THE SCHOLAR'S NOTEBOOK 
User's Guide to the APH Braille 'n Speak Scholar

By: Fred Gissoni

1999 


SECTION A:  READ ME

In 1994 The American Printing House for the Blind presented the APH Braille 'n Speak Classic. Hundreds of students have benefited from this device.  It has become an integral part of their school and personal lives.  Since 1994, technology has advanced; now it is time to offer a more powerful version of the world-famous Braille 'n Speak.  APH is pleased to present the APH Braille 'n Speak Scholar.

The Scholar is a single device that performs the functions of many.  It can serve as a clock, current date calendar, appointment reminder, stopwatch, count down timer, calculator, word processor, typewriter, braillewriter, computer terminal, notebook and much more.  Indeed, every word of the text you are reading was written on the Scholar or its "big brother" the Braille 'n Speak 2000.  To make use of its many capabilities, you must learn to issue certain commands that tell the Scholar what you expect of it.  You also must learn the responses the Scholar makes when commands are received.  The purpose of this manual is to give you a guided tour of your Braille 'n Speak Scholar and the language it speaks and understands.

WHAT'S NEW AND DIFFERENT 
Before we go on with our study of the Scholar, I want to point out some of the differences between the Scholar and the Braille 'n Speak Classic.  The scholar has more than three-and-a-half times the amount of memory of the Classic: approximately 640,000 characters as opposed to 180,000 for the Classic.  Connectors on the side of the Scholar are standard round DIN connectors instead of the more fragile pins that have been known to bend or break.

As it comes to you, the Scholar contains a spell checker.  With it, you can check the spelling of a specific word or an entire document.  You can add words, such as your name, in a personal dictionary.  Also, you can load other programs into your Scholar to make it do other jobs, such as balancing a checkbook, connecting you to the Internet, playing games, etc.

The color of the classic was blue, and it had gray keys.  The Scholar's case is in the purple family with off-white keys.  These color changes were made to benefit users who have low vision.

The electrical system of the Scholar is also different from the Classic.  The Scholar has one more cell in its battery supply than the Classic.  The house-current power unit used to charge the battery, and to power the Scholar while its battery is being charged, is a twelve-volt unit.  It is heavier than the nine-volt charger that came with the Classic.

NOTE!!!  You should use only the charger/power supply that is supplied with your Scholar.  Using a charger other than the one furnished by APH can cause severe damage to the Scholar and will void the Scholar's warranty.

Finally, here's a word about cables.  One communication cable comes with your Scholar.  You will need this cable in order to connect your Scholar to an IBM-compatible computer.  One end of this cable has a round connector that plugs into one of the ports at the left end of the Scholar.  (See Section A-3.)  This connector is round for the most part, but there is a flat place on the grip portion of the plug.  When you plug this cable into the Scholar, the flat face should be on the upper side of the plug angled just a bit away from you.

A-1.  Charting Our Course

We'll be working with the Scholar that has a revision release date of December 27, 1998.  Over time, minor changes may be made and a new release date issued.  If your unit differs from the December 27 revision release date, you may issue commands and receive responses that are different from those presented here.  Please do not let such happenings be a stumbling block.

I have divided this document into lettered sections.  Within each section is a series of numbered topics.  For example, in this very section are the following: 
A-1.  Charting Our Course 
A-2.  The Road Ahead 
A-3.  Operating Controls 
A-4.  Batteries 
A-5.  Chords, Cursor and Cables 
A-6.  ASCII Braille 
A-7.  A Word About Menus

Each section contains a list of included topics.  Using section and topic references instead of page numbers enables everyone to communicate about subject matter whether the text is on tape, in print, braille or computer disk.  

A-2.  The Road Ahead

The lettered sections contained in this user's guide are as follows:  
SECTION A:  Read Me  
SECTION B.  Clock and Calendar
SECTION C.  Stopwatch and Timer Functions
SECTION D.  Calculator Functions 
SECTION E.  Speech Parameters
SECTION F.  Reading Activities
SECTION G.  Writing Functions
SECTION H.  Macros
SECTION I.   File Commands 
SECTION J.  Spell Check Functions
SECTION K.  Communications Parameters and the Status Menu 
SECTION L.  Transmit and Print Text
SECTION M.  Other Functions
SECTION N.  Storing and Retrieving Information
SECTION O.  The Graphing Calculator

This guide is designed to make information easy to locate.  From the outset, the order of information introduces the use of "chords" and other command elements used in all phases of Braille 'n Speak and Scholar operation.  Of course, you may want to study topics in a different order.  My intent is to give you early success and an awareness of how you and the Scholar must interact as you gain skill.  Some commands are followed by comments to clarify their use.  Others are listed without comment.  Do not be afraid to experiment as you work your way through this guide.  Though you may delete information by accident, there is no set of keystrokes you can enter that will physically damage your equipment.  I have spoken of this document as a manual.  As I write this, I think of it as a detailed letter to someone who would like to put the Scholar to use.  I do not think of it as a textbook.  

A-3.  Operating Controls

With the Braille 'n Speak Scholar on a table in front of you with its space bar toward you, the power on/off switch is located at the right end of the device.  Press the far end of the switch to turn the instrument on and the near end to turn it off.

Beyond the on/off switch is the jack for connecting the Scholar to earphones, an external speaker or an audio patch cord.

At the left end of the device are three points of interest.  Closest to the rear is the connection point for the A.C. power supply/battery charger. Next come two ports for connecting the Scholar to ink printers, braille embossers, modems, another Braille 'n Speak or Scholar, or the external disk drive accessory.  These two ports or "jacks" can be used interchangeably.  (See sections A-5 L-3 and N for information about accessories.)

On the upper surface of the instrument is the keyboard.  The space key divides the board into two sections of three keys each.  Moving left from the space key we find keys for braille dots 1, 2 and 3.  The keys for dots 4, 5 and 6 are to the right of the space key.  Thus, dots 1 and 4 are closest to the space key while keys for dots 3 and 6 are farthest away.  The holes at the lower right portion of the top surface are for the escapement of sound from the instrument's small built-in loud speaker.

A-4.  BATTERIES

The Scholar is powered by nickel cadmium (NICAD) batteries that can be recharged.  Plug the battery charger/power supply into house current and the end of its cable into the jack at the left end of the Scholar's case.  You can operate the unit while its battery is being charged.  When battery voltage becomes dangerously low the Scholar says "Battery Low."  When this warning is heard, do not operate your unit for more than a very few minutes.  The battery charger is a 12-volt unit.  WHEN CHARGING YOUR UNIT, BE SURE TO USE THE CHARGER/POWER SUPPLY THAT WAS FURNISHED WITH IT!  NICAD batteries can be recharged.  Generally, a battery or set of them will last for about 300 charge/discharge cycles.

Over the life of the battery the amount of use time available on a charging will decrease.  There comes a time when operating time on a charging becomes short enough to warrant replacement of the battery.  Contact APH for any service on your unit including battery replacement.  You should contact APH when your battery needs replacement as well as when you have other questions about service.

A-5.  Chords, Cursor and Cables

When a character or a set of braille dot numbers is associated with the word "chord," the space bar is pressed and released along with the mentioned character or dots.  "Chord-l" means braille dots 1, 2 and 3 and the space bar pressed and released as one character.

The CURSOR is not something you can pick up or hold.  It is the point of action when you are reading or writing.  If you were reading braille it would be like the tip of your finger.  If writing with a pen or braille slate, it would be the point of your pen or stylus.  The Scholar has two cursors, a reading cursor and a writing cursor.  We will have more to say about cursors later.

Chords are used to instruct or command the Scholar.   They control the movement of the cursor.  We will say more about this later.  For now, we will say that chord commands that move the cursor to the left or backward, that is toward the beginning of your document, use keys in the left half of the keyboard.  Commands that move the cursor to the right, or forward toward the end of your document, use keys in the right half of the keyboard.  For example, chord-2 moves the reading cursor back one word.  Chord-5 moves the reading cursor forward one word.

As for cables, the third item covered in this section, the cable that comes with your Scholar has a plug on one end that fits into either of the two ports on the left end of the Scholar.  The plug at the other end of this cable connects to a communications port on the back of a personal computer.  Remember, the Scholar end of this plug has a flat face.  This flat portion should be facing upward when you plug the cable into your Scholar.  Its flat surface will angle slightly away from you.

The supplied cable contains a 9-pin female connector on the end that connects to your computer.  If you are using an older computer that still contains the 25-pin communications ports, you will need to purchase an adapter from Radio Shack or a similar place.  Ask for a 9- to 25-pin serial adapter.  You want the 9-pin side to be male and the 25-pin side to be male.

A-6.  ASCII Braille

ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.  ASCII braille is braille produced by connecting a braille embosser to a computer with no translation software to produce capitalized letters or contractions.  Alphabetic characters are as you know them.  Numbers are written in the four lower dots of the cell; dots 2, 3, 5 and 6.  No number sign is used.  Punctuation marks differ from those found in literary braille and it is not possible to tell whether a letter is capitalized or in lower case.  An appendix at the end of this work presents the braille dot numbers for letters, numbers and punctuation marks.

A-7.  A Word About Menus. As we work together in the study of the Scholar, we will be learning to issue commands and making certain choices (or options).  We can memorize these options and commands for greatest efficiency.  However, if we forget a specific function or simply want to access functions in a different way, we can access many Scholar functions through the use of Pull Down Menus.  Once a menu is available, we can read down its list of choices by pressing the space key or by pressing chord-4 to move forward or chord-1 to back up to a previous item.  To hear an item repeated, press chord-c.  To learn or be reminded of the fast way to go straight to the item being shown, press chord-3-6.  To select the item being shown, press chord-e.  These menus may be used with the following functions. 
Delete: chord-d 
File menu: chord-o, f, and chord-1-4-5-6 
Move: chord-3-4-5-6
Option: chord-o 
Parameter: chord-p 
Paste: chord-3-4-6 
Remote mode: chord-3-5-6 
Set time/date: chord-o, s
Spell check: chord-o, ch (dots 1-6) 
Storage: chord-s 
Transmit: chord-t.


SECTION B:  Clock and Calendar

INCLUDED TOPICS
 
B-1. Announce Time 
B-2. Announce Date 
B-3. Set Time 
B-4. Set Date 
B-5. Set 24 Hour Time 
B-6. Set 12 Hour Time 
B-7. Setting the Clock Forward or Back 
B-8. The Alarm Clock 
B-9. Setting the Alarm 
B-10. Wild Cards and the Alarm 
B-11. Hourly Time Announcement 
B-12. Enhanced Calendar Functions 
B-13. Calendar Alert

B-1.  Announce Time:  chord-o, t

B-2.  Announce Date:  chord-o, d

B-3.  Set Time:  chord-o, st 
-- NOTE:  when writing numbers as part of commands or in response to prompts, DO NOT use the number sign.  Write all numbers using the lower four dots of the braille cell.  When using this command the letters s and t are entered separately and not as the braille contraction symbol for "st."  If you are setting the clock to "American twelve-hour time," you will be asked to enter the time h h m m.  This means two digits for the hour and two for the minute.  For single hour or minute times, let zero be the first digit.  Then, you are asked to enter a for a.m. or p for p.m.  The instant you do this the clock is set.  For a casual time set, simply ask someone for the time and set your clock accordingly.  More accurate setting may be obtained from radio time signals.  On short wave radio, time signals may be found on the dial at 2,500; 3,330; 5,000; 7,335; 10,000; 14,670; 15,000 and 20,000 KHz.  Two toll call telephone numbers which provide accurate time are 303-499-7111 and 900-410-8463.  (See Section A-7.)

B-4.  Set Date:  chord-o, sd 
-- When this command is issued, the Scholar says "enter date, MM DD YY."  It is asking you for two digits to represent the month, two for the date within the month and two more for the  year.  January 6, 1999 is written "010699."  As soon as this is written, you will hear, "The date is Wednesday, January 6, 1999."  To set the date January 6, 2000, enter it as 010600.

B-5.  Set 24 Hour Time:  chord-o, s2 
-- Setting the mode in which the Scholar announces the time is something you do just once.  Having done it, set the clock time.  Thereafter, the clock will operate either in European or American time mode, whichever you have set.

B-6.  Set 12-Hour Time:  chord-o, s1

B-7.  Setting the Clock Forward and Back:  
-- In many parts of the world clocks are advanced one hour in spring and reversed an hour in autumn.  The time shown by the Scholar's clock can be changed without the need to enter the entire time.  To advance the clock time one hour, enter chord-o, st.  When asked to enter the time hh mm simply write the plus sign, braille dots 3 4 6 and 0100.  This will cause the time to jump forward one hour.

To reverse the time announced by the Scholar, instead of using the plus sign, use the minus sign, dots 3 6.  If the clock says the time is 9:00 o'clock and you enter chord-o, st then -0100 the clock will announce the time as 8:00.

B-8.  The Alarm Clock:  
-- In order for this feature to operate, the Scholar must be turned on.  If you are working with your Scholar and have an errand to do at a given time, you can set the alarm for that time.  If your Scholar is turned on, the alarm will sound.

B-9.  Setting the Alarm:  chord-o, sa 
 -- To set the alarm, enter chord-o, sa.  The Scholar will say Enter alarm time hh mm."  Write the time with two digits for the hour and two for the minute.  You then will hear "Enter alarm date mmddyy."  When you have entered the date, the Scholar will say "Okay."

B-10  Wild Cards and the Alarm  
-- If you wish, you can cause the Scholar alarm to sound at times such as 15 minutes after each hour, every day of a given month, etc.  These settings are accomplished by means of "wild cards."  In the case of the alarm, the letter x is used to represent digits.  When the Scholar asks you to enter a time value with two digits for the hour and two for the minute, use of the letters xx can produce a desired result. To have the alarm sound at 5:45 A. M. each day during the month of September, you would write the time in a straight forward way; 0545 for European time and 0545a for American time.  For the month of September write 09.  Now, to indicate every day during that month, use the xx wild card.  Thus, the entire sequence of characters is 054509xx  for European time and 0545a09xx for American time.  Of course, you also must enter two digits for the year.

If you want the alarm to sound at half past every hour, the symbols for the hh portion of the sequence will be xx.  The half-hour is represented as thirty minutes.  The entire sequence is xx30 then the digits for the month date and year.

B-11  Hourly Time Announcement:  chord-h while in status menu
Cycle through choices with space key.  
-- We will be discussing the status menu much farther along our journey together.  I mention this feature here because it relates to time functions.  To activate this mode, press a chord-h when you are in the status menu.  Your Scholar probably will say "Hourly announcement off."  It might already have been set on one of the available choices.  If so, that setting will be announced.  Pressing the space key will take you through the available choices, bell only, voice only or bell and voice.  In order for this feature to perform, your Scholar must be turned on at the time the hour changes on the clock.

B-12.  Enhanced Calendar Functions (Smart Calendar):  chord-o, g 
-- To find the day of a specific date, enter the date in m m d d y y y y format.  If the date you are seeking is in the current century, (19--,) only two digits will be needed for the year.  You can also enter a number if you want to know what day it will be x days from today. Enter the number preceded by a minus sign (dots 3 and 6) to determine what day it was x days ago.  Enter a number sign to determine what number today is in the calendar year.  
-- The limit of the range for future dates is 9,999.  If you want to place a minus sign before a number to check X days ago, the limit is 999.

B-13.  Calendar Alert:  chord-o, a 
-- If you have the calendar check feature turned on, the calendar alert is automatic as long as you have the date entered correctly.  If this feature is turned off and you want to check for a current date entry, the use of chord-o, a will let you know if the current date is entered in your calendar file.  (For information on Calendar Check, see Section M:  Other Functions.)  To place a note associated with a date in your calendar file, first enter the calendar file.  Then, go to the top of the file by writing chord-1.  Next, check to see if the desired date already is in the file.  Enter chord-f, chord-g.  In response to the prompt, enter the desired date.  If you already have that date noted in the calendar file, it will be found.  You can enter the Insert Text mode and add your note to the line that contains the date.  

If you receive the "not found" message, go to the end of the file by writing chord-4-5-6. Enter the PASTE command, chord-3-4-6.  When asked "Paste what" enter the letter g.  Next respond to the prompt by entering the desired date in its proper format.  Terminate with chord-e.  This will place the desired date in the file in the correct format for recognition by the calendar alert feature.  The Scholar will speak the date.  This act places the cursor at the start of the line that contains the date information.  Enter the "insert text" mode and write any note you want to associate with the date.  Be sure to finish the note with a space.  When you receive the alert message, open the calendar file and read the current line to hear your message. 


SECTION C:  Stopwatch and Timer Functions

INCLUDED TOPICS

C-1.  Enter Stopwatch 
C-2.  Start/Stop Stopwatch 
C-3.  Reset Stopwatch
C-4.  Read Stopwatch 
C-5.  Speak Last Reading 
C-6.  Set Countdown Timer
C-7.  Speak Countdown timer

C-1.  Enter Stopwatch: chord-o, w;  chord-z exits

C-2.  Start/stop Stopwatch: dot 6 
-- This command stops the counting of time and "freezes" the watch at the value displayed when the command was issued.

C-3.  Reset Stopwatch: dot 3
 -- This returns the watch to 0 but does not start the timing function.

C-4.  Read Stopwatch: space key 
-- Pressing the space key causes the watch to announce the time at the instant you pressed the key.  It does not interfere with the counting of time.

C-5.  Speak Last Reading: c 
-- This command causes the stopwatch to repeat the last voice announcement.

C-6.  Set Countdown Timer: # 
-- This must be done in stopwatch mode.

C-7.  Speak Countdown Timer:  chord-o, # 
-- When the count down timer has been set and is running, if you exit the timer with chord-e, you will return to the file with which you were working.  As you work in your file, if you enter this command, you will be told how much time remains for the countdown in progress.  The Scholar must remain in the "on" condition for the timer to keep accurate track of your count. 


SECTION D:  Calculator Functions

INCLUDED TOPICS

D-1. Enter Calculator 
D-2. Set Precision 
D-3. Signs of Operation 
D-4. Square Root 
D-5.  Execute Calculation 
D-6.  Speak display 
D-7.  Clear
D-8  Store In Memory 
D-9.  Recall From Memory 
D-10.  Digits/Numbers
D-11. Fraction Mode 
D-12.  Scientific Calculator 
D-13.  Graphing Calculator

D-1.  Enter Calculator:  chord-o, c;  chord-z Exits

D-2.  Set Precision:  chord-p, a number from 0 to 12, followed by chord-e.
-- This determines the number of places following a decimal point to which the calculator will work out a result.  The maximum is twelve.  

D-3.  Signs of Operation: 
dots 3, 4 and 6 = plus 
dots 3 and 6 = minus 
dots 1 and 6 = times 
dots 3 and 4 = divided by 
dots 1, 4 and 6 = percent 
chord-3-4-5 = square root 
-- Most operations are routine.  To find a percentage value, enter the percentage value followed by the percent operator and then the number whose percentage you want.  To find 15 percent of 729 enter 15%729 followed by chord-e.  As soon as you do, you will hear "109.35."

NOTE:  Though these next symbols are not signs of operation, you will need to know how to enter them if you are to be successful in using the calculator. Dots 1,2,3,5 and 6 = left parenthesis; dots 2,3,4,5 and 6 = right parenthesis; dot 6 = comma.

D-4.  Square Root:  chord 3-4-5 
-- This immediately follows the number whose square root is desired.  

D-5. Execute Calculation:  chord 
-- When you have finished setting down the steps of a calculation, entering chord-e causes the result to be spoken and placed in the display register.

D-6. Speak Display:  chord-c 
-- This command causes the Scholar to speak the steps of a calculation.  It must be issued before you ask for a result.  It allows you to check the steps of a calculation before the result is spoken.  

D-7.  Clear:  chord-3-5-6 
-- This command clears the calculator's display register.  If you are entering the calculator to start a fresh set of calculations, that is, not using a value in the display register from a previous calculation, it is a good plan to enter the clear command.  This makes certain there is no other value that might interfere with your work.  When you enter the chord-3,5,6 , the Scholar responds with the word "clear."  

D-8.  Store In Memory:  chord-s, a-z 
-- To store a number in memory, it must first be in the display register.  It must be announced following a chord-e.  Enter chord-s followed by a letter from a through z.  If a memory contains a number, its letter can be used to represent that number in a calculation.  If a contains 5 and b 10, then a*b will yield 50 and a+b 15.  The calculator has 26 storage registers or memories.  As we've already said, they are labeled a through z.  Memory r is a special case.  It is a result register, not simply a storage register.  It can be used to incorporate the most recent result of a calculation in the next step of a series.  Suppose you add 2 + 3.  When you press chord-e you will be given 5 as your answer.  Now, suppose you want to divide 45 by this value.  If you were to divide 45 by chord-e you would hear "Error Syntax Error."  Perform the calculation again.  When you add 2 + 3 and hear "five" at the press of chord-e, the 5 also is stored in memory r, the result register.  Divide 45 by r and you will receive 9 as a result.

D-9.  Recall From Memory:  Use a-z In Calculation. 
-- Entering the letter label for a memory (a to z) followed by chord-e will cause the display to speak the value of that memory.  As stated earlier, these letters can be used in calculations.

D-10.  Digits/Numbers:  chord 
-- This command determines the way in which the calculator will speak numbers: 310 or three hundred ten. 

D-11.  Fraction Mode:  chord-3-4 
-- Although not specifically documented, it always has been possible to calculate fractions with the Braille 'n Speak calculator.  For example, the decimal expression 1.75 could be written as 1 + 3/4.  When working with the calculator, if you wish to have a decimal value expressed as a fraction, enter chord-3-4.  The Scholar will say "Fraction Mode."  If you have 1.75 in your calculator display register, pressing chord-e will cause the Scholar to say, "one and three divided by four."

D-12.  Scientific Calculator 
-- The calculator within the Scholar performs the functions of an ordinary four- or five-function machine.  In addition, the Scholar supports a scientific calculator.  For your convenience, we present the list of commands supported by the scientific calculator.  The objective of this work is not to teach arithmetic but to enable you to use the calculator as a tool to help you in your study of mathematics or in other ways.  The list of commands begins with the statement, "Enter the function name followed by the argument or arguments in parentheses separated by commas."  The word "argument" refers to expressions within parentheses.  To raise 10 to the third power, write the word "power" followed immediately by the opening parentheses, the numeral 10 followed by a comma, the numeral 3 and the closing parenthesis.  In this expression, 10 and 3 are the arguments.  When writing words such as "power" never write using Grade Two Braille contractions.

Enter the function name followed by the argument or, if there is more than I argument, the arguments in parentheses separated by commas.  You may use a maximum of 255 characters. 

Absolute value of argument: abs 
Reciprocal of arg: recip
Integer division of arg1 divided by arg2 if both are integers:  div(arg1,arg2) 
Integer remainder of arg1 divided by arg2 if both are integers: mod(arg1,arg 2) 
Round a number (integer part of (arg + .5)): round 
Integer part of arg: trunc 
Sum of any number of arguments up to 250 characters: sum 
Average of any number of arguments up to 250 characters: avg 
Standard deviation of arguments: stddev 
Median of arguments: median 
Minimum of arguments: min 
Maximum of arguments: max
Calculate value of arg factorial: fact 
Use value of PI 3.14159 in calculation or as part of a radius argument: pi 
Set units for trigonometric functions: enter chord-d for degrees or chord-r for radians 
Sine of arg: sin 
Cosine of arg: cos 
Tangent of arg: tan
Cotangent of arg: cot 
Arcsine of arg: asin 
Arccosine of arg: acos
Arctangent of arg: atan 
Base e log of arg: ln 
Base 10 log of arg: log
Base e antilog of arg: aln 
Base 10 antilog of arg: alog 
E to the power arg: exp 
Arg1 to the power arg2: power(arg1,arg2) 
Square root of arg: sqrt 
The arg2 root of arg1: root(arg1,arg2) 
Generate random number between 0 and 1, empty set of parentheses required: rand () 
Convert to hexadecimal from decimal: hd 
Convert to octal from decimal: od 
Convert to binary from decimal: bd 
Convert to decimal from hexadecimal: dh
Convert to decimal from octal: do 
Convert to decimal from binary: db
Convert Centigrade arg to Fahrenheit: faren 
Convert Fahrenheit arg to Centigrade: centi 
Convert centimeter arg to inches: in 
Convert inches arg to centimeters: cm 
Convert kilometer arg to miles: mi 
Convert mile arg to kilometers: km 
Convert gallon arg to liters: l 
Convert liter arg to gallons: gal 
Convert pounds arg to kilograms: kg 
Convert kilograms arg to pounds: lb 
Convert ounces arg to grams: g 
Convert grams arg to
Ounces: oz 
Wind chill (temperature in Fahrenheit, wind speed):  wc 
(See Calculate within a File in Section M.)

D-13.  GRAPHING CALCULATOR:  chord-g from within the calculator. 
-- This is the command to use in order to enter the graphing calculator.  Since many Scholar users may have special needs for these functions, we are placing our discussion of the Graphing Calculator in a section of its own, Section O. 


SECTION E:  Speech Parameters

INCLUDED TOPICS

E-1. Set Speech Parameters 
E-2. Softer Volume 
E-3. Louder Volume 
E-4. Slower Rate 
E-5. Faster Rate 
E-6. Lower Pitch 
E-7. Higher Pitch 
E-8. Lower frequency 
E-9. Higher frequency 
E-10. Select Voices 
E-11. Key Echo, Click or Silence 
E-12. Speak by Word 
E-13. Punctuation 
E-14. Say Digits or Numbers 
E-15. Speech Box Mode 
E-16. Enhanced speech box mode
E-17. Exit speech parameters menu

E-1.  Set Speech Parameters:  chord-3-4-5 
-- Entering this command enables you to adjust the way in which the Scholar speaks its information.  You must begin the adjustment of speech with this command.  While in this mode, you may make several adjustments.  Having made all adjustments in speech, you must exit this mode before you can do any other work.  Chord-e performs the exit function.

E-2.  Softer:    dot 1
E-3.  Louder:    dot 4
E-4.  Slower:     dot 2
E-5.  Faster:     dot 5
E-6.  Lower:     dot 3
E-7.  Higher:     dot 6
E-8.  Lower frequency:     chord-2-3
E-9.  Higher frequency:     chord-5-6 
-- Repeated pressing of the key associated with each of the preceding commands continues the process in question.  Each time you press dot 1 while in the speech parameters mode, the Scholar says "softer," and the volume level decreases.

E-10.  Select Voices:   chord-5-6 or chord-2-3
 -- You can set up your Scholar with up to five different voices.  Each voice can have its own rate of speed, volume, pitch, frequency, punctuation level, etc.  Within the speech parameters mode, press chord-5-6.  The Scholar will say, "Voice Two." Another press of this chord produces the response "voice three."  You can specify the way in which each voice will deliver its information to you.  Having set your voice or voices and having exited the speech parameters mode, you can select any one of the five voices from within any file.  Write chord-y followed by a number from one to five.  As soon as you do this, your Scholar will speak with the voice you have selected.  Chord-5-6 will move you forward through the list of voices.  Chord-2-3 will move you in a backward direction.

E-11.  Key Echo, Click or Silence: space bar 
-- This command cycles through the three choices just listed.  Key echo means that each character you enter is spoken as keys are released.  Key click means that each key press results in a clicking sound to let you know that the system is responding to your key presses.  Silent keys means exactly that.  No sound other than the mechanical sound of key press/release is heard.

E-12.  Speak by Word:  chord-g 
-- This command has been around for years but has not been known by this name.  It also is called "Interactive."  It was created and still is used for on line communication with remote computers.  (See Status Menu.)  When thought of as a speech parameter it speaks the text just written when either the space key or a carriage return is pressed.  Thus, one can write, hear each word spoken as it has just been written and make any correction that might be indicated by a mispronounced word.  This command cannot be called upon from within the speech parameters mode.  We present it here because many people who need to know of it have had difficulty locating it.  You can access it from the status menu or simply by entering chord-g from any file.  It is a command which toggles or flip-flops.  If it is off when accessed it will be turned on.  If it is on, chord-g will turn it off.

E-13.  Punctuation: T = Total, M = Most, S = Some, Z = None, P = Current Status
 -- These commands give you control of the way the Scholar delivers spoken text.  Total punctuation probably will tell you more than you want to hear.  The phrase "The quick brown fox" would be spoken "The space quick space brown space fox space." Every punctuation is spoken along with every space.

Most punctuation delivers just what its name implies.  Periods, question marks and exclamation marks at the ends of sentences are spoken along with commas, quotes, colons, semicolons, apostrophes, etc.  This mode is useful in proofreading a document to be printed.

Some punctuation omits most punctuation marks but will pronounce dashes. 

If you simply want to read through a text for sentence flow and text content, no punctuation may be the mode of choice.  Absolutely no punctuation marks are read.  Text flows without the possible distraction of punctuation names.

P reports the current status of punctuation setting.

E-14.  Say Digits or Numbers: N 
-- The Scholar is able to speak numbers either as individual digits or as full numbers.  Within the speech parameters mode, you can set the Scholar for either condition.  The telephone number for The American Printing House for the Blind is 502-895-2405. Written as it is here with dashes separating groups of digits, in the "say digits" mode the Scholar would say it as five zero two dash eight nine five dash two four zero five.  In the "say full numbers" mode, this same number would be expressed as five hundred two eight hundred ninety five two thousand four hundred five.  The letter n choice within the speech parameter menu will cause the Scholar to toggle or flip-flop between the speaking of digits or full numbers.

E-15.  Speech Box Mode: 123456 or chord-s or chord-p 
-- The Scholar can be set to operate as an external speech synthesizer.  A speech synthesizer is a device which, used in combination with computer screen access software, enables text information displayed on a computer screen to be spoken.  Most of the leading screen access programs for personal computers have Braille 'n Speak drivers.  These drivers are sets of instructions that tell the access software how to communicate most effectively with the Braille 'n speak and the Scholar.  Having issued the chord-3-4-5 command to enter the speech parameters menu, you can enter all six dots or you also can use chord-s to turn on speech box mode.  The chord-p command is particularly effective in communicating with some of the screen access software intended for use with WINDOWS operating systems.  Speech box mode will remain on until it is turned off.  When you enter speech box mode with chord-s, Braille 'n Speak responds with "Speechbox Mode on Exit."  This means that you now are in speechbox mode and have exited the speech parameters menu.  If you enter speech box mode by means of all six dots, you will not exit automatically, but must use chord-e, the normal method of exiting the speech parameters menu.  If you have need of the speech box option, you should check the manual for your screen access program for information about using that program with the Braille 'n Speak or Scholar as its output speech synthesizer.

E-16.  Enhanced speech box mode: chord-1-2-3-4-5-6. Enter b for block handshaking or l for line handshaking.
 -- After selecting b or l, enter chord-e. 

E-17.  exit speech parameters: chord-e 
-- Most of these commands explain themselves and become clear with a bit of practice.  Exiting the speech parameters menu is the step you must take after having set your speech to meet your needs.  you must exit before you can use the various modes you have set. 


SECTION F:  Reading Activities

INCLUDED TOPICS

F-1.  Speak Current line 
F-2.  Speak Next line 
F-3.  Speak previous line
F-4.  Speak Current word 
F-5.  Speak Next word 
F-6.  Speak previous word
F-7.  Speak Current character 
F-8.  Speak Next character 
F-9.  Speak previous character 
F-10.  Speak Next paragraph 
F-11.  Speak previous paragraph 
F-12.  Move or Count Text Units 
F-13.  Review Mode 
F-14.  Set Window Length 
F-15.  Speak Windows Lines or Sentences 
F-16.  Skip Blank Lines 
F-17.  Speak From Cursor to End of File--Say All Mode 
F-18.  Speak Words in Say All Mode 
F-19.  Cursor Location 
F-20.  Room Left in File
F-21.  Location on Page 
F-22.  Move to Beginning of File 
F-23.  Move to End of File 
F-24.  Find 
F-25.  Find Backward 
F-26.  Distinguish Case During Find 
F-27.  Find Calendar Date 
F-28.  Find and Replace

Most people who obtain Braille 'n Speak scholars are interested in
writing information and reading it back.  Since a help file that can be used to practice reading is in the Scholar, we present this topic first.  To enter the help file press chord-1-4-5-6.  Then, practice the commands presented here.

F-1.  Speak Current line: chord-c 
-- A line is defined as a block of text bounded by a single carriage return or a carriage return/line feed combination.

F-2.  Speak Next line: chord-4
F-3.  Speak previous line: chord-1
F-4.  Speak Current word: chord-2-5 
-- A word is a block of text that ends with at least one space.  Entering this chord twice in succession causes the current word to be spelled and not just pronounced.  From this point, as you go forward or backward word by word, each word will be spelled until you come to a carriage return or you enter the command again to return to normal mode.

F-5.  Speak Next word: chord-5
F-6.  Speak previous word: chord-2 
-- As you read through a text word by word, you will hear a "plink" sound from time to time.  This is caused by a carriage return or carriage return/line feed pair. 

F-7.  Speak Current character: chord-3-6 
-- Pressing this chord character twice in succession causes the name of the character to be pronounced phonetically - a alpha, b bravo, c Charlie, etc.  There may be times when you are not quite certain of the name of a character.  Is it a or k, b or d or maybe even g or v?  This feature should clear things up right away.  

Three successive entries of this chord causes the character's number in the ASCII table to be announced.  The American Standard Code for Information Interchange, (ASCII), is the code in which Braille 'n Speak text is written.  This code consists of 256 characters.  The "ASCII table" or list of these characters runs from zero to 255.  The lower half of the table, 0 to 127, is used for 32 control characters, punctuations, numbers, lowercase (small) letters and uppercase (capital) letters.

The upper half of the table (128 to 255) is used to produce various symbols including some foreign alphabets, currency symbols, mathematical expressions, etc.  If Say ASCII Value is turned on, the third consecutive press of chord-3-6 reveals the ASCII table number of the symbol your reading cursor rests on at the time you press this chord.  To turn on the spoken ASCII values, enter the status menu as described in Section K, enter chord-2-5 and enter the letter "y."

F-8.  Speak Next character: chord-6
F-9.  Speak previous character: chord-3
F-10.  Speak Next paragraph: chord-5-6

F-11.  Speak previous paragraph: chord-2-3 
-- A paragraph is defined as text bounded by two carriage returns or two carriage return/line feed character combinations.  When reading in the help file, the use of this command enables you to move forward or back by topic.  If the text you are reading is formatted for braille, the definition just given for a paragraph does not apply.  A braille paragraph can be found by looking for a carriage return or carriage return/line feed followed by two spaces.

F-12.  Move or Count Text Units: chord-3-4-5-6, a, b, c, l, m, p, w,(number of units if needed), chord-e.
 -- The m referred to is a MARK.  If you have set a mark and want to return to it, simply enter m along with this command. (See G-11.)  The n represents the number of units you want to move.  This command allows you to move forward from the start of a file by a specific number of text units.  These are:  
a  absolute page (Braille 'n Speak Scholar page) 
b  braille page 
c  character 
l  line 
m  mark 
p  print page 
w  word. 
If you are not at the start of a file and want to move forward, use chord-3-4-6 (plus) immediately before the number of units to move.  If you are not at the start of a file and want to move backward, use chord-3-6 (minus) immediately before the number of units to move.  To count text units, use 0 as the number.

To count the number of words in a document, go to the top of the document.  Issue chord-3-4-5-6, w, o, chord-e.  You will be asked to "Please wait."  You will hear a number which is the number of words contained in the document.

As you will discover in time, the Scholar status menu has two sets of format parameters, one for print and the other for braille.  If you use these parameters or set others of your own, they will be observed when you use page units with this command.  If you are at the start of the document and want to move to braille page 7, enter chord-3-4-5-6, b, 7, chord-e.  Remember, do not enter spaces between elements of commands.

If you know the exact character location of a specific place in a document, you can go (move your cursor) to that place by entering chord-3-4-5-6 (the number sign command), the letter c and the number of the character location. (See Section A-7.)

F-13.  Review Mode: chord-o, r, any chord exits. 
-- When in review mode, chorded keys used to move about within a file may be used without the space bar.  For example, dots 3 and 6 without the chord will speak the current character.  This feature is useful in reading a document.  It avoids possible placement of spurious characters at the end of a document if you make errors in chording.

F-14.  Set Window Length: chord-p, w followed by a number from 18 to 80.
-- When writing with the Scholar think of yourself as writing on a strip of tape one line wide.  You determine the length of the line.  We already have said that a line is a block of text bounded by a carriage return or carriage return/line feed combination.  Notes on a given subject or items on a list can be separated for easy access by placing each on a separate line.  If, for whatever reason, you refrain from using carriage returns to break text into sections for easier reading, you can use "windows."  These are imaginary lines the length of which you can set.  They were created for the reading convenience of those who might use non standard carriage returns or no carriage returns at all.  They apply to reading only and do not apply to writing or printing.

F-15.  Speak Windows Lines or Sentences: chord-w, l, or s (from status menu, v followed by w, l or s). 
-- The only time it is absolutely necessary to use a carriage return in writing text is when you want to have the text which follows it begin at the left margin.  If no carriage returns are used, to read by lines could become tiresome.  The "windows" mentioned in the last two commands are imaginary lines that break the speaking of text into convenient sized chunks for reading.  This feature also can be accessed within the status menu by entering the letter "v" followed by your choice, "w" for windows, "l" for lines or "s" for sentences.

F-16.  Skip Blank Lines: chord-1-2-3-4-6, enter y or n. 
-- This command applies only to reading.  In reading line by line, with this option turned on (choice y) no matter how many blank lines interrupt text, they are skipped and text reading is continuous.  If the option is off, crossing a blank line with chord-4 results in a "plink" sound.  If you want to examine text carefully for such things as paragraph breaks, top and bottom margins, you will want to have "Skip Blank Lines" set to off, choice n.

F-17.  Speak From Cursor to End of File--Say All Mode: chord-1-2-4-5-6.
--This function is the one to use if you wish to have an entire document spoken without continuous intervention.  Once begun, the speaking process continues to the end of the document, or until it is interrupted by a key press.  The "cursor" mentioned is not a tangible object.  It is a record of location of activity, the "action point" either for reading or writing.  As you read or write, the appropriate cursor moves through your document in response to your instruction.

F-18.  Speak Words in Say All Mode:  within the status menu, dots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 followed by "y" or "n."  
-- When reading a file with chord-er, (dots 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), if you hit a key to stop reading, the cursor is usually at the beginning of the next line.  When proofreading a document, you might prefer the cursor to stop on the last word spoken or very close to it.  This feature allows you to select the method of continuous reading you wish.  While this feature is on, you may notice that the Scholar will read differently while in Say All mode.  This is because the Scholar is reading word by word instead of line by line.

F-19.  Cursor Location:  chord-1-5-6. 
-- When this command is issued two numbers will be spoken.  First is the location of the writing cursor with respect to the last carriage return character.  The second is the cursor location with respect to the beginning of the file.  For example, I am working with a specific file and have just issued this command.  The Scholar said "Column two hundred sixty-nine Cursor at thirty-seven thousand eight hundred ninety five." This means that the line I am writing is 269 characters long (since the carriage return that marked its beginning) and the cursor that marks my progress from the start of the document is 37,895 characters from the start of the document itself. 

F-20.  Room Left in File:  chord-r. 
-- The number announced in response to this command is the amount of space, expressed in number of characters, left in the room set aside when the file was created.  When you create a file, the place in which you are to write a document, you will be asked to give it a name.  At start-up the size of the file is assumed to be one page.  A Scholar page can hold 4,096 characters.  Two Pages can hold 8,192 characters, etc.  For example, I just returned to the file I used as an example for the last topic and issued a chord-r.  I heard "room left is two thousand eight hundred thirty eight."

As you write, when you come to the boundary marking the end of a Scholar page, the Scholar will add a new blank page of memory space so you can continue writing without having to take any action.  The only thing you might notice is a slight delay in speech as the new page is attached to your file.

F-21.  Location on Page:  chord-1-4-6, p, b or a. 
-- In the discussion of topic F-12 we learned how to move to a specific character, word, line, braille or print page location.  The command we are considering now tells us of our page location, and location of the line on that page where we are writing.  For this option to work, format parameters established from the status menu must be set.  Given the line, page and margin values which are set, the command results in the announcement of page and line number of the writing cursor when the command is issued.  Choice p will give the location on a print page.  Choice b tells us where we are on a braille page.  Choice a (for absolute) tells us  on which Scholar page we are working.

F-22.  Move to Beginning of File:  chord-1-2-3 (chord-l). 
-- No matter where you are reading within a file, this command instantly takes you to the beginning of the file.

F-23.  Move to End of File:  chord-4-5-6. 
-- As with all movement commands, an action on the left half of the keyboard moves you back in your file.  The same action on the right half of the keyboard causes an equal amount of movement in a forward direction.

F-24.  Find: chord-f, text, chord-e. 
-- "Text" here means the set of characters being searched for. A maximum of 63 characters can be entered.  In searching for a block of text, you only need to search for enough text to make your sample unique.  For example, if somewhere in a long document you have placed the sentence "The quick  brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."  You cannot hope to find it quickly by searching for the word "The."  You will find every "the" which comes before your target along with "these," there," "they," "their," "them," etc.  Chances are "The q" will be enough of a "search string" to make your target unique.  So, you could use the phrase, "The q" to quickly find this passage.

F-25.  Find Backward: terminate find command with chord-1-4-5-6 
-- The previous command searches a file in a forward direction.  The search begins where your cursor is at the time you issue the chord-f and moves in a forward direction toward the end (bottom) of the file.  This command moves back from the present cursor location toward the beginning (top) of the document.  Backward searches move much more slowly than searches in a forward direction.

F-26.  Distinguish Case During Find: chord-2-3-4-6, Enter y or n. 
-- This option is available only when writing in ASCII braille.  If writing is done in Grade Two Braille, dot six is the sign that indicates capitalization, not the chord-u for upper case to be discussed in Section G.  If searches can be made case sensitive (aware of capital and small letters) your search can be refined to a high degree.  Some years ago, I was involved in the placement of a blind person in a public safety dispatching job.  He worked in a small city and needed a street directory.  We wrote the directory so that if a given street was to be the search target, its name was written in upper case, all capital letters.  Every other time the name of that street was used, it was written in lower case, small letters.  Thus, by having this command in place, the only way the dispatcher could find JEFFERSON STREET was when it was the target.  The search would ignore jefferson street no matter how many times it appeared.

F-27.  Find Calendar Date: chord-f, chord-g followed by date (written as MM DD YYYY)  
--  The ability to search for a specific date is especially useful when working in the calendar file.  Using the format prescribed for entering dates, this command enables you quickly to check the calendar to see if you have a calendar notation for a given date. 

F-28.  Find and Replace:  chord-f, text to search for, chord-r, text to replace with, chord-e, followed by r, s or a.  
-- This is a powerful command.  With it you can search for text and replace it with other text.  You will have to wait a bit to practice this command because we cannot write in the help file, which is open now.  However, here is how this feature works.  

Suppose you have written a text in which the word "cat" appears many times.  For some reason, you discover you need to replace "cat" with "dog."  Write chord-f, cat, chord-r, dog, chord-e. You will be asked "Replace Skip or All?"  The Scholar will have found the first occurrence of the word "cat."  It wants to know "Do you want to replace  or skip this specific occurrence of the word or do you want to replace all occurrences of the word?"  Most of the time you will want to replace all. Indicate your choice with r for replace, s for skip or a for all.

A word of caution!  Consider carefully the text you want to replace.  If you do not place a space after the word "cat" words such as catastrophe and catalogue is not safe!  Similarly, an occurrence of the word followed by a punctuation mark also may escape.


SECTION G:  WRITING FUNCTIONS

INCLUDED TOPICS

Time Out 

G-1.  Upper Case Next Character 
G-2.  Upper case Lock 
G-3.  Upper Case Unlock 
G-4.  Overwrite and Continuous Overwrite 
G-5.  Tab
G-6.  Carriage Return 
G-7.  Control Character 
G-8.  Backspace
G-9. Delete Text 
G-10.  Insert Text 
G-11.  Set Mark 
G-12.  Copy a Text Block
G-13.  Paste 
G-14.  Open Previously Open File

Time Out

In order to practice some of the commands and experience Braille 'n Speak responses when writing, you will need to have a place, or file, in which to write.  Section One deals with the subject of files in detail.  For now, here is just enough information to help you create a file and begin your writing practice.

On your Scholar enter chord-o, f.  You will hear, "Enter file command."  Enter the letter c.  You will hear, "Enter file to create."  Write the word "write" and follow it with chord-e.  The Scholar assumes you plan to write using Grade Two Braille.  If you want to use ASCII braille, your file name should be "write.txt."  If you do not know enough about ASCII braille at this point, just write in grade two braille.  Which ever you do, when you have written the chord-e following your file name, your Scholar will say "Write is open." Now you are in a file which has the name "write" and are ready to experiment with the writing commands we will be discussing.

G-1.  Upper Case Next Character: chord-u.
G-2.  Upper Case Lock: chord-u, chord-u.
G-3.  Upper Case Unlock: chord-q. 
-- These commands are used only when writing in "ASCII" braille, not in Grade One or Grade Two Braille.  When writing in ASCII, they operate as the shift key or shift lock on a typewriter.  ASCII braille and Grade One Braille are not the same.  If you plan to use Grade Two Braille, you still can write in Grade
One Braille.  In Grade One there is a character that indicates the letter to follow is capitalized.  There is a character that says the letters that follow are really not letters but are numbers.  So, having said you want to write in Grade Two Braille, you still can use Grade One Braille.  Literary braille is used and your capital signs and number signs will be recognized and observed.

NOTE:  Remember that these three commands only apply if you want to write in ASCII braille.  They do not apply here.  In ASCII, the letters of the alphabet are as you know them.  To write an f write chord-u, f.  For a small f, just write f.  ASCII numbers are written using the four lower dots in the braille cell, dots 2, 3, 5 and 6.  The number sign is not used.  Punctuations are different from those of literary braille.  More detailed information on ASCII characters will be found in the appendix.

G-4.  Overwrite and Continuous Overwrite: chord-2-4-6 
(Use twice in succession for continuous overwrite.) 
-- The overwrite command causes one character to be replaced by another.  The writing cursor is not moved.  If you need to change a single character in the middle of text, this command allows you to do it without having to delete one character and insert the other.  In the case of Continuous Overwrite, once a character has been replaced by another, the writing cursor advances one character.  Continuous Overwrite mode is engaged by entering the overwrite command twice in succession.  In this case, no matter how speech parameters are set, the word "overwrite" followed by the new character is spoken.  Then, the next character to be overwritten is spoken.  To leave the continuous overwrite mode, enter chord-2-4-6 again.

G-5.  Tab: chord-4-5. 
-- This command will move your writing cursor forward from the previous carriage return by the number you specify in response to the "tab" prompt.  If you already are beyond this position, your command will not be obeyed.  This command also will operate if you are in "insert" mode.  However, if you are inserting text, counting begins at the top of your insert buffer, the temporary holding area used to contain the text to be inserted until chord-e is issued to terminate the insert command. 

 As with all Scholar activities, you will do well to practice a bit with this feature before putting it to use in writing activities.  Practice tabbing a number of spaces, then check your result with the Cursor Location command.  The tab command also supports insertion of repeated characters.  If you specify only a number in response to the "column" prompt, you will tab over a number of spaces.  If you write -37 you will be tabbed over to column 37 with a string of dashes.

G-6.  Carriage Return: chord-4-6. 
-- The Scholar stores the characters you write in its memory.  Unless you print them on paper, they exist only in a digital file.  It is as if the file were a long strip of information.  When we insert text, we lengthen the strip.  When we delete text, the strip is shortened.  If we print text on paper, the carriage return allows us to lay shorter strips of text (called "lines") under each other until a page is filled.  The carriage return signals the printer to shift to the left margin in preparation for the next line.  Within the Scholar's memory, it serves as a convenient separation character for lines and paragraphs.  When you issue chord-4-6, if your Scholar speech is set for Key Echo you will hear the words "return."

G-7.  Control character:  chord-x. 
-- There are 32 control characters which signal printers and other devices.  The carriage return, line feed, form feed, tab, back space and other command signals are control characters.  Control-L is the form feed.  When it is received by a printer, the current page is ejected and the printer is set to print at the top of the next page.  When chord-x is written, the character which follows is written in the Scholar's memory as a control character.

G-8.  Backspace:  chord-b. 
-- Each time you press chord-b, you back space one character at a time.  This backspacing takes place FROM THE END OF YOUR DOCUMENT!  The character spoken is not the one being removed, but the one which will be removed with the next press of the back space command.  When in insert mode, the backspace works only on text in the insert buffer, the holding area for text where the inserted text is written.

G-9.  Delete Text: chord-d, c, w, l, p, m, b, s, z or d; number; chord-e.  
These letters are: 
c or d  character
w  word
l  line 
p  paragraph
m  mark 
b  block
s  sentence
z  all text from cursor to end of file.  
-- This command opens and closes with chorded characters.  Except for chord-d entered twice in succession, all elements within the command are not chorded.  If chord-d is entered twice in succession, the character on which the cursor rests is deleted.  If no number is placed after the delete parameter, 1 is assumed to be the choice.  To delete three words, the command is chord-d, w, 3, chord-e.  No spaces are used within the command and it is not necessary to shift characters. Chord-d, w, chord-e would assume 1 and delete just one word.  Commands are written in ASCII braille.  "Dropped" or Nemeth numbers are written without the number sign.  You can delete a maximum of 255 words with this command. 

 When a word is deleted, the word plus any punctuation associated with it and space that follows it are deleted.  The Delete to Block command deletes from the cursor location to the block of text or "string" you specify.  This block can contain up to a maximum of 63 characters.  The block also can be a single character.  The block text or character itself will not be deleted.  In the file "write" which we created at the start of this section, write the names of the days of the week, Sunday through Saturday.  Now place your cursor on the word Tuesday.  Remember that when a unit of text is spoken, whether it is a character, word, line, sentence, etc., the cursor is on the first character of that unit.  When you move forward a word at a time and Tuesday is spoken, your cursor will be on dot 6, the capital sign in front of the t.  Now, delete three words with chord-d, w, 3, chord-e.  If all went well, your list of days now should be Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday.  (See Section A-7.)

G-10.  Insert Text: chord-i, text, chord-e.
-- In normal operation, as text is written it is appended to the end of the document you are working with.  When the insert command is used, everything from the point of the cursor onward is pushed forward character by character.  If you change your mind about inserting text after you have issued chord-i, you can cancel the insertion with chord-z.  The amount of text you can insert depends on the size of the clipboard.  When you have finished writing the text you want to insert, enter chord-e and you will hear "okay."  Here is a quick practice for inserting text.  In your "write" file, enter 1 2 4 7 9.  Now, start at 1 and move forward word by word.  When you hear "4" enter insert mode with chord-i, write the digit 3 followed by a space and enter chord-e.  Read what you have written and you will hear 1 2 3 4 7, etc.  Find 7, and enter insert mode.  Write 5 6 (don't forget the spaces) and enter chord-e.  Finally, while still in insert mode, place your cursor on 9 and enter 8 and a space.

G-11.  Set Mark: chord-m.
-- A mark is used to define one end of a block of text on which you may want to operate.  Set the mark at one end of the text block.  Move your cursor to the other end of the block and perform your operation.  To gain a working concept of the use of this command, picture the mark as being immediately left of the character to which you attach it.  The cursor also falls immediately left of the character associated with it.  A mark can be fragile.  Set one immediately before using it.  Making changes in text such as inserting or deleting can disturb the mark and cause unwanted damage to the text.  

In your "write" file, delete everything.  Go to the top of the file with chord-l.  Enter chord-d, the letter z (not a chord) and chord-e.  Now write the names of the months, January through December.  Move to April and set a mark with chord-m. Now, go to the end of the file with chord-4-5-6.  Next move to the mark by means of chord-3-4-5-6, m.  You should hear the word "April."  Practice this activity by setting a mark at various places and moving to the mark.  Next, set the mark at April and move forward to October.  You can do this with chord-5, which will step you through a word at a time.  Delete to the mark with chord-d, m, chord-e.  If all goes well your file should read "January February March October November December."

G-12.  Copy a text Block:  chord-1-2-6, c (copy) or a (append).
-- See the section on setting a mark.  Having set the mark at one end of a block of text, move to the other end and issue the copy command.  You will be asked "copy or append? Press c or a."  If you respond with c for copy, everything in the clipboard file will disappear and the block of text you have marked will be copied into the clipboard file.  (We will discuss the clipboard later.)  If you answer with a for append, the block you have marked will be placed in the clipboard file at the end of what is already  there.  This ability to append is most useful for making lists.

Now, move to the point where you want to paste (insert) the block.  Issue the paste command chord-3-4-6 followed by the letter c for clipboard.  Be sure the size of the marked block is less than the space in the clipboard, so the size of the marked block will fit into the text where you want to insert it.

NOTE!  If you want to copy text from the help file and place it somewhere else, when you enter the c for copy, you will hear this message:  "error code = 23 physical range error: 37bea copied."  Don't be disturbed by this message.  It is only a diagnostic tool used when the Scholar firmware was being developed.  Although the message begins with the word "error," there is nothing to worry about :  the copy will be made.

G-13.  Paste: chord-3-4-6. 
Enter c for clipboard, d for current date, f for file, g for any date and t for time.  
-- Selecting d for date or t for time will insert this information into your file.  Selecting f for file allows you to paste another file into the one you are writing in.  To do this, there must be room for the file.  

Create another file called "read" to go along with your "write" file.  When you are told "read is open," enter chord-3-4-6 followed by the letter f for file.  You will hear "file enter file name?"  Enter the word "write" and press chord-e.  You will be told "okay."  Now, in your "read" file there is an exact copy of your "write" file.

Choice g permits you to paste any date you wish in the currently open file.  This is especially convenient for entering appointment dates in the calendar file.  When you enter the letter g, you will hear "enter number of days or date." Enter the date you wish followed by chord-e.  This is just like using the smart calendar with chord-o, g. But, instead of the date being spoken, it is actually pasted into your currently opened file.  Choice c immediately copies whatever is in the clipboard into your working file.  (See Section A-7.)

G-14.  Open Previously Open File:  chord-o, l or chord-1-2-5-6.
-- Having created the file "read" to go with your file "write," we can practice this feature.  Please open the file "read." Now open "write."  Each time you enter either chord-o, l or chord-1-2-5-6, you will flip-flop between these two files. This ability is especially helpful if you have notes in one file and want to use those notes while writing text in another file.  You can read a note, pop into your text file and continue to write.

NOTE:  If you are practicing with "read" and "write" and then turn off your Scholar, when you turn it on again you may find you no longer can switch between these two files.  Probably, you will switch between one of these files and "calendar."  Why is this so?  Remember that if the calendar check is on, when you turn on your Scholar it must check to see if you have an appointment stored in your calendar file.  In order to check the calendar, it must be opened.  Calendar then becomes one of the two most recently opened files.


SECTION H:  MACROS

INCLUDED TOPICS

H-1.  Begin Macro 
H-2.  End Macro 
H-3.  Execute Macro 
H-4.  Protect All Macros 
H-5.  Unprotect All Macros 
H-6.  Silence Macro Speech 
H-7.  Verbalize Macro Speech 
H-8.  Pause for Single Character 
H-9.  Line Pause
H-10.  Place Message in Macro

Just as a memory dialer on a telephone allows you to store frequently used telephone numbers to dial at the press of a single button, a macro records a sequence of up to 63 key strokes and plays them back in response to a command.  If the room within a single macro is not enough to hold all of the needed key strokes, you can link macros together.  End your first macro with the "execute macro" command  and the label of the macro you want to link it with.  If you want to connect a macro labeled a with one labeled b, end macro a with chord-j, b.  You even can link a macro to itself if you want the macro to perform the same task repeatedly. 

 When you reach the 55th character in your macro you will hear a "plink."  This warning lets you know that you are approaching the end of the available room within the macro.  Macros can be useful in writing letters.  A macro, or set of them, can write your inside address, the date, the opening salutation and the close.  All you need do is begin writing the text of your letter.  In combination with the calculator, you can create macros to perform routine and repetitive calculations.  For example, in this user's guide you have often heard the phrase "(See Section A-7.)." Since I knew I would need to use this expression several times, I wrote a macro that inserted it automatically.  Each time I wanted the phrase to appear, I did chord-j and the letter s, that is my label for the macro.

H-1.  Begin Macro:  chord-n followed by any character 
(If you use the space bar, the macro will execute itself at power on. You can record up to 63 characters per macro.)  With the space key as your macro label, you may want to have your Scholar automatically go into review mode when it is turned on. Or, you could have it announce the time when it is turned on. 

-- Begin the writing of a macro with chord-n.  The Scholar says "macro enter a character."  If you press the space key you will hear:  "Create startup macro.  Are you sure? Enter y or n."  If you enter y it will say "recording."  From that point on, the keystrokes you enter will be a part of the startup macro and will be repeated every time you turn on the Scholar. 

The only exception to this is when you hold down the space key as you turn your Scholar on for a "silent start."  If you press any other character in response to your chord-n, the Scholar will say "recording" and the macro writing process is on.  To write a macro that announces the time of day when you turn on your Scholar, write: chord-n (press space), y, chord-o, t, chord-n. 

If you have the Scholar set to silence macro speech, you will notice nothing unusual when you turn your instrument on.  If you have the verbalizing of speech in effect, each time you turn on the Scholar you will hear an announcement of the time.  If you have written a "start-up" macro using the space key as its label, the macro will be disregarded when you hold down the space key for a silent start.  However, start-up macros will be honored if you hold down dot 4 for your silent start.  (See Section M-15.)

H-2.  End Macro:  chord-n.
-- This command tells the Scholar that you have reached the end of the macro and wish to stop macro recording.

H-3.  Execute Macro:  chord-j followed by any character.
-- If you think of the creation of macros as a recording process, chord-n is the RECORD button and chord-j the PLAY button of the recording machine.  The character you write in response to chord-n is the one you must use in response to chord-j. If chord-j is the PLAY button, the label character is the title of the recording you want to play.

H-4.  Protect all Macros: chord-n, chord-p. 

H-5.  Unprotect all Macros:  chord-n, chord-u
-- The protection of macros prevents accidental erasure of a macro whose label you may have forgotten.  This is an all or none command.  You cannot write any macros if you have protected your macros.  The removal of protection from macros also is all or none in nature.

H-6.  Silence Macro Speech:  chord-k

H-7.  Verbalize Macro Speech:  chord-v
-- Whether macro speech is silent or active depends on how you want the macro to operate.  If you silence macro speech, you will not be able to have an automatic time announcement when you turn on your Scholar.  The chord-k and chord-v commands can be included in a macro.  They also can be entered immediately before using a macro which already exists.  Thoughtful use of these commands can make it possible for some portions of macros to be silent while others speak.

H-8.  Pause for Single Character:  chord-1-6.
-- There can be times when you have a macro that performs several activities, and one of those activities cannot be predicted in advance.  For example, if you have an attendance sheet from which you call a roll, you cannot know if a given person will or will not be present.  You might have a list of names each on a separate line.  You might write a macro that reads the current line then pauses so you can enter a plus sign for present or a minus for absent.  It then can move to the next line, read the line etc.  Your own needs will dictate possible use of this feature.

H-9.  Line Pause:  chord-1-6, chord-1-6.
-- During the course of working with macros, if you would find it useful to be able to pause a macro in order to enter a line of data, this is the command to use.  The data you enter during the pause must be terminated with chord-e in order to enable the macro to resume its activity.  Here is an example of the possible use of the ability to pause a macro so that a line (up to 255 characters) can be entered.  

Suppose you have a number stored in one of the storage registers in your calculator.  You want to be able to add other numbers to or subtract them from this value.  You could write a macro that opens the calculator, writes the letter label of the storage register (memory) in question, enters the plus sign, pauses to allow you to enter your new data, displays the revised total and stores the new value to the storage register and exits the calculator.  All this sounds quite complicated but having written the macro which accomplishes this set of tasks, the process becomes quick and easy.

H-10.  Place Message in Macro:  While recording a macro, enter chord-2-3-6.  Write the message to be spoken.  Terminate message with chord-e. 
--This feature allows you to put messages in your macros without putting them in your file.  When you play the macro back, the message will be spoken but it will not appear in your file.  This feature is useful if you have a macro, or chain of them, requiring response to prompts.  The text of your message will count as keystrokes within your macro so messages should be brief when possible.  If you want your message to be spoken correctly, write it in ASCII braille rather than Grade One or Grade Two Braille. 


SECTION I:  FILE COMMANDS 

INCLUDED TOPICS

Introduction 
I-1.  Enter File Menu 
I-2.  Create File 
I-3.  Move to Top of File List 
I-4.  Move to End of File List 
I-5.  Current File Pointed To 
I-6.  Spell Name of Pointed To File 
I-7.  Move Forward Through File
List I-8.  Move Backward Through File 
List I-9.  Open File Pointed To
I-10.  Delete File Pointed To 
I-11.  List All Files 
I-12.  Print File List To Clipboard 
I-12-a  Finding a File By the First Letter of Its Name
I-13.  Tell Name of Currently Open File 
I-14.  Open File 
I-15.  Open File by Number 
I-16.  Delete File 
I-17.  Make File Bigger 
I-18.  Make File Smaller 
I-19.  Rename File 
I-20.  Make Pointed To File Bigger 
I-21.  Make Pointed To File Smaller 
I-22.  Rename Pointed To File 
I-23.  Tell Amount of Free Memory 
I-24.  Protect File 
I-25.  Protect Pointed To File
I-26.  Unprotect File 
I-27.  Unprotect Pointed To File 
I-28.  Recover File 
I-29.  Quick File List 
I-30.  Verbose File List 
I-31.  Info on a File or Files 
I-32.  Info on the Pointed To file 
I-33.  Time/Date Information on a File or Files 
I-34.  Time and Date Info on Pointed To File 
I-35.  Number of Characters in a File or Files 
I-36.  Number of Characters in the Currently Pointed To File 
I-37.  Load External Program 
I-38.  Load External Program From a File 
I-39.  Info on the Pointed To External Program 
I-40.  Point to Previous External Program 
I-41.  Point to Next External Program 
I-42.  Global Delete 
I-43.  Password Protection
I-44.  Exit File Menu 
I-45.  Transfer Protocols

Introduction 
When you write text to be stored in the memory of your Scholar, that text must be written in a file.  This section explores creating and modifying files.

Information housed within the Scholar is stored in a section called RAM (random access memory).  You can have up to 128 files in RAM.  Later, we will learn to open files that are in RAM by their two-digit numbers.  Two digit numbers for RAM files range from 00-99.  Files from number 100 on must be accessed either by name or by "pointing" to them and opening them by means of the chord-o command.  We'll also be discussing this command soon.  (See Section A-7.)

I-1.  Enter File Menu:  chord-o, f.
-- The choices which follow this command allow you to perform various functions related to files.  Chord-o followed by the letter f makes the File Menu available to you.  From this menu you can choose the steps you must take to create and manage files within your Scholar In the topics that follow, we will discuss each of the activities that can be carried on within the file menu.  Before most topics, I have placed the chord-o, f expression.  If you already are in the file menu you do not need to use chord-o, f.  I have repeated it as a reminder.  If you hear the prompt "enter file command" you already are in the file menu.

Section A-7 lists those functions that can be accessed by menus.  For a list of file command menu choices, press chord-1-4-5-6 from within the file command option (chord-o, f).

I-2.   Create File:  chord-f, c.
--When you create a file, you are asked to give the file a name.  This is very much like taking a file folder from a stack and writing a label to identify the information you plan to put into it.  A file name may contain no more than 20 characters.  If you intend to make use of a computer or the external disk drive for saving your files, a limit of eight characters is better.  Terminate the file name with chord-e.  File names should not be written in Grade Two Braille.  Also, capital signs, number signs and punctuations should not be used.

Having given your file a name, the Scholar responds by saying "file name so and so is open."  The Scholar has reserved one "page" of its memory for your file.  This is not a true print page.  It is a block of RAM memory large enough to hold 4,096 characters.  If you do not follow your file name with a period and the three letters txt, the Scholar assumes you want to write in grade one or Grade Two Braille.  If you do add a period plus the letters txt, it is assumed you want to write in ASCII braille.  You can turn the braille translator on or off in any file.  (See Section A-7 and the Status Menu.)

I-3.  Move To Top of File List:  chord-o, f, chord-l.
I-4.  Move To End of File List:  chord-o, f, chord-4-5-6.
I-5.  Current File Pointed To:  chord-o, f, chord-c.
-- The file list is treated much like lines within a document.  The "file pointed to" here means the name of the file spoken by the Scholar as you cruise back and forth through the list of file names.  The name of the "current file" is spoken as if it were the "current line" of a document.  The number of the file also is  given in response to this command.  The Scholar assigns each file a number when the file is created.  Later, you will learn how to use these numbers in opening files quickly.

I-6.  Spell Name of Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-2-5.
I-7.  Move Forward Through File List:  chord-o, f, chord-4.
I-8.  Move Backward Through File List:  chord-o, f, chord-a.
I-9.  Open File Pointed To:  chord-o, f, chord-o.
I-10.  Delete File Pointed To:  chord-o, f, chord-d.
-- This command deletes the file from the file list.  Therefore, both the file name any text stored in that file are gone from the Scholar.  There is a major difference between using the delete commands we studied in the Writing Functions section and deleting files.  Deleting text in a file is like removing contents from a house and leaving the house empty.  Deleting a file is like tearing down a house:  you remove not only the contents but all traces of the house itself.

I-11.  List All Files:  chord-o, f, l.
I-12.  Print File List to Clipboard:  chord-o, f, chord-v. 
-- When the file list is spoken you may have difficulty identifying a specific file.  This command writes the file list to the clipboard where you can examine it in detail.  When the list has been "printed" to the clipboard, you will remain in the file where you were when you issued this command.  To examine the list, you will need to open the clipboard file and read the list.  Chord-o, 0, 1 is an efficient way to open the clipboard.  You also will need to turn off the braille translator.

I-12-a  Finding a File by the First Letter of its Name:  chord-o, f, chord-f , letter *.*
--If you have many files in your Scholar you might find it a bit tedious to locate a specific file by searching a long list of files.  If you recall the first letter of a file's name but cannot quite recall the exact name, this function may help.  When you enter chord-o, f then chord-f, you will be asked for a file name.  Enter a letter followed by the *.* sequence and chord-e.  Immediately, you will be presented with a list of those files whose names begin with that letter.  You can cruise through the list with chord-1 or chord-4. If you hear the name of a file you want to open, just enter chord-o and you will be in that file.

I-13.  Tell Name of Currently Open File:  chord-o, f, t.
I-14.  Open File:  chord-o, f, o. 
-- To use this option within the file menu, you must write the name of the file you want to open.

I-15.  Open File by Number: Chord-o followed by a two-digit number from 00 through 99.
-- NOTE!  Though this command concerns files and access to them, it is not a file menu command.  It is an independent option!  You do not use chord-o, f before exercising this option!  In order to write text in the Scholar you must create a file.  When this is done, the Scholar writes the name of the file in a directory called the file list.  It also assigns a number to the file.  Using the chord-o command and the two-digit number associated with that file, you can immediately move to that file.  This command enables you to move from one file to another with speed and accuracy.  The help file is 00, the clipboard is 01 and your calendar probably is 02.  Issuing the chord-o followed by one of these numbers will move you to the appropriate file.

I-16.  Delete File:  chord-0, f, d.
-- This command differs from the delete covered in i-10 in that you must write the name of the file you want to delete.

I-17.  Make File Bigger:  chord-o, f, b
-- When you create a file, that file is assumed to be one page long.  Eventually, that page will be filled.  The Scholar automatically adds pages as they are needed.  However, if you are going to send information to your scholar from a computer or another scholar, new pages will not be added automatically.  You will have to provide enough room for that information before you send it to your Scholar.  This command is the one to use.

I-18.  Make File Smaller:  chord-o, f, s
-- If you have reserved more room than you need, use this command to remove the space you do not need.

I-19.  Rename File:  chord-o, f, r.
-- To use this command, you must be in the file you want to rename.  You will be asked to "Enter File Name."  Enter the new name and finish with chord-e.

I-20.  Make Pointed To File Bigger:  chord-o, f, chord-b.

I-21.  Make Pointed To File Smaller:  chord-o, f, chord-s.

I-22.  Rename Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-r. 
-- These last three options can be used when pointing to a file in the file list.  You do not need to be inside the file; you only must be pointing to it as you read up or down through the file list.

I-23.  Tell Amount of Free Memory:  chord-o, f, f.
-- This choice lets you know how many memory pages are still available in your Scholar.  It does not indicate the amount of room left in the file you are working in (your working file).  To learn the amount of room left in your working file while you are in the file, enter chord-r.  The number given is the number of character spaces left in the file.

I-24.  Protect File:  chord-o, f, p.
-- This command applies to the file you are working in.

I-25.  Protect Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-p.
-- When you try to write in the "help" file, you are told "file is write protected."  Protection makes it impossible to write accidentally in a file.

I-26.  Unprotect File:  chord-o, f, u.

I-27.  Unprotect Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-u.

I-28.  Recover File:  chord-o, f,  dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
-- If you have deleted the contents of a file, but not the file itself, usually it is possible to recover the deleted material.  Experiment by creating a file, writing a test sentence or two within it and deleting the contents.  Then, use the "recover" command and observe the result.  Not only is your test sentence recovered, but the file is entirely full and will accept no more information.  What is recovered is all text within the memory space you reserved for the file.

I-29.  Quick File List:  chord-o, f, q.

I-30.  Verbose File List:  chord-o, f, v.
-- Pressing chord-v from the file menu will print your file list to the clipboard.  You will see the file number, the title, file size and byte count (character count) and information about file protection in the clipboard file.  Pressing the letter V for a verbose file list will also perform this function, but the file information will be spoken as it is being printed and, therefore, will take more time.

I-31.  Info on a File or Files:  chord-o, f, i. 

I-32.  Info on the Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-i.
-- When issued from within a file as the letter i, or when you are pointing to a file as chord-i, you will be given the following:  the name of the file, the word "date," the date when the last change was made to the file, the word time and the time of that last change, the number of bytes in the file, and whether the file is protected or unprotected.

I-33.  Time/Date Information on a File or Files:  chord-o, f, m.

I-34.  Time and Date Info on Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-m.
-- This command gives less information than the i and chord-i commands.  It provides the file name and the time and date of the last change made to the file.

I-35.  Number of Characters in a File or Files:  chord-o, f, dots 1, 5 and 6.
-- If all you want to know is the size of a file, use this command and provide the file name.  You will be given the name of the file and the number of bytes it contains.

I-36.  Number of Characters in the Currently Pointed To File:  chord-o, f, chord-1-5-6.

I-37.  Load External Program:  chord-o, f, chord-x or x to provide Arguments
 -- The term "argument" means operating conditions under which you want to employ the program being loaded.  The Braille 'n Speak disk drive or an external computer can be used to load programs such as the spell checker, checkbook program, telecommunications program or others into the Braille 'n Speak or Scholar.  The following commands deal with loading and operating such programs.  When you know the specific programs you want to load into your Scholar, these commands will be easier to understand.

I-38. Load External Program From a File:  chord-o, f, x.

I-39.  Info on the Pointed To External Program:  chord-o, f, dots 1, 4, 5 and 6.
-- If you are pointing to a program in your file list, this command may give you information about the version number of the program, the date of its creation, its ownership registration (if appropriate), etc.

I-40.  Point to Previous External Program:  chord-o, f, chord-2.

I-41.  Point to Next External Program:  chord-o, f, chord-5. 
-- Normally, you move through the list of files with chord-1 or chord-4.  However, if you have externally loaded programs in your Scholar, you can move through your list of programs and bypass regular text files.  Chord-2 moves you toward the top of the file list while chord-5 moves you toward the bottom of the list.  If you hear the name of a program you want to use, enter chord-x.  This will open the program (cause the program to operate). 

I-42.  Global Delete: Chord-o, f, g. (Warning.  Files will be deleted without confirmation.) 
-- Wildcard characters * (Dots 1 and 6) and question mark (Dots 1, 4, 5 and 6) can be used with commands i, g, m, and 1, 5, 6.  
-- The wildcard characters are standard in MSDOS.  If you were to use this command along with "*.txt," all files which have names ending with".txt" would be deleted.  If you want to delete all of your files, entering "*.*" in response to the query about files to delete will remove all files.  Be certain you are comfortable with this command before you use it!

I-43.  Password Protection:  chord-o, f, w. 
-- The w of this command in a working file permits you to enter a password of up to six characters.  This password must be used when opening the file.  In order to install or remove password protection, you must be within the file.  If the password you have selected has less than six characters, terminate it with chord-e.  When entering a password, you will be asked to enter the password a second time.  This confirms the password.  

To remove password protection, first use the password to open the file.  When the file is open, enter chord-o, f, w.  In response to the prompt for a password, enter chord-e. You will be asked to enter the password again.  Enter chord-e again and protection will be removed.  NEVER FORGET YOUR FILE PASSWORD!

I-44.  Exit File Menu:  chord-o, f, e. (Chord-e also will work.)
-- When you have finished your work within the file menu, this choice allows you to leave the menu and get on with your other activities.  When the Scholar prompts you to "Enter File Command" and you no longer need to be within the file menu, enter chord-e or e alone and you will return to wherever you were when you entered the file menu.

I-45.  Transfer Protocols:  chord-o, f, chord-t.  Enter s to send or r to receive.  
-- File Transfer Protocols are systems for moving computer data from one place to another.  If you want to send data from one Scholar to another, you might want simply to send your file or files from the machine that holds them as though you were printing the files.  At other times you may prefer to use one of the file transfer protocols to move your data.  Braille 'n Speak Classics do not support these protocols.

Without going into detail about each of the file transfer protocols listed here, it is enough to say that each has its own operating characteristics; speed of transmission, size of data blocks to be handled, amount and nature of error checking to ensure reliable transfer, etc.  The most popular choice among Braille 'n Speak users is y modem.  It is fast and allows the automatic transfer of files one after another in batches instead of requiring manual attention to each file.

The "S to send" and "R to Receive" prompts make the Braille 'n Speak or Scholar the focal point of the transmission or reception:  send from or receive into the Scholar.  Though commands and options associated with transfer protocols may seem cryptic, it may be best to leave these for the discussion of disk drive commands.  In short, with y modem use chord-s or chord-r to have file names spoken as they are transferred.  Enter x for x modem, 1 for x modem 1k, or y for y modem.  When sending with y modem, you can mark a file with y or unmark it with n.  Other mark commands are: 
m       marks all files 
u       unmarks all files
chord-m       marks a file or files
chord-u       unmarks a file or files  
space bar       switches the pointed to file between marked and unmarked  
chord-y       marks the pointed to file and moves to the next file in the file list. 
Enter chord-e and begin the transfer from the other device. 


SECTION J:  SPELL-CHECK FUNCTIONS

INCLUDED TOPICS

J-1.  Activate Spell Checker. 
J-2.  Spell Checker Options

Before using the spellchecker the file spell.dic must be loaded into the Scholar.  This file occupies 86 pages of Scholar memory.  You cannot use these 86 pages as part of your text writing and editing workspace.

J-1.  Activate Spell Checker.  Enter chord-o, dots 1 and 6.
-- In Grade Two Braille, dots 1 and 6 represent the "ch" sign.  For spell checking purposes, think of this as standing for "check." As it comes to you from APH, your Scholar contains a file called "spell.dic."  This file occupies 86 pages of Scholar memory.  You cannot use these 86 pages as part of your text writing and editing workspace.  However, the "Spell.dic" file must be present for you to be able to use the Scholar's spell checking ability.

J-2.  Spell Checker Options:  Enter w for word or z for all from cursor to end of file.  
 -- When you have entered chord-o, dots 1 and 6 you will hear "spell check what?"  You can enter w to have the spell checker look for the specific word where your cursor is positioned, or you can enter z.  The letter z tells the checker to examine the document from the location of your cursor to the end of the file.  If you would check an entire document, move to the top of the file and enter choice z.  If you check a specific word, the spell checker will respond with "okay" or "not found."  "Okay" means the word you checked is in the spell checker dictionary.  "Not found" does not necessarily mean the word is spelled incorrectly.  It simply means the word does not appear in the spell-checker dictionary.

If the word is not found, the following commands can be used. 

a  adds word to a personal dictionary. 
NOTE: In such a case, a file called "personal.dic" automatically is created within the scholar.  As new words are added, this file is enlarged.  It can be saved on disk and reloaded into the Scholar, if necessary.  When you have a word in your personal dictionary but misspell it in a document you are writing, the Scholar will not search the personal dictionary for suggestions.  However, if a word is in the personal dictionary, the Scholar will not give you the "not found" message when you write the word correctly in your document.

b bypasses the word for remainder of document. 
c reads word in context.
e used for entering the correct word. 
NOTE: There will be times when the spell checker will not find a word.  If you know the correct spelling of the word, enter the letter e.  You will be asked to enter the correct word.  When you have entered it, finish the entry with chord-e.  Remember the first e is NOT a chord.

h is help 
o means ok, skip word 
r repeats incorrect word 
NOTE: chord-3-6 spells a word phonetically 

s gives suggestions. 
NOTE: Use chord-1 and chord-4 to read the list.  Chord-e replaces the word with the suggestion; chord-z cancels suggestions. When you select s for suggestions, the spell checker will present a word.  This will be the first word in a list of 18 to 20 words.  Each word is on a separate line so you can use file list reading commands to work your way through the list.  If you find a suggestion you like, enter chord-e and the word will be placed in your file as a replacement for the word that prompted the request for a suggestion.

Chord-z aborts the spellchecker.  (See Section A-7.) 


SECTION K: COMMUNICATIONS PARAMETERS -- the Status and Parameters Menus

INCLUDED TOPICS

Introduction 
K-1.  Enter Status Menu 
K-2.  Interactive Mode 
K-3.  Interactive Time Out 
K-4.  Baud Rate 
K-5.  Data Length 
K-6.  Duplex 
K-7.  Handshaking 
K-8.  Parity 
K-9.  Stop Bits 
K-10.  Braille Translator 
K-11.  Do Not Translate Next Character 
K-12.  Suspend Translation 
K-13.  Resume Translation 
K-14.  Append Line Feed 
K-15.  Reject Ornamentation Characters 
K-16.  Set Format Parameters 
K-17.  Make Format Parameters File Specific 
K-18.  Serial Port Active 
K-19.  Double Spacing

Introduction 
The discussion of files introduced us to the options menu as well as the file menu.  Now, we are going to explore the Status Menu.  This menu allows us to examine various operating settings in the Scholar and to change them to meet our requirements.

There is another menu, the Parameters Menu, that we can use to accomplish similar objectives but in different, and at times, more convenient ways.  To examine the parameters menu, enter chord-p.  You will hear "Enter Parameter."  You can cycle your way through the menu by pressing the space key or by means of chord-4 or chord-1.  If you press chord-3-6 when you hear a specific menu item, you will be told the quick key to use for setting that item without having to cycle through the menu list.  We will be treating the various menu items in our discussion of the status menu, so I will not spend more time on them here.  Experiment with the parameters and the status menus to make yourself aware of various approaches you might care to use in operating your Scholar.  (See Section A-7.)

K-1.  Enter Status Menu:  chord-3-4; (Use chord-1 and chord-4 to move up and down to hear the list of choices; chord-3-6 for identification of quick key.) 
-- The status menu allows you to examine or change operating conditions in effect at any given time.  Exploring the status menu is like exploring a file list.  Chord-l will take you to the first item on the menu while chord-4-5-6 takes you to the bottom of the list.  When you have completed your activity within the status menu, you must enter chord-e to exit the menu. 

K-2.  Interactive Mode:  chord-g toggles (from status menu, g y/n).
-- This choice can be used when you are in a file.  You do not need to enter the status menu to turn it on or off.  We touched on this feature when we talked about the setting of speech parameters.  If the interactive condition is in operation and the Scholar is operating in a stand-alone mode, not connected to another device, the effect of this feature is to have words spoken when a space character or carriage return terminates the word.  If the Scholar is engaged in telecommunication, exchanging information with another device, this feature allows incoming information to be spoken during the communication process.  In visual terms, it is like reading the screen as information is being received.

K-3.  Interactive Time Out:  (within the status menu) x.
-- When the interactive mode is used while communicating with other devices, the Scholar only speaks when it receives a carriage return signal.  When the final set of characters is sent from the other communicating device to the Scholar, and a carriage return is not the final character, the last set of information will not be spoken.  The Interactive Time Out feature enables you to set a time limit at the end of which a "false" return will force the final bit of text to be spoken.  If time out is set to zero, time out is not operative.  The range is 0 to 255 and measurement is in tenths of a second.  In normal operation a range of 3 to 5 is reasonable.  Having set the desired value, enter chord-e.  This chord-e confirms your choice but does not exit the status menu.

K-4.  Baud Rate:  chord-p, b, followed by a number.  
(From the status menu enter b.)  
15 equals 150 
30 equals 300
6 equals 600
12 equals 1200
2 equals 2400
4 equals 4800
9 equals 9,600
19 equals 19,200
38 equals 38,400
-- There are two methods by which some operating conditions (parameters) can be changed.  One method involves entering the status menu and setting the value.  The other method involves the use of chord-p.  Baud rate is one parameter that can be set by either method.  Entering chord-p followed by the letter b allows you to set baud rate to one of the available values.  Setting parameters from the status menu enables you to determine the existing condition.  You cannot do this with the chord-p approach.

Baud rate determines the rate of communication between two devices.  It is about ten times the number of characters per second being transmitted.  Thus, 9,600 baud indicates a data transmission rate of about 960 characters per second.  (See Section A-7.)

K-5.  Data Length:  chord-p, 4, 5, 6 from the status menu enter dots 4, 5 and 6.)
Enter 7 or 8
-- Each character contains several elements.  One of these is "data bits."  Seven or eight of the bits of information within a character are the elements which identify the length of the character itself.  As with baud rate and other communications parameters, they must be the same in the Scholar and the device the Scholar is communicating with:  a printer, modem, braille embosser, etc.

K-6.  Duplex:  chord-p, d 
(From the status menu enter d.) 
h equals half 
f equals full 
n equals none
-- Full duplex means that any information entered onto the Scholar keyboard will be sent out the serial port but will not remain in the Scholar's internal memory (the file in which you are working).  Half duplex, the normal condition, means that data entered on the keyboard will be stored in memory and also can be sent out the serial port if the port is made active.  If you are using a modem, half duplex normally results in the repetition of each character:  "hello" becomes "hheelllloo."  No duplex means that data will be stored in memory but not sent out the serial port.

K-7.  Handshaking:  chord-p, h 
From the status menu enter h.) 
s equals software  
h equals hardware 
n equals none 
-- Handshaking is a kind of secondary communication that takes place between two devices.  In the case of the Scholar and a printer, handshaking is the means by which the printer can control the amount of information it takes in so it can print its text without the loss of information.  Both devices must use the same method of handshaking.

NOTE!  The letter h from the status menu will take you to the handshaking choice.  However, if you left the status menu after having set duplex, remember that h also is a choice for half duplex.  If you land on duplex when you enter the status menu, h will respond with "half duplex."  To avoid this potential problem, simply press chord-1 or chord-4 to leave the duplex item.

K-8.  Parity Chord-p, p 
(From the status menu enter p.) 
o equals odd  
e equals even 
n equals none
 -- Parity is a form of error checking.  Like data length and stop bits, the parity bit (where it exists) is one of the elements found within a character.  There must be agreement between devices as to the setting of parity.

K-9.  Stop Bits:  chord-p, s 
(From the status menu enter s.) 
Enter 1 or 2.
-- The stop bit is a marker that is used to indicate the end of a character.  Like data length and parity, the stop bit is one of the elements found within a character.  There must be agreement between devices as to the number of stop bits.

K-10.  Braille Translator:  chord-p, t 
(From the status menu enter t.)
Enter y or n. 
-- The braille translator is a braille-to-print translator.  If you write in Grade Two Braille and print out your text with the braille translator on, your text will be translated "back" from grade two into regular non-contracted words for printing in ink. 

K-11.  Do Not Translate Next Character:  dot 4  
-- This is not a status menu choice.  I mention it here because we have just discussed braille translation.  When writing in grade 2 braille, there may be times you will want to suspend translation for just one character.  The grade 2 symbol used to represent the letters "S" and "T" written together as in "street" or "still" also is used to indicate a slash as in "and/or."  The word "sandstorm" also contains the letters "andstor."  How is a poor braille translator to know what to do?  You must help it by suspending translation for the one character.  

The dot 4 will not be printed in your ink file.  If you do need to show the ink symbol represented by dot 4 "at sign or accent," simply write two consecutive dot four characters.

K-12.  Suspend Translation:  dot 4 followed by dash (dots 3 and 6).

K-13.  Resume Translation:  dot 4 followed by the letter "l", (dots 1, 2, 3).  
--  If translation from braille to print is to be suspended for more than a single character, these are the commands that suspend and resume translation.  If you have suspended translation as you are writing, be sure to check the status of your translation when you enter a carriage return.  You may have to reenter the suspend translation command after the carriage return.

K-14.  Append Line Feed:  chord-p, a 
(From the status menu enter a.) 
Enter y or n. 
-- The carriage return character returns the print head to the left margin.  The line feed character causes the paper to move to the next line so printing will take place on blank paper.  When you try to print, if all printing takes place on one line with no movement of the paper, set this parameter to "y" and all should be well.  If you engage in telecommunication and use a modem, you should have this function set to "no" during the process of connecting to your remote contact.  If line feeds are a necessary part of the material you wish to transmit to the other party, once contact is established and your modem no longer is in "command mode," you may turn this feature on.

K-15.  Reject Ornamentation Characters:  chord-p, o 
(From the status menu enter o) 
Enter y or n. 
-- Setting this condition to "y" causes the Scholar to reject repetitions of space or punctuation or decorative characters which come in via the serial port.  The first two characters are accepted, but those which follow are rejected.

K-16.  Set Format Parameters:  
(From status menu, enter L. Use chord-4 to advance to the various format parameters.) 
-- As it comes from the factory, your Scholar has two sets of format parameters, one set for print and the other for braille.  These parameters or values can be changed to meet your needs.  However, they cannot be changed within a document.  Those which are set must be used for the printing of the entire document.  The Scholar also has a set of built-in formatter functions which give you considerable flexibility in formatting your work.  These formatter functions are commands flanked by spaces that begin with a dollar sign ($).  We will consider them when we discuss preparing a document for printing.

When you press the letter l within the status menu, you will hear "Printer is Epson Compatible", "Printer is HP" or "Printer is ImageWriter."  The letter e at this point sets Epson compatibility while h sets Hewlett Packard and i gives you ImageWriter compatibility.

The number expressed as line length is the character position on a line beyond which printing must not take place.  The print line length default is 75.  This means that no printing is to take place beyond character position 75 on a line.  To change values from those given as defaults, enter the desired value by writing it, with no number sign, in the four lower dots of the braille cell.  Finish with chord-e.

Left Margin is the number of blank spaces which will be placed at the start of each line before printing takes place.  The number of characters to be printed on a line is equal to line length minus the left margin; line length 75 minus left margin ten equals 65 printed characters per line.

The value entered for page length is the line on the page beyond which printing will not take place.

Top margin indicates the number of blank lines from top edge of page to the first line of printing.  Thus, the number of lines available for print is equal to the page length minus the top margin.

K-17.  Make Format Parameters File Specific:  from status menu, dots 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 followed by y or n.
  --  When this feature is turned on (choice "Y") each file can have its own set of format parameters - line length, page length and margins.  When choice "N" is in effect, the active set of format parameters applies to all files.
 
K-18.  Serial Port Active:  chord-p, 2, 6 
(From the status menu enter f)
Enter y or n.
 -- When you tell the Scholar to print by issuing the transmit command, the serial port is made active automatically.  However, if you expect to receive incoming information via a modem, you must make the serial port active by the use of this command sequence.

K-19.  Double Spacing: 
(From the status menu enter dots 3, 4 and 5) 
Enter y or n.
 -- This parameter explains itself.  When printing, it applies to wherever you want a blank line between each line of printed text.


SECTION L:   TRANSMIT AND PRINT TEXT

INCLUDED TOPICS

L-1.  Transmit Text 
L-2.  Preparing to Print and the Formatter Functions
L-3.  Printing

L-1.  Transmit text:  chord-t, a, b, f, l, m, p, s, w or z 

a     all text with format parameters operative 
 -- This is the command to use when printing a file in ink. 

Following are the transmit commands:   

b     transmit without translation
-- Even though the braille translator may be on, this command disables it when printing so that your document will be embossed in proper braille (if you wrote it that way). 

f     transmit to a file
-- Transmitting to a file gives you the opportunity to check your document's format.  When you transmit to a file, any format parameters you have set will be honored.  If you have set a line length of 75, you can examine each line and find out just exactly what text it contains.  For example, by searching for form-feed symbols (control l), you can locate page breaks.  To transmit to a file, enter chord-t and you will hear "enter transmit parameter."  Enter f and you will hear "file enter transmit parameter."  If you want the document to be printed in ink, enter a.  This tells the Scholar you want your print formats respected.  Having entered a you will be asked for a file name.  Enter a name and follow it with chord-e.  In time, you will hear "okay."  Open the file and you can check your document.

l     line
p     paragraph
-- A paragraph is a block of text bounded by two carriage returns or carriage return/line feed pairs. 

m     from cursor to mark 
s     all text with format parameters set to zero 
-- This command turns off any translation and format settings you may have in place.  It sends out the contents of the file exactly as they are contained in your Scholar. 

w     word processor 
-- There are times when you may want to transmit text from your scholar to a computer word processor.  The w command makes this type of  transmission easier.  When you use the w command, it is as though you had entered the status menu and set all format parameters to zero.  If text is sent to a computer in this way, the job of formatting that text is much easier for the computer's word processing software. 

z     all text from cursor to end of file 
-- This is the command you use when printing either in ink or braille.  If you have prepared a document for transmission to another device, such as a computer bulletin board, this is the command that begins the transmission.  The letters that follow the chord-t tell the Scholar how much of a document is to be sent or the conditions under which transmission is to take place.  If you have written a document in Grade Two Braille and want it printed in ink, use chord-t, a.  If you want to produce a copy in braille, use chord-t, b, etc.  

If you write a document that is to be printed, be sure to end the document with either a carriage return or a form feed.  The form feed will force your printer to eject the page on which you are printing and enable you to go to your next activity.  If you do not have either a carriage return or form feed character at the end of your document, your printer may not print the final bit of text.  Most printers recognize a carriage return or form feed as a signal to print.  (See Section A-7.)

L-2.  Preparing to Print and the Formatter Functions 
-- In our discussion of lines of text, we learned that you can write an entire document and never use a carriage return.  We compared this with writing on a strip of tape one line wide and as long as necessary to hold our document.  When the time comes to print our document, we must take into account the size of page it will be printed on.  A standard sheet of typing paper and an address label can contain the same information.  For the standard sheet of paper, lines can be longer than they must be for the label.  A standard sheet of paper and a label each can be thought of as a page.  The way in which information is laid out on the page is called the "format" of the page.

When we considered format parameters set within the status menu, I told you that they could not be changed within a document.  I also said the Scholar has a built-in formatter with a command structure that can be changed within a document.  The ability to modify your format and check the result by transmitting your text to a file gives you a powerful tool for creating and proofreading text you want to print in ink or braille.

The Formatter Functions. What follows is a list of the formatter functions recognized by the Scholar.  Each command begins with an opening space.  This is followed by an ASCII dollar sign (dots 1, 2, 4 and 6.) And, next is the specific command.  It may be a single character such as the letter c in the command to center a line.  It may be a combination of letters as jr for right justification, or the command may be a combination of letters and numbers as in the case of margin settings.  Finally, the entire command ends with a closing space.

If two or more commands are presented in a sequence, each command must have its own opening and closing space.  The closing space of the first command cannot . . . I repeat . . . cannot be used as the opening space of the second command.  Formatter parameters override any parameters set within the status menu.  However, if the status menu has a line length set and the formatter does not, the command to center a line will honor the line length set in the status menu.

NOTE:  Where nn appears in the following list of formatter functions, nn represents the number you should enter.  Comments about specific commands will be on the line following the command.  Since commands are placed at the ends of the lines on which they appear, I did not want to have a space following a command:  I did not want the command to be obeyed instead of just being printed.

Set left margin to nn spaces: $mlnn 
-- This command sets the value of the left margin to a number you specify.  The command takes effect at the point in your document where it is set.  The value for the left margin stays in effect through the remainder of the document or until you change it. 

Set right margin to nn spaces: $mrnn 
-- Be careful when using this command!  To use it effectively, you also must have a page width set.  The page width command we will be examining soon determines the width of the page.  Think of it as establishing the right most edge of the paper on which you will print your document.  The right margin command we now are considering means the number of spaces in from the right edge of the paper.  In other words, it is the number of spaces to the left of the right edge of the page.  

Suppose you want a 75-space line.  You might be tempted to set your right margin to 75.  DO NOT DO THIS!  If you like, you can establish a page width of 75, or set a page width of a given value, say 90, and set a right margin that equals the difference between the page width and the line length you want.  In the case of this example, page width 90 minus a right margin of 15 equals a line length of 75.  If you use both a page width and right margin setting, you can print text "boxes," smaller areas on your page in which special text such as lengthy quotes can be displayed. 

Set top margin to nn lines: $mtnn
-- Six lines normally equal one vertical inch of space on a page.  Top and bottom margins of six each should produce top and bottom margins of one inch.  Some printers cannot print within half an inch of the top edge of a sheet of paper.  This is equal to three lines.  If you have such a printer and set a top margin value of six, your top margin will be an inch and a half. 

Set bottom margin to nn lines: $mbnn
Note: for print files, the bottom margin default is 0 unless page numbering is turned on, then it is 6. The default for braille files, is 0. 

Page length = nn: $plnn 
Page width = nn: $pwnn
Increase left margin by nn spaces: $ml+nn
-- This command allows you to vary the depth of your left margin.  If you have a left margin of 10 and use this command with +5 as your value, you will have changed your left margin from ten to 15.  Again, this margin will stay in effect until you change it.  See the following examples. 

Decrease left margin by nn spaces:  $ml-nn
Increase right margin by nn spaces:  $mr+nn
Decrease right margin by nn spaces:  $mr-nn
Increase top margin by nn lines:  $mt+nn
Decrease top margin by nn lines:  $mt-nn
Increase bottom margin by nn lines:  $mb+nn
Decrease bottom margin by nn lines:  $mb-nn  
Wait for a keypress after each page of output:  $w

NOTE:  There are times when being able to wait after the printing of a page can be useful.  If the supply of paper in your sheet feeder is low, you can use this command and print down to the last sheet, have your system wait until you have replaced paper, and carry on from that point by pressing space for each page. 

New line:  $l
-- When this command appears in a file that is being printed, the Scholar sends a carriage return to the printer.  This command is just another way of issuing a carriage return or carriage return/line feed combination. 

Center current line:  $c 
-- This command must be housed within the line that is to be centered.  Write a carriage return, press space, enter the dollar sign c command, another space and the text that is to be centered.  End the line with another carriage return.  This defines the boundaries for the centered text. 

New paragraph:  $p
-- This command forces two consecutive carriage returns, leaving a blank line of separation between paragraphs.  The formatter and braille back translator are compatible for the most part.  However, if you are writing braille, the new paragraph command will also leave a blank line and not follow braille format of indenting the start of the new line to the third space. 

New page:  $f 
-- In the normal course of printing, when a page is filled it is ejected from the printer and a new sheet of paper positioned to receive ink.  There are times when you may want text you are about to write to start at the top of a page.  For example, chapters in books always begin at the top of a new page.  Using this dollar sign command forces your printer to start a new page at the point the command is issued.  Chord-x, l is another way to force a page break. 

No justification:  $jn
 -- Justification has to do with the way print lines are placed on a page.  Normally, text is left justified.  That is, the left ends of the lines of print produce a smooth, left edge while the right edge of print is ragged.  Right justification means that each line ends at the right margin.  If your text is right justified, the left margin is ragged.  Full justification means that both the left and right ends of lines of print produce a smooth vertical print edge.  Often pages in books are printed with full justification.  This arrangement of print is accomplished by padding lines with space characters in a way to make the lines of print equal in length. 

Full justification:  $jf 
Right justification:  $jr 
Page numbers, Arabic format:  $pnar 

NOTE: The following commands are for inserting page numbering in your text.  Either Arabic or Roman numerals can be inserted at the top or bottom of the page and to the left, center, or right of the page.   
Page numbers Roman numeral format:  $pnrn 
No page numbering:  $pnnp 
Page numbers top left:  $pntl
Page numbers top center:  $pntc 
Page numbers top right:  $pntr 
Page numbers bottom left:  $pnbl 
Page numbers bottom center:  $pnbc 
Page numbers bottom right:  $pnbr 
Set page number to nn:  $pnnn 
-- This command enables you to specify which page number you want to begin with. 

Set tab size:  $tsnn -- Before you can use the "move to next tab stop" command, a tab must be set.  The value set is the number of spaces you will tab to when you employ the dollar t command of the next topic.

Move to next tab position:  $t 
-- In order to take advantage of tabbing with the dollar sign commands, you must set a tab.  If you set a tab value of 5, each time you use the dollar t command your printing will tab over five spaces.  If you want to move 20 spaces, you either will need to reset your tab value to 20 or use the dollar t command four times in succession. 

Set line spacing to nn (default = 1):  $lsnn. 
-- This command lets you control the number of blank lines (if any) between lines of printing.  Within the status menu, you can turn double spacing on or off.  You cannot change that condition within a document.  However, using the dollar command, you can have single, double or triple spacing. 

Underline begin:  $ub 
-- Underlining probably will work no matter what printer you are using.  Some of the commands that follow may or may not work.  These commands should work with most Epson and Hewlett Packard printers and with the ImageWriter. When the Scholar sends your file to a printer and encounters these commands, the codes sent out may not be recognized--let alone obeyed--by other printers.

Underline finished:  $uf 
Italic begin:  $ib 
Italic finished:  $if 
Bold face begin:  $bb 
Bold face finished:  $bf 
Double strike begin:  $dbsb 
Double strike finished:  $dbsf 
End formatting; (this terminates formattter activity):  $ef 
-- This command tells the Scholar to stop paying attention to any dollar sign commands it may be following.  If you think of these dollar sign commands as switches, this command can be thought of as the Master Switch that turns all of them off. 

Insert current time in to text:  $tm 
Insert current date into text:  $dt 
-- If you paste the date into a file using the dots 3, 4, 6 and g command, both the date and the name of the day of the week will be included.  If you use this dollar sign command, the date shown on the calendar will not be pasted until you print the document.  If you write a letter on Sunday but hold it in your Scholar until the following Saturday, the date of printing, which is  Saturday's date, will appear in the letter.  The date will be expressed as numbers.  September 11 will be shown as 9/11. 

Header begin:  $hb 
Header end:   $-
-- A header is a bit of text that appears at the top of each page.  It might be a title line or the name of a class subject, for example.  A footer is text that is repeated at the bottom of each page. 

Footer begin:  $fb

Disable header:  $h
-- Disabling a header differs from the end of header command.  Disabling a header simply suspends its use until you re-enable it.  The end of header command defines the closing boundary of your header. 

Reenable header:  $h+ 
Disable footer:  $f- 
Reenable footer:  $f+ 
End of header or footer text:  $- 
Respect braille translator setting for file:  $brl+ 
Assume file is computer braille; perform no translation:  $brl- 
Move to column nn relative to left margin:  $tonn 
-- This command can be thought of as a supertab.  If your tab value is set to five and you want to tab over 37 places from the left margin, you can use the dollar t command seven times and press the space key twice more.  An easier way might be to use this command:  $ to37. 

Display status message to show formatting progress:  $st 
-- This command gives you a report on the status of the document in progress as you print it.

Strike out begin:  $sob 
Strike out finished:  $sof 
Start of ignore text area:  $( 
-- Perhaps you have printed part of a document only to have something go wrong at a certain point.  Rather than reprint all the file, you can use this command to "print to nowhere."  That is, printing is not done on paper, but the Scholar goes through the document as if it were printing.  It counts lines, pages, etc.  When you resume printing, you will begin just after the end of the portion you already printed successfully. 

End of ignore text area:  $) 
Outdents the left margin 1 tab stop for the current line:  $out 
-- Poetry is an example of where we may use this command.  If a line of poetry is too long for the space available in a line of print, as often happens in braille, the leftover bits of lines (overruns) are indented to the third space.  In print it may be to the fifth space.  In any case, using this "outhunt" command allows you to outhunt each line.  Then, if you have set your $ts command to three for braille or five for print, overruns will take care of themselves automatically. 

Don't form feed at end of print:  $nf
 -- While printing, press the spacebar to find out what page is being printed.

L-3.  Printing

We already have discussed the importance of matching communication parameters between the Scholar and a device it is connected to.  In printing Scholar text, most likely you will be using a parallel printer.  The cable that comes with your Scholar is a serial cable, but it is designed for connecting the Scholar to a personal computer (PC) and not a printer.

Although the Scholar is a serial device, it can be used to transmit text to a parallel printer.  If you have need of this ability, contact the American Printing House for the Blind for information about the Serial/Parallel converter cable that works with your Scholar.  The Printing House also offers a cable for connecting the Scholar to an ImageWriter (R) printer.  Also, be sure to contact the American Printing House for the Blind for service issues, including replacement of the battery.

Many printers are able to produce characters of different sizes, in bold face, italics, underlined, etc.  Line length and line spacing can be varied.  These changes usually are made through the use of "escape codes."  These are special signals the printer has been instructed to recognize and respond to.  These signals usually begin with the "escape" character, control left brace.  The Scholar is able to send escape characters and other control signals.  The escape character is produced by writing chord-x, 2, 4, 6.  Check the operating manual for your printer and experiment with sample texts so you will know what to do and how to do it when you need to print.  The formatter commands we discussed in L-2 automatically handle the printer codes recognized by most Hewlett Packard and Epson printers and the ImageWriter.

There are times when your printed text may begin with one or more unwanted characters, so-called "garbage" characters.  There are times when this condition can be corrected by turning on the serial port before issuing the chord-t to transmit your text to the printer.  It is true that the act of transmitting turns on the serial port.  But, if text begins with spurious characters, turning on the serial port in advance is worth trying.

Now that we have written our document, proofread it, set format parameters in the status menu or by means of the set of dollar sign codes found in L-2, we are ready to print our document on paper.  Be sure the Scholar connecting cable is attached to the appropriate port on the printer.  Turn on your printer.  Then, turn on the Scholar.  Next connect the cable to the Scholar and enter the appropriate transmit command.


SECTION M:  OTHER FUNCTIONS

INCLUDED TOPICS

M-1.  Open Help File 
M-2.  Abort 
M-3.  Cursor Tracking 
M-4.  Reset Warm
M-5.  Reset Cold 
M-6.  Speak Revision 
M-7.  Alt 
M-8.  Calculate Within a File 
M-9.  Ham Calls 
M-10.  Power Reminder 
M-11.  Number Pages 
M-12.  Voice Inflection 
M-13.  Column Beeper 
M-14.  One-Hand Mode 
M-15.  Silent Start 
M-16.  Battery Timer 
M-17.  Calendar Check 
M-18.  Progress Clicks
M-19.  Exceptions Check 
M-20.  Remote Mode 
M-21.  Hourly Announcement

This section may be considered a catch-all.  Many of its topics do not lend themselves to classification but do deserve consideration.  Some may be found in the status menu.

M-1.  Open Help File:  chord-1-4-5-6; chord-z closes it.
-- The help file is a valuable resource as you work with your Scholar.  If you forget a command chances are you can find it by searching the help file.  Chord-1-4-5-6 instantly takes you to the help file from whatever file you may be working with when you need help.  You can use the find command to search for a key word or topic.  Having found the help you need, you can enter z (chord-1-3-5-6) and pop right back into the file you were in when you asked for help.

M-2.  Abort:  chord-z 
-- The abort command is the one to use if you have entered the Insert or Find mode and have changed your mind before terminating it with chord-e.  If there are communication problems it is a good idea to enter this command before disconnecting devices or shutting equipment down.  Always use this command if you must turn off your Scholar before finishing a search.  If you fail to do this files may become "scrambled" and valuable information lost.

M-3.  Cursor Tracking:  chord-p, c 
(From the status menu enter c.) 
Enter y or n.
 -- Reading and writing cursors record where action is taking place in your document.  When cursor tracking is on, choice "y", the reading and writing cursors are linked together.  You are reading at the point where you are writing.  When the "off condition is set with choice "n", these cursors are independent of each other.  You can be reading in one part of a document and writing in another.  For prolonged reading, independent operation of cursors is desirable.  Independent action also is handy in using the chord-o, k option to be discussed later.

M-4.  Reset Warm:  chord-1-2-3-4-5-6, chord-1-2-3-4-5-6
-- This command will reset the Scholar to default parameters but will not erase files. Use this command when things seem to go out of control. This is not a destructive command.  Files will be retained, but all parameters will be set to default values--the way they were set when the Scholar came from the factory.  

Another reset command is the Warm Reset at Power on.  With the Scholar turned off, hold down all seven keys (all six dots and the space Key).  With these keys held down, turn on the Scholar.  This action digs a bit deeper into the inner workings of the Scholar and often resolves seemingly difficult problems.

M-5.  Reset Cold:  chord-i
(At Power On, hold down chord-i.)
-- This command will reset the Scholar to its default parameters and will erase all file titles from the file menu.  Only the help file, the clipboard and the calendar file will remain in your Scholar.  However, if you use the recover command, information can be restored.  Should you need to restore files, it is helpful to have a list of files and the number of pages set aside for each.

M-6.  Speak Revision:  chord-p, r 
(From the status menu enter r.) 
-- The revision date is like the model of an automobile or the edition number of a book.  If you need to write or phone for help with your Scholar, you may be asked for this information so that the person helping you can know the operating conditions of your Scholar.

M-7.  Alt:  chord-3-5 
-- As I've said earlier, the ASCII table consists of 255 characters.  For the most part we use the lower half of this table, characters 0 through 127.  Some foreign alphabets and special symbols require use of the upper half of the ASCII table, characters 128 through 255.  To utilize this portion of the table, enter the alt command followed by the number of the character you want.  For example, the symbol for the British pound sterling is ASCII 156.  To enter it write chord-3-5 followed by dots 1, 5, 6 and chord-e.  If your printer recognizes the character, it will be printed in your document.

M-8.  Calculate Within a File:  chord-o, k 
-- This option allows you to perform a calculation within a document without having to enter calculator mode.  The numbers and signs of operation in a calculation must be written in ASCII braille, all on one line and with no spaces.  There is a limit of 239 characters per calculation.  It can be most useful for calculating bank statements, travel expenses, school grades, etc.  

If you are in a document containing numbers to be calculated, turn the cursor tracking off.  Place a few carriage returns at the end of your document.  Read down your document.  Each time you encounter a number to be calculated, enter it again.  Continue reading.  When you encounter your next number, enter the appropriate sign of operation relating this number to the first (add, subtract, multiply, divide, percent) and enter the number.  Do this until you finish reading or believe you are near the limit of characters that can be calculated.  Then, move your reading cursor to the end of the file and enter  chord-o, k.  The result to date will be spoken.  This result can be stored in a convenient location.  

You can delete your line of calculation, enter your result number and resume calculation from this point.  In calculating sums of money, do not enter the dollar sign in your line of calculations.  Use only numbers.  After you have performed a calculation and heard the result, you can preserve the steps of your calculation and record the result at the end of the line by doing the following.  Press the space key and enter the = sign, (dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) and press space again, pasting the clipboard with chord-3-4-6, c.  You can write a macro to enter the chord-o, k, write a space, the equals sign and   another space and paste the clipboard data into your file.  If you do write such a macro, be certain that the INTERACTIVE feature is turned off!  If it is on, your cursor position will be changed making the macro of no benefit.)  Scientific calculator functions also can be used with this option.  Remember:  Have the braille translator off when using this option.

M-9.  Ham Calls 
(From the status menu enter m.) 
Enter y or n.
 -- The call sign of an amateur radio station consists of letter and number combinations.  If there is a vowel in the call sign, the Scholar will try to treat it as a word and pronounce it.  The ham calls feature allows these call signs to be spelled out so they will be presented to the listener in a normal sounding way.

M-10.  Power Reminder 
(From the status menu enter z.)
Enter y or n.
 -- At Power On, hold down chord-i.  If you have your Scholar turned on, have done nothing with the keyboard for five minutes, and have this feature on, the Scholar will say: "Hello."  This is a prompt from the Scholar, meaning "Don't forget you left me turned on."

M-11.  Number Pages: 
(From the status menu enter dots 3, 4, 5 and 6.) 
Enter y or n.
-- The page numbers generated when this command is invoked are placed in the top margin of the page.  This command places no data in your document but generates a page number during the printing process.  If this feature is turned on, a "hidden feature" is also available.  When you turn this feature on and move to the next status menu item, the Scholar will say, "Put page number on first page" on or off.  When you press the space key in response to this prompt, the choice will toggle to the opposite condition.  

M-12.  Voice Inflection 
(From the status menu enter i.) 
Enter y or n.

M-13.  Column Beeper 
(From the status menu enter q.) 
Enter a number.
 -- When you enter this command Scholar will ask you for a number.  This sets the point at which the Scholar will give you a warning beep like the bell on a typewriter.  Counting is done from the previous carriage return.  If you want to have 65 printed characters per line and want to use this option, set your column number to 58.  This will give you a seven-space warning to put things in order on a given line before entering a carriage return to take you to the next line.  Remember, at the start of a document you have no carriage return.  To take advantage of this feature, place a carriage return at the start of your document so the column beeper will have a starting place for counting.  You always can erase this return later.

M-14.  One-Hand Mode:  Hold down dot 6 at power on.  
To disable one-hand mode, hold down dot 3 at power on. 
-- Some people have the use of only one hand, or even just a finger or two on one hand.  Others might like to be able to read braille with one hand and write on the Scholar with the other.  These are the commands which make this possible.  In operation, first do all of your entry for a single character on one side of the space key.  Then, move to the other side of the space key and enter the rest of the dots for that character.  When the space key is pressed, all these entries will be treated as a single character.  To enter a chorded character, place a space before the dots for the character to be chorded.  To enter a space character, you must press the space key two times.  The first press is stored and the second press releases it, as with any other key press.

M-15.  Silent start:  Hold down the space key at power on. 
 -- You can by-pass the opening announcement and keep down unwanted noise in meetings by using this command.  If you have the calendar alert function turned on, silent start with use of the space key will by-pass the announcement along with all others.  Also, if you have created a macro to be executed at power on, using the space key for silent start disables that macro.   Under such conditions, if you use dot 4 instead of the space key for your silent start, calendar check and start-up macros will be honored.

M-16.  Battery Timer 
(From the status menu enter dots 1, 4, 5 and 6) 
Enter space to reset
 -- The "Battery low" warning tells you it's time to charge your battery.  The battery timer option tells you how much you have used your Scholar since you last charged its battery.  When you have charged your battery, enter the status menu and issue this command.  Then, press the space key.  When asked to "reset battery timer," enter "y."  This sets you to 0 hours, 0 minutes.  Depending on your activities and experience, you may find this command helps you determine when it is time to charge the battery. 

 There also is a "percentage remaining" command within the status menu.  It is dots 1, 4 and 6.  When you press this symbol you will hear a percentage value and the words "charging" or "not charging" depending on whether or not you have your battery charger connected.  This percentage value is approximate; don't let it cause you excess concern.  When it comes to knowing how much life you are getting from your battery and when it is a good time to recharge, information gained from the battery timer is much more to the point.

 M-17.  Calendar Check 
(From the status menu, enter j.)
Enter y or n.  
 -- With the "smart calendar" feature, you can write yourself a reminder note associated with a specific date.  If the calendar check feature is turned on, when that date comes around you will be reminded there is a note in your calendar each time you turn on your Scholar.

M-18.  Progress Clicks 
(From the status menu enter k.)
Enter y or n. 
 -- Progress clicks are those clicks you hear when your Scholar is operating on a long file.  If you look for "Blazie" when you are at the top of the help file, you will hear several of them.  If you do not want to hear such signals, turn this feature off.

M-19.  Exceptions Check 
(From the status menu enter e.) 
Enter y or n
 -- You can change the way the Scholar pronounces words by making use of this feature.  To do this, create a file named "word.fix."  Each problem word and its correction must be written on a line and separated by an equals sign.  Writing must be done in ASCII braille.  The Scholar pronounces the name of the city "Louisville" as "lauwisville."  To obtain a correct pronunciation, enter the following on a single line in the "word.fix" file:  "Louisville=looievil."  Each time the word "Louisville" is encountered, if the exceptions check is turned on, the Scholar will check the "word.fix" file and pronounce the word according to your correction.  Spaces must not be used in the "word.fix" file.

M-20.  Remote Mode:  chord-3-5-6, p for personal touch, m for mini braille, chord-4 or a for ASCII, d for display. 
-- There are braille display units to which it is possible to connect the Scholar if you want to read information in braille as well as listen to it through speech. This is the command that gives access to such displays.  Specific drivers have been written for the "Personal Touch" and the "Minibraille."  The ASCII and DISPLAY options are more generic in nature.  When using remote mode, you must turn on your serial port. (See Section A-7.) 

M-21.  Hourly Announcement:  chord-h.
--  Cycle through the choices with the space key. 


SECTION N:  STORING AND RETRIEVING INFORMATION

The disk that contains this manual also contains some programs you will find useful for exchanging data between the Scholar and a personal computer.  Information on how to use these programs is also on the disk.

Blazie engineering, manufacturer of the scholar, offers a portable external disk drive and information about its operation.  ASCII files produced on computers can be read by this drive, and data prepared in the Scholar and saved on that drive can be read by IBM-compatible computers. 


SECTION O:  THE GRAPHING CALCULATOR

INCLUDED TOPICS 

O-1  Getting Started 
O-2.  The Setup Menu 
O-3.  Printing and Scaling Graphs
O-4.  Audiographs  
O-5.  The Graph Statistics Screen 

I want to express my deep appreciation to Blazie Engineering for allowing me to modify and use its documentation for the Graph-it PC and Graph-it BNS programs and apply it to the APH Scholar.

O-1  Getting Started:  chord-g, while within the calculator. 
-- Built into your Scholar is a version of Graph-it, the graphing calculator program that allows you to use your Braille printer in conjunction with your Scholar as a graphing calculator.  You can enter up to ten equations or inequalities; then, the Graph-it program will output the graph of the equations or inequalities that you have entered to your Braille printer.  You have total control over the final output.  You can choose to print the graph on a full grid, just an x and y axis, or with no axes or grid.  Graph-it also gives you full control over the scale of the graph, allowing you to set the range of x and y, the grid size, and the number of units per grid square.

Because the Graph-it program is built into your Scholar, there is no need to install it.  To use the graphing calculator feature, first enter calculator mode with chord-o, c.  Then, enter chord-g.  The Scholar will say "Graph-it running, entry 1 nothing entered."

In your Scholar you will have a blank screen.  It is as if you had created a file and had not yet written the first character in that file.  If you were to go up and down this blank screen or page with chord-1 or chord-4, you would hear "Entry x, nothing entered."  Here, x would be a number from one to ten.  To enter an equation or inequality, highlight the entry where you want to place it, and press <enter> chord-4-6.  To highlight an entry, press <enter> when you hear the entry number.  For example, nothing is currently entered, so you can highlight entry 1, and press <enter>. The previous equation or inequality, or in this case, the "Nothing entered)", is replaced by a cursor so you can write the equation or inequality. Equations are entered in y = format.
Here are some examples:

y = 2x+5 
y = sqrt(x) 
y = x^2-3x+5

Instead of an equation, you can also enter an inequality.  Here's a list of the comparison operators and what they represent:

operator------represents

=------is equal to 
<------is less than 
<=------is less than or equal to
>------is greater than 
>=------is greater than or equal to

Here are some examples of some inequalities, and how they would be read:

y < 3 y is less than 3

y <= 2x y is less than or equal to 2x

y > 2x+3 y is greater than 2x+3

y >= 2x^2 y is greater than or equal to 2x^2

To point to the entry you want to edit, use chord-1 or chord-4 and press chord-e to enter the equation or inequality.  The Scholar will say the entry number.  Type the equation or inequality, and press chord-e.  The Scholar will say "ok."

When entering equations or inequalities, you must enter the equations or inequalities in Computer Braille.  In Computer Braille, all the numbers are dropped, as in Nemeth Code.  However, no number sign is necessary.

You can enter symbols as follows.  
Equals sign     a full-cell (dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) 
Less than     a Grade Two g h sign (dots 1, 2 and 6)  
Greater than     a Grade Two a r sign (dots 3, 4 and 5)  
Left parentheses     a Grade Two o f sign (dots 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6)
Right parentheses     a Grade Two with sign (dots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6).

The Graph-it program supports several trigonometric functions.  Each of these function names is followed by an argument in parentheses.  Here is a list of the currently supported trigonometric functions:

function------name
sin------()sine 
asin------()arc sine 
cos------()cosine
tan------()tangent 
atan------()arc tangent

Graph-it also supports several other useful functions.  Each of these functions, like the trigonometric functions, expects an argument in parentheses.

function------name
sqrt------()square root 
log------()natural log 
log10------()log base 10
exp------()exponential (E^n)

Here are some examples of how these functions are used:

example------read as

sqrt(x)------the square root of x 
log(x)+5------the natural log of x plus 5 
2sin(x)------2 times the sine of x

As you may notice from some of these examples, algebraic notation is legal when entering expressions into the Graph-it feature of the Scholar calculator.  Thus, you can enter 3x instead of 3*x.  Any number of sets of parentheses may be used to force computation in any order.  Graph-it makes its computations based on the standard order of operations.  Graph-it performs all multiplication, division, and exponential calculations before performing addition or subtraction.  Operators of the same precedence are computed in the order in which they are found in the expression.

To move to the top of the list of ten entries, press chord-l.  You can move to the bottom of the list of entries by pressing chord-4-5-6.  Press chord-c to repeat the current entry.  You will be asked if you are sure that you want to delete all the entries.  If you want to delete them, press y. If not, press n.

Once you have entered an equation or inequality, the list of commands available to you when you use the help chord command gets larger.  Because you have filled an entry, you now have more commands available to you.  For example, without any entries filled, you can not print a graph, scale a graph, or see the statistics of a graph.  You will notice that the number of entries displayed on the current graph is read following the list of available commands.

If you want to clear all the entries currently containing equations or inequalities, press chord-d.  You will be asked if you are sure you want to delete all the entries.  If you want to delete them, press y.  If not, press n.

Once you have entered a set of entries, you can write them to a file.  To write the current entries to a file, press chord-w.  You will be prompted for a file name.  Type one, and press chord-e.  If no extension is specified, an extension of .equ will be assumed.  The entries will be written to the file you specified.  The scaling information is also saved.

To read entries from a file, press chord-r.  You will be prompted for a file name.  As with the "write entries" command, an extension of .equ will be assumed if none is specified.  The entries will be read from the file.  Warning!!!  If you read in entries from a file, they will over-write any entries already in memory.  Press chord-z to exit.

O-2.  The Setup Menu 

You can make any necessary adjustments to the graphing program in what is called the setup menu.  You can access the setup menu by pressing chord-e. Moving around in the setup menu is like any other menu.  Use chord-4 to move to the next item, and chord-1 to move to the previous one.  Use chord-l to move to the top of the setup menu, and chord-4-5-6 to move to the bottom.

Just as with the initial menu, a list of commands is available.  Press chord-1-4-5-6 to hear the list of available commands.  Press chord-3-6 to hear the hot key for the current item.  Press that character to go to the choice immediately.

Here is a list of the hot keys: 
Hot Key     setting it accesses
t     printer type 
p     printer port 
o     graph orientation
g     grid type 
a     place arrows on graph 
l     print x and y axis labels 
r     print range of x and y on graph 
e     print entries
i     print entries in 
c     trig function computation.

Your Scholar will say "setup menu," followed by "printer type:" and then the current setting. Graph-it supports several Braille printers.  The default is the Braille Blazer from Blazie Engineering.  However, the following printers are supported: Romeo, Juliet, Braille BookMaker, VersaPoint, Cranmer Modified Perkins Brailler, Index. 

You can toggle through the available choices by pressing the space bar.  Notice that only four of the choices are represented.  If you are using a Juliet or Braille BookMaker, select the "Juliet" setting.  If you are using a Romeo, Cranmer Modified Perkins Brailler, or a VersaPoint, select the "Romeo" setting.  Finally, if you are using any of the Index family of Braille embossers, select the "Index" setting.

The second item on the menu is the printer port setting.  You can toggle through the available choices by pressing the space bar.  The available printer port settings are: lpt1, lpt2, com1, com2, output file.  If you set up the graphing calculator to print to either com1 or com2, you must set up your Braille printer for the following serial settings:  9600 Baud, eight data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.  These are the Braille Blazer's default settings.

The default printer port is the serial port.  Press the space key to toggle through the choices -- serial port, output file.

When using the serial port, the serial port parameters of your Scholar must match those set in your Braille printer.

The next item on the menu is the graph orientation setting.  The default is portrait orientation, which means the graph is printed from left to right, and top to bottom.  The other choice is landscape, which prints the graph sideways.  This holds special advantages for printers such as the Braille Blazer that use standard 8.5x11 inch paper.  When printing in portrait orientation, the x axis runs along the 8.5-inch dimension of the paper, and the y axis runs along the 11-inch dimension of the paper.  Landscape orientation allows you to reverse this.

The fourth item on the menu is the grid type setting.  This defaults to an x and y axis with hatch marks.  You can toggle through the available choices with the space key.  The available choices are: x and y axes with hatch marks, full grid, no grid or axes.
NOTE:  The "no" axes setting does not work correctly on some versions of the Braille Blazer.

The next setting is the "Print arrows on axes" setting.  This will place arrows at the ends of the x and y axes to signify that they are in fact the axes.  This setting defaults to "no."

The next four settings determine what, if any, text is printed on the graph and how it is printed.  The default is for only the labels for the x and y axes to be printed.  The "print ranges of x and y" setting defaults to "no."  The "print equations" setting defaults to "no."  By pressing the space bar, you can toggle this setting among the following options:  no, on graph, on separate page.

If you set the equations to be printed on a separate page, the graph will be printed on the first page, and then the equations will be printed on the second page.  Note that even if the graph is in landscape orientation, the equations will be printed in portrait orientation.  You can select to print the equations on the graph.  They will be placed at the top left hand corner of the graph. 

The setting following the "print equations" setting is the "print equations in" setting.  You can use the space key to toggle between Computer Braille and Nemeth Code.  

NOTE:  If you select print equations in Nemeth Code, the Nemeth Code translator is very simple.  It will only render number signs and the correct symbols for =, <, and >.

If you choose to print the ranges of x and y but have not chosen to have the equations printed on the graph, the range of y will be printed just to the left of the y axis at the top of the page.  If you choose to have the equations printed on the graph, in order to minimize conflict with the equations, the range of y will be printed to the left of the y axis at the bottom of the page.

The last setting in the settings menu determines whether trigonometric functions are computed in radians or degrees.  The default is radians, but you can switch this setting to degrees by pressing the space key.

When you are done making any necessary adjustments, press chord-z.  The settings are saved in the program built into the Scholar.


O-3.  Printing and Scaling Graphs 

Before printing any graphs, take time to be sure your Braille printer is set up properly.  If you are using a Braille Blazer, check to see whether it is in graphics mode.  You can put the Blazer in graphics mode by flipping the emboss bar so the lever points towards you.  You must also be sure the lines per page, left margin, and top margin settings in the Braille Blazer are set to zero.  Also, be sure the line length is set to 34 (the maximum value).  In order for graphs to print properly, the character set must also be set to US ASCII.  If you need more information about how to change any of these settings, please consult your Braille Blazer's manual. If you are using a Romeo, you will also have to make a mechanical adjustment to the printer.  Consult your Romeo's manual for details on how this is done.  If you are using a Juliet, VersaPoint, Index,  or a Braille BookMaker, you will not need to adjust the printer. 

Printing a graph of an equation or inequality, or several of them is very simple.  After you have entered the equations or inequalities you want to graph at the main screen, press chord-p.  The graph will then be sent to the specified printer port.

If you try this and nothing happens, see O-2 for setting the printer port.

If an error occurs while printing, the program will notify you of this and will prompt you to "Press any key to continue, esc. to cancel."  If you want to continue printing, or you have fixed the problem, press any key other than esc.  To cancel the printing, press chord-z.

Graphs are normally printed in portrait orientation, which means the y axis runs along the length of the page and the x axis runs along the width.  However, in the setup menu there is a setting that allows you to change this default so that Graph-it will print graphs in landscape orientation.  When you change the default, the x axis will run along the length of the page, and the y axis will run along the width.  When you take a graph printed in landscape orientation out of the printer, turn it a quarter-turn counterclockwise to view it.

Here are step-by-step instructions for printing the graphs of both single and multiple equations.  These could just as well be inequalities, but we have used equations here for our examples.

For the single equation example, we will graph the equation y = x^2. This will be a graph of a parabola.

1. If you haven't done it already, start the program.  Enter the calculator with chord-o, c and then press chord-g.

2. Select entry one on the main screen.

3. Press chord-e.

4. Enter: y = x^2 
    Then, press chord-e.

5. Now press chord-p to print the graph.

For our multiple equation example, we will graph a circle with the following equations:

y = sqrt(9-x^2) y = -sqrt(9-x^2)

This will yield a graph of a circle with a radius of 3.

1. Start the program.

2. Select entry one on the main screen.

3. Press chord-e.

4. Enter: y = sqrt(9-x^2)
    Then, press chord-e.

5. Press chord-4 to select equation 2.

6.  Press chord-e.

7. Enter: y = -sqrt(9-X^2) 
    Then, press chord-e.

8. Press chord-p to print the graph.

If graphs seem to be chopped off at the right edge of the page, check to see whether the left margin setting in the Braille Blazer is set to zero.  If you get a blank page at the end of some graphs, be sure the lines per page setting in the Braille Blazer is also set to zero.

When you print a graph, the Graph-it program tries to determine what the best scaling for the graph will be.  You will find, especially for some non-linear function graphs, that particular points may not appear on the graph.  Graph-it provides you with a way to re-scale the graph.  This allows you to take either a more detailed or a more generalized look at a particular area of the graph.

To enter the scaling menu from the main screen, press chord-1-6.  The scaling menu has several options on it.  It is like any other menu.  Use chord-1 and chord-4 to select the item you want to change, and press chord-e to enter a new value.  Press chord-l to move to the top of the menu, and chord-4-5-6 to move to the bottom.  Press chord-c to repeat the current item.

The scaling menu has hot keys.  Press chord-3-6 to hear the hot key for the current item.  The hot keys are: 
hot key------accesses
x------minimum x value 
y------minimum y value 
g------grid square size
u------units per grid square 
A list of applicable commands is accessible by pressing chord-1-4-5-6.

NOTE:  When entering minimum and maximum values for x and y, the values must be multiples of the number of units represented by each grid square.  For example, if each grid square represents one unit, then you can not have a minimum x value of -2.5 because this would require half of a grid square.  Graph-it will round values to the nearest grid square increment. When you change the number of units represented by each grid square, notice that the minimum and maximum x and y values change to reflect the change in the number of units represented by each grid square. When you are done, press chord-z.

You can then reprint the graph with the new scale.

O-4.  Audiographs 

The Graph-it graphing calculator has the unique ability to let you "hear" the graph of an equation.  However, this feature will not let you "hear" the graph of an inequality.  The frequency of the sound heard represents the y value, and the amount of time passed since the beginning of the sound represents the x value.  Think of it this way:  If you read the graph from left to right, the pitch represents the position on the y axis.  Therefore, a straight line with a slope of 2 will be a rising tone.  If you graph a parabola such as y = x^2, then the sound will be first a descending tone and then a rising tone.  

This happens because the y value is very high at the far left of the graph.  It slowly descends to zero, which happens in about the middle of the graph, and then slowly ascends back up.  The sound you hear follows the same pattern. The easiest way to understand this is to play with it.  While it is not an extremely precise way to view a graph, you can get an idea of what the graph looks like by its "sound."  For example, you will notice that a line with a greater slope will produce a tone that rises faster than a line which has a lesser slope. 

Graph-it will only let you hear one equation at a time. To hear the audiograph of an equation, you must first enter the equation.  Then select it on the main screen menu, and press chord-h. 

Audiographs are created based on the minimum and maximum x values.  If you want to hear a longer representation of the graph, you can enter the scaling menu and change the minimum and maximum x values.

O-5.  The Graph Statistics Screen 

In Graph-it, you can quickly view the scale of a graph and any intersection points on the graph.  To view the graph statistics screen, press chord-3-4. 

The following graph stat information is spoken by the Scholar: 
range of x
range of y
grid square size
units per grid square
intersection points.

To exit the graph stats screen and return to the main
Screen, press any key.



APPENDIX:  ASCII BRAILLE LETTERS, DIGITS AND PUNCTUATION MARKS

When writing in "ASCII braille" on the Braille 'n Speak, upper case characters are produced as described in Sections G-1-3.  In the list of letters below, each letter is written in uppercase and followed by the braille dot numbers needed to produce it.

Letters:

A     dot 1 
B     dots 1 and 2 
C     dots 1 and 4 
D     dots 1, 4 and 5 
E     dots 1 and 5
F     dots 1 and 2
G     dots 1, 2, 4 and 5
H     dots 1, 2 and 5
I     dots 2 and 4
J     dots 2, 4 and 5 
K     dots 1 and 3
L     dots 1, 2 and 3
M     dots 1, 3 and 4
N     dots 1, 3, 4 and 5
O     dots 1, 3 and 5
P     dots 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q     dots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
R     dots 1, 2, 3 and 5
S     dots 2, 3 and 4 
T     dots 2,3,4 and 5
U     dots 1, 3 and 6
V     dots 1, 2, 3 and 6
W     dots 2,4,5 and 6
X     dots 1, 3, 4 and 6
Y     dots 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Z     dots 1, 3, 5 and 6 

DIGITS

0     dots 3, 5 and 6
1     dot 2
2     dots 2 and 3
3     dots 2 and 5
4     dots 2, 5 and 6
5     dots 2 and 6
6     dots 2, 3 and 5
7     dots 2, 3, 5 and 6
8     dots 2,3 and 6
9     dots 3 and 5

PUNCTUATION MARKS

Accent     dot 4 (lower case) 
Ampersand     dots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 
Apostrophe     dot 3
Asterisk     dots 1 and 6 
At Sign     dot 4 (Upper Case) 
Backslash (Reverse Slant)     dots 1, 2, 5 and 6 (upper case) 
Caret (Exponentiation)     dots 4 and 5 (upper case) 
Close Brace     dots 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 (lower case) 
Close Bracket     dots 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 (upper case) 
Close Parenthesis     dots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 
Colon     dots 1, 5 and 6 
Comma     dot 6
Decimal Point (Period)     dots 4 and 6 
Delete     dots 4, 5 and 6 (lower case) 
Divided by (Slash)     dots 3 and 4 
Dollar Sign     dots 1, 2,  4 and 6 
Equals     dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Exclamation Point     dots 2, 3, 4 and 6 
Exponentiation (Caret)     dots 4and 5 (upper case) 
Grave Accent (Accent)     dot 4 (lower case) 
Greater Than (Right Angle Bracket)     dots 3, 4 and 5 
Hyphen (Minus)     dots 3 and 6 
Left Angle Bracket (Less Than)     dots 1, 2 and 6 
Less Than (Left Angle Bracket)     dots 1, 2 and 6 
Minus (Hyphen)     dots 3 and 6
 Number Sign     dots 3, 4, 5 and 6 
Open Brace     dots 2, 4 and 6 (lower case) 
Open Bracket 91     dots 2, 4 and 6 (upper case) 
Open Parenthesis     dots 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 
Percent Sign     dots 1, 4 and 6 
Period (Decimal)     dots 4 and 6 
Plus     dots 3, 4 and 6
Question Mark     dots 1, 4, 5 and 6 
Quotation Mark (Double Quote)     dot 5 
Reverse Slant (Backslash)     dots 1, 2, 5 and 6 (upper case) 
Right Angle Bracket (Greater Than)     dots 3, 4 and 5 
Semicolon     dots 5 and 6 
Tilde     dots 4 and 5 (lower case)
Underline     dots 4, 5 and 6 (upper case) 
Vertical Line     dots 1, 2, 5 and 6 (lower case)