop for a travel weekend can cause problems. Second, Z-Write is designed with the concept that not every Section is part of your project. You’re free to mix notes, research material, ideas, and other bits of text with your chapters and revisions. Mixing notes and other semi-related material with actual writing in a program like Word isn’t fun. Just look at how difficult it is to control page numbers on just the valid chapters — if you have three versions of chapter fourteen, how can you te
