This is Nisus Compact

Introduction--The Nisus Way

("nice us," or the "nicest" word processor) [L., noun of action f. niti, to strive, endeavor.] Effort, endeavor.

We at Nisus Software Inc. created Nisus as a tool to enable increased communication.

This compact version of Nisus is full of essential features for people who want a word processor from which they can build, or who need to streamline their writing tasks while on the go.

Now that you have Nisus Compact, you can be confident of producing a well-designed, accurate document. With Nisus Compact you become part of a powerful communications partnership. Your job is to provide the creative input while Nisus Compact quickly handles the time-consuming details.

Form follows function. In a word processor, preparing the text is function. Beyond its powerful text editing abilities, Nisus offers the user versatile resources to shape the visual form of the final text. Nisus files are saved as text. This means that any word processor that can read text files (and that means virtually any word processor) can read files created with Nisus.

Nisus Software makes many versions of Nisus Writer. Localized versions are available. Versions in other languages and with varying capabilities are constantly under development. You can open any file created in any other version of Nisus using this compact version. Although Nisus Compact contains only some of the formatting options available in other version of Nisus, you can create a file in any of them, then edit it here. Many of the formatting attributes will not be visible (certain styles, cross references, automatic numbers, etc.). Nonetheless, when you reopen the file in Nisus, all these characteristics of your file reappear.

Perhaps the most impressive feature in Nisus is the incredible search and replace facility. Not only can you find and replace specific words and phrases, but you can search for patterns of characters, even if you're not precisely sure what you're seeking.

Nisus easily integrates graphics and text by including both a text editing and a graphics layer. You can paste a picture in the text. You can also paste a graphic onto the graphics layer of Nisus and have it flow with the text or remain on a particular page. As with text, you can undo one or all previous commands.

There is no doubt that Nisus Compact is "an amazing word processor for the Macintosh." But as good as Nisus Compact is, Nisus Software continues to work to make it even better. Upgrades to our full version of Nisus Writer are made available to registered owners, so be sure to send in your registration card.

Using the Manual

The manual is organized so that you can read the material straight through, in the order that it appears. It is also meant to be used for reference.

  1. Working with Files
    tells you how to create, open, save, and close a document.
  2. Editing a File
    explains how to add, select change the appearance and undo changes made to your document.
  3. Formatting Paragraphs Using Rulers
    focuses on how to alter the shape of paragraphs in that document by using rulers.
  4. Changing Character Attributes
    illuminates how you can alter the individual characters of the text in your document.
  5. Formatting and Printing a Document
    concentrates on the larger shape of your document including page setup, margins, headers and footers, footnotes, page numbering and printing.
  6. Advanced Editing Features
    highlights the convenience features in Nisus, such as markers and paragraph sorting.
  7. Finding and Replacing Text
    details Nisus' renowned find and replace capability (redesigned for this Nisus Compact version).
  8. Using Graphics
    explains how to use the graphics tools of Nisus.
  9. Customizing Nisus
    outlines how you can customize your application.
  10. The File Clerk Catalog
    introduces a new feature to Nisus, word processing and the Macintosh community. The File Clerk Catalog enables you to flatten out the Macintosh hierarchical filing system.
  11. Nisus Compact & the PowerBook(TM)
    highlights the features that make Nisus Compact special for PowerBook users.
  12. Using Nisus Compact & Another Version of Nisus
    explains the interactions between Nisus Compact and Nisus Writer.
  13. Working with the Spelling Checker and Thesaurus
    explains how to check your spelling and find variant words for your text.
  14. Assigning Command Keys to Menu Commands
    explains how to create keyboard shortcuts.
  15. Merging Documents
    details how you can use Nisus Compact for merging text with databases.

At certain points the manual instructs you to follow a sequence of acts. In these instances the manual uses a numbered list. When the manual suggests a cluster of possibilities you will see a bulleted list.

As you read, you will notice some paragraphs preceded by . This indicates information of particular importance or a shortcut method of doing things.

Logically related tasks are grouped into single chapters. Topics may be mentioned in more than one place, where appropriate, but they are explained in depth only once.

Nisus tries to follow the Macintosh User Interface Guidelines. Nisus Compact is among the most powerful word processors on the market, yet it has a very gentle learning curve. The menu commands are placed where you might expect them to be. Skills learned in editing the main document can be transferred to another part (headers, footers and footnotes) and to other versions of Nisus.

Any action that can be accomplished in the main text editing window can probably be accomplished in any other window:

Nisus is very forgiving. Virtually any action can be undone, and undone with multiple undos. Nisus enables you to save your work automatically.

If you encounter problems trying to get Nisus to do what you need to accomplish, the solution is probably in this Manual. There is no techical support available for this free version of Nisus Compact.

© Nisus Software Inc.Last modified on
February 16, 1999