Ragtime
In 1985, a small team began coding what would become RagTime on the Macintosh platform. They called it MacFrame during its initial development phase. The software launched publicly in 1986 under the new name RagTime. This renaming decision followed the release of Lotus Jazz, which influenced their branding strategy. Early versions targeted System 3.0 and later System 6 operating systems. Users quickly adopted the tool for creating forms and reports within business environments. Educational institutions also embraced the software for administrative tasks. Architects found value in its ability to combine text with vector graphics seamlessly.
All content within RagTime resides inside frames positioned on each page. Text or spreadsheets can flow from one frame into another through connected pipelines. Unlike other programs that separate document types by data kind, RagTime stores everything in a single compound format. A .rtd file extension identifies these documents while templates use .rtt. Spreadsheets coexist with images and text without requiring multiple files. Charts appear as diagrams alongside written content. Vector drawings include Bézier curves and polygons integrated directly into pages. Audio and video elements could be embedded within the same document structure. Buttons functioned as pop-up menus or switches accessible inside the interface.
RagTime achieved strong market penetration across Europe shortly after its 1986 launch. The program maintained prominence there even as overall market share declined over time. North American adoption proved difficult due to pricing strategies set at $395 in 1990. Claris Corporation released ClarisWorks in 1991 which duplicated much of RagTime functionality at lower cost. This competition led to the closure of the North American sales office later that year. European users continued purchasing despite global trends shifting toward cheaper alternatives. Business clients and private individuals relied heavily on the software for desktop publishing tasks. The high price point prevented widespread acceptance outside continental Europe.
Ownership shifted from Brüning & Everth to B&E Software before becoming RagTime.de Development. A free version called RagTime Solo existed until mid-2006 for personal use only. Commercial environments were prohibited from using this free edition under license terms. Discontinued licenses often faced misinterpretation or deliberate violation by users. On the 5th of July 2006, a press release announced the end of RagTime Privat distribution. Sales figures dropped significantly following the successful launch of version 6.0 in 2006. Shareholders disagreed about continuing operations leading to bankruptcy filing in July 2007. Rights transferred to newly formed RagTime.de Development GmbH responsible for future development. Distribution handled by RagTime.de Sales GmbH until October 2015 when internal teams took over sales duties entirely.
Version 4 arrived in 1996 supporting MacOS 7.5 operating systems. Windows compatibility emerged with version 5 released in 1999 alongside MacOS 9 support. Subsequent updates included version 5.6 in 2003 and version 6 in 2006 targeting OS X PPC processors. High-resolution Retina display features appeared in version 6.6 released on the 8th of October 2015. This update also added full Windows 10 compatibility. The latest iteration reached version 7.0 in 2023 supporting macOS 14 Intel/ARM architectures. Version 7.0.4 followed in 2024 enabling Windows 11 operation. Each release maintained backward compatibility while introducing new system requirements. Developers prioritized stability across both Macintosh and Windows platforms throughout decades of evolution.
Initial versions one through three were written using the Pascal programming language. Starting with version four all code shifted to C++ implementation exclusively. AppleScript integration allowed automation of nearly any task within Mac environments. Users could record interactive operations via the AppleScript Editor for later reuse. Scripts saved inside documents executed automatically or triggered by menu commands. On Windows systems since version six OLE/COM API enabled external program control. A type library installed available object catalogs for Visual Basic developers. Any Microsoft-supported language could interact with RagTime components programmatically. PDF export functionality became accessible through automated scripting workflows. These tools empowered businesses to create intelligent documents exchanging data efficiently between systems.
Common questions
When was RagTime first launched publicly?
RagTime launched publicly in 1986 under the new name after its initial development phase as MacFrame. The software began coding in 1985 on the Macintosh platform before this public release.
What file extensions does RagTime use for documents and templates?
A .rtd file extension identifies RagTime documents while templates use .rtt. All content resides inside frames positioned on each page within these single compound formats.
Why did RagTime struggle to gain market share in North America?
North American adoption proved difficult due to pricing strategies set at $395 in 1990. Claris Corporation released ClarisWorks in 1991 which duplicated much of RagTime functionality at lower cost leading to the closure of the North American sales office later that year.
Who owns RagTime.de Development GmbH today?
Rights transferred to newly formed RagTime.de Development GmbH responsible for future development following a bankruptcy filing in July 2007. Distribution was handled by RagTime.de Sales GmbH until October 2015 when internal teams took over sales duties entirely.
Which programming languages were used to write RagTime versions one through seven?
Initial versions one through three were written using the Pascal programming language. Starting with version four all code shifted to C++ implementation exclusively.