Pathagoras:

 The Newsletter

The Smart way to create, find, save and organize

your Microsoft© Word documents.

Other

New Features

(Note: Some readers who downloaded the demo version

or the upgrade since February will observe that some

of the ‘new’ features listed below are not really new.

However, all updates to the program since version 10.0

are discussed below to bring everyone up to date.)

 

 

A.   The “Next Step” routine has been renamed to “How Do I . . .”.

Next Step anticipated the user’s likely next step in the document assembly process, and provided the user with specific directions on how to accomplish it. Our surveys have shown that the name change to How Do I . . .” makes the routine more inviting.

 

B. “How do I . . .”  routines on the Document Assembly screens are now linked with Professor Pathagoras and Video Tutorials. Now help is readily available 4 ways: the Help screens built right onto the page, How Do I . . .” information, the Professor and the Video Tutorials.

 

 

C.    Refined (to perfection) the mapping of drop down lists. Created a 'super General Glossary' (into which Pathagoras will look first before reporting an 'I cannot find it' error.

 

 

D.    The glossary associated with a prefix no longer has to be in the active library. When you create a new glossary, Pathagoras will record and save the prefix-to-glossary association. If, during a mouseless document assembly routine, the prefix of the requested clause is not associated with a glossary in the current library, Pathagoras will seek out the recorded prefix--glossary association (if any) and look in the appropriate glossary. So if you type "wil100<Alt-G>" Pathagoras will still quickly find the term in the appropriate glossary even if the ‘WillGlossary’ is not in the current library .

 This is a big step in the evolution of the program, and makes the benefit of saving topic specific clauses in the prefix-suffix naming convention even more pronounced. 

E. SuperGlossary

             A SuperGlossary is now a reality. You can now specify a glossary which Pathagoras will always look into (after checking other locations) before saying that a particular glossary term doesn’t exist. (If duplicate term names exist in both the Position #1 Glossary and the SuperGlossary, the Position #1 Glossary version will control.) This allows significant additional flexibility in ‘mouseless’ document assembly.

             Set a SuperGlossary via the GlossaryTools screen which you can access via the Pathagoras DropDown menu.

F. Bug fix in the SaveSmart module. A requested "move" did not always occurs as expected. The error occurred if you accidentally double-clicked in the SmartPath selection box (at the right side of the screen). The double click apparently scrambled Pathagoras' mind and he didn't do what you wanted. Now he does. Boy, talk about diligent sleuthing to get to the cause of that problem.

 

Coming Soon:

             The checkbox screen (one of Pathagoras more acclaimed document assembly clause selection devices) is singing its swan song with this version. In a week or two, the checkbox screen will be replaced with a brand new Clause Selection screen that mimics the more standard two panel style so prevalent in Windows programs. One panel will display the clauses in the chosen book which are available for selection. The other panel will display the clauses that you choose for inclusion in the final document. See the screen shot  below. The change is the result of the many requests that I have received to allow the assembly of clauses out of glossary order. Pathagoras had several ‘mouseless’ options to accomplish this, but this step is a necessary one in the maturation of the program.

             With this new display, you will now be able to (1) select clauses from the source in any order. (2) reorder the selection before assembly. You will still be able to: (3) show the name or the subject of the clause, (4) sort the display by name order or subject order (5) create clause sets, (6) insert the name of the selected clause into the assembled document (hidden, but easily revealed—great for debugging a source.)  (7) quickly open the source document for editing.  (8) create a dropdown list of just the selected items for ’permanent display’ in your tool bar area.

             The double click menu will still allow you to (9) preview a clause before selecting it (6) directly insert a clause into the document (10) assemble clauses into a new document.

             And the list goes on.

             Overall, this is really a fantastic new tool. I shall be sorry to see the checkbox screen go, but it must. This new screen allows more power than the checkbox screen was capable, and, because we have retained the double click menu feature, it goes far beyond what competitive programs have ever allowed.

             This new feature is actually available with the latest version of the program now posted on the site. It is hidden to the general public while testing proceeds, but If you have read this far, and are interested in trying it out yourself, write to me and I will tell you how to access this new feature. It’s very easy and it’s ‘safe.’ During the testing phase, all previous ‘Checkbox screen’ functions will remain in place. So if a bug exists, and I am sure some still do, you can easily revert to the tried and true checkbox screen.

It just doesn't get any easier than this.

Website Improvements

 

The Website continues to grow and get better. Check out the Features page. Note the quick links to the video tutorials. Now you can read about a feature that may interest you and immediately see the corresponding interactive video.

www.pathagoras.com/features/features.htm