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Nexus User Guide Welcome Requirements Installation • DEX Registration • Updating Getting Started
Welcome Nexus supports any Palm® device with OS 4.0 or later and 4.1 MB of free memory. Nexus The Nexus application and database can be downloaded from the internet in either .zip or .sit compressed format. If the file doesn't automatically de-compress onto your PC, please refer to your Web browser's instructions to obtain the necessary plug-in. Inside the Nexus folder are two files: nexus.prc and standard.pdb These files can be installed on either the handheld device or an external memory card. The most common method is to install the prc file onto the device and the pdb file onto the memory card. The files should be placed in the /PALM/Launcher directory of the memory card. If you install via HotSync, this will be occur automatically. DEX (Dictionary Expansion Library): If you have purchased DEX (dictionary expansion library) you may install the dex.pdb file rather than the standard.pdb file that is included in the standard Nexus download. This creates in the unabridged version of Nexus on your device. Once you have purchased Nexus you will receive a registration code with your receipt. Launch the Nexus application on your device and tap the Nexus titlebar to display the menu. Select Options > Registration... to activate the Registration dialog. Enter your code on the dotted line labeled Registration code. If you have purchased DEX as well you may enter its code in the space labeled Expansion code. Tap Register to activate the software. Updating: Updating to the latest version of Nexus (and DEX) is as easy as installing the current demo version over your previously registered copy. Your registration information will be retained and the new full version automatically enabled.
Getting Started
Words are arranged from A to Z with numerical entries proceding the A's. There are a number of ways to locate a specific word. Word Field: Enter a word in the rectangular text-entry field to advance to that part of the index. Tap the circular button with an "X" to clear the entry field or the circular down-arrow button to see the history menu of past searches.
A-Z Tabs: Along the right side of the word index you will find tabs AB, CD, EF...through WZ. Tap a tab to instantly "open" the dictionary to that letter range. You will note that the tabs themselves are mapped such that if you tap on the top part you will enter the early part of the letter range and the bottom portion of the tab will take you to the last part of the letter range.
Thumb Wheel: The thumb wheel behaves exactly like those found on some tape editing machines. Tap and hold the thumb indent on the thumb wheel and drag down slightly to start marching through the word index. Drag down further to speed up the pace through the list. Moving the thumb indent back up toward the neutral position will slow you down again. Tap the arrows above and below the thumb wheel to proceed through the entries one word at a time.
Custom Lists: Tap the List button to choose from words you have assigned to either the predefined categories or to ones you set up yourself (see Word Manager > Editing an Entry).
Word of the Day: Tap the "rising sun" button to the left of the List button to view the Word of the Day.
Search: Tap the square button with a magnifying glass symbol to activate the search dialog. The last word viewed will automatically appear in the Entry Word field. You may clear the current word by tapping the "circled x" button. Tap the round GO! button to generate a list of the search results. Use the pick list to choose the search type.
Tap the A-Z button (found between the name field and the search button) to activate a pick list of the available indexes in Nexus. Each part of speech is color coded. When looking at the All Words index some will be marked with a gray box which indicates the word belongs to more than one part of speech.
Nouns: An index of the words that are used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive. That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.
Verbs: A list of all the words within the part of speech that expresses existence, action, or occurance.To be or not to be.
Adjectives: All of a class of words used to modify a noun or other substantive by limiting, qualifying, or specifying and distinguishing by one of several suffixes, such as -ous, -er, and -est, or by preceding a noun or nominal phrase. Why, that's my dainty Ariel!
Adverbs: The part of speech comprising a class of words that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. I come to wive it wealthily in Padua; if wealthily then happily in Padua.
Pronouns: The class of words that function as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and designate persons or things asked for, previously specified, or understood from the context. I shall miss thee; but yet thou shalt have freedom.
Other: The last index covers all words that aren't nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs or pronouns. This includes conjunctions, prepostions and interjections. Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief.
Sample Definition
In the above example the 1) head word is combine, 2) pronunciation is [kahmbiin], 3) part of speech is noun, 4) first definition is a harvester..., 5) second definition is a consortium..., 6) example sentence is the drug manufacturing combine, 7) synonyms are cartel and trust. aa as in habit [haabuht] g as in get [geht] Vowel sounds which have the primary stress are denoted by a solid underline, and those with secondary stress are denoted by a dotted underline.
Word Manager In any index you may tap the colored square proceeding the entry to edit that particular word. Use the picklist in the upper-right corner to assign the item you are editing to a category of your choosing. Pix: All articles allow you to attach a sized JPEG illustration from your memory card. For hi-res devices the optimal size is 264 x 170 pixels and for lo-res devices, 132 x 85. If the image is larger than the screen size it will automatically be scaled.
Frequently Asked Questions Customer: Do I need to install the standard.pdb file if I am also going to be installing dex.pdb? Sensei: No, my child. DEX contains all the information in the standard.pdb database so you do not need to install both. Customer: I don't see any illustrations. Where are they? Sensei: Not every entry is illustrated for memory conservation. While Nexus comes with a dozen or so built-in illustrations, you may add your own JPEGs as outlined in the guide or add the classic Thorndike dictionary illustrations from MotoDodo for even more images. Customer: Where on the SD card can I install my data files like dex.pdb and thorndikevol1_pp.pdb? Sensei: If you are installing data files via HotSync, then the default location will work automatically. If you want to install the files into a directory, then you may use: root or "/Applications" or "/Palm/Launcher" as a valid directory. Customer: I installed the Thorndike sampler, but I still don't see any pictures. Sensei: If you have installed Thorndike to the SD card please make certain that the preference "Look for Pix Packs on SD Card" is enabled. The readme files included with the full versions of Thorndike from MotoDodo have lists of all the included illustrations. Customer: I have a grayscale device. Can I use Nexus? Sensei: You bet. It just won't appear in those wonderful earth tones. |
