I'm using "Text Block Writer", an older free software written by Brian Vogt (e.g. https://text-block-writer.en.softonic.com/

Despite frustrating limitations it is useful, and very stable.

A subsequent, improved version called "Text Block Author" was briefly released, and abandoned (https://web.archive.org/web/20070320190417/http://textblockauthor.net/

Does anyone have "Text Block Author", or know where to find it?

This looks like Writer's Blocks, which has been around for a long time, but is not free ($150, one-time purchase).

https://www.writersblocks.com/

This is not an endorsement of Writer's Blocks, just making a connection.


Steve

I have Writer's Blocks. It's clunky and I lost work using it.

By contrast, Text Block Writer was written by a software professional and it shows.

I got Writer's Blocks many years ago. It was the first app of that sort I found. I have fond memories of it, perhaps in part because of the soft focus of time.

Speaking quietly, sometimes I don't use an outliner at all. I created a style set to use my word processor as an outliner. Top level headings include a preceding page break, so going to a new top level heading feels a little like a fresh start.

Inside a top level heading, it's kind of nice to do whatever you want. Write a couple of paragraphs as a textual sketch, or add a text box sidebar with notes to self. The document navigation pane is my topic list and I can drag and drop and fold headings.

I promise, I still CRIMP. Just sayin', if I only had my word processor I could still write outlines.

There's mention of "Text Block Author" here, in post at least 14 years old, containing a dodgy link that Safari refused to open. So, maybe TBA is deader than dead?

https://textblockauthor.blogspot.com

Text Block Author is dead all right. I was just hoping someone may still have a copy of that software.

More to the story:

https://www.thewritingsoftware.com/online-writing-software/the-writers-ide-online-software-for-writers-by-brian-vogt/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/207542598/the-writers-ide-online-software-for-writers

https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/207542598/about

The thing though is that, unlike this failed kickstart project you point out, Text Block Author was released and sold. So there must be licensed copies out there.

Attention to this reference: Card Buddy (https://www.ussherpress.com/cardbuddy/ I am using it for writing and outlining blocks. There are versions for macOS, iOS and iPadOS and they synchronize. I recommend you to take a look at it.

Thanks for this reference. I only use Windows however.

Deerdra wrote:

The thing though is that, unlike this failed kickstart project you point
out, Text Block Author was released and sold. So there must be licensed
copies out there.

Right, I just thought the info might be helpful in trying to track down the developer, as that might be one avenue for trying to obtain a copy.

It appears from archived copies of the website that Text Block Author was never available for download except through making an actual purchase, which might partly explain why it's hard to obtain a copy.

I thought the same thing: since there was no executable to download for trial only buyers would have it.

Thanks for your help. I tried contacting the developer through mail and got nowhere.