Which product do you need help with?

If you have a problem with one of our products, this is the first place to look for solutions. Choose a product, then check out our Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ) list. If the information you need is not there, you can e-mail our Tech Support staff with your question. You can also submit a bug report or request a new feature here.

Easy Alarms

• Read Frequently Asked Questions (start here)
• Ask Tech Support
• Report a Bug
• Submit a Feature Request

Easy Alarms Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the future of this product?

We have not abandoned Easy Alarms, but the plans for its future are a bit unclear at present. When an update is scheduled, we will announce it here.

Laser TechFonts

MailKeeper

• Read Frequently Asked Questions (start here)
• Ask Tech Support
• Report a Bug
• Submit a Feature Request

MailKeeper Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can MailKeeper be used as a replacement for Eudora or Emailer?

No. MailKeeper is not an e-mail client--it does not directly send or receive e-mail. However, it will work with any e-mail program(s) you may currently have, including AOL, eWorld, and CompuServe and internet mail clients like Eudora and Emailer. MailKeeper is for storing, organizing, and retrieving your e-mail messages, electronic addresses, text notes, and URLs.

Nisus Compact

• Read Frequently Asked Questions (start here)
• Ask Tech Support
• Report a Bug
• Submit a Feature Request

Nisus Compact Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• How do you pronounce "Nisus"?
• What does Nisus Writer have that Nisus Compact doesn't?
• Does Nisus Compact have anything that Nisus Writer doesn't?
• I have files created in Nisus Writer that include objects on the graphics layer. Is there any way to move these graphics around on the page using Nisus Compact?

What does Nisus Writer have that Nisus Compact doesn't?

Plenty. Like macros, graphics tools, sound, text-to-speech, autonumbering, Layout Page view, floating tool bars, PowerTalk support, Publish & Subscribe, table and equation tools, and Essential/Last Used Files lists...just to name a few. Registered Nisus Compact users can upgrade to Nisus Writer 4.0 for a special low price. Watch this space for details, or e-mail sales@nisus-soft.com.

Back to FAQ list.

Does Nisus Compact have anything that Nisus Writer doesn't?

As a matter of fact, yes. In addition to much smaller memory and hard drive requirements, Nisus Compact offers integrated File Clerk technology for category-based cataloging of all your files. This fast and easy approach to keeping track of your files can locate documents instantly based on overlapping categories you assign. Nisus Compact also uses the same file format as Nisus Writer 4.0, so files created in one are fully compatible with the other.

Back to FAQ list.

I have files created in Nisus Writer that include objects on the graphics layer. Is there any way to move these graphics around on the page using Nisus Compact?

Yes. Simply hold down the Control key and click the graphic. Handles will appear on the corners, and you can position it anywhere on the page you like.

Back to FAQ list.

Nisus Writer

• Read Frequently Asked Questions (start here)
• Ask Tech Support
• Report a Bug
• Submit a Feature Request

Nisus Writer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General

• How do you pronounce "Nisus"?

Memory

• I keep running out of memory. How can I optimize Nisus Writer's RAM usage?
• When I clear Undos or Clipboards, that's supposed to free up a lot of memory. But the memory indicator on my Info Bar doesn't show any increase. Is it broken?

Importing and Exporting

• How can I import Word 6 or WordPerfect files?
• Importing and Exporting doesn't seem to work right on my machine, even though Nisus Writer supposedly installed XTND filters for the formats I need. Why?
• I have trouble importing some EPS graphics. I get either an empty box or no box at all. What's going on?
• When I save a file as "text only,"all my custom numbers disappear. How can I convert autonumbers to real numbers?

Rulers and Styles

• If I don't want to name a particular ruler how can I apply the same formatting elsewhere?

Footnotes and Endnotes

• I can't insert a cross-reference into a footnote. Any way around this limitation?
• My document contains endnotes, but it also has a bibliography, which needs to come after the endnotes. How can I do this without creating two separate files?

Printing and Faxing

• My documents print off-center, even though the margins are all identical in the Layout Page window. What gives?
• I have Nisus Writer with a Language Key and a Global Village fax modem. Every time I try to send a fax, my computer freezes. What can I do?

Customizing Nisus Writer

• Can I create my own customized floating tool bars?
• Can I set a default font/size/style/etc. for new documents?
• Can I change the formatting settings used by default for my incoming PowerTalk mail?
• I am using System 7 and I can't assign Keyboard Shortcuts in Nisus Writer. Why?

Miscellaneous

• When checking my spelling, what is the difference between Skip and Ignore?

How do you pronounce "Nisus"?

This is, without a doubt, the most frequently-asked question we hear. If you refer to your nearest unabridged dictionary, you can confirm that nisus is an ordinary English word meaning 'a striving, effort, or endeavor.' It is pronounced to rhyme with "crisis." Hence the old pun, "We have the Nisus word processor in town."

Back to FAQ list.

I keep running out of memory. How can I optimize Nisus Writer's RAM usage?

If you have a limited amount of RAM, you may notice that you can't use the Table Tool or Equation Tool, that Text-to-Speech doesn't work, or that you get frequent "Out of Memory" messages. Here are some tips to make the most of what you have:

• Trim down your system. You can make more room available for Nisus Writer by reducing the amount of RAM used by your system. Start by disabling any non-critical extensions, control panels, or fonts. Then go to your Memory Control Panel and make sure the disk cache is set to the lowest possible amount (32k). If you are using ATM, make sure the font cache is set to a low number, or disable it entirely.
• Tune up Nisus Writer. A number of Nisus Writer's preferences directly affect RAM usage. In the Editing Preferences dialog (under the Preferences submenu of the File Menu), make sure you UNcheck "Keep Application in Memory," and set your Undos to a low number, like 10 or 15. As you work, periodically clear Undos (option-command-Z) and Clipboards (option-Show Clipboard on the Edit Menu) to mark memory as purgeable. Avoid using Text-to-Speech, the graphics tools, and the Layout Page if you can. Limit the size of your default macro and glossary files, which load into memory automatically when you launch the program. Also, set Nisus Writer's preferred memory partition to a lower number (say, 1800 or 2000k) using the Finder's Get Info command. If you need to use the Table Tool or Equation Tool, try reducing their preferred memory to the "Minimum"size in the Get Info dialog.
• Get rid of unnecessary modules. If you're not going to be using the Balloon Help, Floating Tool Bars, or Text-to-Speech features, you can trash the corresponding modules from your Nisus Writer Tools folder (which is inside your Nisus Writer folder).
• Launch Nisus Writer first. If you launch Nisus Writer before your other applications, you'll prevent problems that may occur later on as memory becomes fragmented and you can't use all the memory you seem to have available.
• Try RAM Doubler. This $50 program from Connectix makes your computer think it has twice as much RAM as it really does. While it's slower than real RAM, it's also much cheaper, and may be the most economical solution for many people.
• Turn on virtual memory. If your computer supports virtual memory (in general, machines with a PowerPC, 68030, or 68040 chip or a 68020 with an added PMMU), you can turn it on for some additional simulated RAM. However, we recommend doing this ONLY in cases of dire need, because the performance of Nisus Writer will slow to a crawl.
• Buy more real RAM. We hate to suggest this...but this is the most thorough and lasting solution to low-memory problems.

Back to FAQ list.

When I clear Undos or Clipboards, that's supposed to free up a lot of memory. But the memory indicator on my Info Bar doesn't show any increase. Is it broken?

It's not broken. It is, in fact, very accurate--it's just not telling you what you expect it to. Think of it this way. Create a big file and drag it to your Trash can. Does the amount of free space on your hard drive increase? No. But when you Empty Trash, the file is deleted, and more space becomes available. Nisus Writer treats RAM the same way. When you clear Undos or Clipboards, it marks the portion of your RAM they were occupying as "purgeable."The next time you need that extra memory for something, it automatically does "garbage collection," meaning the memory is freed up for the other use. The memory indicator doesn't tell you how much will be available after that happens, but it does tell you how much is actually free at any given moment.

Back to FAQ list.

How can I import Word 6 or WordPerfect files?

Upgrade to Nisus Writer 4.1. Version 4.1 includes XTND filters for Word 4, 5, and 6 and WordPerfect (Mac formats only).

Back to FAQ list.

Importing and Exporting doesn't seem to work right on my machine, even though Nisus Writer supposedly installed XTND filters for the formats I need. Why?

Inside your System Folder is a Claris folder. This folder contains all the XTND filters. Early versions of the Nisus Writer installer placed all the filters loose in this folder (which is supposed to be correct according to Claris). However, if you already have a Claris product (or another application that uses XTND), you may find that this other program created a second folder inside the Claris folder called Claris Translators and put its own filters in there. What happens, then, is that the Claris XTND system first looks to see if you have a Claris Translators folder, and if so, it looks for translators there. If not, it just looks in the Claris folder. But if you do have a Claris Translators folder, that is the only place it will look--it will completely ignore translators loose in the Claris folder. So the solution is to move all of the XTND translators are loose in the Claris folder into the Claris Translators folder. Do NOT move the files named Claris Fonts and Claris XTND System; these need to stay loose in your Claris folder.

Back to FAQ list.

I have trouble importing some EPS graphics. I get either an empty box or no box at all. What's going on?

Certain graphics programs (including some music notation applications) do not properly specify the "bounding box" that is used to relate the size of the graphic to the PICT preview that is dispayed on-screen. Luckily, there is a shareware program called EPS Fixer that will correct this problem in your EPS files. Simply download EPS Fixer 1.5.2 and follow the instructions.

Back to FAQ list.

When I save a file as "text only," all my custom numbers disappear. How can I convert autonumbers to real numbers?

At some point in the future, we will provide a built-in feature or macro that will convert autonumbers to "real" numbers, which is important when your file is converted to any other format. In the meantime, here's a workaround. Start with your original document containing the autonumbers--we'll call it Doc A. Highlight the entire document (Select All). Now choose Create Publisher from the Publish & Subscribe submenu of the Edit Menu. Give your edition file a name, say Ed A. Create a new document, let's call it Doc B. In Doc B, choose Subscribe To... from the Publish & Subscribe submenu, and select Ed A. Now you have a new document with the same contents of the old document, but it's all a link to an edition. Now save Doc B as "text only" (or whatever), creating Doc C. Doc C will have "real"numbers everywhere Doc A had autonumbers.

Back to FAQ list.

If I don't want to name a particular ruler how can I apply the same formatting elsewhere?

An easy way to copy the format of one section of text to another is to copy and paste rulers from the ruler margin.

1. Click the ruler icon on the horizontal button bar to show the ruler icons.
2. Click the ruler that appears next to the section of text whose format you want to copy, then choose Copy from the Edit menu.
3. Move the insertion point to the first line of the section of text you want to copy the format to, and choose Paste.

Back to FAQ list.

I can't insert a cross-reference into a footnote. Any way around this limitation?

Yes, as long as you want to cross-reference the text of a citation, rather than its page number, line number, etc. The workaround is to use Publish and Subscribe. Select the text (or Table/Figure number, etc.) you want to reference. Instead of (or in addition to) choosing Mark..., choose Create Publisher from the Publish & Subscribe submenu of the Edit Menu. Give the edition file a name and save it. Now open your footnote/endnote window, and at the place you want to insert the cross-reference, choose Subscribe To... from the Publish & Subscribe submenu. Find your edition file and link to it. The text of the publisher now appears in your footnote, and will automatically update when the original changes and the file is saved.

Back to FAQ list.

My document contains endnotes, but it also has a bibliography, which needs to come after the endnotes. How can I do this without creating two separate files?

It's simple: put your entire bibliography into your last endnote. In other words: create your bibliography as usual, at the end of your document. Select the entire bibliography, and choose Cut from the Edit Menu. Now go to the end of your document and choose Footnote/Endnote from the Insert Menu (depending on the style you're using, you may need to insert a page break first). Choose Paste from the Edit menu to put your bibliography into the endnote. Now close the footnote/endnote window, and find the footnote reference number in your document. Select it and apply the style Invisible to it. Presto--bibliography after endnotes.

Back to FAQ list.

My documents print off-center, even though the margins are all identical in the Layout Page window. What gives?

This problem occurs on some (but not all) non-Apple printers when using the LaserWriter 8 driver. We are working on a permanent fix. In the meantime, if your printing is off-center, there are two solutions for you. One solution is to change to the LaserWriter (7) driver and print. This will not have that problem. Another solution is to change the Reduce or Enlarge percentage in the Page Setup. If you change the percentage to anything other than 100%, your margins will also print correctly. You can change the percentage to 99% or 101%, or you can leave it at 100% and go into the Page Setup's Options (usually a button labeled "Options") and turn on "Precision Bitmap Alignment." This will print as if you set the percentage to 96%. Another choice is to turn on "Precision Bitmap Alignment" and change the percentage to 104%. This should print the document at about 99.8%.

Back to FAQ list.

I have Nisus Writer with a Language Key and a Global Village fax modem. Every time I try to send a fax, my computer freezes. What can I do?

There was a conflict between an earlier version of WorldScript I and an earlier version of GlobalFax (the irony of this was not lost on us...). Both products have since been updated, and interestingly, installing a newer version of either one will fix the problem. If you have GlobalFax 2.08a or earlier, you can purchase the upgrade to version 2.5 from Global Village for about $25. The newer version of WorldScript I is included with our Language Key software, but unfortunately, it only works reliably with System 7.5 or later. If you upgrade your system to System 7.5, you can run the Language Key installer again and it will place the proper version of WorldScript I into your Extensions folder.

Back to FAQ list.

Can I create my own customized floating tool bars?

Yes, if you have Resorcerer (you cannot do it in ResEdit because certain constructs in its FPAL template file do not exist). Standard resource-editing disclaimers apply (work on a copy of the file and do this at your own risk). The FPAL can be customized by cutting and pasting menu item names into the [MenuName] field according to the model: Menu Name:Menu Item Name (For example in FPAL 1289, Button #4 File:Print). The name you use must exactly match the names used in the MENU resource. Or you can use the menu and menu item numbers (example File:Print could be 257:15).
To edit the graphic, find the "graphic (cicn)" that corresponds to the item you want to change and edit it (For example in FPAL 1289, Button #4 the graphic cicn ID is 5012).

Note that a tool bar button can also perform a macro. Any "syntactically correct" macro argument can be entered in the Macro Argument field. To execute this you must also place "Macros:Execute Selection"in the MenuItem field. See the Advanced Features manual for macros syntax.

Back to FAQ list.

Can I set a default font/size/style/etc. for new documents?

Yes. Create a new file, and set all the attributes as you want them to be. The attributes you set can include not only font, size, and style, but also named rulers, defined styles, whether or not the text bar is visible, whether or not invisible text is displayed, and so on. In short, pretty much everything. Now save your document as a stationery file, name it Nisus New File, and place it in the same folder as your Nisus Writer application. This stationery will then be used automatically every time you choose New from the File Menu.

Back to FAQ list.

Can I change the formatting settings used by default for my incoming PowerTalk mail?

Sure. Just follow the instructions above for creating a default stationery. This time, name your stationery file Nisus Mail Stationery (and again, place it in the same folder as your Nisus Writer Application). This stationery will be applied automatically to all PowerTalk mail you open, providing that you have Nisus Writer set as your default mail reading application.

Back to FAQ list.

I am using System 7 and I can't assign Keyboard Shortcuts in Nisus Writer. Why?

Due to an odd limitation in System 7.x, this problem occurs when you have more than 28 items in your Apple Menu Items folder. If you have 29 items or more, the Keyboard Shortcuts preferences will not work. To assign keyboard shortcuts without removing any of your Apple Menu items, remove the Apple Menu Items folder from your System folder and then assign your menu keys. When you have finished, put the Apple Menu Items folder back into the System folder and your keyboard shortcuts will be accessible again.

Back to FAQ list.

When checking my spelling, what is the difference between Skip and Ignore?

When Nisus Writer's Spell Checker locates a word in your document that you know is spelled correctly but you do not want to add to the user dictionary you have two options:

1. Click Skip to have the Spell Checker move on to the next word. Nisus Writer will consider the word mis-spelled again the next time you check spelling (after closing and opening the Spell Checker).
2. Click Ignore to have the Spell Checker move on to the next word after tagging that word with Ignore Spelling style. Use Ignore when you want Nisus Writer to never stop at a given word again when checking that document.

Back to FAQ list.

QUED/M

• Read Frequently Asked Questions (start here)
• Ask Tech Support
• Report a Bug
• Submit a Feature Request

QUED/M Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you pronounce "QUED/M"?

In keeping with our corporate policy of naming products so they can't be pronounced, our text editor's name was shortened from "QUality EDitor with Macros" to simply "QUED/M.""QUED" rhymes with "bed;" it is never pronounced as the initials "Q. (U.) E.D." The "M" part is pronounced "em."

Back to FAQ list.

---

I Coundn't Find My Answer!