FAQs-Purchase Decisisons
Q. What/who is Pathagoras’ intended market?
A. Pathagoras is aimed at any word processor who is looking for an easy to use document assembly program. Perhaps the user has never tried document assembly, or is one who has tried HotDocs or similar ‘high end’ products and gave up because it was too complex.
Pathagoras’ original design was much narrower in scope—to simplify disk navigation. For those who were tired of clicking up, down and across Window’s ‘tree structure’ of file organization to find our documents, we had a solution. Simply pair a path to a number. Thereafter, all navigation is simply done by reference to that number.
As the ‘by the numbers’ system became perfected, other uses became apparent. Document assembly by checksheet, instant recall of clauses directly from the workscreen . . . the list of uses rapidly expanded. The scope of potential users likewise increased dramatically. Now, there is not a single user (whether novice, ‘typical’ or advanced) who will not find at least some of Pathagoras’ many features useful. For example:
- Use PathSmart to quickly filter out unnecessary files before you display them.
- Use PathSmart to directly open (either the original for editing, or a copy for a new recipient) any document located anywhere on your computer or on your network without even using a mouse. Simply type the SmartPath number of the folder in which the document is located followed by the name of the document. Press <Alt-G> (for ‘get’) and there it is. Nothing is faster.
- Use Pathagoras’ unique ‘checkbox display’ to have access to a wide variety of document assembly options.
- Use Pathagoras’ glossary function instead of AutoCorrect so that you can bring in formatted text or insert text that contains fields.
- Use SaveSmart to delete an open document that you know you do not want. (Word makes you close the document, locate it again, and then delete it.)
- Use SaveSmart to move the current document to a new location. (Word makes you ‘SaveAs’ the document to its new location, and then you must backtrack to find the original document in order to delete it.)
- Use Instant Database to help make customized and personalized documents without investing in (or linking to) a professional database program.
Click here to see a comprehensive list features designed to make your writing experience faster, easier, and just plain smarter. Click here for prices. Click here to read about how Pathagoras compares to other products on the market.
Q. I just don’t have the time to spend learning another program, or to set up a lot of (or even a few) documents. What does Pathagoras expect of my time?
A. Practically no time is ‘mandatory’ to use many of Pathagoras’ features. Once you install Pathagoras and set one or two SmartPaths (done in a matter of seconds), you are ready to roll. If you don’t change a single document or other setting, Pathagoras still will improve your productivity dramatically. Spend a bit more time placing documents in more organized (topical) folders, and you can see even more benefits, especially in document assembly features. Later, add simple variables to documents to take advantage of Pathagoras’ Instant Database. (The Instant Database is nothing more than a very powerful search and replace tool. It is useable without a single ‘database’ entry.)
Move as quickly or as slowly as you wish in implementing (or not implementing) the many features that come with Pathagoras. Unlike many other document assembly programs, it is not an ‘all or nothing’ endeavor. Whatever features you use, you will be ahead of the game. See the page entitled “For Busy People” for a realistic order and timetable for learning the program.
Q. What can Pathagoras do for me that Word does not already?
A. See the above listing and the other pages in this site which describe the many features of Pathagoras, and how it compares to Word's native features. Many customers have said that they currently use only a select few features of the program (they will learn the rest later), but that those features alone have made their work easier to accomplish and their purchase worthwhile.
Q. The main goal I have in mind is simply to add variables to a complete document. In other words, I want to personalize whole forms, not build documents from individual clauses. Can Pathagoras help me there?
A. Absolutely. Check out the very powerful GotForms? and InstantDatabase modules. Although they were designed with ‘classic’ document assembly (from separate clauses) in mind, these modules work equally well on complete documents (i.e., forms). Indeed, most users start their trek into document assembly by applying one or the other of these modules against complete documents, not individual clauses. Later, they may decide that breaking up the document into clauses for re-assembly in “classic” document assembly style is the ultimate way to go. But there is not ‘pressure’ for any user to do so. Further, any variable that may be created in a ‘whole document’ setting will transfer over intact if the user decides to break up the document into its component clauses. With Pathagoras, no step is ever wasted.
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