The Help Sheets cover a range of topics that have been asked during
Widgit training events and deal with specific aspects of the program
or with using Windows. These are from the UK Writing with Symbols
Training Pack. The information is equally relevant to the US version
of Writing with Symbols* with the exception of the names of the
wordlists, and some file locations.
 1. Modes and resolutions
explained 90k
- What to do if your WWS2000 environment does not appear correctly
sized on your screen
- An explanation of the different screen resolutions
- How to change the screen resolution
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Moving and re-sizing
windows 146k
WWS2000 can work with a number of windows and documents open
at the same time, for example in an environment. This sheet
explains:
- The difference between an application and a window
- Closing, minimising and maximising windows
- How to move different document windows in your WWS2000 application
window
- Resizing a window
- Setting the active window |
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3. Navigating folders
250k
When you save your work you will need to be clear about where
on your computer you are saving this information, so that
you can easily find it again. It describes:
- The main folders used in WWS2000
- Wordlists, Writing and Environments
- Navigation in the file viewer when opening or saving a file
for example, to change the wordlist that you are using
- Searching for a File |
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4. Wordlists explained
50k
The wordlists control which images appear when you type a
word in WWS2000. It is important to understand what a wordlist
does and how to change the wordlist you are using. This explains:
- What wordlists are
- How to see which wordlist you are using
- How to change wordlists
- A description of the wordlists available
- A description of the kinds of modifications you can make
to wordlists using the Resource Manager |
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5. Making a copy of a file
97k
There are times when you want to make a copy of a file so that
you can practice or make alterations without changing the original.
This explains:
- How you can copy a file quickly while you are working in Writing
with Symbols 2000, so that you can practice changing files,
such as wordlists, without the danger of messing up the original. |
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6. Planning Grids 84k
When making anything within the program WWS2000 it is a good
idea to spend a short time planning what it is you want to make.
It describes features such as:
- Print margins
- Setting the way your paper is arranged, landscape or portrait
- Using Print Preview to check how the grid will appear
- There is an exercise which explains how to make a grid with
various features, along with some tips. |
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7. Understanding the Writing
With Symbols 2000 Directories 82k
It is necessary to understand the directories used in WWS2000
so that you know where to save and load different files. It
is especially important if you intend to move or copy resources,
files or environments from one machine to another. This described
all of the main WWS2000 directories, where to find different
resources and when saving your own work, what should be saved
where. |
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8. Making and using templates
52k
There are times when it is useful to have a ready-made 'blank'
grid or document which can be used over and over again without
having to remake the basic layout. This describes how to save
blank documents as templates. It also lists the templates provided,
including those for the major communication aids. |
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9. Using the spellchecker
190k
There are many features of the spell checker in WWS2000 that
makes it a very useful literacy aid. This explains many of the
features including the link between the wordlists and the spell
checker. It tells you how to add to the list of recognised 'mis-spellings'
and corrections, to allow for particular errors for which alternatives
are not normally offered. |
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10. Using photographs and
scanned images 121k
This explains the procedure for getting a picture from your
camera or scanner to use in WWS2000. It describes
- The common file formats, and which ones can be used in WWS2000.
(Note - version 1.6 can handle the most common formats).
- How to create the most suitable images for using in documents.
- How to add the words and pictures to your WWS2000 system to
use again |
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11. Adding sound to a graphic
151k
Hearing recorded sounds, either spoken words or sound effects,
can bring a document to life, and make it more enjoyable to
some users. Any sound file with the file extension .wav can
be added to a graphic and then that sound played in much the
same way as words can be spoken. This help sheet explains:
- How to add a sound to a graphic from within WWS2000
- How to add the new entry to the wordlist
- How to her the sounds in WWS2000
- Using sounds in a send grid |
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12. Using Speech 147k
This describes how to use the speech features in WWS2000, including:
- Choosing automatic speech feedback
- Hearing words on demand from a send grid before selecting
them
- Setting the automatic highlighter to follow the spoken text
- Using different voices
- Modifying the standard voices supplied
- Changing the pronunciation of incorrectly spoken words |
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13.Customising colors 24k
Background colors may be set to for visual or perceptual preference,
or they may be used to indicate functions in a grid. Apart from
making a grid look interesting, background colors can help
users navigate through grids and understand that some cells
have different purposes. The system colors which are normally
provided in the Window's dialogue box look fine on screen, but
often print out as very strong colors. This worksheet explains
how to customise colors to suit your own preference. |
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14. Settings and styles
62k
You can very easily change the default setting for WWS2000,
but you may want to save a number of styles for graphics and
text which you can apply to sections of a document as will.
This explains how to save and use them. |
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15. Making Communication
Aid Overlays and Communication Books 68k
This describes how to make overlay grids for communication aids.
How to create overlays for new devices and how to design and
make grids for communication books. |
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16. Drawing and modifying
symbols in Corel Draw 69k
Symbols may be edited or drawn in a vector drawing package.
This describes how to use Corel Draw to make symbols, including
the most suitable settings. |
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17. Keyboard and Mouse editing commands 17k
There are many editing functions in WWS2000. Some can be done
from the menus but others require Mouse and/or keyboard controls.
This help sheet gives you a list of all of the main commands
and the keyboard equivalent or shortcut. This information is
particularly important for MAC users who do not have the option
to use the right mouse button. |
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18. Macros Adding commands to a cell and building macros 290k
A description of all of the commands and macros in WWS2000 3
exercises to help you construct useful macros in cells. |
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19. Understanding cell formatting commands 132k
There are different ways that the document can handle pictures
and text sent from a grid cell. This Helpsheet explains these. |
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20. Using symbols with Concept Plus 124k
This sheet explains how to make the
overlays and files needed to use WWS2000 with an Overlay Keyboard
if you are using the overlay editor Concept Plus, or Concept
Multimedia. |
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21. Moving files from one machine to another 102k
You may want to move or copy files
between machines. This explains what you need to copy and where
to put it so that the files will run on a different machine. |
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22. Effective symbol use 220k
This helpsheet gives some very practical
advice on making sure that the symbol documents you create are
really understandable by symbol readers. |
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23. Saving pages of HTML 139k
Version 2.6 of WWS2000 allows you
to save symbol documents as pages of HTML. This sheet explains
this and tells you how you can use these to view symbol documents
on a machine that does not have WWS2000 and also how to add
them to your own web site. |
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24. Using pictures from the web 528k
The web is a great source of pictures
and clip art. This worksheet explains how to get a picture from
a web site and add it into a Writing with Symbols document or
grid. |
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25. The nature of images 368k
There is a lot of confusion about
the difference between a symbol, a picture and an illustration
and when each type of image is appropriate. This helpsheet aims
to explain the essential differences between the types of images
and between different levels of symbol complexity. |
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Writing with Symbols 2000 is published and distributed in the USA
by Mayer-Johnson LLC
These support pages have training materials and help sheets made
for the International English version. The features are identical
except that you will need to substitute the names of the wordlists
that are on your system, and you do not have the new Widgit Literacy Symbols
