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Gold Medal Software 3
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Gold Medal Software - Volume 3 (Gold Medal) (1994).iso
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wordproc
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1994-02-06
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TYPING WHIZ v1.00 (c) 1994 - Steven Ono
USER'S GUIDE (c) 1994 - Steven Ono
INTRODUCTION
A family member wanted to improve her typing speed and accuracy,
especially on the number row. I figured that my home computer
would be perfect... After realizing that I was spending too much
time explaining how my word processor and then how my editor
worked, I spent a non-trivial amount of money on a very well-known
and popular off-the-shelf commercial typing tutor... To make a
long story short, I wished I had never wasted my money on such a
low quality, high hype product. I was convinced I could do better
on my own.
The result is TYPING WHIZ, a program to help anyone improve their
typing speed and accuracy. TYPING WHIZ will allow you to:
set left, right margin, bell, tab, simulated key click
sound
display and update elapsed time, Words Per Minute (WPM),
and current row and column position during typing
exercises
highlight backspaces, and backspaced characters - tabs
and spaces restore previously backspaced characters
perform three types of exercises:
1) type any text you want and save that text to a file
2) type against text files for accuracy
3) create accuracy drills customized by finger and row.
for exercise types 2 and 3:
- there are two methods of error notification:
- stop on errors until corrected
- highlight errors and continue
- you will be given the opportunity to analyze
your errors by character, keyboard row, and
finger.
INSTALLING THE PACKAGE / STARTING THE PACKAGE
There are four files: TW.EXE
TW.DAT
SAMPLE.TXT
TW.DOC (this document)
Create a subdirectory and copy all four files into that
subdirectory.
To start the program, ensure that you are in the same directory as
the files listed above and type 'TW' at the command prompt.
USING TYPING WHIZ
Upon starting TYPING WHIZ (and getting past the nag screen), you
will be presented with the MAIN MENU. You will be given several
options. Choose an option by hitting the first character
(highlighted on screen) of any of the options. These are the
options:
Configure typewriter:
Allows you to change TYPING WHIZ's "typewriter"
characteristics. You can change the settings for:
Left Margin
Right Margin
Tab
Bell
As well, you can turn a simulated keyclick sound on and off.
Make a selection by hitting the first character (highlighted
on screen) of any of the choices on the this screen. Note
that if you set right margin lower than the current bell
setting, the bell setting is automatically lowered to the new
right margin value. If, during any typing, you reach the
right margin, a low warning tone will sound, and any new
keystrokes will be ignored, except for carriage return or F1
to end the typing session. When you reach the bell column,
you will be notified by a high, short tone.
Freestyle Typing:
Type whatever you want. Perhaps you want to type exercises
out of a typing exercise manual, your favourite book, anything
you want. Immediately after you select Freestyle Typing, you
will be asked if you wish to set a timer. If you answer yes,
you will be asked to enter the timer value in minutes and
seconds.
Whether you chose timer or not, as you type, you will see
elapsed time, raw Words Per Minute (WPM), current row and
column position. If you hit backspace(s), the overwritten
characters will be marked and new characters in the place of
overwritten characters will be displayed as inverse
characters. Spaces or tabs over previously backspaced
characters will return the overwritten characters - just like
a typewriter.
Your typing session will end when you press F1, or the timer
runs out (only if you set it). You will now be given the
option of saving your work to a file. If you choose yes, you
will be prompted for a file name. If the file exists, you
will be asked whether or not you wish to overwrite the file.
If the file name is invalid, you will be informed that the
file was not saved and you will be asked if you want to try
again.
Accuracy:
Type against the contents of an external ASCII file (perhaps
saved in a Freestyle Typing session). You may need to reset
your left and right margins to match those of the external
file. You will be asked to provide the file name. If this
file is not found or available, you will be returned to the
main menu. If found, you will be asked how errors will be
handled (stop on errors and until correct keystroke, or
visually highlight errors and continue).
Your specified file will be displayed line by line (in blue
letters) in the top two lines of TYPING WHIZ's screen. When
TYPING WHIZ retrieves a line of text from your specified file,
trailing blanks are removed. When you get to the end of a
line, hit enter to get another line. As with Freestyle
typing, you will be able to see backspaces, set timer, save
file, etc. WPM will be updated as you type (# of 5 character
words minus 2 times total errors then divided by total
minutes). At the end of your session (hitting F1, timer
expiration with 3 tone notification, or end of specified file
with 3 tone notification), you will be able to analyze your
errors. Errors will be shown by character, keyboard row, and
finger.
Try this out with the 'SAMPLE.TXT' file provided. Make sure that
the following are set (using Configure Keyboard from main menu):
Left margin: 10
Right margin: 75
Bell: 70 (suggested)
Tab: 5 (suggested)
Keyclick: on (suggested)
Drills - Customized:
Create customized drills based on your specifications. You
will be able to specify which row(s) and finger(s) to drill.
When asked to specify finger, type any one or more of the
characters ASDFGHJKL; to toggle that finger on or off. You
will also be expected to specify keyboard row by typing any
one or more of the characters ZAQ1 to toggle that row on or
off.
You will now be asked whether you want to use the shift keys
and the length of each drill word/pattern. You will also be
asked if you want to use the timer prior to beginning the
exercise.
Example: Specifying ASDF for fingers, and A1 for keyboard
row will create a typing drill based on the home (A) row
and the number (1) row for the left hand fingers A,S,D,F.
You will be asked if you want to stop keystroke entry and
sound a warning tone at every missed keystroke. If you
don't, errors will be highlighted in red, but you will be
able to continue typing.
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
row 1 | 1| | 2| | 3| | 4| | 5| | 6| | 7| | 8| | 9| | 0| | -|
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
row Q | q| | w| | e| | r| | t| | y| | u| | i| | o| | p| | [|
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
row A | a| | s| | d| | f| | g| | h| | j| | k| | l| | ;| | '|
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
row Z | z| | x| | c| | v| | b| | n| | m| | ,| | .| | /| | |
+--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+ +--+
f f f f f f f f f f f
i i i i i i i i i i i
n n n n n n n n n n n
g g g g g g g g g g g
e e e e e e e e e e e
r r r r r r r r r r r
A S D F G H J K L ; '
Your word/patterns file will be displayed line by line (in
blue letters) in the top two lines of TYPING WHIZ's screen.
When you get to the end of a line, hit enter to get another
line. As with Freestyle typing, you will be able to see
backspaces, set timer, save file, etc. WPM will be updated as
you type (# of 5 character words minus 2 times total errors
then divided by total minutes). At the end of your session
(hitting F1 or timer expiration), you will be able to analyze
your errors. Errors will be shown by character, keyboard row,
and finger.
The word/patterns are generated randomly, based on your
specifications. If, by chance, some rude words are generated,
don't blame me!!!
Quit:
Quit the program - return from whence you came... (in other
words, return to whatever operating system you use)
REGARDING THE PROGRAM
TYPING WHIZ will perform input field checking and should not behave
improperly with invalid input (except cntl-break and cntl-alt-del).
TYPING WHIZ will accept up to 512 lines of text per exercise. If
you try to exceed this, the screen will continue to show new lines
but the saved file (if you choose this) will contain the first 511
lines and the most recent line typed.
The timer will not accept minutes greater than 999 and seconds
greater than 59. Likewise, the elapsed time display has the same
limitations.
TYPING WHIZ will not check to see if there is sufficient disk space
to save a file. I expect file sizes will be small, and with hard
disks being as big and cheap as they are...
TYPING WHIZ does not include tab in the calculation of WPM.
Revision History:
v1.00 Initial release of TYPING WHIZ - Feb 94
Disclaimer
This product is provided 'AS IS'. The Author makes no warranty of
any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose, with respect to this software and accompanying
documentation.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES (INCLUDING
DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS
OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING OUT OF
THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
LICENSE
TYPING WHIZ is not, nor has ever been, public domain or free
software.
Users are granted a limited license to use the shareware version of
TYPING WHIZ up to 10 times for a limited evaluation to allow you to
determine if it suits your needs. Any additional use of TYPING
WHIZ (more than 10 times) requires registration.
All users are granted a limited license to copy the shareware
version of TYPING WHIZ only for the purpose of allowing others to
try it, as long as no fee is charged. TYPING WHIZ must be
distributed in absolutely unmodified form, including ALL files
(TW.EXE, TW.DAT, TW.DOC, SAMPLE.TXT).
No charge or payment may be levied or accepted for TYPING WHIZ.
REGISTRATION
TYPING WHIZ is neither public domain, or freeware. TYPING WHIZ is
shareware. This is an unregistered copy, which entitles you to try
this program 10 times without obligation. If you like it and/or
find it useful and/or use it more than 10 times, please send a
$15.00 registration fee by cheque or money order (Ontario residents
add PST. US residents, please pay in US funds - the conversion
rate roughly covers the extra handling fees.) to:
Steven Ono
3422 Nighthawk Trail
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada
L5N 6G4
Let me know where/how you found this package.
Your registration will:
1) restore my faith in mankind
2) allow me to let you know how to remove the nag screens!
3) not obligate me to put in whatever weird function or
feature you request
4) prevent you from falling victim to the "Curse of Jonah with
the wiggly fingers".
Please contact me to obtain licensing information for corporate or
educational use. Customization is negotiable.
If you have any suggestions/comments, or notice any BUGs please
document them and send them to me.