Quick Guide to Co:Writer SE

Transcription

1 The contents of this packet reflect features of Co:Writer Solo Edition on Windows XP. There may be some differences in appearance or tools if using other versions of Co:Writer. Launching the Program Double-click the Co:Writer icon that appears on the computer s Desktop. Alternatively, select Co:Writer from the Start Menu on the computer. If the application was purchased alone, it may be listed in a folder entitled Co:Writer SE. If it was installed as part of the full Solo package, look for the Co:Writer SE icon in the Solo folder. Once the program launches, a user name must be selected. Choose a name from the available list and click OK. Click on Teacher Sign In to manage student writer files. Click on New Writer to enter the wizard and create additional writer files. This will appear when signing in as a Teacher. Click New to create a new teacher with the password found in the front cover of the manual. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 1 13 September 2006

2 Creating a New User The New User Wizard will appear the first time Co:Writer is launched after installation. New writers can also be created by clicking on New Writer in the sign in box. Once the user s name is entered, the wizard will guide you through a series of questions to configure the writer s options. Starting Co:Writer Once a writer file is launched, Co:Writer will prompt the user to launch an associated program. Co:Writer works with programs that accept keyboard input. This means it can be used with word processors, applications, or even the text tools found in drawing programs. The message on the left prompts the user to launch a program or document. This can be done by selecting a program from the Start menu or launching a file that already exists. From Start Menu Existing File If an existing file is selected, be sure to place the cursor where new text should be inserted. This is the location where Co:Writer will place the word or sentence that is typed. Click the Co:Writer Button to enter Co:Writer and begin typing. Cursor position Click here when the cursor is in the correct starting position. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 2 13 September 2006

3 Typing with Co:Writer Co:Writer will display a word, sentence, or paragraph window based upon the individual writer s settings. Word windows appear next to the cursor in whichever program was launched. Sentence and paragraph windows appear in a static window, usually at the bottom of the computer screen. Word window Sentence or Paragraph window Keystrokes will result in a list of predicted words. Use the mouse or the arrow keys to listen to words that are unfamiliar. Type a number to insert the prediction into the sentence. In the Sentence window displayed to the left, typing 3 would replace revuloosh with Revolutionary War. In the Word window on the right, typing 2 would insert Revolutionary. For most users, a space is automatically inserted after a prediction is used. Mouse over a word in the list to hear it pronounced The Co:Writer Panel When Co:Writer is active, the Co:Writer Panel will be displayed. It usually appears on the upper-right side of the computer screen. Three icons are available at the top of the panel. Additional commands and tools can be viewed by clicking on the blue arrows in the bottom of the panel. The Hide icon temporarily disables Co:Writer so that work can be performed elsewhere on the computer. The More icon is used to display additional predictions. This is helpful when a desired word is not displayed in the initial list of predictions. The same result can be obtained by using the right arrow on the keyboard. The Erase icon is used to remove the last typed word or the last prediction that was inserted. It works like a Backspace key, but affects a whole word or phrase rather than one letter. The same result can be obtained by using the left arrow on the keyboard. Students who frequently use the arrow keys for navigation should be cautioned about this key action, since they can quickly undo a significant amount of writing. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 3 13 September 2006

4 Hiding Co:Writer At times it will be necessary to work in the secondary program, rather than Co:Writer. In these cases Co:Writer should be hidden. Click on the Hide icon to temporarily disable the program. When hidden, the Co:Writer button will appear onscreen. Clicking the button will unhide Co:Writer so that it can be used again. The +/= key can also be used to unhide Co:Writer. The Button Co:Writer may also hide itself automatically when a user clicks on the writing space, menu, or icon. In those instances Co:Writer may be minimized to the Windows Task Bar or display a small, blank word window somewhere onscreen. More Commands Sentence Reads the sentence that has been composed so far. Speech Off Mutes the program s speech. Quit Allows the user to quit Co:Writer while other programs remain open. Undo Undoes the last keystroke or insertion. Send Sends the contents of your prediction window to the secondary program. True True Keys mode this is needed to type numbers or for periods that appear mid-sentence (as in addresses). The Escape key serves the same function. Prefix Displays predictions for prefixes that can be added to subsequent roots. Suffix Displays suffixes that can be added to preceding roots. Settings Gives the user access to various options for the display, prediction list, and speech. Home Quickly allows a user to access more advanced options or other user files. This is most useful for viewing and editing the dictionaries that are being used. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 4 13 September 2006

5 Settings Panels Topic Dictionaries Topic dictionaries are specialized word lists that can be activated on an as-needed basis. Users may select from a number of preinstalled dictionaries or create their own by simple copy-and-paste actions. Click on the blue arrow in the Co:Writer Panel to display the Topic Dictionaries window. If any dictionaries are activated, they will be listed in the pane. Users may have as many as ten topic dictionaries active at the same time, but it is best to activate only those needed for a given topic. No topics are currently active. These topics are currently active. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 5 13 September 2006

6 Click on Select to view a listing of available topics. The left-hand pane shows the various categories that are available, while the right-hand pane shows the dictionaries. eword Bank Click on a dictionary name to view a description in the comment box at the bottom. Click in the small box to activate a topic dictionary. Again, up to ten topic dictionaries can be active at a given time. American English Dictionaries are available for download at Don Johnston s dictionaries are occasionally numbered. Typically, these denote basic and advanced versions for a topic. The advanced dictionaries (e.g., Amer Revolution 2) contain the same terms as the basic version (e.g., Amer Revolution 1) in addition to more detailed words or phrases. The eword Bank is active whenever topic dictionaries are being utilized. The word bank can be used to generate ideas and prompt students on a wider variety of words. Twenty words are displayed based on the weight of a word in the dictionary (or dictionaries). Weight simply refers to the frequency at which a word has been used. The eword Bank allows users to view three types of words: Nouns & Names, Verbs, and Adjectives. Users can click on a word in the listing to have it read aloud by the program. Viewing and Editing Dictionaries Co:Writer makes use of a wide variety of word lists, all of which are referred to as dictionaries even though definitions are not available for the available words. These dictionaries can be viewed when logged in as a Teacher or by clicking the Home icon in the Co:Writer Panel. Main This is a dictionary that always runs. It may be viewed, but not edited in any manner. Topics These dictionaries may be viewed and edited. Topic dictionaries may also personalized or shared among all users. Personal This is a dictionary of words specific to a specific writer. Use this dictionary to store names, hobbies, and other personal vocabulary. Collected This dictionary serves as a holding area for vocabulary that is not stored in the previously listed dictionaries. Use this to look for common errors in a writer s keystrokes. This dictionary can be configured to automatically make new words appear in the prediction list, if appropriate. Recent This dictionary keeps track of recently typed/selected words or phrases. Select a writer from the drop-down list (the window to the left indicates that settings are for Scott D) and click on the Vocabulary icon to view various dictionaries used by Scott D. Click on the tabs to view the contents and options for each type of dictionary shown below. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 6 13 September 2006

7 Dictionary Options Main Click View Dictionary to see full contents. Topics Click View/Edit to make changes. A window will appear asking whether the changes should be saved as a new, personalized dictionary. Personal Click Edit to make changes to the contents of this dictionary. Collected Click on Collect New Words to save unique words or keystrokes. Click on Predict Collected Words to add them to prediction instantly. Click Edit to make changes to the dictionary. Recent Click on Favor Recent Words or Favor Recent Phrases to repeat previously used predictions. Click Edit to make changes to the dictionary. Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 7 13 September 2006

8 Editing Dictionaries The window to the right appears whenever the user opts to edit a dictionary s contents. Contents are listed in the left pane in bold print. Additional information is viewable by clicking the Grammar icon or checking the Zoom In radio button. Add a word to a dictionary by typing it in the Word field and clicking Add Word (or pressing Enter). Change an existing word by selecting it in the left pane and then clicking Change. Similarly, delete an existing word by selecting it in the left pane and clicking Delete. Click Save and Done to retain your changes and return to the dictionary listings. Creating Dictionaries Click on Create in the Topic Dictionaries section of the Panel. A new window will appear so that the dictionary can be named. Click OK once the dictionary has been named. The Create Topic Dictionary window will appear. Copy text from another document (Edit Copy or CTRL+C) and then paste the text into the Create Topic Dictionary window (Edit Paste or CTRL+V). Click Create Topic Dictionary to complete the dictionary. It is advisable to view and edit the created dictionary to ensure no strange characters, misspellings, or other errors are present. Questions Scott A. Dougherty Educational Specialist, Assistive Technology 475 East Waterfront Drive Homestead, PA Work: (412) Fax: (412) scott.dougherty@aiu3.net Quick Guide to CoWriter SE.doc 8 13 September 2006