Hyphenation Exceptions?

[Uli]

Hi,

I understand from an older thread (http://nisus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4541) that the hyphenation dictionaries of NWP were updated to provide better quality.

However, being a German user myself, I still experience problems with the German hyphenation every so often in the current version of NWP.

From my POV, the basic issue is that (at least German) hyphenation is so complex that there will never be a hyphenation dictionary that will always get it right.

So I don’t think the issue is to get an “even better” hyphenation dictionary, but to allow the user to specify hyphenation exceptions, akin to adding specific entries to the spelling dictionary. I think that’s the only solution that will work 100%.

Unfortunately, when testing NWP, I could find no way to do this. Is this correct?

If so, this would be my most important feature request. At least in German, because of its lengthy words, you just cannot do without hyphenation, and there has to be a way to make this work 100% of the time. Simply speaking, I would love to make NWP my main text processor, but simply cannot do it without this feature.

Of course, if NWP can do this already, I would be very grateful if someone could show me how.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Uli

[Groucho]

when testing NWP, I could find no way to do this. Is this correct?

Hello Uli.
Yes, you are right. NWP doesn’t have any hyphenation exception file. I’m sure it’s a much needed feature among non-english users. D’you hear, Martin?

Henry

[ninjagame]

Uli,

In fact, there is a way to achieve what you want to do.

1. Install the 2 macros "Insert Hyphen (Non-breaking)" and/or "Insert Hyphen (soft)" from the macro repository.
2. Set "Hyphenation" in the "View" menu to "Disabled" or "Manual" respectively (whichever works better, depending on your MacOS version).
3. (optional) Define a shortcut via the "Preferences" menu (Menu Keys -> Macro).
Now you can enter Hyphenation ("Silbentrennung") at your discretion.

[Uli]

Yes, you are right. NWP doesn’t have any hyphenation exception file.

I was afraid of that, but that’s really too bad. Effectively, it means I cannot use Nisus Writer Pro in earnest, an application which would fit me perfectly – apart from this one crucial feature.

But thanks for your reply, Henry!

I’m sure it’s a much needed feature among non-english users.

At least for German, it’s absolutely indispensable.

Uli

[Uli]

In fact, there is a way to achieve what you want to do.

Well, not really. Your suggestion would mean to enter each and every hyphen myself. That might be doable to get a short document right, but not a book with hundreds of pages.

I need to be able to have all the basic hyphenations already in place automatically, and then correct the hyphenation for specific words once for all of their present and future occurrences.

But thanks for your suggestion, anyway!

Uli

[ninjagame]

Well, I write in German, too, and I've been using NWP for many years now. I've written a 1000+ pages novel using NWP, and while it is indeed time-consuming to go through many pages inserting hyphens manually, it's definitely worth it. But that's just me.

[Uli]

it is indeed time-consuming to go through many pages inserting hyphens manually, it's definitely worth it.

The very basic function of a computer program is to automate often repeated tasks that can be automated. I would neither have the time nor the inclination to do something like this manually, and even if I did, it would be extremely error-prone.

I mean, what happens if I insert only one lengthy additional word on page 2 of my book? I would have to go through all the pages up to the end of the chapter and do it all over again. I have no idea how you could manage this. I certainly can’t.

Uli