Latest revision as of 22:22, 21 September 2026

This page describes how to install NASPA Zyzzyva on a macOS (typically Apple Macintosh) computer for NASPA members.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.5.0

This version requires macOS Release 13 or greater.

• Download the installer.
• Run the installer - you must accept the terms of use.
• Review the notes that appear at the end of the installation process.
• Open the app in the Applications folder.
• Choose Edit > Preferences > Load Lexicons > Edit... and check any lexicons that you want to use.
• Rebuild databases when prompted. This step may take several minutes if you have many lexicons installed. When it completes, you’re done!
  • If not prompted, you can choose Tools > Rebuild Database... to start the process.

NASPA Zyzzyva 3.5.0 Issue With macOS 27 (Golden Gate)

The Choose button does not work in Edit->Preferences->Fonts.

As a workaround, you can use a command such as this in a Terminal window (while NZ is closed) to change its font preferences:

plutil -replace "Zyzzyva\.font" -string "Helvetica,16" ~/Library/Preferences/com.pietdepsi.Zyzzyva.plist

The other font preferences are named font_definitions, font_quiz_label, font_quiz_stats (3.5.0 only), font_word_input, and font_word_lists.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.4.2

This version requires macOS Release 10.12 or greater - including all macOS 14 releases.

• Download the installer.
• Run the installer - you must accept the terms of use.
• Review the notes that appear at the end of the installation process.
• Open the app in the Applications folder.
• Choose Edit > Preferences > Load Lexicons > Edit... and check CSW24 and any other lexicons that you want to use.
• Rebuild databases when prompted. This step may take several minutes if you have many lexicons installed. When it completes, you’re done!
  • If not prompted, you can choose Tools > Rebuild Database... to start the process.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.4.1

This version requires macOS Release 10.12 or greater - including all macOS 14 releases.

• The installation instructions are the same as for NASPA Zyzzyva 3.4.2.
• Review the notes that appear at the end of the installation process.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.4.0

This version requires macOS Release 10.12 or greater - including all macOS 14 releases.

• The installation instructions are the same as for NASPA Zyzzyva 3.4.1.
• Review the notes that appear at the end of the installation process.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.3.0

This version requires macOS Release 10.12 or greater - including all macOS 11 releases.

• Download the installer disk image file.
• Open the disk image file and drag the app to the Applications folder as indicated.
• Open the app in the Applications folder.
• Choose Edit > Preferences > Load Lexicons > Edit... and check NWL2020 and any other lexicons that you want to use.
• Rebuild databases when prompted. This step may take several minutes if you have many lexicons installed. When it completes, you’re done!
  • If not prompted, you can choose Tools > Rebuild Database... to start the process.
• Review the What's New notes.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.2.4

This version requires macOS Release 10.7 or greater.

• The installation instructions are the same as for NASPA Zyzzyva 3.3.0. However, note that CSW21 is not available in this release.
• Review the What's New notes.

Installing NASPA Zyzzyva 3.2.1

This version requires macOS Release 10.12 or greater.

• The installation instructions are the same as for NASPA Zyzzyva 3.3.0. However, note that NWL2020 and CSW21 not available in this release.
• Review the What's New notes.

Installing Older Versions

If you are installing a version of NASPA Zyzzyva prior to 3.2.0, here is archived information about what you should do.

1. If you wish to install the OTCWL2016, OSPD5, or SSWL2016, make sure that you have a NASPA membership, its ID (number) and password, and a 64-bit (Intel Core Duo 2 or later) OS X (10.7 or later) computer with an Internet connection.
2. Download the installer disk image file.
3. Open the disk image file and drag the app to the Applications folder as indicated.
4. Open the app in the Applications folder.
   1. If you see a warning about security, either click the Allow button if there is one, or else go to the Apple menu → System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General → Allow applications downloaded from: and select Anywhere, then try again.
   2. If you see a warning about an unknown developer, hold down the Control key and click the app. Choose Open and then click Open. Zyzzyva is saved as an exception to your security settings.

1. Go to Tools → Manage Licenses... and click Claim License.... Choose NASPA. Log in with your NASPA ID and password. Click OK to acknowledge that you have received a license file. Click OK to acknowledge that you have received an activation certificate. Click Close to close the Licenses window. Click OK to acknowledge that Zyzzyva is attempting to load lexicons using the new license.
2. Go to Zyzzyva → Preferences → General → Load Lexicons: Edit... and click on OTCWL2016. Click OK twice to close windows.
3. To check that you have OTCWL2016 loaded correctly, click the magnifying glass search button, choose the OTCWL2016 lexicon, and ask for an anagram match for ABEDHIRTT. If you see BIRTHDATE, you’re done.
4. If you want to see definitions or do more complex searches, go to Tools → Rebuild Database... and choose to build the OTCWL2016 lexicon database. This will take a while, but when it's complete, you'll have the full set of capabilities with the new lexicon.

NASPA Zyzzyva 3.1.0 Issue With macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)

If Zyzzyva fails to launch when you try to run it, you can fix your installed copy of NASPA Zyzzyva 3.1.0 by following these steps:

1. In Finder, in the Go menu, choose Go to Folder…
2. Enter /usr/lib and click Go.
3. Select the file named libz.1.dylib and copy it to the Clipboard.
4. Navigate to the folder where Zyzzyva is installed.
5. Control-click the Zyzzyva application icon and choose Show Package Contents.
6. Open the Contents folder and then the Frameworks folder.
7. Paste the file that you copied onto the clipboard, and click Replace when prompted.