The following describes important considerations when operating SpeakOn. It explains the keyboard options and keys' notation which are essential to the understanding of the rest of this manual.
SpeakOn is a program running under Microsoft Windows and as such appears in its own window. The SpeakOn window is plain and there are no visible widgets or menus to navigate. If you want SpeakOn to operate correctly, you need to keep the SpeakOn window in focus. This may only become a problem if you decide to switch to another Windows program when the SpeakOn program is running. SpeakOn will tell you when it gains and loses the Windows focus.
SpeakOn CalcPad is designed to work with both the standard computer keyboard or in combination with a numerical keypad.
The keys required to operate SpeakOn can be divided into two groups: Main keys which are keys with the same functionality regardless of where the user is in the system, and Context keys which are used by controls and menus and the function of which may differ between control types. You will come across these keys in this Tutorial where their operation is described. The keys and functionality for both groups are also summarized
here
Every key is given a name which is easy to remember and relates to its functionality. This key or functionality is translated to physical keys on the standard keyboard. For notation, the main keyboard keys are enclosed in square brackets '[ ]'.
For example, the following notation: 'Menu' [Alt] means the Menu key which is the Alt key on the standard keyboard.
Keys may have additional functionalities which are represented by the symbols '*' or '#' before the key name.
On the standard keyboard, this functionality is achieved by holding down the Ctrl key.
The '*' prefix is illustrated by the following example: * 'Select' [Ctrl + Enter]
This means that to use the * 'Select' key, on the standard keyboard hold down the Ctrl key and press the Enter key.
On the standard keyboard, this functionality is achieved by the use of the Shift key.
The operation of a key with the prefix '#' symbol is illustrated by the following example: # 'Select' [Shift + Enter]
This means that to use the additional # 'Select' key on the standard keyboard, hold down the Shift key and press the Enter key.
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