NOTE: this software is for Classic Mac OS (eg: OS 9) and cannot be used on Mac OS X.
Nisus Writer Classic is no longer for sale. This page is only for archival purposes.

Periodically our users report experiencing problems when they use other software with Nisus Writer. Whenever we learn of such conflicts, we will post them here with whatever solutions are available.

Nisus Technical Support has received a number of complaints from people who purchase Nisus Writer 4.1.X and use it on their PowerMac's. This is how they get the error.

• They successfully install the application on their PowerMac
• They double click the application icon
• They get an error type 11 before they get a chance to register the application for the first time.

• Remove Speech Manager from the Extensions folder (this is the most common solution).
• Be sure you have ObjectSupportLib in the Extensions folder.
• If there isn't, you should be able to get it from a clean install/re-install of the Apple system software for the Power Macintosh, or you can get it here. It is located with the Nisus Writer U.S. Updates.
• Remove QuickTime Power Plug
• Remove WorldScript Power Adapter

Error Type 11 seems to occur on some Power Macs, but the conflict varies from model to model. This makes it difficult to track. We have noticed reports of error 11 problems when browsing other companies' software fora as well. It seems that the conflicts are not necessarily with the same extensions as with Nisus Writer, however.

In the Extensions folder, check to see if you have "QuickTime" installed. If you do, you MUST also have an extension called "QuickTime PowerPlug" installed in your Extensions folder. If that isn't there, disable QuickTime until you get it. It comes with the Power Macintosh system software. Also make sure that you only have one QuickTime extension. For example, if you have an extension called "QuickTime" and another called "QuickTime 2.0" you will probably have a conflict. One should be disabled, although we're not certain which one. You should be able to determine that through testing. (I would probably keep the newer one on first and then try the older one if that doesn't work.)

If all of these things are set up correctly, check to see if "Speech Manager" is installed. If it is, then disable it using "Extensions Manager," restart and try using Nisus Writer.

If you still have the Error type 11, use the Extensions Manager to turn off "ColorSync" (if it is installed), restart and try Nisus Writer again. We have found that on only one computer, ColorSync and QuickTime with QuickTime PowerPlug conflict to cause the Error type 11 in Nisus Writer. When each were on separately, ColorSync without QuickTime/QuickTime PowerPlug, and QuickTime/QuickTime PowerPlug without ColorSync, the Error type 11 went away. This has not happened on any other computer that we know of (even of the same model), but we don't always get the final feedback when a person resolves a conflict.

Nisus Writer doesn't require any extensions on startup. If you are using "Extensions Manager" or "Conflict Catcher" you can choose "All Off" from the pop-up and restart.

Extensions Manager Using Extensions Manager, you can select system extensions only (Sets pull down menu) and restart your machine. The addition of half of the extensions will start to narrow them down. You need to restart your machine if you change the extension sets in Extensions Manager, so after the restart, If Nisus runs correctly you know that the extensions that are on are not causing the problems. Turn on half of the remaining half, restart and re-launch Nisus Writer. If it crashes, then you know that the offending extension is one that you just turned on.

Conflict Catcher If you are using "Conflict Catcher," there are extra things that are listed that don't get listed in Extensions Manager. With Nisus Writer 4.1.x on a Power Macintosh, there is one item, a Shared Library, that must be loaded when starting up. It is called "ObjectSupportLib" (stored in the Extensions folder but not an extension). This item is listed in Conflict Catcher. Also on a Power macintosh with Nisus Writer 4.1.x, if "QuickTime" is turned on, then "QuickTime PowerPlug" must also be turned on. On some Power Macintoshes, "Speech Manager" conflicts with Nisus Writer 4.1.x.

If you use WorldScript (right-to-left) languages like Arabic or Hebrew, and do not want to turn off the languages, you can use Extensions Manager to turn "All Off" and then turn "WorldScript I" back on. That is the only item listed that is required for the right-to-left languages.

One particular customer had a problem with Nisus Writer 4.1.5 on his PowerBook 5300 after installing Operating System 7.5.3. This is what this customer finally had to do. The problem seems to be past tense now (fingers crossed).

1. A low-level reformat of the PowerBook drive;
2. Installed System 7.5 from the original CD-ROM;
3. Restarted and zapped PRAM;
4. Installed System 7.5 Update 2 (a.k.a. 7.5.3);
5. Ditto step 3;
6. Installed NisusWriter from the original disks;
7. Step 3 again;
8. Installed the 4.1.5 updater.And now things seem to be OK.

Our local Mac guru said that the PRAM zapping thing seems to be quite critical for some machines when installing the 7.5.3 update (specifically the 5300 series PowerBooks and the 8500/9500 AV machines). Its weird.

The problem here is that Acrobat (2.x) is not WorldScript compatible (3.0 is expected to support 2 byte languages but not yet right-to-left languages), which is the format of the text in Nisus Writer. We spoke with Adobe a number of months ago, and they mentioned that they have no plans to make Acrobat WorldScript compatible in the immediate future.

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.

People have reported problems using EndNote in conjunction with Nisus Writer. We are happy to announce that EndNote 2.2 fixes all of these problems with markers being moved by EndNote reformatting, along with other things. Get the updater from Niles & Associates.

The following message is from Anne Stringer at Niles & Associates.

Version 2.2 of EndNote Plus is now shipping. Among other things, it includes fixes for a number of different problems with how EndNote formats Nisus files. Most importantly, cross references and Nisus 'styles' are correctly maintained in the formatted documents that EndNote creates.

A Show Record Numbers command to display record numbers in the Library window.

The ability to easily convert Reference Manager(r) files to EndNote libraries and also convert citations in papers from Reference Manager format to EndNote format. Users of Reference Manager qualify for a competitive upgrade offered by Niles & Associates and its distributors around the world.

This is a free upgrade for current owners of EndNote Plus 2.1.x for the Macintosh. Macintosh users can download a patch to update their 2.1-2.1.3 versions (http://www.niles.com) from our Services for Users page. If you have EndNote Plus 2.0.x for Macintosh, you are also entitled to a free upgrade. For more information, contact customer service or our technical support staff.

Best regards,

Niles & Associates, Inc.

EndNote is a registered trademark of Niles & Associates, Inc.

Reference Manager is a registered trademark of Institute for Scientific Information.