========== 2. WINDOWS ========== 2.0 Introductory tips for low vision users ========================================== (mainly: The use of shortcuts) Chapter 2.0 contains some general tips on working with WINDOWS for low vision (and blind) users, mainly on how to get on quicker through the use of shortcuts, quite without a mouse. In this concern we found excellent the "WINDOWS 3.1 Tips for users with low vision" (August 1995) by Elizabeth Hamilton (Ohio, USA) from the internet. The address is: elizabeth.hamilton@uc.edu http://ucunix.san.uc.edu/~hamilte/Welcome.html In paragraph 2.0.1. you will find parts 1 and 2 of the text. In ch. 2.0.2. we give tips on how to start programs from within the program manager with shortcuts as well. 2.0.1. WINDOWS 3.1 - Tips for users with low vision (E. Hamilton) ----------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION Do you want to feel more comfortable and be more productive in Windows? These tips will help you! Learn how to navigate Windows in the way that's easiest for you. Windows has the same set of ways to interact with all of its programs. These tips will show you these ways whether you're a mouse user or prefer the keyboard. SECTION 1: OPENING PROGRAMS Note: To execute the keystroke examples given in these tips follow this convention: [Alt] + W means to press the [Alt] key and hold it down while pressing the W key and releasing it. An instruction that says, [Alt] + W, G means press and hold down [Alt] while pressing and releasing W. Let go of [Alt] and press G. If you have trouble using a mouse or you sometimes find it faster to use the keyboard, you'll be happy to know that most Windows applications allow you to perform all actions with keystrokes. When Windows first loads, it loads the Program Manager. The Program Manager is a shell program from which all other Windows programs are launched. You can use it to access Windows Help and to arrange your program groups. When you open Windows, you are in the Program Manager. When you close Windows, the Program Manager is the last program to shut down. It runs all the time Windows is running and is a program in its own right. All your programs are found in "program groups" which are groupings of program icons. If the Program Manager does not come up with your program's group window open, you can get to its window by pressing [Alt] + W. You will see all your program group windows listed. Type the number of the group you want to open. If you share your PC with others, you may want to create your own program group window with your favorite programs in it. That way your group window can be made off-limits to other users. You will be able to find your icons "just where you left them." See Windows Help for instructions on how to do this. You can put an icon for a program in your program group window even if another user has one in his or hers. Icons are just pointers to programs. Now you are ready to open the program you want to use. You can open a program three ways. Windows is a wonderfully versatile program which gives you many ways to do the same thing. You can choose what is comfortable for you. You can use a program's icon, you can use a dialog box with a command line or you can use the File Manager. File Manager allows you to start your program and open the file you want to work on all in one step. USING ICONS TO OPEN PROGRAMS To use the icons, cycle through them with the arrow keys until the highlight is on the right one. Next, simply press [Enter]; or double click on the program icon with the mouse. USING THE COMMAND LINE TO OPEN PROGRAMS To use the command line method press [Alt] + F to bring down the File menu in Program Manager. Next press R for Run. That will activate the Run dialog box. Simply type in the path and file name just as you would in DOS and press [Enter.] If you use the above techniques, once you are in your program you usually use [Alt] + F to open the file menu (See the Accessing Menus sub section) and O for the Open File Dialog which allows you to type in your path and filename. If the Open File dialog box is hard to see you might want to try opening your programs from File Manager. USING FILE MANAGER TO OPEN PROGRAMS AND FILES The File Manager is a program that lists your directories on the left side of the screen and your files and subdirectories on the right. These listings can be increased to whatever font size is comfortable for you. (See below.) To see the listings for a given directory, click on the directory in the left hand column or arrow down to it. If the focus is not on the left hand listings, press [Tab] until you see one of the directories highlighted. When the directory you want to see is highlighted, look at the right hand column. There, you will see files and subdirectories in the directory you've chosen. You can tab over to the right hand column and arrow down those listings. If you don't find what you are looking for and want to try another directory, press [Tab] twice to get back to the left hand column where the directories are listed. If you can't find the file you want to open, File Manager has a search option. To search for a file anywhere on your C drive, make sure that the "C:/" is highlighted. That's the top or beginning of all your directories. If you want to only search one directory, highlight it. To run your search, press [Alt] + F and H. That brings up the Search dialog box. Type in the name of your lost file and press [Enter]. When you find a file you want to open such as a word processor document or spreadsheet file, simply arrow down till the highlight is on it and press [Enter] or double click with the mouse. You can click on a file's name, causing the file AND its program to be launched at the same time. Windows sets up an association between a given file extension and its program. That means that if you double click on a file called "report.wri" for example, the Write program will be launched with your file open. You can also simply launch executable (or program) files without opening any particular file. Or you could simply launch the Write program by choosing write.exe. You can use a font in File Manager that is easy for you to see. To change the font go to the Options menu: [Alt] + O and choose Font... (F). You will see the Windows common dialog box for font selection. Choose what you want by tabbing to the different selections in the dialog. Press [Enter] or click on OK to save your font choices and exit the Fonts dialog box. When you exit File Manager, your font selection is retained and in fact, the same directory you last used is still highlighted. Don't forget to shut down File Manager before shutting down Windows. Note: When you copy a file, save a file or in any way alter the contents of what's on your drive(s), you won't see the changes in File Manager until you "refresh" the display. ([Alt] + W, R) This still confuses me after years of using the File Manager! SECTION 2: GENERAL TIPS A RUNNING START I have placed the File Manager icon in my Main group in the upper left corner where I know I can always find it. If you find that you prefer to launch all programs from the File Manager, you may want to put it in your Start Up Group. Drag the File Manager icon into the Start Up Group window. Next time your start Windows, it will launch File Manager right away. MOVING AROUND WITH THE TAB AND ARROW KEYS Once you open your program, you can access any text input areas by moving from field to field with the [Tab] key. You can tab backward between fields with [Shift] + [Tab]. Use these techniques to move around dialog boxes and to move around parts of progr am screens such as the fields in a database. You can use the arrow keys to move down lists such as drop down list boxes. In a word processor or text editor, you use the [End] key to move to the end of a line. [Home] moves you to the beginning. [Ctrl] + [End] moves you to the end of your document while [Ctrl] + [Home] moves you to the beginning. The arrow keys move you from letter to letter while [Ctrl] + right arrow moves you right, one word. [Ctrl] + left arrow moves you left, one word. THE MAGIC DEFAULT BUTTON Dialog boxes and programs usually have one button on them that is known as the "default" button. The border around it is darker making the button appear "raised" more than the others. If you press [Enter] it is the same as clicking this button with the mouse. The "OK" button on most dialog boxes is usually the default button. Likewise, the "Cancel" button is usually tied to the [Esc] key. ACCESSING MENUS Activating menu bar titles is easy for keyboard users. You will notice that each title has an underlined letter in it, usually the first letter. Pressing and holding down [Alt] and then pressing and releasing the key corresponding to that letter will open that menu. Once you have brought down the menu, all you need to do is type the underlined letter of the open menu choices. For example, if you want to save a file, press [Alt] + F to bring down the file menu. Next, press S for save or A for "Save As..." (if this is your first time to save the file.) SHORTCUT KEYS There are also some shortcut keys. [Ctrl] + P will open the print dialog box in most programs. [Ctrl] + C will copy selected text to the Clipboard, [Ctrl] + X will cut it and [Ctrl] + V will paste it to your document. The shortcut keys are listed on the menus, to the right of the menu choices. To use these shortcut keys, you don't even have to bring down the menus! CUTTING AND PASTING If I had to choose my favorite Windows feature I would have to choose cutting and pasting. You can cut or copy data from one application and drop it into another. What a boon to low vision users! If I have a long phone number or address to copy all I do is select the text by placing the insertion point at the beginning of the text. I hold down the [Shift] key and press the down arrow or right arrow key. With the text selected, I press [Ctrl] + C to copy it. Next, I open the application where I want to place the text. I position the insertion point where I want the text to go and use [Ctrl + V] to place it. I like to use this technique when I use the World Wide Web and other Internet applications. Cutting and pasting makes using long URL's (Web addresses) a breeze. This Window's feature uses what is called the Windows Clipboard, a special little scratch pad in memory where data (graphics or text) can be stored temporarily until other data is placed there. DOING TWO THINGS AT ONCE You can have several applications open at one time in Windows. To cycle among them use the [Alt] + [Tab] keys. Press [Alt] and hold it down while you press [Tab] repeatedly until you come to the program you want to use. Let's say you are using your word processor and need to look up an address in the Cardfile database. Simply press [Alt] + [Tab] to go to the Program Manager. Open Cardfile, find the address, select it and copy it. If you think you will need Cardfile again just leave it open and use [Alt] + [Tab] to move back to your word processor to paste the data there. HELP: USING WINDOWS HELP Windows Help is a great feature for low vision users. We don't have to try to use a print manual. We simply press [Alt] + H in the Program Manager. The Help menu comes down. It allows you to choose how you want to search Help. I recommend "Search..." You simply type in your search term and Help tries to match it from its index. If you don't see a suitable match, you can arrow through the list. As in other applications, press the [TAB] key to move from the text input box down to the index list. Nearly all Windows applications have Help too. It is accessed in other Windows programs the same way it is in Program Manager. [Supplementary tip by K. Gerull: The type in the Windows Help window is barely legible and cannot be altered. But you can select a section of the text and buffer it via the menu "Edit - Copy" of the Help window; next you can call it from within a word processor (WinWord ...) and customize it according to your visual needs, if need be as well alter it, print it etc.] A GRACEFUL EXIT To exit a program, save your work and press [Alt] + [F4]. To exit the Program Manager and exit Windows itself you also use [Alt] + [F4]. Always use [Alt] + [Tab] to move through all your open programs making sure they are all shut down and any files are saved before you exit Windows. You can also use the Task List box to see whats open. Use [Ctrl] + [Esc] to display the Task List. SECTION 3: CONFIGURING WINDOWS FOR BETTER VISIBILITY SECTION 4: HARDWARE SECTION 5: SCREEN ENLARGING SOFTWARE [These Sections are not included in the SATIS collection, because our information about these points are more detailed. K.Gerull] Concluding note concerning Windows 3.1 : Deletion Danger !!! On no account press one of the letter keys on the keyboard after you have selected text in Windows or any word processor under Windows. The entire text you've selected will be lost that way!! This "quick deletion" which easily happens by accident can be cancelled by immediate execution of the menu item "Manipulate - Cancel". 2.0.2. Calling programs via shortcuts ------------------------------------- From Mr. Mynarek (Ringstr. 19, 14929 Treuenbrietzen) we have taken over the following tip on how to call Windows programs via shortcut key combinations, instead of launching them via the icons in the program manager with the mouse. First of all some general remarks on the occupation of key combinations: You can alter the denotation of shortcuts in several ways and for different purposes. As the former denotations of course are getting lost, especially the "normal" denotations as in ch. 2.0.1., you better check or test the old denotation prior to the change. You can find out the old denotation by starting a change and then aborting it. Within word processors (WinWord, WPWin, ...) you can e.g. by shortcuts extend the character set by putting e.g. the character on [Alt)+A and the character on [Ctrl]+A, or by putting the "Macro" text "With kindest regards" on [Alt]+M, etc. This can be very useful. (In WINWORD 6.0 for example you can check or redefine shortcut keys in the menu "Extras - Adapt - Keyboard": you post them in the input line at "Select new shortcut" (bottom left), below "at present associated to" is displayed.) Next we want to describe how you can change shortcut keys for the program manager: this change can be executed at will - in the menu FILE - properties, or - with ALT + ENTER when having selected the icon before, or - with ALT + double click with the mouse. A dialog box "program properties" (see illustration 1) opens where you can define the shortcut in the bottom line. Now move the cursor from the first line to the shortcut line by tabbing to it. Here the cursor blinks behind the previous entry "none". Now simply type in a letter. The entry "none" disappears and as newly defined shortcut is given CTRL+ALT+the selected letter. Other permitted key combinations are CTRL+SHIFT+character, SHIFT+ALT+character, and CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+character. !--------------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration to the function keys: file "TASTEN_1.BMP" ! !--------------------------------------------------------! Illustration 1: The occupation of function keys In our example the future start of the program "WinWord 6.0." is carried out via the shortcut keys [Ctrl]+[Alt]+ 6 (with "6" from the numeric keypad). For a report on this see the user manual of WINDOWS 3.11 in ch. 5 "Basics on applications programs". Finally you should add this character combination in brackets to the icon caption as an aide-mmoire. You can do this in the same dialog box in the first line "Description". Here the icon caption can be found, and you can alter ist text; you best use a short, expressive term, e.g. FILE for the file manager, for the system control just SYS etc. (See illustration 2). Post at most 6 characters, 1 blank and then the letter in brackets. The blank causes a line wrapping at that position. (Note: In the system control in the desktop dialog box the square "Description wrap" has to be activated.) Type in the path of your work directory in the third line, too; thus in your application this directory is offered whenever you want to "Save As" or "Open" and search operations are avoided. You can now design all your program window icons correspondingly; at least the major application programs and document files. Illustration 2 shows a model for the design of your screen. Final note: You can find a collection of all shortcuts windows offers in Windows' Help. The tips given here are only meant to suggest on how to optimize the practical use on your own. !------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "TASTEN_2.BMP" ! !------------------------------------! Illustration 2: Model of a program manager window. The letters/numbers in brackets give the key combination for the program call. Further tips (represented in Illustr. 2): Post your principal application programs in the AUTOSTART window by copying the icons from the normal program window, such as e.g. the clock, the file-card box, the calculator, the file PROGMAN.EXE and last the file manager. The last icon represents the last file that has been launched to the working storage. That way you reach the file manager of Windows once you started your PC. If you don't have any work to do here, you can change to the program manager with CTRL+ALT+F12. The icon for the PROGMAN.EXE file was produced in the program window of AUTOSTART in the dialog box "Program properties" as shown before and associated with the shortcut (CTRL+ALT+F12). That way the program manager is also selectable via the keys. Unfortunately, with the last icon of the PROGMAN.EXE the program manager cannot be put to the screen after the system start. In the icons from the AUTOSTART group, you can mark the icon captions with an asterisk behind the last bracket in the program window. 2.1 System settings =================== Survey: in 2.1.1: Distinct frames for the windows (setting via menu) in 2.1.2: Type enlargement in the menu bars of WINDOWS (WIN.INI modification) in 2.1.3: Type enlargement in file manager (setting via menu) in 2.1.4: Colour design of the desktop (setting via menu) in 2.1.5: Type enlargement for the icon titles (and larger icon spacing) (WIN.INI modification and setting via menu) in 2.1.6: Customizing the Windows-icons (icon programs) As shown in the following illustration (next page), we have assembled several improvements of the Windows desktop that will be described in the following passages. For better comparison the illustration shows the common and the customized desktop. The individual items are: 1 - mouse pointer (detailed in ch.2.2.), 2 - icon captions (in ch.2.1.5.), 3 - customized icons (ch.2.1.6.), 4 - type enlargement in the menus (ch.2.1.2.) and 5 - distinct frames for the windows (ch.2.1.1.). 2.1.1. Distinct frames for the windows -------------------------------------- The fine window frames of Windows are hard to see. They can be altered as follows: - Start "system control" in the "main group". - Start "desktop" in "system control". - In the bottom left area (section 'alignment grid') the frame width can be specified in pixels. 5 to 10 pixels have proved good values. - For the colour setting of the margins see 2.1.4. !----------------------------------------------------! ! corresponding file not included in the collection ! !----------------------------------------------------! Illustration: Summary of several improvements of the Windows desktop For explanations see preceeding page, for more details see the following text. The upper illustration shows an example of the unchanged desktop, the bottom picture shows the customized desktop. 2.1.2. Type enlargement in the menu bars of Windows --------------------------------------------------- Depending on which screen driver is used, a better legible font can be installed for window captions and some menu functions. The enlargement is little, though. Some of the recent graphics adapters (e.g. Tandberg or Elsa Winner) include these functions in the screen driver, so that the desired font is easy to select. Therefore it is advisable even with lower resolutions to install and test the driver sent along with the graphics adapter. If the screen driver doesn't offer this facility, install the font as follows: 1. Insert the first Windows installation diskette in your disk drive. 2. Change to the Windows directory on your hard disk (e.g."C:\WINDOWS") 3. Enter the following command at the command line: expand A:\8514sys.fo_ 8514sys.fon A: is the floppy disk drive in which the Windows floppy disk has been inserted. 4. Take the precaution of saving the file "SYSTEM.INI" with: copy SYSTEM.INI SYSTEM.ALT 5. Editing the file "SYSTEM.INI" (e.g. with MS-DOS editor): Go to section [boot] and replace the word vgasys.fon in the line font.fon=vgasys.fon by the word 8514sys.fon. 6. Save the file. After new start of Windows the setting is active. Possible problems:It is possible that in some programs the menu bar and/or title bar are not represented properly any more. According to the author's experience these graphic errors are only minor and hardly visible for a low vision user. System signals from Windows or the menus of applications programs could eventually be cut off at the edge of the screen. The possible errors though can be so manifold and individual that only individual testing can help on. In case serious problems should turn up, replace the file "SYSTEM.INI" again by its backup file "SYSTEM.ALT". 2.1.3. Type enlargement in the file manager ------------------------------------------- In general, the font of the file manager of Windows is too small in the standard version. Yet you can adapt the type in which the drive information (i.e. all drive letters, the directory tree and the list of files) is represented to your own requirements: Under the menu item "Options - Font" you can select from among all types installed in Windows. "Arial 16/18 point bold" has proved relatively well legible. But for all types goes that the new setting should be chosen individually, and that the larger the type has been adjusted, the fewer information is represented on the screen. The changes are immediately active and are also valid for future program starts. The changes of type extend to the directory tree, the list of files and the letters of the drive. !----------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "DATEIM14.BMP" ! !----------------------------------------------------! Illustration of the file manager: Type size and font of the file manager window can be selected from the menu "Options - Fonts". In the example shown above, "Arial 14 Point Bold" has been chosen. 2.1.4. Colour design of the desktop ----------------------------------- Windows offers several predefined colour palettes that for the most part are orientated by 1 - 3 main shades; unfortunately the quality of contrast is poor. Therefore it is better to adjust individual colour palettes. So for example a red frame of the active window has proved quite advantageous. You can find the colour settings of Windows under "main group" ->"system control" -> "colours" (see illustration). Selection of a pre-set colour palette: The pre-defined palettes can be found on the selection bar "colour schemata". Here you have to select a colour combination (e.g. Windows-Standard, Arizona,...). The selection is valid for all future starts of Windows, but can be changed with the same procedure. In the bottom section you see a demonstrative screen showing the actual colour representation. !--------------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "WIN_COL.BMP" ! !--------------------------------------------------------! Illustration of colour configurations in Windows: Within this menu you can create your own color schemes or you can use the scheme from the SATIS collection (see below) Setting of an individual colour definition: You start the individual colour definition with the button <>. The window will be extended on the right side. You can now select the section you want to adjust with the selection bar "screen element". Click on the colour of this section with the palette. When you have finished your colour modifications, click on "save scheme" and enter a name to have the new colour scheme admitted to the list of selectable colour schemes. Adoption of colour combinations suitable for low vision: We have prepared a colour combination that presents a dark instead of a light background colour and varies the other colours suitably. This inverse representation can be very helpful particularly for persons sensitive about glare. Installation: With the following procedure you insert our colour scheme "SATIS_1" in the list of selectable colour schemes: In the file "CONTROL.INI" (in Windows main directory) you find the list of all colour schemes for Windows in compressed form in the section [color schemes]. Add the line SATIS_1=0,0,0,FFFFFF,0,FFFFFF,800000,8000,FFFFFF,FF00FF,FF00, FFFF,800000,FFFFFF,4000,0,FFFF,FFFF,0,FFFFFF,800000 to the end of this section. Use an ASCII-editor. I recommend to make a backup copy of the original file. WARNING: The notation is single-spaced, the line wrapping and the indents must be deleted ! Explanatory tip: The selection of a colour scheme in your system control brings about the automatic modification of the [colors] section in the file "WIN.INI" by the computer. Tip: The colour settings are admitted by some user programs with Windows, e.g. by "Winword". With other programs you can or you have to carry out the colour settings separately, e.g. with Wordperfect for Windows. 2.1.5. Type enlargement for the icon titles ------------------------------------------- In standard setting the icon titles under the icons are very small and hardly legible. You can modify the type size by performing the following steps: 1. Launch the file "Scratchpad" or "Editor" (English version). 2. Load file "WIN.INI" and look for the section "[desktop]". 3. In this section the relevant key words "IconTitleFaceName", "IconTitleSize" and "IconTitleStyle" are important. In case they don't exist yet, they each have to be posted in a new line: ... IconTitleFaceName=... IconTitleSize=... IconTitleStyle=... ... The order of entry and the position in the section are not important. "IconTitleFaceName" determines the font, e.g. Times New Roman, Courier, Arial, etc. "IconTitleSize" gives the type size in points. "IconTitleStyle" refers to bold (=1) or regular (=0) type. Tip: Enlarged icon titles could overlap other icon names. You can change the icon spacing with the following procedure: Launch the program "Desktop" in your "System Control". You can adjust the space in pixels in the category "Symbols". Values of 100 pixels and more have proved suitable. If you have longer or larger icon titles the setting "Wrap Title" is advisable. If the icon title is too long for one line it has to be divided by a space at a suitable place. 2.1.6. Customizing the Windows icons ------------------------------------ Most icons provided by the applications programs are hardly visible for low vision users because they present lines that are too fine and too many colours. Ideally, the icons should have characters that are simple, clear and as large as possible for improved visibility. On SATIS diskette 4 in the file "MYICONS.DLL" you can find a collection of icons that are easy to see (directory "ICON_ED\ICON_BSP". This directory also includes an explanation file "MYICONS.RP" that describes the installation of new icons. For creating further icons by yourself you need a small program (Icon Editor). You will find a corresponding program on diskette 4 in the directory ICON_ED; similar programs can be found on the shareware market. In the following you see a few examples of icons that are designed in a well visible manner. !--------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "ICONS.BMP" ! !--------------------------------------------------! Illustration to ch. 2.1.6 (customized icons): Examples of windows icons of good visibility 2.2. Cursor representations (Windows) ===================================== Survey Instead of the common Windows cursor (small white arrow on white background with fine black rim) you can use bolder and differently coloured cursors. This isn't only the case with the arrow but also with all the other kinds of cursors appearing in Windows. The most graceful solution consists in executing the particular modifications directly in the file system.ini or in a special driver file. This procedure is described in chapter 2.2.0. It offers the advantage that you don't need another main memory and that you can use the cursors in ALL the other Windows applications safely and without trouble (as if these were the regular Windows cursors). In the chapters 2.2.1 to 2.2.8 we introduce several additional programs that include similar features. In comparison to variant 2.2.0 they have the advantage that you can usually correct the selected cursor shape easily by using menus. In chapter 2.2.9 you find tips for several hardware solutions concerning representation of the mouse pointer. 2.2.0 Changing the mouse cursor with system settings (of Windows) ----------------------------------------------------------------- It is possible to design and to use individual mouse cursors by system settings of Windows. For this you have to alter a system file of Windows manually (with standard VGA -640x480 pixels, 16 colours - this file is called "VGA.DRV"). It offers the advantage that no additional program loads the main memory, instead a Windows file that has to be loaded anyway provides the larger cursors. That way Windows can run in a stabler manner than it does with additional programs. As this modification of the system file is relatively lengthy, we have created a complete pattern that just has to be installed. We now describe i. the installation of predetermined cursor forms ii. the individual design of cursors. i. Installation of the model cursor: You find the new driver file "VGA_NEW.DRV" on diskette 2 in directory "CURSOR\CURS_WIN\INI_CURS". This driver file includes all principal cursors for Windows and was created for the standard VGA mode of Windows (640x480 pixels, 16 colours). This file adopts all functions of the original file "VGA.DRV". Installation: 1. Copy the file "VGA_NEW.DRV" in to directory "WINDOWS\SYSTEM". 2. Launch an ASCII editor (e.g. "Scratchpad" with Windows or "EDIT" with DOS) and load file "SYSTEM.INI" from directory "WINDOWS". Here look for the line with the beginning "display.drv=..." in the section "[boot]". Change this line to: "display.drv=VGA_NEW.DRV". (Now Windows uses this file instead of the original "VGA.DRV".) 3. Save file "SYSTEM.INI" again. 4. In case you use other mouse cursor programs you have to deactivate or remove them so that they won't be loaded when you launch Windows. (There's no harm in ZOOMTEXT, LENS, e.t.c.!) 5. Restart Windows. From this point you get the new cursor. 6. In case you want to use the old cursor again you just have to cancel the modification mentioned above in the file "SYSTEM.INI". ii. Creating individual mouse cursors for Windows 1. First of all you need a program that understands specific Windows file formats. Usually these programs can be obtained along with programming languages such as "Borland Pascal" or "Borland C++" (there this program is named "Ressources Compiler"). 2. Now start "Ressources Compiler" or a corresponding program and load file "VGA.DRV". (WARNING: If no standard VGA is used, the driver file has a different title! You learn the name from the file "SYSTEM.INI".) The file is now represented in its source structure. 3. Here look for the group "Cursor" and open one of the cursors (they are listed as five-digit numbers). 4. Now alter it according to your needs. Do the same with every other cursor you want to alter. 5. When you are through, save the modified driver file under a NEW name (e.g. "VGA_NEW.DRV"). 6. Alter the file "SYSTEM.INI" as in item i. and restart Windows. WARNING: As soon as you additionally create the mouse design via mouse driver or cursor driver, Windows will NOT regard the cursor modifications described here (e.g. "Snap to Default" of the Microsoft mouse driver)! 2.2.1 "BCURSOR" --------------- Author/supply: James F. Cuddy (Address unknown) Price: unknown, probably free 1) What does the program achieve ? The program "BCursor" (sometimes called "Big Cursor") doubles the size of the mouse pointer and assigns the colour "Inverse" to it (mouse pointer is black on white background, blue on yellow background, etc.). This program offers only one mouse pointer shape (common arrow) and no options. 2) Tips for testing To activate the auxiliary program "BCursor", call the file BCURSOR.EXE. The cursor then gets immediately the shape mentioned above. To return to the former shape close the program window that has been produced. 3) Permanent installation of the program If you want to install the program, you won't want to see the generated window all the time. Click on the little crossbar in the top left corner of the "BCursor" window and select SYMBOL. You have to integrate the auxiliary program "BCursor" in the AUTOSTART group to have it activated automatically every time you launch Windows. 4) Experiences/Evaluation The auxiliary program doesn't work with all Windows applications. 2.2.2 "CHCURSOR" ---------------- Author/supply: Jim Seidman, 1374 Pritchett Court, Los Altos, CA, USA Price: 15 $ (Shareware) 1) What does the program achieve ? The program "Change Cursor" offers quite a good featurey to design the original mouse pointer and the sandglass yourself. Along with the program some models are supplied that can be used for testing the program. 2) Tips for testing For first testing just call the program CHNGCRSR.EXE from floppy SATIS. The window "Change Cursor" appears. The field in the left half of the window is the detail window: Here you can design your personal mouse pointer. If you want to use the predefined cursor, select FILE and then OPEN. The disposable cursor forms are NOT displayed; you have to memorize their names. 3) Detailed operating instruction Can be found on diskette 2 in the directory "CURSOR\CURS_WIN\CHCURSOR" in file "CHCURSOR.RP". 4) Experiences/Evaluation - lacking - 2.2.3 "CARCUR" -------------- Author/supply: Instant Replay Corp., SLC, Utah, USA, Tel. 001-1-800-388-8086 Price: approx. 60 $ (Shareware) 1) What does the program achieve ? The program "Carets & Cursors" (CARCUR) is the only program that in many word processors changes the cursor from a small bar to a block. Apart from that it alters the mouse pointer in any imaginable way. About 25 different mouse pointers are supplied, as well as many different shapes and colours for the caret. You can find illustrations that clearly show the great variety of cursor and caret forms of CARCUR on the next page. WARNING: In operation with WordPerfect 6.0a and WinWord 6.0a serious malfunctions up to the crash of Windows and graphics errors in WordPerfect and WinWord occurred! With WinWord the enlargement of the caret doesn't work. !-------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "CARCUR.BMP" ! !-------------------------------------------------! Illustration of "Carets & Cursors": For the various Windows events listed in the lower left corner of the picture one of the cursor shapes from the cursor list above can be chosen. 2) Tips for testing Call the program "CARCUR" from floppy disk. The menu item "Cursors..." contains the diverse cursor forms, "Carets..." holds those for the caret. You alter the cursor by clicking on the desired cursor form first and then on the so-called "Windows-Event" in the selection list at the bottom left side. The carets are changed accordingly. You can find a detailed operating instruction of CARCUR on diskette 2 in the directory "CURSOR\CURS_WIN\CARCUR" in file "CARCUR.RP". !-----------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "CARCUR2.BMP" ! !-----------------------------------------! Illustration of "Carets & Cursors": Text cursor shapes of "CARCUR". The only program we know of for changing the text cursor. 2.2.4. "LENS" (with text enhancing function) -------------------------------------------- Author/supply: Ned Konz, 161 14th Street, Holly Hill, FL 32117, USA Price: 5 $ (Shareware) 1) What does the program achieve ? "Lens" can magnify the environment of the mouse cursor from 1 up to 40 times. The magnified cursor environment is displayed in a separate window whose size and position you can determine freely. Furthermore you can easily shift between tracking the mouse cursor and the caret (the latter works with WordPerfect, but not with WinWord). "Lens" cannot track the menu bars! An illustration that shows the practical use of "Lens" is found at the end of this section (2.2.4.). 2) Tips for testing Call "Lens" from your floppy disk. A window appears that shows the magnified cursor environment. You can make the window as large as you want to. The menu item "Settings" offers several options that have an effect on the tracking of the caret and the mouse cursor. !-------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "LENS.BMP" ! !-------------------------------------------------! Illustration of "LENS": The magnified type in the lower part of the picture continuously follows the text currently being written; it can be adjusted in size and magnification. This window can track the mouse cursor, as well. 3) Detailed operating instruction Installation: Copy all files of the directory "Lens" onto your C drive and install the program with FILE NEW. If you wish "Lens" to be called up with every launching of Windows, open your program group AUTOSTART, so that the generated program symbol can be posted there, too. Configuration: The program "Lens" proposes a wide range of setting alternatives that make possible its customization according to individual needs: To make "Lens" permanently visible on the screen click on the menu item SETTINGS. The forst menu entry says ALWAYS ON TOP. If you see a small tick on its left, "Lens" stays continually visible no matter if it is the active window or not. If no tick is visible click on this option. To alter the magnification just click on the "Lens"-window and adjust the required magnification with the keys "+" and "-". WARNING: If the function REPEAT MODE is activated you should right away remove the mouse cursor from the "Lens"-window , otherwise the magnified area in the window will continually be magnified! If you want to move the "Lens"-window, click on the title line and press and hold down the left mouse-key. Then drag the window to the preferred position and release the mouse-key. Depending on the level of magnification and the size of the window, title- as well as menu line may occupy too much space (a third up to half) of the whole "Lens"-window. For the magnified area there is not much space left. Therefore both window areas can be faded out and in again without losing the entire functionality of "Lens": Doubleclick on the "Lens"-window with the mouse. Menu- and title line will disappear (or reappear if they have been faded out). Nevertheless you can move the "Lens"-window by clicking on any point in the "Lens"-window and dragging it to the preferred place (see above). If you want to alter the setting you just have to doubleclick on the window again; title- and menu line are back again. "Lens" can track the caret when the cursor is activated, i.e. if in the word processor it is blinking in the text. "Lens" also magnifies the new environment of the caret when it is moved to a different place in the text with the mouse. To do this add a tick to the sub-item TRACK CARET in the menu item SETTINGS. If you want "Lens" to magnify the mouse- or the caret and its environment continually, i.e. in fixed time intervals, please activate the item REPEAT MODE in SETTINGS. Sometimes it is necessary to have the exact cursor position indicated in the "Lens"-window. "Lens" also includes this feature. Click on the menu item SETTINGS and activate the sub-item DISPLAY CURSOR. The following presettings are posted in LENS.INI: [Lens] top=0 (These are the original parameters for the size left=0 of the "Lens"-window. Default values for top, right=320 bottom, right and left are half of the width and bottom=240 the height of the screen) magnification=2 (magnification factor: between 1 and 20) repeatMode=0 (repetition mode: 1 or 0) trackCaret=0 (caret tracking: 1 or 0) timerInterval=500 (intervals between "enlarged screen shots" in msec.) displayMenuBar=1 (menu bar: 1 or 0) displayTitleBar=1 (title bar: 1 or 0) alwaysOnTop=1 (magnifying window constantly visible: 1 or 0) expertMode=1 (verify options: 1 or 0) displayCursor=1 (reticule for exact cursor position: 1 or 0) As "Lens" uses computer time an increase of the "timerInterval" value can be necessary to have the speed of other applications unaffected. Whether "trackCaret" can be shifted depends on the applications software. In Scratchpad "trackCaret" can be shifted, in some other applications such as Word it can't. All the other parameters can be adapted to your individual needs. With "Lens" it is impossible to find out about the position of the caret: In "non text" applications it is possible that "Lens" doesn't track the movements of the mouse pointer in an activated window. "Lens" tracks the mouse pointer if the position of the caret is located in the active window in the top left corner; otherwise "Lens" tracks the caret. Tip: If you use "Lens" as enlarged consecutive line you can move the "Lens" window to the bottom and your word processor window to the top of the screen so that these windows don't overlap. That way you prevent the cursor from disappearing behind the "Lens"-window! 4) Experiences/Evaluation: In contrast to the other cursor programs on the SATIS diskettes, "Lens" almost entirely takes the place of a Screen Enlarging program. As it offers a great variety of setting feature it is a very functional program. What's more, its registration only costs 5 $! Comparison of "ZoomIn" and "Lens": "Lens" is not only similar to the program "ZoomIn", but even better: It works faster and the size of ist window is adjustable more variably. 2.2.5 "METAMOUS" ---------------- Author/supply: Farpoint Software, 2501 Afton Court, League City TX 77573-3438, USA Price: 25 $ (Shareware) 1) What does the program achieve ? "METAMOUS" (sometimes called "Metamouse") is a Windows auxiliary program that improves the visibility of the mouse cursor by means of blinking, enlarging or changing its shape and colour. Additionally it alters the insertion cursor ("I Beam") in most of the word processors. Many shapes and colours are at your disposal, as well as three alternatives for the known "Hourglass". The caret (vertical stroke) can not be altered. You find an illustration of the METAMOUS menu at the end of this section (2.2.5.). 2) Tips for testing Call METAMOUS.EXE. The program appears as a symbol at the bottom of the screen. Now you can work with the pre-set cursors. For configuring Metamouse (altering the settings) click on the symbol once and select the menu item "Setup...". A window is displayed in which you can carry out all your settings for Metamouse. First select shape and colour of the cursor. Play with the different combinations. Also try out the differently sized "I-Beams" and the "Hourglass" alternatives. As soon as you alter a setting it is immediately activated and saved for future program starts. !--------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "METAMOUS.BMP" ! !--------------------------------------! Illustration of "Metamouse": Metamouse can show numerous cursors in various shapes. Their magnification cannot be changed. 3) Detailed operating instruction Installation: All files have to be copied to the preferred directory on your c-drive (e.g. with file manager). To have Metamouse performed with each Windows start you have to post it in the AUTOSTART group. With the first call-up of "Metamouse" the file METAMOUS.INI is created which also contains the parameters for future Windows sessions. Configuration: To configure Metamouse click on the Metamouse symbol and select "Setup.." in the emerging menu. In the Metamouse setup you can adjust the following parameters if required: System cursor shape: Alters the shape of the cursor. Cursor color: Changes the parts that originally are white in the selected cursor shape to any other colour you choose,also applies to the hourglass. The underlying item "color enable" has to be activated for this. Blink rate: Rate of blinking: 250, 500 or 1000 msec Duty cycle: Proportion blinker on/blinker off Blink while moving: Blink while mouse pointer is moving: yes or no Do not blink: Disable blinker: yes or no Cursor shape: Select mouse cursor shape Color: Select colour of the mouse cursor Busy cursor shape: Select shape of the hourglass I-Beam cursor: Select size of the insertion cursor Hide Icon: Hide symbol after program start Enlarge Window- Sizing Cursors: Size of the window-manipulating cursor: yes or no 4) Experiences/Evaluation For the design of the Windows cursor METAMOUS is a very versatile and functional program that can be adapted to many individual requirements. For users concerned with Retinitis Pigmentosa, the following set-up has proved a good combination: System cursor shape: Large white Cursor color: Black Blink rate: Medium (500 ms) Duty cycle: Low Blink while moving: Yes Do not blink: No Busy cursor shape: Default (hourglass) I-Beam cursor: Huge Hide Icon: Off Enlarge Window- Sizing Cursors: Yes 2.2.6 "WINMOUSE" ---------------- Author/supply: Microsoft GmbH, (adress unknown) Price: unknown !------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "WINMOUSE.BMP" ! !------------------------------------------! Illustration of "WINMOUSE": In addition to the standard mouse properties (upper left corner) three different sizes, colours etc. can be selected. The same is true of the I-Beam shapes. 1) What does the program achieve ? "WinMouse" is a voluminous program with which you can design individually the mouse cursor of WINDOWS, DOS, and OS/2 in many ways. 2) Tips for testing The following illustration shows the way Winmouse works. A more detailed description is not given here, but results clearly from the program itself. 2.2.7 "WCURSOR" --------------- Author/supply: Compaq Computer Corporation (address unknown) Price: Unknown, probably free 1) What does the program achieve ? With this auxiliary program you can make all mouse pointer variants (including hourglass, window-manipulating cursor, "I-Beam", ...) visible more clearly. 2) Tips for testing When you have launched the program "WCURSOR.EXE" a window appears. Here you can click on the buttons PREVIOUS or NEXT to get a survey of the cursor shapes that can be altered. In the menu "Configure" you can select SUMMARY to do the same thing: A list of all setups is displayed, and a control box says which ones of the cursor shapes have been altered. You end the program with FILE EXIT (no further usage of the settings). 3) Detailed operating instruction In the menu "Configure" you can alter the following settings: Set All To Normal (All cursors in standard Windows setup) Set All To Enhanced (Enlarge all cursors) Invert Enhanced Cursors (Invert colours of all enlarged cursors) Automatic Startup (Post cursor in WIN.INI file) In the menu "File" you can also find the following options: Save Configurations (Save new settings) Restore Configurations (Restore former settings) !-----------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "WCURSOR.BMP" ! !-----------------------------------------------! llustration of "WCURSOR": In this menu you can select the mouse cursor you want to enlarge. To use your settings for the current Windows session, click on the button ACTIVATE; this query unfortunately occurs with every program start but can be skipped with"OK" (-key). With "Ctrl+Esc" you can call up the Task List at any time and return to the "Wcursor" window. FILE AUTOLOAD causes an entry in the WIN.INI file, FILE NO AUTOLOAD deletes this entry. 4) Experiences/Evaluation An important advantage of WCURSOR is the fact that the program is short and compact. In our experience it runs very reliably, but - as in most Windows programs - you can't alter the shape of the caret (vertical bar). The shape of the cursor is toothed (coarse) to a higher degree than e.g. in METAMOUS. METAMOUS is also preferable as it offers several cursor shapes and colours. 2.2.8 "ZOOMIN" (with text enhancement functions) ------------------------------------------------ Author/supply: Hercules Computer Technology, Inc. (Address unknown) Price: Unknown; probably not purchasable (perhaps part of the software-package with Hercules graphics adapter) 0) As price and copyright of this program are not clear, this program is not on the floppy disk; still we describe it here. 1) What does the program achieve ? With "Zoom-In" by Hercules you can display the magnified environment of the mouse pointer in a separate window (1x to 8x magnification). You can adjust the size of the window (within given limits). Only the mouse cursor, but not the caret, is tracked. 2) Tips for testing The program is called up from floppy disk. A window emerges that you confirm with OK. Then a magnifying window appears. While you go on working with other applications, in this window the adjusted, magnified part around the mouse cursor is shown. Setup features: In the beginning the window is positioned in the middle of the screen. Still you can move it and/or alter its size, as it is usual with Windows ("dragging" of the window edge with the mouse). The maximum size is approximately a quarter of the screen. You find a menu for further settings in the system menu (click on top left corner of the "ZoomIn" window). Here you find the settings: "ZOOM LEVEL", adjustable from 1 to 8. "PANNING" (= Cursor tracking) refers to the movements within the borders of the magnifying window: With "CONTINUOUS PANNING" the magnifying window follows every movement of the mouse cursor; with "PAN EDGE" it only follows if the mouse cursor leaves the magnifying window. "CROSSHAIR" is a reticule that can be displayed in the magnifying window for exact determination of the position of the mouse. For this operation you can select from several sizes. !--------------------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "ZOOMIN.BMP" ! !--------------------------------------------! Illustration of "ZoomIn": Similar to "Lens", ZoomIn can magnify the cursor environment in a freely positionable window. The maximum window size is more limited, however. 3) Detailed operating instruction Installation: Copy the program "ZoomIn" to a directory on the hard disk, then with FILE NEW insert in your Windows interface. If you want to have the program launched with every Windows start you first open the AUTOSTART program group to have the symbol placed there. Configuration: Unfortunately it is not possible to configure the settings such as to have them designed according to your personal demands with each Windows start. They have to be adjusted all over again. The HOT KEY (shortcut key) for ZoomIn initially is "Ctrl+Alt+7" but can be changed. Tip: If you use "ZoomIn" as enlarged consecutive line you can move the "ZoomIn" window to the bottom of the screen and your word processor window to the top of the screen, so that these windows don't overlap. This way you prevent the caret from disappearing behind the "ZoomIn" window! 4) Experiences/Evaluation The fact that ZoomIn cannot track the caret, which in practice is much more important than tracking the mouse cursor, must be criticized as a plain fault. Apart from that, ZoomIn is very similar to the program "LENS", which does allow choosing the cursor that is to be tracked (even both!), and which also provides extensive setup variation. Moreover, "Lens" is available as public domain program. Comparison of "ZoomIn" and "Lens": "Lens" is very similar to the program "ZoomIn", but it is better: It works faster and the size of the window can be altered in more ways. 2.2.9 "ArrowSmith" ------------------ Author/Supply: Clifton Carnes, 2519 Overbrook Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408 Price: 22 $ With the Windows program ArrowSmith you can only alter the normal mouse arrow and the hourglass with Windows. But among the approximately 30 variants of the mouse arrow there is only one that is particularly large and fitting for low- vision users. !----------------------------------! ! Illustration: file "ASMITH:BMP" ! !----------------------------------! Here its original size: There is a detailed instruction in English with Windows. 2.3. Tips for word processing using Windows =========================================== 2.3.1 General remarks --------------------- In comparison with DOS, Windows presents some disadvantages but also several good points: In word processing - partly even on the level of the operating system - it is possible to alter the font and the size of the type in many ways. As font, there is a variety of well-legible variants. According to our experience "Arial" is particularly recommendable, but of course this is a matter of taste. Concerning enlargement, two procedures can be distinguished in text files: 1. The absolute' selection of a typesize that determines also the size of the printed type (e.g. "24 points") 2. The relative' typesize (mostly described as zoom function, e.g. 150 %), which means that the type is enlarged on the screen without any effect on the document. !-----------------------------------------------------! ! Illustration is intended, but didn't work out yet ! !-----------------------------------------------------! If you work according to variant 1 you are at the disadvantage of having to reformat the complete document before printing (mark entire document, click on different typesize, further manipulations if need be...); in spite of that this variant has the great advantage that - because of the automatic line wrapping- the text appears on the screen in complete lines, so that you don't have to move the text in horizontal direction for reading. This is like an intelligent Screen Enlarging system! If in this advantageous variant you want to shift frequently between the enlarged and the proper' font you have to perform the same set of operating steps over and over again. In many programs, you can position these steps on a certain key combination or on a special menu item by using a "macro". In the following we describe this principle for two well-known word processing programs. As for the rest we refer to chapter 4.0. (Introduction to Screen Enlarging). 2.3.2 The word processor "WINWORD" ---------------------------------- Screen enlargements with Windows a) "Winword" also contains a nearly steplessly working "Zoom" function that enlarges the screen representation without affecting the print. But this only applies to the text. b) Alternatively you can enlarge the size of the type individually (e.g. 18 or 24 points instead of 12 or 14 points). But this setting influences the print. If you don't want to print the enlarged text you have to reformat it again. The commands you need for this procedure can be cut short with so-called "macros" that are placed in the menu and therefore can be called up easily. The directory "MAKRO\WINWORD" on diskette 2 brings along a macro named "A.DOT" that facilitates this reformatting (for WINWORD 6.0a). The installation as well as the usage a e explained in the file "A.RP". Note: The macro "A.DOT" has been taken from the brochure "Hilfen fr sehbehinderte Windows-Benutzer" (Resources for low-vision Windows users) by Ingo Lembke, AfB GmbH. (See lit. list) 2.3.3 The word processor "WordPerfect for Windows" -------------------------------------------------- For the WP system "WordPerfect for Windows" (short: "WPWIN") the same is true as for "WINWORD" in chapter 2.3. You find the corresponding macros "AKLEIN.WCM" and "AGROSS.WCM" and an explanatory file "A_WP.RP" (for version WPWIN 6.0a) in the directory "MAKROS\WPWIN" on diskette 2. Note: The macros "AKLEIN.WCM" and "AGROSS.WCM" have been taken from the brochure "Hilfen fr sehbehinderte Windows-Benutzer" (Resources for low-vision Windows users) by Ingo Lembke, AfB GmbH. 2.4. Screen representation by means of standard hardware ======================================================== Further cursor representations result from the control software of hardware, e.g. mice, graphics adapters or monitors. We only superficially go into this subject as the products and their equipment change rapidly. 2.4.1 Mouse drivers Microsoft "Ergo Mouse 2.0" One out of many examples is Microsoft "Ergo Mouse 2.0". The accompanying mouse driver provides many different options, especially the enlargement of the mouse pointer and the cursor environment, but these only with a fixed standard and a fixed window size. All necessary files for DOS and Windows are installed by calling up the SETUP routine from floppy disk. You just have to give the installation paths. Unfortunately representation errors occur with DOS if the cursor has been set medium or large. Especially in programs that work with menus, remainders of the mouse cursor stay on the screen after the menus have been closed. In Windows, you call up the magnifying glass with Alt+right mouse key. On the screen, a rectangular field appears that magnifies the environment of the mouse arrow 2-3 times. The magnifying glass is located in the mouse position and scrolls around the screen with the mouse. On pressing a mouse key the magnifying glass disappears and the mouse pointer turns up again in its actual position. This mouse including the mouse driver sells for approximately DM 80. LogiMouse (Company Logitech) Logitech also offers a good mouse driver with many variations of the cursor. It can be loaded from CompuServe (see Addresses). 2.4.2 Graphics adapters ----------------------- The control software of many graphics adapters with Windows facilitates several setting variations, e.g. enlarged types in the menu bars of Windows, shift to different resolutions (640x480, 800x600, ...) without a Windows restart, high refresh rates (particularly eye-protecting!). You can configure many graphics adapters such that they display only a part of the screenful and therefore enlarge this part effectively. As examples we mention the graphics adapters "Mirage P-64" by the Spea company (price approx. DM 300) and "Mach 64" by ATI (price ???). We can't go into detail here concerning specific dissimilarities of these adapters; but we describe the general principle of usage for low vision users, the "virtual screen", in the following example: The "virtual screen" uses the higher resolution of the graphics adapter to display only a section of the screen, but with the original resolution. If you select e.g. 1280x960 pixels instead of the common 640x480 pixels, but for the screen you stick to 640x480 pixels, the picture doesn't shrink to a fourth of its original area, but a fourth of the original screenful is displayed in the original resolution. This enlarged section moves when you reach the screen border with the cursor. In that way you can easily scroll over the whole picture, and you can shift immediately to the original display as the combination of resolution and display is selectable by a simple mouse-click or hot key. 2.4.3 Monitors -------------- Some monitors also provide a control software independent of the graphics adapter for the screen representation that partly make possible similar settings. 2.5 Speech output for the keyboard (Windows) ============================================ Program: KEY_SPR (SPRACH.EXE, BUCHSTAB.EXE) on diskette 7 Author: Unknown; it seems to originate from a typewriter teaching program Price: Unknown, probably free 1) What does the program achieve? With Windows the program produces a spoken letter or a sound on each keystroke via the sound adapter and so assists in controlling the input. A sound adapter (approx. DM 200) is necessary hardware to use this program. Tip: For the operation of MS-DOS the program KLICKIT (see ch. 1.1.3 of the SATIS-compilation) produces a cheeping sound to control the keyboard input. 2) Tips for testing Copy KEYSPR_.EXE to a directory on the hard disk. Call KEYSPR_.EXE; by this a subdirectory KEY_SPR is established into which all necessary files and programs are unpacked. With file manager first call SPRACH.EXE and then BUCHSTAB.EXE. This order is vital! From this moment on keyboard inputs are conveyed via sound adapter. To exit, close the windows that have been opened for launching. 3) Detailed operating instruction Installation: If you want to use the program permanently it is useful to copy both programs to the autostart group so that the programs are launched automatically each time you launch Windows. For this procedure first drag the icons for SPRACH.EXE and BUCHSTAB.EXE from the file manager into the window of the autostart group (see menu item window in program manager). Here the order is vital again. Configuration: There are no settings that are changeable. Still you should check first if the sound adapter works: e.g. Does the typical ring of the Windows start emerge? 4) Experiences/Evaluation The program seems to run safely. For the proficient typist though the voice output is not fast enough. Annotation: From the company "ACD Communications", the program "Icon Hear It 1.0" is available for about 98,- DM. With this program, you can make the icon names audible. If a sound card is missing, the program will use the built-in PC speaker.