a function available in
most word processing programs which reveals the "hidden" formatting codes that govern how text will be displayed and printed in the document being edited.
Microsoft, when it created Word for the
Mac OS, in keeping with
Apple philosophy at the time, refused to allow such codes to be displayed, arguing that doing so would detract from the
WYSIWYG nature of the program. To my knowledge, no one has yet calculated the lost productivity stemming from this single decision, and, as of the year 2000, Microsoft has not moved away from their commitment to keep the codes hidden, and therefore an exciting mystery for users everwhere.
Some would argue that the lack of a "show codes" functions in Word actually cuts down on the amount of time workers spend doing crosswords puzzles, since the nature of the puzzle is similar, as are the headaches that ensue for some users.