This paper describes the process of preparing a computer study of Brazilian Portuguese literary texts to be used both in teaching and in the preparation of a reference text. Procedural difficulties encountered in the project point out the potential and limitations of computerized research in literary studies. Seven possible areas for computer applications are outlined with reference to specialized texts for further study. These include the preparation of word lists, bibliographical lists, and concordances; linguistic and content analyses; attribution studies; and critical editions. (RL)