Do I have to complete the Subject field?

   Well, it's not mandatory that you do so, but we recommend that you do if the name you assign to the document is 'cryptic' (such as if you are using the prefix/suffix naming convention).

   Maybe this will help you to decide. Think of the purpose to which you are going to put the various pieces of your dis-assembled document. If you don't plan to recall terms using the Alt-G hot key, and plan only to recall terms via a DropDown List or Clause Selection screen, you can get away with not attaching a subject.

   Let's assume the following. The document you want to disassemble is a list of names and addresses. (Remember, Pathagoras can handle anything!)  Here is a sample list.

 

John Q. Adamson

Suite 232

12345 Main Street

Jamestown, VA  23696

 

George P. Washburn

443 Apple Tree Lane

Mt. Vernon, VA 23876

 

 

Thomas W. Jeffers

543 Independence Blvd.

Monticello, VA 23567

 

What names do you want to assign to each address? Of course you could call the first one "Adamson, J.Q. Address" and you will know exactly what it is, but that is a lot of typing for a supposed 'shortcut.' Even better: 'jqadamson', or 'adamsonjq'  or even better still: 'jqaadd' (the latter reflects the initials plus the suffix 'add' to indicate an 'address'. (Following this pattern, you could use 'jqaph' to represent a phone number.)

   It is simple to type any of the the above to the screen and press the hotkey combination <Alt-G>. Instant address!

But how will you or others in your office recall all of your addresses. Some you will memorize. Others you will need a list. And that's where the Subject line comes in. Pathagoras can maintain the relationship between the 'short' name and the 'complete' subject. So, while the document or glossary term name might be jaqadd, you can display the subject "Adamson, JQ." in any DropDown List or Clause Selection screen. It really is the best of both worlds.

What characters are 'best' for marking my documents for dis-assembly?

   There is no 'best.' The '(*)' method of marking up text is used in several modules within Pathagoras. But keep in mind that '(*)' (or whatever character set you choose) is just text. It is definitely not 'code'. It has no special meaning to Pathagoras beyond marking a begin and end point where these functions might look to perform their respective functions.

Do I need to mark both the begin and end points of a clause to be disassembled?

   Probably not. One or the other is typically enough for Pathagoras to logically determine scope. The beginning point of the second clause is 'logically' the end point of the previous clause, with some adjustments which can automatically be made for intervening 'Enters'. But if the logic you see being applied is not working for your specific document, maybe marking both ends will work best.

If I mess up, can I start over?

   Absolutely. Another reminder that whatever Pathagoras is doing, the result is plain text and using Word/Windows to create standard documents. The techniques used are 'non-destructive' (meaning that your original document is still present.. No matter the mess-up (wrong scope, documents saved in un-desired location, etc.) recovery or starting over. Delete, or move, the documents that got stored in wrong location. Re-mark-up your original document to change scope.and the re-dis-assemble. No panic. Easy-peasy. (That said, you should regularly save the master marked-up document as you refine the mark-ups. We cannot recover an saved document that you spend hours marking up only to have your computer shut down.)