MS-DOS 8.0/MS-DOS8.iso/DOS/ADOS.TXT

Text File | 1994-05-31 | 116KB | 2,777 lines

User's Guide for AccessDOS



A package of public domain MS-DOS extensions for keyboard, mouse and
sound access



Developed by:

The Trace Research and Development Center

Madison, WI

Version 1.1

March, 1993



Software

Mark E. Novak

Joseph M. Schauer

Jay D. Hinkens

Gregg C. Vanderheiden

Manual

Peter A. Borden

Revised by Microsoft Corporation



Support for work on AccessDOS was provided in part by IBM Corporation
and by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR), U.S. Dept. of Education, under grant #H133E80021.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice, and
does not represent a commitment on the part of the Trace Center or
the University of Wisconsin.  The software may be used or copied and
distributed to others without charge.  If the program is copied, all
parts of the program must be distributed along with it, including the
manual.  This program may not be modified in any way without the
express written permission of the Trace Center, University of
Wisconsin-Madison.



Copyright (c) 1991, 1992, 1993 Board of Regents,

University of Wisconsin System.

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America


IBM and PS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business
Machines Corporation.  MS-DOS and Microsoft are registered trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation.  WordPerfect is a registered trademark of
WordPerfect Corporation.

 User's Guide for AccessDOS

Part 1:  Getting Started

1-1:  What AccessDOS is all about

Since computers are used by many different people, they have been designed
overall for the "average" user.  But everyone's abilities are different,
and some people have enough trouble operating computers that they need some
special accommodations.

AccessDOS provides some of these accommodations.  AccessDOS does not
address all of the problems that someone with a disability might encounter
in using a computer.  Rather, it tackles some of the most common
difficulties that people with physical disabilities encounter in using the
computer's input devices--that is the keyboard and the mouse.  It also can
assist some people with hearing impairments.

AccessDOS is similar to the curbcuts used on street corners.  The
computer itself, like the sidewalk, stays basically unchanged, and
can still be used by anyone.  But just as curbcuts allow people in
wheelchairs to get up on to the sidewalk and use it, AccessDOS lets
the computer user with a disability operate the keyboard and mouse in
a slightly different way, so that he or she can gain access to the
computer.  Once that person has access to the computer, he or she can
operate the same software that everyone else uses, and can use the
computer to accomplished all the same things at home, at school or on
the job.

AccessDOS extends the MS-DOS operating system, which runs in the
background while you are operating other software such as a word
processor.  That means that you can make use of AccessDOS's special
adaptive functions at any time while you're using the computer.

This User's Guide will explain all you need to know to operate the
functions of AccessDOS.  We've also tried to explain why you might
want to use certain functions.  However, we encourage you to look
beyond our basic suggestions.  Look at the instructions to find out
what the program does, then think about what it could do for you.
Many of the functions are adjustable, and you may want to play around
with them until you get them just the way you want them.

The next section ("A quick look at AccessDOS functions") gives brief
descriptions of each of the AccessDOS's main functions.  Reading this
section will help you figure out which sections of the manual you might
need to turn to.  Next to the name of each function is the number of the
section in Part 2 which tells you how to use it.

Be sure also to read Sections 1-3 and 1-4 of this manual ("How to set up
AccessDOS on to your disk" and "How to start up and install AccessDOS")
before you try to operate AccessDOS.

 1-2:  A quick look at AccessDOS functions

There are seven basic functions in AccessDOS.  Here, in brief, is a
description of each one.  (After the name of each function is the
number of the section in Part 2 which tells you how to use it.)

WARNING:  Be sure you have read and followed the instructions in
Sections 1-3 ("How to copy AccessDOS on to your disk") and 1-4 ("How
to start up and install AccessDOS") before you turn to Part 2 and try
to use any of the seven AccessDOS functions.



StickyKeys      (See Section 2-2)

Operating a computer often requires pressing two keys at once--for
example, pressing the shift key and the 8 key to make an asterisk (*).
Some people find it difficult or even impossible to do this because
they type with a single finger, or with a stick attached to their
head or hand.


StickyKeys solves this problem by letting you first type one key, then
the other.  For instance, to get an asterisk, you could press the
shift key, release it, and then press the 8 key.  You can use
StickyKeys with the shift, control and alternate keys on your
keyboard.



MouseKeys       (See Section 2-3)

The mouse can be a difficult device for some people to handle.  For
instance, people may have difficulty controlling fine movements of
their hand, or they may have difficulty grasping the mouse and
pressing the buttons, or they may be using a typing stick rather than
their hands to operate the computer.

MouseKeys allows people who can't handle the mouse, but who can press
keys on the keyboard, to perform all the functions of the mouse.
MouseKeys lets you use the keys on the numeric keypad (the group of
number and math keys usually on the far right side of the keyboard)
to control all of the mouse functions, including moving around the
screen and clicking the mouse buttons.



ToggleKeys      (See Section 2-4)

Many keyboards have small lights on them to indicate the status of
keys that can be "on" or "off," such as caps lock.  There are usually
three lights, one for caps lock, one for num lock and one for scroll
lock.  Some people can't see these status lights, including people
who are visually impaired and people who are performing keyboard
functions from some device other than the standard keyboard (more
information on the second situation is given under SerialKeys).

ToggleKeys tells you when one of the three keys is turned on or off
by giving a beep.  Different beeps are used for on and off.
ToggleKeys will work the same way with keyboards that don't have the
little indicator lights.



Keyboard Response Group:

RepeatKeys, SlowKeys and BounceKeys     (See Section 2-5)

Keyboards have several features that are based on the assumption that
the user can press a key accurately, and release it at a precise
time.  These features can pose obstacles to people who have physical
impairments that prevent them from pressing keys accurately, or
releasing them in time.  The Keyboard Response Group has three
adjustments which let you adjust the keyboard: RepeatKeys, SlowKeys
and BounceKeys.

RepeatKeys:  Most keyboards have a feature called auto-repeat:  when
you hold down a key for longer than a certain period of time, the
keyboard begins repeating that key over and over again.  This feature
of keyboards is meant as a convenience for most users, but can be an
inconvenience to users with physical impairments.  They may get
repeated keys when they don't want them.  RepeatKeys lets you adjust
how fast the auto-repeat works or turn it off entirely.

SlowKeys:  Some people who have physical impairments may accidently
bump keys while they are moving their hand or typing stick toward the
key they want.  Usually, the keys that are bumped accidentally will
just be hit for a very short period of time.  SlowKeys lets you tell
the computer not to accept a key as "pressed" unless it's held down
for a certain length of time.  The user can then bump any number of
keys on their way to the one they want without accidentally getting
those characters.  They can then hold the desired key long enough for
the computer to accept it.

BounceKeys:  Some people with physical impairments will accidentally
"bounce" on a key when they press it--that is, they'll press it once,
then accidentally press it again right away.  BounceKeys lets you
tell the computer "don't accept two presses on the same key in a row,
unless they are far enough apart in time."  Using BounceKeys, if a
person presses the T key, then bounces on it (hits it again right
away), the computer will just accept one letter T, not two.  The user
can deliberately get two T's by waiting a little while before
pressing the T key again.



SerialKeys      (See Section 2-6)

Some people cannot use the keyboard and mouse at all due to a
physical impairment, and must use some specially designed input
device (a communication aid, an eyegaze-operated keyboard, etc.) to
perform the functions of the keyboard and the mouse.  In some cases
these special input devices can be connected to a computer's serial
port (the connector commonly used for attaching a modem or printer).
Simply connecting the special input device to the computer's serial
port, however, is not enough to allow you to control keyboard and
mouse functions.  The computer is designed to receive keyboard and
mouse signals through its keyboard and mouse connections, not through
its serial port.

SerialKeys allows you to control the keyboard and mouse functions of
the computer from a special input device hooked up to the computer's
serial port.  This is done by sending the proper series of commands
and characters from the special input device to the computer's serial
port.



ShowSounds      (See Section 2-7)

The computer often signals errors or warnings to the user with beep
sounds.  However, users who have hearing impairments or who work in a
noisy environment may be unable to hear these sounds.

ShowSounds, gives you a visual indicator of when the computer has
beeped at you.  Whenever there is a sound, special symbols will
appear in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, telling you the
kind of sound that was made.  For a more obvious alert, you can make
the whole screen flash briefly off and on instead.

The ShowSounds feature in AccessDOS would be more properly referred
to as SoundSentry, because it tries to detect applications making
sounds, rather than cooperating with those applications.  However,
the term ShowSounds will continue to be used here to follow the
convention used in earlier version of AccessDOS.



TimeOut (See Section 2-8)

You may want to use AccessDOS on a computer which is also shared by
people who don't need to use AccessDOS.  The other users may not
understand how to operate AccessDOS, or how to turn off its various
functions.

TimeOut lets you set AccessDOS to shut off after the keyboard and
mouse have been unused for a certain period of time.  If a person who
needs AccessDOS turns AccessDOS on and then leaves the computer,
someone coming up and using the computer later will not encounter
AccessDOS, since it will have turned itself off.  If you want to have
AccessDOS on all the time, you can turn off the TimeOut function.

 1-3:  How to set up AccessDOS on to your disk

To install AccessDOS from your Supplemental disk, carry out the
following steps:

Step 1:  Make sure you're at the MS-DOS prompt, on the same disk
drive and directory that contains your Supplemental disk files.
You shouldn't be in any application program (word processor,
spreadsheet, etc.) but just in MS-DOS.  The MS-DOS prompt is normally
letter of the disk drive you're logged on to (A, B, C, etc.),
followed in some cases by a colon (:), and usually by a forward
arrow (>), and then a flashing cursor.  Here's an example of a MS-DOS
prompt:

    C:>_

If the drive you are logged onto is not the drive containing the
Supplemental files, you must log onto that drive by typing the
drive letter followed by a colon.

For example, if your prompt is C:>_ and you have inserted the
diskette containing your Supplemental files into your "A:" floppy
drive,  you would type the letter "A" followed by a colon, then
press the Enter key.  You would then see your MS-DOS prompt showing
the correct drive letter.

Step 2:  Type the Setup command.  This consists of:

1)      the word setup

2)      a space

3)      the letter of the disk drive you're copying files to (that
is, the disk drive where you wish to place AccessDOS files)

4)      a colon

5)      a back slash ("\")

6)      the name of the directory into which you want to copy the
AccessDOS files.

For example, if your Supplemental disk is in drive A, and you want
to install the files on drive C in your DOS directory, type the
following:

   setup c:\dos

Step 3:  When the Setup program starts, choose A if you want install
the all Supplemental disk files.  This includes many files in
addition to AccessDOS.  Choose S if you want to install only some of
the files--for example, just the AccessDOS files.

If you choose to install some of the files, Setup will prompt
you to install groups of files, including AccessDOS.

When AccessDOS prompts you to answer a question, you can answer by
pressing a single key.  In most cases your choices will to type
Y to intall a group of files, N to skip a group of files, or X to
abort the setup procedure.

When you install AccessDOS, Setup will be copying six files:

ADOS.COM        A program file required to use AccessDOS

ADOS.OVL        Also required

ADOS.CFG        Also required (stores AccessDOS settings)

ADOS.TXT        A text file of the AccessDOS manual

AREADME.TXT     A file of additional instructions, including
information  on compatibility of particular hardware and software
with AccessDOS.

FAKEMOUS.COM    An IBM PS/2 mouse utility

When you have completed the setup procedure, you will have copies
of these six files in the directory you specified on the setup
command line.  You can now read the on-line documentation, and
then procede to start up AccessDOS.

How to read the AReadMe.txt document:

1)      load it in a word processor and read and/or print it

2)      print it from MS-DOS by typing Print AREADME.TXT

3)      read it on the screen by typing Type AREADME.TXT |more

If you need more disk space

If you are running out of space on your disk, you can remove ADOS.TXT
and AREADME.TXT from your disk.  However, you must copy ADOS.COM,
ADOS.OVL and ADOS.CFG in order to use AccessDOS.

Memory requirements

AccessDOS does require a certain amount of RAM (random access memory)
in order to operate.  This should be no problem for most people with
at least 256K in their computer.  If you have less than 256K, or if
you use several TSR (terminate-stay-resident, sometimes know as
"RAM-resident") programs, you may find that you don't have enough
memory for AccessDOS.  So you know what you need, here are
AccessDOS's memory requirements:

While loading:  160K

Once installed: 10K if you don't use SerialKeys

        25K if you use SerialKeys

System and hardware requirements

AccessDOS requires that you use version 3.3 or higher of MS-DOS.

In order for SerialKeys to work, you must have an available serial
port.

In order for MouseKeys to work, you must have an IBM PS/2 mouse or
Microsoft serial or PS/2 style mouse.  The mouse must be connected,
with the proper mouse driver software loaded.  (There is one
exception; see Section 2-3 on MouseKeys for details.)

 1-4:  How to start up and install AccessDOS

Once you've copied the AccessDOS files on to your own disk you must
start it up and install it.  You must install it before you can use
its functions.

Starting up AccessDOS

Step 1:  Make sure you're at the MS-DOS prompt.  You shouldn't be in
any application program (word processor, spreadsheet, etc.) but just
in MS-DOS.  You'll see the letter of the disk drive you're logged on
to (A, B, C, etc.), followed in some cases by a colon (:) and usually
by a forward arrow (>) and then a flashing cursor.  Here's an example
of a MS-DOS prompt:

        C:>_

You must be on the same disk drive and in the same directory that you
copied your AccessDOS files into; see Section 1-3.  (You can start
AccessDOS from another directory by typing the full path name, if you
know how to do that.)

Step 2:  Type "ados" (without quotation marks).

Step 3:  Type the appropriate command line switch after the word
"ados". (See "Starting with command line switches," below).

Step 4:  Press the enter key.

Once you've started AccessDOS, you'll see the AccessDOS menu bar.

Starting with command line switches

In many cases you will be able to run AccessDOS in its default mode,
simply be typing ADOS and pressing the Enter key.  There are times,
however, when you may need to modify the way AccessDOS runs.  This can
be done by using command line switches.

A command line switch consist of a space, a forward slash (/) and a
letter.  Here is a list of the available command line switches:

Type    If you want to. . .

ADOS /? Show this list of command line switches

ADOS /C Use a color display on your computer.

ADOS /M Use a monochrome (black and white) display

ADOS /L Use an LCD display on your computer.

ADOS /A Install AccessDOS automatically with option to use menus

ADOS /X Install AccessDOS automatically without option to use menus



A command line switch must be typed after you type ADOS and before
you press the Enter key.  You may use more than one command line
switch at a time.  For example:

        ADOS /L /A

Command line switches /C, /M, /L

AccessDOS attempts to determine what type of video display system you
have attached to your computer.  In most cases AccessDOS determines
this correctly, but occasionally it does not.  Specifically,
AccessDOS has problems with monochrome displays attached to color
hardware.  This is the case on many laptop computers, and when you
have a monochrome monitor attached to an IBM PS/2 computer.  In these
situations, the computers make AccessDOS think it is running on a
color system, even though the monitor is unable to display different
colors.

If you experience difficulty reading the display on your computer, you
may want to try the appropriate command line switch for your computer
display. Use:

        /C      if you have a color monitor;

        /M      if you have monochrome monitor;

        /L      if you have a laptop with and LCD display.

Command line switch /A

If you want AccessDOS to automatically install, using whatever
settings you have made and saved before, you must use the /A command
line switch. You can just type it, following ADOS, but it is mainly
intended to be put into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, a file your computer
uses to know how to start up.  If you put ADOS /A in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, it will give you a chance to install it each time
you start up your computer.

When you start up AccessDOS with the /A command line switch, you will
see a message on the screen.  You have four options:

1)      Press the Escape (Esc) key within 20 seconds to abort the
install process.  If then you wanted to see the AccessDOS menus, you
would have to type ADOS and press the Enter key.

2)      Press the Enter key within 20 seconds, to stop AccessDOS from
installing, and to go into the AccessDOS menus.  If you do this,
AccessDOS will ignore any settings you've made before and use its
default settings for all the AccessDOS functions.  AccessDOS has not
"forgotten" your old settings, it just isn't using them.  If you
press Enter by accident, just quit the AccessDOS menus and type ADOS
/A again.

3)      Press any key except Escape or Enter within 20 seconds, to
make AccessDOS install automatically.  AccessDOS will use whatever
settings you made last time you saved settings.  You will not see the
AccessDOS  menus.

4)      Wait for 20 seconds without pressing any key.  This has the
same effect as #3 above.

WARNING:  Please notice that the only way to get AccessDOS to use
your previously saved settings is to use the /A or /X command line
switch.  If you just type ADOS, you will always get AccessDOS's
default settings.

Command line switch /X

If you are using a computer with an 80386 microprocessor and you are
using a high MS-DOS memory manager program, you may want to read
about the /X command line switch.  If not, just skip this
explanation.

MS-DOS is able to access any memory location whose address is less
than 1 megabyte.  High DOS memory managers use special instructions
built into the 80386 CPU to map memory from 1 megabyte to available
space below 1 megabyte.  These memory managers can then load
terminate-stay-resident (TSR) programs and device drivers in low
memory so MS-DOS can use them.  Most TSR programs are much smaller
when they are resident than when they are loading.  AccessDOS, for
instance, uses about 160 KB to load, but only 10-25 KB while resident.
In order for a TSR to be loaded by memory managers, there must be
enough free memory to load and run the program.  We have provided the
/X command line switch to reduce the amount of memory required to
load AccessDOS.  The /X command line switch in no way affects
functionality or resident size of AccessDOS; it simply installs
AccessDOS with your previously saved settings (just like /A), but
without the option of choosing to use the menus.  This reduces the
amount of memory required to load AccessDOS from 160 KB to about 31
KB.

To load AccessDOS in high DOS memory, follow the instructions for
your specific high DOS memory manager and include the /X command line
switch after you type ADOS.

Before you use any AccessDOS functions:  Install it!

If you want to use AccessDOS, you will have to install it each time
you boot up (turn on) your computer.  Installing it allows its
various functions (StickyKeys, MouseKeys, etc.) to run "in the
background" while you are using other programs such as word
processors.  If you don't install AccessDOS, its functions won't be
available to you.  If you are working with AccessDOS for the first
time, you should probably install it before you do anything else.
There are two ways to install AccessDOS:

Option 1:  Start up the AccessDOS program (see "Starting up
AccessDOS," above) and then install AccessDOS using the Install/Run
command.  This will install AccessDOS with AccessDOS's default
settings, rather than any settings you may have made and saved
before.  Here's how to do it:

Step 1:  Start the AccessDOS program, if you haven't already.

Step 2:  Pull down the file menu.  Do this by pressing the left arrow
key until you see a list of choices appear under the word "File." One
choice should be highlighted.

Step 3:  Move the highlight, using the up or down arrow key, until it
rests on the command install/run.

Step 4:  Press the enter key on the keyboard.  You should then see
the AccessDOS menus.

Option 2:  When you type "ados" to start the program, type a slash-A
(/A) or slash-X (/X) after the "ados."  See "Starting up AccessDOS,"
above, for details on this way of installing AccessDOS.  This gives
you a chance to install AccessDOS with whatever settings you last
saved.  See "Starting with command line switches," above, for a full
explanation of /A and /X.

Part 2 of this manual explains each of the functions of AccessDOS.
All of the functions can be activated and adjusted by typing "ados"
and using the commands on the screen.  Some can also be activated
from the keyboard while you are using another program, such as a word
processor.

Making AccessDOS load automatically at start-up

You may want to have AccessDOS automatically load itself each time
your restart or re-boot your computer.  In shared computer
situations, this shouldn't pose a problem, since AccessDOS can be
running in the background and be inactive until a user who needs the
features comes along and presses the proper keys.

To make AccessDOS install or load automatically each time the computer
is restarted, you should insert the command ADOS /A into your
autoexec.bat file.  If you are using a mouse, ADOS /A should be
located after the command to load the mouse driver.

If you don't know how to change your autoexec.bat file, check your
MS-DOS manual or have a knowledgeable person assist you.

Troubleshooting

If you have difficulty using AccessDOS be sure to consult the
AREADME.TXT file.  This text file contains information about
known compatibility issues and helpful hints for making the best
use of AccessDOS.

 User's Guide for AccessDOS

Part 2:  Using AccessDOS

Part 2 of this manual explains how each of the different functions of
AccessDOS work.  You can read through all of the instructions, or just
turn to the section you want.  You will also want to read the short
section below on "The Basics" so you will understand how to make
things happen in AccessDOS, and how to get help information on the
screen.

2-1:  The Basics

If you are using AccessDOS for the first time, and especially if
you've never used a program with "pull-down" menus before, you should
read the two sections below:  "How to make things happen in
AccessDOS" and "How to get help in AccessDOS."

How to make things happen in AccessDOS

When you first start AccessDOS (as described in Section 1-3), you will
see the AccessDOS menu bar.

The three words at the upper left on the screen--file, adjust and
help--are called the menu bar.  Each of the words in the menu bar has
a pull-down menu, like the one you see below the word Adjust.  In
AccessDOS, you make things happen by selecting choices from these
pull-down menus.

When you first enter AccessDOS, you should see that the Adjust menu
is "pulled down," that is, you can see the list of choices.

The File and Help menus can also be pulled down.  Just press the right
or left arrow (cursor) keys on the keyboard.  For example, try
pressing the right arrow key.  Notice that the Adjust menu closes up,
and the Help menu pulls down.

There are two ways to select from menus:  with the arrow (cursor) keys
and with "hot" keys.

To select with the arrow keys:  first move the highlight bar to the
choice you want, using the up and down arrow (cursor) keys, then
press the Enter key.

You can also select an item by pressing the hot key for that item.
The hot key for each menu item is the character that is displayed in
a different color from or brighter than the rest.  If you told
AccessDOS that you have an LCD screen on your computer, (by typing
/L; see Section 1-4), the hot key will be the letter that is
capitalized.

As an example, try pulling down the Adjust menu and moving the
highlight to StickyKeys.  Then press the Enter key.  You will see the
StickyKeys adjustment dialog box.

Notice that the dialog box gives you another set of choices.  These
are all the adjustments you can make to the StickyKeys function.

Notice that there are two arrows pointing at the first line (which
says "StickyKeys On").  These arrows are like the highlight on the
Adjust menu: they show you what feature you are currently on.  And
like the highlight, they can be moved up and down with the up and
down arrow (cursor) keys.

When the arrows are pointing at the first line ("StickyKeys On") that
means that you can now select "Yes" or "No" to turn StickyKeys on or
off. When you move the arrows to the second line ("Sound when turned
on or off"), you can choose "Yes" or "No" for that command.

You select "Yes" or "No" by moving the highlight back and forth with
the right and left arrow (cursor) keys.

In order to leave the dialog box, press the Enter key or the Escape
(Esc) key.

If you press the Enter key, AccessDOS will "remember" any changes you
made in the various settings in the dialog box.  If you press the
Escape key, AccessDOS will discard any new settings you made and go
back to whatever the settings were before.  (If you've never altered
the settings, AccessDOS uses its own default settings.)

WARNING:  If you change settings in a dialog box, pressing the Enter
key will only cause your new settings to be remembered until next
time you turn off or re-boot your computer.  If you want AccessDOS to
remember your new settings even after your computer has been turned
off and on again, you must also save your settings.  See Section 2-10
to find out how to do this.  Also keep in mind that your saved
settings will not be used unless you start AccessDOS with the /A or
/X switches.

In summary, here are all the keys you need to use to make things
happen in the AccessDOS program:

Up and down arrow keys

- Move up and down on a menu

- Move up and down in a dialog box

Right and left arrow keys

- Pull down the next menu over

- Move right and left in a dialog box

Enter key

- Select a command from the File, Adjust or Help menus

- Close a dialog box and tell AccessDOS to "remember" any changes you
just made in the settings.

Escape key

- Close a dialog box without changing anything

- Close a "help" box

Hot keys

- Select a menu item automatically



How to get help in AccessDOS

There are three ways to get on-screen help (instructions) in
AccessDOS:

1.      Go to the help menu.

When you first enter AccessDOS, you will see the file, adjust and
help menus.  If you pull down the help menu, you will see a list of
the functions of AccessDOS.  Just select the one you want, and help
information for that function will appear on the screen.

2.      Press the F1 key.

You can press the F1 key at any time while you are in AccessDOS in
order to see help information about the functions you are currently
working with.
 If, for instance, you are in the process of adjusting StickyKeys and
want some help, pressing the F1 key will give you information about
adjusting StickyKeys.

3.      Watch the hint line

At the very bottom of the screen is a hint line.  This line always
tells you what action you are ready to take.  Try it:  pull down the
adjust menu and then move the highlight up and down (using the up and
down arrow keys).
 Watch the bottom of the screen.  Notice that the hint line changes as
you move from one command to another.

The hint line appears for all choices on all menus.

 2-2:  StickyKeys

What StickyKeys is for

Operating a computer often requires pressing two keys at once--for
example, pressing the shift key and the 8 key to make an asterisk (*).
Some people find it difficult or even impossible to do this because
they type with a single finger, or with a stick attached to their
head or hand.

StickyKeys solves this problem by letting you type first one key, then
the other.  For instance, to get an asterisk (*), you could press the
shift key, release it, and then press the 8 key.  You can use
StickyKeys with the shift, control and alternate keys on your
keyboard.  (These keys are called the modifier keys since they modify
the action of another key.)

How to turn StickyKeys on and off

If you have never used StickyKeys on your computer, or if someone
else has turned it off, you will need to turn it on before you can
use it.  You don't need to be in the AccessDOS menus to turn
StickyKeys on.  You can turn it on from wherever you are:  at the
MS-DOS prompt, in a word processing program, in a graphics program,
etc. (as long as you have AccessDOS installed; see Section 1-4).

To turn StickyKeys on, press the shift key five times in a row.  Be
sure you don't press any other keys or move the mouse while you are
pressing the shift key five times.  You can press either the right or
the left shift key.

When you turn StickyKeys on, you will hear an up-siren from the
computer. The up-siren is a long beep that goes up in pitch.

You can turn StickyKeys off the same way you turn it on:  just press
the shift key five times in a row.  When you turn StickyKeys off, you
will hear a down-siren from the computer.  The down-siren is a long
beep that goes down in pitch.

StickyKeys can also be set to turn off automatically if any two keys
are pressed at the same time.  This feature is useful for shared
computers (such as school labs), so that people who don't use
StickyKeys won't need to know it's there.  See the instructions in
"Adjusting StickyKeys," below.

How StickyKeys works

StickyKeys lets you do two different things to a modifier key such as
shift:  you can latch it or you can lock it.  StickyKeys will make
different sounds depending on whether you are latching a modifier key
or locking it.

Latching

Latching a modifier key (Shift, Control or Alternate) means that it
will affect only the next key you press.  You latch a modifier key by
pressing it just once.  It will be latched while you press the next
key, as if you were holding it down; then it will be released, as if
you had let go of it.
 When you latch a modifier key, you will hear a short low beep
followed by a short high beep.

For example, if you wanted to capitalize the first letter of a word,
you could latch the Shift key, type the first letter of the word,
which would be capitalized, then type the rest of the word, which
would be lower case.

NOTE:  The beeps can be turned on and off.  See "Adjusting
StickyKeys," below.

ALSO NOTE:  The Caps Lock key works the same way with or without
StickyKeys:  if Caps Lock is turned on, shifting a key will make it
lower case rather than capitalized.

Locking

Locking a modifier key means that it will affect any key you press
after it, until you unlock it.

You lock a modifier key by pressing it twice in a row.  You unlock it
by pressing it one more time.  When you press the modifier key the
first time, you will hear a short low beep followed by a short high
beep.  When you press it the second time (and the key locks) you will
hear a single short high beep.  You then type what ever keys you want
modified, then unlock the modifier key by pressing it one more time.
When the key unlocks you will hear a single low beep.

For example, if you wanted to type "ANN is," with the name ANN in all
capital letters, you would press the shift key twice to lock it, type
a-n-n, then press shift again to unlock it, and then type the word
"is."

NOTE:  If locking doesn't seem to work, someone may have turned the
locking ability off.  See "Adjusting StickyKeys," below.

ALSO NOTE:  The beeps can be turned on and off.  See "Adjusting
StickyKeys," below.

Latching more than one modifier key at once

Sometimes you may need to hold down two or even all three modifier
keys (shift, control and alternate), plus another key.  If you do,
you don't need to lock the first modifier key to have it "hold down"
while you press another modifier key.

For example, if you want to press Control-Alternate-Delete (the key
sequence for re-booting your computer), you can just press the three
keys in a row.  The Control key will remain latched while you press
the Alternate key and the Delete key.  Once you've pressed the Delete
key, (which is not a modifier key), all the modifier keys which were
latched will be released, and the computer will re-boot.  (WARNING:
Don't actually press Control-Alternate-Delete unless you want to
re-boot (restart) your computer.)



Adjusting StickyKeys

There are some other changes you can make to StickyKeys besides just
turning it on and off.  These changes are made from the AccessDOS
menus, so you'll need to start up AccessDOS first.  (If you haven't
started up AccessDOS before, see Section 1-4 for instructions).

Once you've gotten to the AccessDOS menus, select "StickyKeys..." from
the adjust menu.  You'll see a dialog box.

Here are the choices in this dialog box, and what they mean.

StickyKeys On

This is the same as turning the StickyKeys function on or off by
pressing the shift key five times.

Sound when turned on or off

This lets you decide if you want to hear the up and down sirens when
StickyKeys is turned on and off.

Sound when pressing a Modifier key

This lets you decide if you want to hear sounds when modifier keys
are latched, locked and released.

Sound when pressing any key

If you want to, you can hear a "click" sound from the computer for any
key that you press while StickyKeys is turned on.  You can say yes or
no to this feature.

Turn off when pressing two keys at once.

StickyKeys can be set to turn off automatically whenever two keys are
pressed at once on the keyboard.  This feature is useful for shared
computers (such as school labs), so that people who don't use
StickyKeys won't need to know it's there.  You can decide whether or
not you want this kind of automatic turn-off.

Lock MOD key when pressed twice

Ordinarily, StickyKeys lets you lock a key by pressing it twice in a
row. If you say no to this choice, however, the ability to lock
modifier keys will be turned off.

Once you've selected the adjustments you want. . .

Just press the Enter key (if you want to use the settings you made) or
the Escape key (if you decide you don't want to change settings after
all).

If you want AccessDOS to "remember" the settings you made after you
have turned your computer off and back on again, you will also have
to save your settings.  You can do this any time by selecting Save
from the File menu. For more information on saving your settings, see
Section 2-10, "Saving your settings."

 2-3:  MouseKeys

What MouseKeys is for

The mouse can be a difficult device for some people to handle.  For
instance, people may have difficulty controlling fine movements of
their hand.  They may have difficulty grasping the mouse and pressing
the buttons.  Or they may be using a typing stick rather than their
hands to operate the computer.

MouseKeys allows people who can't handle the mouse, but who can press
keys on the keyboard, to perform all the functions of the mouse.
MouseKeys lets you use the keys on the numeric keypad (the group of
number and math keys usually on the far right side of the keyboard)
to control all of the mouse functions, including moving around the
screen and clicking the mouse buttons.

How to turn MouseKeys on

If you have never used MouseKeys on your computer, or if someone else
has turned it off, you will need to turn it on before you can use
it.  You don't need to be in the AccessDOS menus to turn MouseKeys
on.  You can turn it on from wherever you are:  at the MS-DOS prompt,
in a word processing program, in a graphics program, etc. (as long as
you have AccessDOS installed; see Section 1-4).

WARNING:  You can only use MouseKeys if your computer is already set
up to use a mouse.  Also, MouseKeys will only provide mouse functions
for a program that is designed to be used with a mouse.  Check the
AREADME.TXT file that comes on the AccessDOS disk to find out about
compatibility with particular software.

To turn on MouseKeys, press the left Alternate key, the left Shift
key, and the Num Lock key, all at the same time.  If you wish, you
can do this using the StickyKeys function (see Section 2-2).  The
left Alternate and left Shift keys are the ones located on the left
hand side of the keyboard.
 You may have only one Alternate key, but some keyboards have two.

You will know when MouseKeys has been turned on, because you hear an
up-siren from the computer.  The up-siren is a long beep that goes up
in pitch.

How to turn MouseKeys off

To turn MouseKeys off, just press the same key combination you used
to turn MouseKeys on:  the left Alternate key, the left Shift key,
and the Num Lock key, all at the same time.  Remember, you can do
this using the StickyKeys function if you need to (see Section 2-2).
When MouseKeys turns off, you will hear a down-siren--a long beep
that goes down in pitch.  Once MouseKeys is off, the numeric keypad
returns to its regular functions.

How MouseKeys works

The instructions below refer to the standard keypad from the IBM
enhanced (101-key) keyboard, plus the mouse function each key
accomplishes.  (If you have a different type of keypad, see
"Differences in numeric keypads," below.)

Below is a key to how to perform mouse functions with MouseKeys, based
on the numeric keypad on the standard IBM enhanced keyboard.  (If you
have a different type of keypad, see "Differences in numeric
keypads," at the end of this section.)

WARNING: The instructions below refer just to keys on the numeric
keypad.  Other number or symbol keys on the keyboard won't work.

Moving the mouse pointer on the screen:

The number keys 1-4 and 6-9 on the keypad form a sort of "compass"
for moving the pointer up, down, left right and diagonally.  Press
the key that is similar to the direction you want to move:  for
instance, the 9 key will move the mouse pointer up and to the right.
If you hold the key down, the mouse pointer will move continuously.
Notice that it moves slowly at first and then speeds up.  The maximum
speed that the pointer will go is adjustable through the AccessDOS
program:  see "Adjusting MouseKeys," at the end of this section.

Selecting the right or left mouse button, or both

Since there are two buttons on the PS/2 mouse or Microsoft mouse, you
must first tell MouseKeys which button you want to use before
clicking the button.  The button you have selected (right or left) is
called the active button.

Pressing the slash (/) key:  Makes the left mouse button the active
button (only on 101-key keyboards).

Pressing the asterisk (*) key:  Makes both the Left Button and the
Right Button the "active" button (on 101-key keyboards), or the left
button the "active" button (on 84-key keyboards).

Pressing the minus (-) key:  Makes the right mouse button the active
button.

SHORTCUT:  If you are just using the left mouse button and don't care
about the right one, then you don't need to select a button.  Just
press the proper keys for clicking, double clicking, locking and
releasing, as described below.  MouseKeys will assume you want to
make these actions with the left mouse button.

Clicking the mouse buttons

Once you've selected the right or left mouse button, you can click
that mouse button by pressing the 5 key.  If you don't select a mouse
button first, MouseKeys will assume you want to click the left
button.

Double clicking

First, select the right or left mouse button.  If you don't select
either, MouseKeys will assume you want to double click the left
button.

You can double click the mouse button just by pressing the 5 key twice
in a row quickly.

Another way to double click the mouse button is to by press the plus
(+) key on the keypad just once.

Locking and releasing (clicking and dragging)

First, select the right or left mouse button.  If you don't select
either, MouseKeys will assume you want to lock the left button.

Pressing the 0 key locks down the mouse button and pressing the period
(.) key releases it.  In other words, you can press and release the 0
key and the mouse button will still stay pressed until you release
the mouse button by pressing the period (.) key.

If you need to drag with the mouse (that is, move the mouse while
holding the button down), just lock the mouse button with the 0 key,
move the mouse with the appropriate number keys, and then release it
with the period key.

WARNING:  When you lock down mouse buttons, make sure you eventually
release them!  Many software programs won't let you perform functions
such as typing while the mouse button is being held down.

Using the mouse and the keypad together

You might try using the regular mouse together with the MouseKeys
function if it is easier for you.

For example, a person who uses a mouthstick for typing may want to
move the regular mouse and click the regular mouse buttons, but may
want to use the 0 and period (.) keys when a click-and-drag move is
needed.  One instance where using the regular mouse can be valuable
is freehand drawing, which sometimes requires moving in more than
just the eight directions offered by MouseKeys.

WARNING:  Not all software programs will allow you to use MouseKeys
and the regular mouse at the same time.  Also, if your mouse connects
to the computer through the serial port, don't try to use MouseKeys
and the regular mouse at the same time.  Check the AREADME.TXT file
that comes on the AccessDOS disk to find out about compatibility with
particular software.

Differences in numeric keypads

The instructions above assume you are using the numeric keypad on the
standard IBM extended keyboard layout.  Some other keyboard layouts
don't include all of the same keys.  The number and period keys will
be there, but you may not have the slash (/) key.  If you have a
keyboard that doesn't have a slash (/) key on the keypad, then the
asterisk (*) key on the keypad will be the left mouse button and the
minus (-) key on your keypad will be the right mouse button.  There
will be no key for both buttons.

Using MouseKeys without a separate numeric keypad

While MouseKeys is on, you can use the num lock key to switch the
MouseKeys control pad back to a numeric or cursor control
pad--whichever it was when you turned on MouseKeys.  For example, if
your number pad was functioning as a numeric pad when you turned on
MouseKeys, then pressing the num lock key will switch the pad back
and forth between being a MouseKeys control pad and being a numeric
pad.

This feature is especially useful if you are using a laptop or
notebook computer which doesn't have a separate numeric keypad.  On
these keyboards the "numeric keypad" is usually overlaid on top of
part of the standard keyboard.

Using MouseKeys without a mouse connected

MouseKeys will not work unless there is an IBM PS/2 or Microsoft
mouse driver (software) installed.  (Ordinarily, if your computer has
been set up to use a mouse, the driver will be loaded
automatically.)  The mouse driver software will not install, however,
unless there is a mouse connected to the computer.  As a result, you
will need to have a mouse connected in order for MouseKeys to work.

There is one exception to this rule.  With an IBM PS/2 computer, you
can run a program called FAKEMOUS.COM.  This program fools the mouse
driver software into thinking there is a mouse connected, so you can
install the mouse driver software and allow MouseKeys to work.

You must have the mouse driver software, even if you are using
FAKEMOUS.COM:  you just don't need to have the mouse itself connected.

Just insert FAKEMOUS.COM into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, before the
MOUSE.COM program and before your ADOS command if you have ADOS in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.  If you don't know how to add things to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, check your MS-DOS manual or ask a knowledgeable
person.

FAKEMOUS.COM has two drawbacks.  First, it will not work with
programs which "talk to" the mouse directly without going through
MS-DOS's mouse driver software.  Second, software that uses the mouse
may take slightly longer to start or exit when you are using
FAKEMOUS.COM.

Adjusting MouseKeys

There are several other adjustments you can make to MouseKeys.  These
are made from the AccessDOS menus, so you'll need to start up
AccessDOS first.  (If you haven't started up AccessDOS before, see
Section 1-4 for instructions).

Once you're in the AccessDOS menus, select "MouseKeys..." from the
adjust menu.  You'll see a dialog box.

MouseKeys On

This command lets you turn MouseKeys on and off.  This is the same as
turning the MouseKeys function on or off by pressing left Shift, left
Alt, Num Lock on the keyboard.

Sound when turned on/off

This allows to choose if you want to hear the up-siren and down-siren
when you turn MouseKeys on or off.  Choosing yes means you will hear
the sounds.

Max Speed (pix/sec)

When you hold down a key to move the mouse with MouseKeys, the mouse
pointer starts moving slow, then speeds up.  You can decide how fast
you want it to be going once it speeds up all the way.  If you're
good at getting your finger off a key quickly, you might want the
pointer to move quickly.  If not, you might want it to move more
slowly.  The words "pix/sec" mean pixels (screen dots) per second.
HINT:  if you have trouble making fine mouse controls in a text-based
application (like a word processor), try using a slow setting here.

Time to Max Speed (secs)

This command lets you set how quickly you want the mouse to speed up
when you hold down a key in MouseKeys; that is, how long it will take
the mouse to speed up to its maximum speed.  You can choose from one
to four seconds as the Time to Max Speed.

Once you've selected the adjustments you want. . .

Just press the Enter key (if you want to use the settings you made) or
the Escape key (if you decide you don't want to change settings after
all).

If you want AccessDOS to "remember" the settings you made after you
have turned your computer off and back on again, you will also have
to save your settings.  You can do this any time by selecting save
from the file menu. For more information on saving your settings, see
Section 2-10, "Saving your settings."

 2-4:  ToggleKeys

What ToggleKeys is for

Many keyboards have small lights on them to indicate the status of
keys that can be "on" or "off," such as caps lock.  There are usually
three lights, one for caps lock, one for num lock and one for scroll
lock.  Some people can't see these status lights, including people
who are visually impaired and people who are performing keyboard
functions from some device other than the standard keyboard (more
information on the second situation is given under SerialKeys).

ToggleKeys will also function with some keyboards which do not have
indicator lights at all.  The audible low and high beeps can be very
useful for all operators when using this style of keyboard.

How ToggleKeys works

ToggleKeys tells you when one of the three keys is turned on or off
by giving a beep.  When you press one of these keys and it locks (the
light goes on) you will hear a high beep.  When you press a key and
it unlocks (the light goes off) you will hear a low beep.

Turning ToggleKeys on and off

ToggleKeys is turned on by pressing the num lock key and holding it
down for a period of about 5 seconds.  When ToggleKeys turns on, you
will hear an up-siren (a long beep that goes up in pitch).  You turn
ToggleKeys off the same way.  Just hold the Num Lock key for 5
seconds and you will hear a down-siren (a long beep that goes down in
pitch).  You don't need to be in the AccessDOS menus to turn
ToggleKeys on and off.  You can turn it on and off from wherever you
are:  at the MS-DOS prompt, in a word processing program, in a
graphics program, etc. (as long as you have AccessDOS installed; see
Section 1-4).

Adjusting ToggleKeys

There are two adjustments you can make to ToggleKeys from within the
AccessDOS program.  You'll need to start up the program first.  (If
you haven't started up AccessDOS before, see Section 1-4 for
instructions).

Once you've started the AccessDOS program, select "ToggleKeys" from
the adjust menu.  You'll see a dialog box.

ToggleKeys On

Choose Yes to turn on ToggleKeys; No to turn it off.  This is the same
as turning it on or off by holding down the Num Lock key.

Sound when turned on or off

This choice lets you decide if you want to hear the beeps that signal
when ToggleKeys is being turned on or off.

Once you've selected the adjustments you want. . .

Just press the Enter key (if you want to use the settings you made) or
the Escape key (if you decide you don't want to change settings after
all).

If you want AccessDOS to "remember" the settings you made after you
have left the AccessDOS program, you will also have to save your
settings.  You can do this any time by selecting save from the file
menu.  AccessDOS also gives you a chance to save when you select the
quit command to leave AccessDOS.  If you don't understand what it
means to save your settings, see Section 2-10, "Saving your
settings."

 2-5:  Keyboard Response Group:  RepeatKeys, SlowKeys, and BounceKeys

What the Keyboard Response Group is for

Keyboards have several features that are based on the assumption that
the user can press a key accurately, and release it at a precise
time.  These features can pose obstacles to people who have physical
impairments that prevent them from pressing keys accurately, or
releasing them in time.  The Keyboard Response Group has three
adjustments which let you control how the keyboard responds:
RepeatKeys, SlowKeys and BounceKeys.

RepeatKeys:  Most keyboards have a feature called auto-repeat:  when
you hold down a key for longer than a certain period of time, the
keyboard begins repeating that key over and over again.  This feature
of keyboards is meant as a convenience for most users, but can be an
inconvenience to users with physical impairments.  They may get
repeated keys when they don't want them.  RepeatKeys lets you adjust
how fast the auto-repeat works or turn it off entirely.

SlowKeys:  Some people who have physical impairments may accidently
bump keys while they are moving their hand or typing stick toward the
key they want.  Usually, the keys that are bumped accidentally will
just be hit for a very short period of time.  SlowKeys lets you tell
the computer not to accept a key as "pressed" unless it's held down
for a certain length of time.  The user can then bump any number of
keys on their way to the one they want without accidentally getting
those characters.  They can then hold the desired key long enough for
the computer to accept it.

BounceKeys:  Some people with physical impairments will accidentally
"bounce" on a key when they press it--that is, they'll press it once,
then accidentally press it again right away.  BounceKeys lets you
tell the computer "don't accept two presses on the same key in a row,
unless they are far enough apart in time."  Using BounceKeys, if a
person presses the T key, then bounces on it (hits it again right
away), the computer will just accept one letter T, not two.  The user
can deliberately get two T's by waiting a little while before
pressing the T key again.

How the Keyboard Response Group works

The three functions in the Keyboard Response Group (RepeatKeys,
SlowKeys and BounceKeys) are enabled and disabled together as a
group.  This is done to simplify turning the group on and off from
the keyboard, so you don't have to go into the AccessDOS program to
do it.

WARNING:  Be sure to read "Adjusting the Keyboard Response Group,"
below, before following the instructions in "Enabling the Keyboard
Response Group."  If you enable the Keyboard Response Group before
you have it adjusted right, it can be very confusing.

However, you may not want to use all three of the functions in the
Keyboard Response Group.  In this case you will need to go into the
AccessDOS program and indicate which of the three functions you want
to have turned on or off, and how you want them adjusted.

Adjusting the Keyboard Response Group

In order to adjust the keyboard response group, or to turn any of the
three functions (RepeatKeys, SlowKeys or BounceKeys) on or off, you
will first need to get to the AccessDOS menus.  (If you haven't
started up AccessDOS before, see Section 1-4 for instructions).

Once you're in the AccessDOS menus, select "Keyboard Response..." from
the adjust menu.  You will see a dialog box.

Enable Group

This lets you turn the whole Keyboard Response Group on or off.  When
you enable the group, you enable it with whatever settings are shown
in the dialog box.  If for instance, "Debounce time" is set to Off,
that means BounceKeys is, in effect, turned off.  In this case,
saying Yes to "Enable Group" would not turn BounceKeys on.  You would
have to select a debounce time first and then say Yes to "Enable
Group."

If you just want SlowKeys turned off, select Off under "Acceptance
Delay."
 If you want just BounceKeys turned off, select Off under "Debounce
time." RepeatKeys itself can't be turned off except by disabling the
whole Keyboard Response Group.  The Off setting under "Repeat Rate"
does not turn RepeatKeys off:  it turns the keyboard's regular
auto-repeat feature off.

Enabling the Group from the keyboard at any time

Once you have made the settings you want for the Keyboard Response
Group, you can also enable and disable the group at any time without
going into the AccessDOS program.  Here's how:

Hold the right hand shift key down for 8 seconds.  After about 4
seconds you will hear 3 short warning beeps.  (These are provided
just in case someone is accidentally resting their hand on the right
hand shift key and doesn't really want to invoke these
functions--it's sort of a "get off the key" warning).  Since you do
want these functions enabled, just ignore these warning beeps and
keep holding the key down.  After about 4 seconds more (total of 8
seconds) you will hear an up-siren.  You can release the key now and
the functions will be enabled using the settings you chose for
RepeatKeys, SlowKeys and BounceKeys.

When you enable the group this way, it will come on with whatever
settings have been made for the Keyboard Response Group.  If, for
example, "Debounce time" is set to Off, you won't get the BounceKeys
feature when you enable the group.

You can disable the Keyboard Response Group using this same procedure
(8 seconds on the right Shift key).  When you disable the group, you
will hear a down-siren.

Sound on Enable

This setting lets you decide whether or not you want to hear sounds
when you enable or disable the Keyboard Response Group.

RepeatKeys Settings

There are two adjustments for the RepeatKeys function. The first
setting (Called "Repeat Rate") allows you to adjust the speed at
which the keys will repeat when you hold a key down.  The smaller
numbers (like 0.25) will make keys repeat faster.  If you do not want
keys to repeat at all (no matter how long you hold them down), then
just set the Repeat Rate to Off.

The second setting (Called "Delay until repeat") allows you to set
the length of time you must hold a key down before it will begin to
repeat.  If you have trouble getting off of a key in time, set this
to a longer (higher) setting.  Note that "Delay until repeat" has no
effect if "Repeat Rate" is set to Off.

WARNING: There are some software programs which have their own
keyboard repeat key adjustment in them.  In order for RepeatKeys to
work with these programs you must first turn off the key repeat
adjustment in the software program itself.  (For example:  in
WordPerfect, set keyboard speed to "normal"; in Microsoft Word, set
keyboard speed option to "0.")  Certain software programs which set
the key repeat themselves will keep RepeatKeys from working at all.
Check the AREADME.TXT file that comes on the AccessDOS disk to find
out about compatibility with particular software.

SlowKey Settings

There are two adjustments for the SlowKeys function.  The first
setting (called "Acceptance Delay") allows you to adjust the amount
of time that you must hold a key down before it will be accepted by
the computer.  If you do not want SlowKeys, just set the Acceptance
Delay to Off.

The second setting is called "Key Click Feedback."  If this is set to
Yes then you will hear a click when you press a key and another click
when it is accepted.  The click serves to remind you that the
response of the keyboard has been slowed down, and that the keyboard
is not broken.

BounceKey Settings

There is only one setting for BounceKeys, called "Debounce time."
The larger the number, the longer you will have to wait after you
release a key before you can type that same key a second time (up to
two seconds).  If you do not want the BounceKeys function, just set
the debounce time to Off.

If you want to type the same key twice you just need to pause a bit
between the two key presses.  BounceKeys does not prevent you from
typing other keys quickly.  You just can't type the same key twice
quickly.

WARNING:  You cannot use SlowKeys and BounceKeys at the same time.  If
you try to, AccessDOS will give you an alert message.  This conflict
should be insignificant, however, since slowing down the key response
also eliminates bounce problems.

Once you've selected the adjustments you want. . .

Just press the Enter key (if you want to use the settings you made) or
the Escape key (if you decide you don't want to change settings after
all).

If you want AccessDOS to "remember" the settings you made after you
have left the AccessDOS program, you will also have to save your
settings.  You can do this any time by selecting Save Settings from
the File menu.  If you don't understand what it means to save your
settings, see Section 2-10, "Saving your settings."

WARNING:  You cannot save SlowKeys or BounceKeys as part of your
settings.
 In other words, you can turn SlowKeys and BounceKeys on, but next
time you turn your computer off, it will "forget" that you had them
turned on, and you will have to turn them on again next time you
start up your computer. (See "Enabling the Group from the keyboard at
any time," above.)  This is to keep SlowKeys and BounceKeys from
causing problems for people who don't need to use them.

Emergency enabling of the Keyboard Response Group

Some individuals are completely unable to operate the computer unless
they can turn off the repeat function of the keyboard or turn on
SlowKeys, or both.  These individuals could find themselves in an
impossible situation, where they are unable to use the computer well
enough to turn on the AccessDOS functions that they need in order to
use the computer.  This is particularly a problem when using a shared
computer, where someone else might change the Keyboard Response Group
settings or turn the group off completely.

To deal with this situation, AccessDOS gives you a way to "emergency
enable" RepeatKeys, SlowKeys and BounceKeys.  The settings may be very
slow and hard to use, but you at least will be able to use the
keyboard in order to go into the AccessDOS program and adjust the
settings the way you want them.

To "emergency enable" the Keyboard Response Group, simply hold the
right hand Shift key down for several seconds.  Here's what will
happen:

After 4 seconds 3 short beeps   The normal warning

4 more seconds  Up-siren        Keyboard Response Group enables
(current settings)

4 more seconds  2 up-sirens     Keyboard repeat turns off completely
(No SlowKeys, Debounce time 1 sec)

4 more seconds  3 up-sirens     SlowKeys turns on at max. (2 sec)
setting (RepeatKeys off, BounceKeys off)



You can try it now if you like, but remember how to turn it back off!
You can turn it back off by holding the right shift key down till you
hear the down-siren (approx 8 seconds).

 2-6:  SerialKeys

Some people cannot use the keyboard and mouse at all due to a
physical impairment, and must use some specially designed input
device to perform the functions of the keyboard and the mouse.  In
some cases these special input devices can be connected to a
computer's serial port.  (The serial port, also known as a "COM"
port, is a connector commonly used for attaching a modem or a
printer).

Using SerialKeys requires you to program specific key definitions
into your special input device.  You will need the manual for your
device in order to carry out this programming.  You will also need to
refer to Part 3 of the AccessDOS manual for specific instructions.

 2-7:  ShowSounds

What ShowSounds is for

The computer often signals errors or warnings to the user with beep
sounds.  However, users who have hearing impairments or who work in a
noisy environment may be unable to hear these sounds.

ShowSounds gives you a visual indicator of when the computer has
beeped at you.  Whenever there is a sound, special symbols will
appear in the upper left-hand corner of the screen, telling you the
kind of sound that was made.  For a more obvious alert, you can make
the whole screen flash briefly off and on instead.

ShowSounds uses five special symbols to show when a sound has been
made:

-  A musical note symbol followed by an up arrow indicates
an up-siren produced by AccessDOS

-  A musical note symbol followed by a down arrow indicates
a down-siren produced by AccessDOS

-  A musical note symbol followed by a solid dot indicates
a high beep produced by AccessDOS

-  A musical note symbol followed by a hollow dot indicates
a low beep produced by AccessDOS

-  A musical note symbol by itself indicates a sound that was
produced by another program, rather than by AccessDOS.

The first four symbols apply only to sounds made by AccessDOS.  The
last one indicates sounds from other programs (ones which are longer
than 1/2 second).

You can see examples of these symbols in the AccessDOS help screens.

WARNING:  Not all programs permit the musical note to appear.  Check
the AREADME.TXT file that comes on the AccessDOS disk to find out
about compatibility with particular software.

Turning ShowSounds on and off

To adjust ShowSounds, start up AccessDOS (see Section 1-4 if you
don't know how).  Select "ShowSounds..." from the adjust menu.  You
can select either the visual note or the screen flash, but not both.
Don't forget to save your settings if you need to (see Section 2-10).


2-8:  TimeOut

What Timeout is for

You may want to use AccessDOS on a computer which is also shared by
people who don't need to use AccessDOS.  The other users may not
understand how to operate AccessDOS, or how to turn off its various
functions.

TimeOut lets you set AccessDOS to shut off after the keyboard and
mouse have been unused for a certain period of time.  If a person who
needs AccessDOS turns AccessDOS on and then leaves the computer,
someone coming up and using the computer later will not encounter
AccessDOS, since it will have turned itself off.  If you don't want
to have AccessDOS turn off by itself, you can turn off the TimeOut
function.  You shouldn't need the TimeOut function if you are the
only person who uses your computer.

Turning TimeOut on and off

Start up AccessDOS (see Section 1-4 if you don't know how).  Select
"TimeOut..." from the Adjust menu.

Adjusting TimeOut

There are three settings in TimeOut.  The first is simply whether you
want it on or off.  The second is how long you want TimeOut to wait
before it turns AccessDOS off.  The third is whether you want the
computer to beep when it turns AccessDOS off.

Select the settings you want, then press the Enter key.  You may also
want to save your settings (See Section 1-10).

NOTE:  The TimeOut function does not remove AccessDOS from your
computer's memory (that is, it doesn't "un-install" AccessDOS).
TimeOut just turns off any of the functions that were left active. If
a disabled user returns to the computer after TimeOut has turned all
the AccessDOS features off, he or she would have to use the AccessDOS
menus or the right key combinations to turn back on the desired
functions.

 2-9:  Miscellaneous adjustments

Space Saver Keyboard

If you are using a space saver keyboard, such as the one that comes
with the PS/2 MODEL 25 or 30, you should set this option to Yes so
that AccessDOS will work properly with the keyboard.

This function does not affect the operation of SerialKeys, which will
work just as if you had some other keyboard.

 2-10:  Saving your settings

When you make settings in AccessDOS and then select OK, AccessDOS
will "remember" those settings until you change them, or until the
next time you turn the computer off.

If you want AccessDOS to "remember" the settings you made after you
have turned your computer off and back on again, you will also have
to save your settings.

You can do this any time by selecting "Save Settings..." from the
File menu.  When you first pull down the File menu, you will see that
the choice "Save Settings..." is already selected for you, so just
press the Enter key to save your settings.  AccessDOS will ask you to
confirm that you really want to do this.

WARNING:  You cannot save the settings for SlowKeys "on" or
BounceKeys "on."  In other words, you can turn SlowKeys and
BounceKeys on, but next time you turn your computer off, it will
"forget" that you had them turned on, and you will have to turn them
on again next time you start up your computer.  This is to keep
SlowKeys and BounceKeys from causing problems for people who don't
need to use them.  You can save RepeatKeys settings.

If you are the only one who uses your computer, you will probably want
to adjust the settings the way you want them, save them, and leave
them that way.  If you share a computer with people who don't need
AccessDOS, or who want different settings, you may want to just make
your settings but not save them.  Then your settings won't be there
once the computer has been turned off and back on again.

 2-11:  Leaving AccessDOS

Once you have made the settings you want, and saved them if you want,
you can leave the AccessDOS program using one of two commands:

Install/Run

You should use the install/run command:

1)      The first time you use AccessDOS since the computer was turned
on.  (You can also install AccessDOS automatically; see Section
1-4).  Once you've selected Install/Run, the AccessDOS menus will
disappear, and you'll see a message:

AccessDOS is now loaded and resident on your computer.

2)      Whenever you want the settings you've just made to take
effect.

NOTE: If you want AccessDOS to "remember" the settings after
you have turned the computer off and back on again, you must also use
the Save Settings command.

AccessDOS will ask you to confirm that you actually want to install
it.

WARNING:  If when you first turn on your computer you want AccessDOS
to use the settings you made last time you had your computer on, you
will have to start AccessDOS with /A or /X command line switch.  (See
Section 1-4 for details.)

Cancel/Quit

This is the command you should use if you've changed settings while
you were in AccessDOS, but have decided that you don't want to use
those new settings.  If you select cancel/quit, AccessDOS will go
back to whatever settings you had before you started the program this
time.

If you've already installed AccessDOS, this command won't "un-install"
it.
 It just makes AccessDOS forget whatever setting changes you just
made.  (NOTE:  The only way to un-install AccessDOS is to restart
your computer.)

 User's Guide for AccessDOS

Part 3:  AccessDOS Reference--Setting up SerialKeys

Some people cannot use the keyboard and mouse at all due to a
physical impairment, and must use some specially designed input
device to perform the functions of the keyboard and the mouse.  In
some cases these special input devices can be connected to a
computer's serial port (the connector commonly used for attaching a
modem or printer).  Simply connecting the special input device to the
computer's serial port, however, is not enough to allow you to
control keyboard and mouse functions.  The computer is designed to
receive keyboard and mouse signals through its keyboard and mouse
connections, not through its serial port.

SerialKeys allows you to control keyboard and mouse functions through
the serial port.  This is done by sending the right series of letters
and commands from the special input device to the computer's serial
port.  The regular keyboard and mouse can still be used while
SerialKeys is being used.

The most commonly used special input device for SerialKeys is a
communication aid:  an electronic device often used by people who
can't communicate by speech alone because of a physical disability
that affects their speech.

Using SerialKeys requires you to program specific key definitions
into your special input device.  You will need the manual for your
device in order to carry out this programming.

The instructions below tell you how to set up SerialKeys with a
device such as a communication aid (we just refer to the device as
"the aid" in these instructions).  These instructions tell you how to
hook up your aid to the computer, how to set up SerialKeys on the
computer, and what letters or commands to send so you can type any
key on the keyboard and make any mouse movement you want from the
aid.  Follow the instructions step-by-step, and you should be
successful in hooking up your aid and using SerialKeys.

NOTE:  These instructions do NOT tell you how to program your own aid.
You will need to consult the manual for your aid, or contact the
manufacturer if you have questions.

The steps in these instructions are numbered from one to ten.  If you
are the user of the aid, someone may need to assist you the first
time you set up SerialKeys.



Step 1:  Determine if your communication aid will work with
SerialKeys

You need to make sure your aid will work with SerialKeys.  You should
be able to answer "yes" to all of these six questions:

1)      Can you program selections on your aid to have unique words
and sentences stored under them?  Most electronic communication aids
these days will let you program any series of characters (letter,
numbers, symbols) you want for a particular selection.

2)      Can your aid store at least 84 programmable selections?  You
will need at least one selection space for each key on the computer's
keyboard, plus more if you want to use the mouse.  There are 84 keys
on the standard IBM AT keyboard, and now many keyboards have 101
keys.  You don't need to be able to store all of the keys and mouse
actions on the same level (or overlay) on your aid.  You may, for
instance, want to use one level for the keyboard and one for the
mouse.

3)      Does your aid have a serial port?  This is the connection
sometimes used to hook up a printer.  It is sometimes called an
RS-232 serial port.

4)      Can you program selections on the aid so that when they are
selected, they will automatically be sent to the serial port?  Many
aids have this capability, since it can be useful for printing
messages.  If you have a printer connected to your serial port,
typing h e l l o on your aid and sending it out the serial port will
make "hello" print out on the printer. If you have your aid's serial
port connected to the computer's serial port, and you have SerialKeys
working, typing h e l l o on your aid and sending it out the aid's
serial port will cause the word "hello" to appear on the
computer--just as if it had been typed on the computer's keyboard.

5)      Does your computer have a serial port?  This is sometimes
called a "COM" port in computer jargon.  If you don't have one, you
can probably add one to your computer.  If you have a serial port but
you are using it for something else, such as connecting a printer or
a modem, you will have to:

- disconnect the printer or modem, OR

- equip your computer with another serial port, OR

- use another, unused serial port (if your computer already has more
than one).

6)      Can your communication aid send information through its serial
port at the rate of 300 baud?  (The term 300 baud refers to the speed
at which characters are transmitted.)  Most aids can send information
at 300 baud--it's a very common speed--but check and make sure.  Your
aid may be able to send information faster than 300 baud as well, and
that's OK. SerialKeys can "talk to" an aid that's sending information
at 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 baud.  However, 300 baud is
the recommended speed setting.  If your aid requires a higher baud
rate, you will need to be aware of some additional operating
features.  See the section on "Advanced features," at the end of Part
3 of this manual.



Step 2:  Connect your aid to your computer

Just plug one end of the serial cable into the serial port on your aid
and the other end into the serial port on your computer.

If you don't already have a serial cable, you will need to obtain it
from the manufacturer of your aid.  (Note: Your aid may require an
adapter to match the connector on your computer.)

WARNING:  Some cables have the correct connectors, but will not work
with SerialKeys.  This is because there are several types of cables
that look identical, but connect run the wires between their
connectors in different ways.  If your cable does not work correctly
with SerialKeys, you should contact the manufacturer of your aid to
find out what type of cable will be required.

Step 3:  Configure your aid for serial transmission

Your aid and SerialKeys must be talking to each other at the same
speed (baud rate) for them to communicate at all.  We recommend
choosing a speed of 300 baud.  If you intend on using another baud
rate, please read the "Advanced features" section at the end of this
manual.

You must also make sure your aid is configured correctly.  It must be
communicating at 300 baud, with the following format:

- 1 start bit

- 8 data bits

- 1 stop bit

- no parity.

You don't have to know what this means, you just have to make sure
your aid is configured that way.  Check the manual of your aid to
find out how to do it.

In addition, most aids have a special selection or a switch for
causing the characters stored in your aid to be transmitted out the
serial port. Make sure you "turn on" this function.

Other aids may require you program special codes to set up the serial
port.  Again, please read your manual to find out how to do this.



Step 4:  Install AccessDOS, activate SerialKeys

Before you can use SerialKeys, you need to make sure AccessDOS is
installed on your computer.  See Sections 1-3 and 1-4 of this manual
to learn how to do this, if you haven't already.

Go into the AccessDOS menus and select "SerialKeys..." from the
adjust menu.  Then:

1)      For "Install SerialKeys," select yes.

2)      For "Serial Port," select the number of the serial port on
your computer which you intend to connect your aid to.  If you don't
know which is which, consult your manual or someone who would know.

3)      For "Baud Rate," select the baud rate you have already
configured your aid to.  We recommend 300 baud.  For most people this
rate will be just fine for any use of SerialKeys.  If later you
decide you want a faster rate, you can change the setting:  first in
SerialKeys and then on your aid.  Both must be set to the same baud
rate.

4)      Use the "Save Settings..." command in AccessDOS.

5)      Next time you start up AccessDOS, use the /A or /X command
line switch (see Section 1-4 for details).



Steps 5-8:  Learn to program keys and mouse actions on your aid

Steps 5-8 in these instructions will tell you how to program each
different type of key or mouse movement, and give you examples which
you can try programming.  This way, you can check and make sure that
your aid and computer are set up properly, and that you understand
how to program the aid, before you program the complete set of keys
and mouse movements.

There are four basic types of SerialKeys actions you can program into
any selection (position) on your aid:

1)      basic keys,

2)      special keys,

3)      modifier keys,

4)      mouse movements.

Before you start typing keys, send three null characters form your aid
to the computer.  This resets SerialKeys.  (The null character is
different from a zero; usually it can be made on your aid by typing
control-@.  See the "Advanced keyboard and mouse features section"
for more details.)

Step 5:  Typing basic keys

Each key on your computer keyboard is given a keyname, and it is this
keyname that you must program into your aid if you want to be able to
type that key.  Many of the keynames consist of a single character.
These we are calling "basic keys."

` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =

   q w e r t y u i o p [ ]

    a s d f g h j k l ; '

     z x c v b n m , . / \

To type one of these keys, you just send that single character out
the serial port of the aid.  For example, to type the word "hello",
you simply select the "h" keyname, the "e" keyname, the "l" keyname,
another "l" keyname, and finally an "o" keyname.  Most aids have all
of these single character keynames programmed into them so there is
no additional programming for you to do for these keys.

Try it!

Once you've followed steps 1-3 above, try typing the word "hello" on
your aid.  Make sure the computer is in some program where you might
ordinarily type a word and be able to see it, such as a word
processor, or just MS-DOS.  Make sure your aid is set up so the
characters will go right out the serial port.  Type the five letters
of the word "hello."  You should see each one appear on the computer
screen shortly after you type it.

See Steps 9 and 10 to learn how to set up the complete keyboard, and
for a chart of all the keynames.



Step 6:  Typing special keys

If you look at the computer keyboard, you will find that there are
many keys that do not have single character keynames; for example,
the arrow keys and the Num Lock and Enter keys.  We call these keys
special keys since you have to do something different if you want to
type them using your communication aid.

To type special keys, you must program a sequence of characters into
a single selection on your communication aid.  The sequence for
special keys is different for each key, but always follows two rules:

1)      The sequence must begin with the Escape character;

2)      The sequence must end with a period.

The Escape character usually can be generated on your aid by selecting
the Control function along with the left bracket ([).  On some aids,
this will appear as ^[.  Check the instruction manual of your aid if
you're unsure of how to make the Escape character on it.

Throughout this manual, we refer to the Escape character by putting
"esc" between two angle brackets, like this:  <esc>.  Remember:  when
you see <esc> in a sequence of characters, it just means ONE
character (the Escape character), not five characters, as it might
appear.

To program the name of a special key into your aid, program first the
Escape character, then the correct name for the special key, then a
period.
 These should all be programmed as one word on your aid, then sent out
the serial port to the computer.

For example, to type the Enter key, the character sequence would be:

        <esc>enter.

The escape character comes first, followed by the keyname for the key
that you want to press, followed by a period (.).  SerialKeys has
official names for each of the special keys; charts of these are
provided under Step 10, below.

Try it!

Try typing the Enter key, by sending the correct sequence out the
serial port of your aid to the computer.  Make sure you are in a
program on your computer which does something when the Enter key is
pressed, so you can tell if you were successful.  Make sure your aid
is set up so that each key you type will be sent out the serial
port.  Now type the sequence shown:

        <esc>enter.

Remember, <esc> means the Escape character on your aid.  And don't
forget the period at the end.  Once you type the period, your
computer should act just as if you had typed the Enter key.

Since the sequences for special keys are somewhat long, you will want
to program an entire sequence for a special key into a single
selection on your aid.  Then you can label this selection (Enter, for
instance) and have it ready for when you need to type the key.  In
fact, you will probably want to program the sequences for all the
special keys on your keyboard into selections on your aid.  The time
spent doing this will be made up many times once you begin using your
aid to access the computer.

See Steps 9 and 10 to learn how to set up the complete keyboard, and
for a chart of all the keynames.



Step 7:  Typing Modifier Keys (Shift, Control, Alt)

There are three special keys which have to be typed differently from
the other special keys:  Shift, Control (Ctrl), and Alternate (Alt).
These three keys are called the modifier keys, since they don't do
anything themselves but modify the action of another key.  Shift, for
instance, will make a small "a" into a capital "A."

On an ordinary keyboard, the modifier key is held down while the other
key is pressed.  SerialKeys imitates this action by using a command
called hold.  Here's the sequence you have to type on your aid in
order to type a modifier key:

1)      The Escape character

2)      Comma (,)

3)      The word hold

4)      Another comma (,)

5)      The name for the modifier key (see the list under Step 10,
below);

6)      Period (.)

7)      The key you want to modify.

Try it!

Try typing a capital A, by sending the correct sequence out the
serial port of your aid to the computer.  Make sure you are in a
program on your computer which will show the letter when it's typed,
so you can tell if you were successful.  Make sure your aid is set up
so that each key you type will be sent out the serial port.  Now type
the sequence shown:

        <esc>,hold,shift.a

Remember, <esc> means the Escape character on your aid.  And don't
forget the commas and the period.  If you've typed the sequence
successfully, a capital A should appear on your computer, just as if
you had held down the Shift key on the regular keyboard and then
pressed the A key.

Most keyboards have two Shift keys, a right shift key and a left
shift key.  You can use different keynames (lshift and rshift) for
the two keys to distinguish them if you wish.  Some keyboards also
have right and left Control keys and right and left Alternate keys.
SerialKeys also distinguishes between these.

See Steps 9 and 10 to learn how to set up the complete keyboard, and
for a chart of all the keynames.



Step 8:  Moving and clicking the mouse

If your computer is equipped to use a mouse (IBM PS/2 mouse or
Microsoft mouse), you can operate all the mouse functions from your
aid as well, using SerialKeys.  If you're not interested in
performing mouse functions, skip this part.

NOTE: You must have the proper mouse driver installed, otherwise the
mouse commands will have no effect.  In most cases you will need to
have a mouse attached to your computer before a mouse driver will
install.

Before you do any mouse functions through SerialKeys, you should send
the "moureset" (mouse reset) command.  This should be done whenever
you start up an application program (such as a word processing
program) that uses the mouse.  Just send this command from your aid.

        <ecs>moureset.

The mouse pointer should move to the upper left hand corner of the
screen.

Moving the mouse

You can do the equivalent of moving the mouse by sending a "move"
command from your aid to the computer.

Here are the parts of a move command, in the proper order:

1)      the Escape character (see Step 4 if you don't know what this
is)

2)      a comma

3)      the word "move"

4)      another comma

5)      a plus or minus sign followed by a number (for horizontal
movement)

6)      another comma

7)      another plus or minus sign followed by a number (for vertical
movement)

8       a period.

The move command takes two numbers after it: first the motion in the
horizontal direction and then the motion in the vertical direction.
There must be either a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign before each
number, unless the number is a zero.  Positive numbers move the mouse
pointer to the right or down.  Negative numbers move the mouse
pointer left or up.

Examples:

Send out Mouse Command  Result

<esc>,move,+10,-20.     moves 10 units to right and 20 units up

<esc>,move,-10,+20.     moves 10 units to left and 20 units down

<esc>,move,0,-10.       moves 0 units to right and 10 units up



Clicking the Mouse

In order to click the button on a mouse, you use the "click" command.
The commands should be typed as you see below.  Remember, <esc> means
the Escape character.  And don't forget the commas and the period at
the end!

Examples:

Send out Mouse Command  Result

<esc>,click,left.       clicks the left button

<esc>,click,right.      clicks the right button



Double-clicking the mouse

You can double-click the mouse using the same commands shown above,
but with the command "dblclick" in place of the command "click":

        <esc>,dblclick,left.

OR

        <esc>,dblclick,right.

Clicking and dragging with the mouse

SerialKeys lets you do the equivalent of holding the mouse button
down while moving the mouse.  This is done using the "moulock" (mouse
lock) and "mourel" (mouse release) commands, together with the "move"
command.  If, for example, you want to select text in a word
processing program that uses the mouse, you would:

1)      Move the mouse to the beginning of the text you want to
select, using the "move" command as described above.

2)      To press the mouse button down and keep it down, give the
"mouse lock" command:

        <esc>,moulock,left.

OR

        <esc>,moulock,right.

3)      Move the mouse to the end of the text you want to select,
using the "move" command as described above.

4)      To release either button (or both), give the "mouse release"
command:

        <esc>,mourel.

Don't forget the commas and periods!

See Steps 9 and 10 to learn how to set up the complete keyboard and
mouse actions, and for a chart of all the keynames and suggested
mouse movements.



Step 9:  Plan the layout for your aid

Steps 5-8 above showed you what sequences of characters to send in
order to type basic keys, special keys and modifier keys, and to do
mouse actions.  Now you will want to program a selection on your aid
for each key or mouse action you want to use.

But before you program all of the keys and mouse actions into your
aid, you will probably want to decide how to lay out the selections
on your aid.
 Look at the number of different keys and mouse actions you will want
to have (see the charts under Step 10).  Do you want mouse movements
in addition to the ones suggested in Step 10?

If your aid stores vocabulary in levels, decide if you want keyboard
and mouse actions on separate "levels" in your aid.  If you aid uses
combinations of symbols to store vocabulary, what combinations will
you want to use for keyboard and mouse functions?

Step 10:  Programming your aid for keyboard and mouse functions

As mentioned above, this manual won't tell you how do the actual
programming of your aid, since that procedure is different for every
aid.  However, we have provided tables of keyboard and mouse character
sequences which you can refer to while you are programming your aid.

There are some differences between the keyboards of different
computers, but the charts on the following pages do include every key
that can be typed in SerialKeys.

Troubleshooting

If you are using SerialKeys and your aid stops sending keys
successfully, try:

1)      Checking to make sure you included any necessary periods in
your keynames.

2)      Sending three null characters.  (The null character is
different from a zero; usually it can be made on your aid by typing
control-@.)

3)      Resetting both the aid and SerialKeys to 300 baud.  (If there
is a communication difficulty, SerialKeys may automatically reset
itself to 300 baud, making it unable to communicate with your aid if
your aid is sending at a different rate.)

4)      Make sure that the correct characters are being sent by the
aid and received by your computer.  You can do this by starting an
applications which will show you the characters being received on
your computer's serial port.  Such applications are called "terminal
emulators" or "communication programs", because they are normally
used to let your computer talk with another computer use a modem.
Such a modem would normally attach to the serial port on your
computer, and appear just like your aid.  You may need to get
assistance from someone who has such an application and is familiar
with how to use it.


 Guide to programming keyboard keys

You can program your aid to act as any one of the three keyboards
shown on the following pages.  We recommend programming your aid to
use the IBM Enhanced Keyboard (101 keys).  Even if your computer dows
not have this keyboard, SerialKeys will function as the 101-key
keyboard.  This may be to your advantage, as some software packages
will recognize the additional keys, enabling you to access additional
features.

NOTE:  If you choose to program the 83- or 84-key keyboard, there are
a few exceptions you should be aware of.

1)      To type the Break function, you would ordinarily hold the
Control key and press the Scroll Lock key.  For SerialKeys, hold the
Control key and press the Pause key.

                <esc>,hold,ctrl.<esc>pause.

2)      To type the Pause function you would ordinarily hold the
Control key and press the Num Lock key.  For SerialKeys, just press
the Pause key.

                <esc>pause.

You can find descriptions of most of the common commands and their
usage in the earlier, tutorial section, steps 5 through 8.
A complete listing of all commands is included at the end of this
document.  The following sections provide advice on the commonly
used commands and the most efficient way to use your aid, followed
by some advanced commands and technical notes.

Suggested programming for mouse actions

 Mouse movements

It's a good idea to at least program some square or selection on your
communication aid to move the mouse in the four directions by 1, by
10, and by 100 units.  This will allow you to make small, fine
movements and large, fast movements.



Send out Mouse Command  Result

<esc>,move,+1,0.        moves 1 right

<esc>,move,-1,0.        moves 1 left

<esc>,move,0,+1.        moves 1 down

<esc>,move,0,-1.        moves 1 up

<esc>,move,+10,0.       moves 10 right

<esc>,move,-10,0.       moves 10 left

<esc>,move,0,+10.       moves 10 down

<esc>,move,0,-10.       moves 10 up

<esc>,move,+100,0.      moves 100 right

<esc>,move,-100,0.      moves 100 left

<esc>,move,0,+100.      moves 100 down

<esc>,move,0,-100.      moves 100 up



 Clicking the Mouse

Send out Mouse Command  Result

<esc>,click,left.       clicks the left button

<esc>,click,right.      clicks the right button (only if the
computer's mouse supports a right button)

<esc>,click,left,right. clicks the left and right button at the same
time.



 Double-clicking the mouse

Send out Mouse Command  Result

<esc>,dblclick,left.    double-clicks left button

<esc>,dblclick,right.   double-clicks right button (only if the
computer's mouse supports a right button)

<esc>,dblclick,left,right.      double-clicks the left and right
button at the same time.



 Clicking and dragging with the mouse

Send out Mouse Command  Result

<esc>,moulock,left.             locks down left mouse button

<esc>,moulock,right.            locks down right mouse button

<esc>,moulock,left,right.       locks down both mouse buttons

<esc>,mourel.                   releases both mouse buttons


Advanced keyboard and mouse features

Resetting SerialKeys

If you are using SerialKeys in a multi-user environment, the first
command you send to SerialKeys should be the reset command.  This
will insure that SerialKeys will be at 300 baud and ready to accept
your keyboard and mouse actions.  The reset command consists of
sending 3 Null (ASCII 0) characters with your aid configured to 300
baud.  A Null character can usually be generated on your aid by
selecting the control @ .

Lock and Release

This command can be used to hold a key down and lift it back up again
as separate actions.  Its primary usefulness is in using SerialKeys
in combination with MouseKeys.

1)      Turn on MouseKeys (see Section 2-3).

2)      Decide which direction you want to move the mouse.  Find out
what keypad key moves the mouse in that direction in MouseKeys.

3)      Send a lock command with that keyname.  For instance to move
right:

        <esc>,lock,kpright.

4)      When the mouse pointer has moved as far as you want in that
direction, send the release command:

        <esc>,rel.

You can program the lock part and the release part of this sequence
each under a different selection on your aid, so you don't have to
type them out in full each time you use them.  Make sure to include
the commas and periods.

Combine

If you want to program a modifier key and some other key under a
single selection on your aid, use the combine command to put several
keystrokes under one selection on your aid.  This can be useful for
common multiple-key command combinations required by software.  There
must be commas between the keys and a period at the end.  No more
than five keys can be combined.

        Example:  <esc>,combine,shift,ctrl,enter.

Goto

Moves the mouse to a specified location.  You should send the
"moureset" command first.  Both the horizontal and vertical direction
numbers require only a + sign.  (See moving the mouse, Step 8 above.)

        Example:  <esc>,goto,+20,+25.

Baudrate Command

The baudrate command allows you to change the baud rate of SerialKeys
from your aid.  The possible baud rates are 300, 600, 1200, 2400,
4800, and 9600.  This command is never absolutely necessary, since
you can also set the baud rate of SerialKeys by going into the
AccessDOS program.

        Example:  <esc>,baudrate,300.

Using higher baud rates

If you decide to run SerialKeys at a baud rate faster than 300 baud,
you must be aware of the special automatic reset feature of
SerialKeys. Whenever SerialKeys receives three consecutive characters
with a transmission error, it will automatically reset to 300 baud.
This is to enable users in a multi-user environment to put SerialKeys
in a known state (300 baud).  SerialKeys will signal any transmission
problem with a short beep.  If SerialKeys resets to 300 baud, it will
make a long beep.

Technical notes

1)      SerialKeys uses hardware handshaking (DTR/RTS) and software
(XON/OFF) handshaking to control the flow of characters from the
aid.  Characters may be lost if the aid ignores the handshaking
signals.

2)      SerialKeys uses hardware interrupt line IRQ4 if COM1 or COM3
is selected, and IRQ3 if COM2 or COM4 is selected.  No other device
can use or share the interrupt line that SerialKeys is using.  That
means that if for example, you have SerialKeys on COM1, you can not
use a modem on COM3 if the modem software is interrupt driven.

3)      See the AREADME.TXT file for additional information regarding
SerialKeys.

Complete list of SerialKeys commands

The following tables list all the functions that can be performed
using SerialKeys.  They are divided into the following categories:

1)      Basic Keys

2)      Non-printing keystrokes

3)      Modifier keys

4)      Additional key combination commands

5)      Mouse commands

6)      Miscellaneous commands

In these tables, the term "p/r" means that a key is being
pressed and immediately released.  The term "pressed down" means
that the key is pressed and remains pressed until the next non-
modifier key is pressed and released.  The term "<esc>" represents
the escape character, normally generated by pressing the Esc key on
the keyboard.  The term "<NUL>" represents the NUL character,
usually generated by pressing Control and @ on the keyboard.
The terms "<key>", "<key1>" and so forth are placeholders used to
refer to any key that you choose to press.

You will also note that there are often more than one command
that represent the same key.  For example, the "kpdivide" and
"kp/" commands function identically.

1)      All basic keys

  ` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =

     q w e r t y u i o p [ ]

      a s d f g h j k l ; '

       z x c v b n m , . / \

2)      Non-printing keystrokes

  Key name    Send from aid           Action(s)

  alt         <esc>alt.               alt key p/r
  backspace   <esc>backspace.         backspace key p/r
  bksp        <esc>bksp.              backspace key p/r
  capslk      <esc>capslk.            caps lock key toggled
  capslock    <esc>capslock.          caps lock key toggled
  comma       <esc>comma.             comma key p/r
  control     <esc>control.           control key p/r
  ctrl        <esc>ctrl.              control key p/r
  del         <esc>del.               numeric pad del key p/r,
                                          "." or "del"
  delete      <esc>delete.            delete key p/r
  divide      <esc>divide.            divide key p/r,
                                          "/"
  down        <esc>down.              down arrow key p/r
  end         <esc>end.               end key p/r
  enter       <esc>enter.             enter or return key p/r
  esc         <esc>esc.               escape key p/r
  escape      <esc>escape.            escape key p/r
  f1          <esc>f1.                function 1 key p/r
  f2          <esc>f2.                function 2 key p/r
  f3          <esc>f3.                function 3 key p/r
  f4          <esc>f4.                function 4 key p/r
  f5          <esc>f5.                function 5 key p/r
  f6          <esc>f6.                function 6 key p/r
  f7          <esc>f7.                function 7 key p/r
  f8          <esc>f8.                function 8 key p/r
  f9          <esc>f9.                function 9 key p/r
  f10         <esc>f10.               function 10 key p/r
  f11         <esc>f11.               function 11 key p/r
  f12         <esc>f12.               function 12 key p/r
  home        <esc>home               home key p/r
  ins         <esc>ins.               numeric pad ins key p/r,
                                          "0" or "ins"
  insert      <esc>insert.            insert key toggled
  kp*         <esc>kp*.               numeric pad star key p/r,
                                          "*"
  kp+         <esc>kp+.               numeric pad plus key p/r,
                                          "+"
  kp-         <esc>kp-.               numeric pad minus key p/r,
                                          "-"
  kp/         <esc>kp/.               numeric divide key p/r,
                                          "/"
  kp0         <esc>kp0.               numeric pad 0 key p/r,
                                          "0" or "ins"
  kp1         <esc>kp1.               numeric pad 1 key p/r,
                                          "1" or "end"
  kp2         <esc>kp2.               numeric pad 2 key p/r,
                                          "2" or "down arrow"
  kp3         <esc>kp3.               numeric pad 3 key p/r,
                                          "3" or "pgdn"
  kp4         <esc>kp4.               numeric pad 4 key p/r,
                                          "4" or "left p/r, arrow"
  kp5         <esc>kp5.               numeric pad 5 key p/r,
                                          "5"
  kp6         <esc>kp6.               numeric pad 6 key p/r,
                                          "6" or "right arrow"
  kp7         <esc>kp7.               numeric pad 7 key p/r,
                                          "7" or "home
  kp8         <esc>kp8.               numeric pad 8 key p/r,
                                          "8" or "up arrow"
  kp9         <esc>kp9.               numeric pad 9 key p/r,
                                          "9" or "pgup"
  kpdel       <esc>kpdel.             numeric pad . key p/r,
                                          "." or "del"
  kpdelete    <esc>kpdelete.          numeric pad . key p/r,
                                          "." or "delete"
  kpdivide    <esc>kpdivide.          numeric pad divide key p/r,
                                          "/"
  kpdown      <esc>kpdown.            numeric pad 2 key p/r,
                                          "2" or "down arrow"
  kpdp        <esc>kpdp.              numeric pad . key p/r,
                                          "." or "del"
  kpend       <esc>kpend.             numeric pad 1 key p/r,
                                          "1" or "end"
  kpenter     <esc>kpenter.           numeric pad enter key p/r,
  kphome      <esc>kphome.            numeric pad 7 key p/r,
                                          "7" or "home"
  kpins       <esc>kpins.             numeric pad 0 key p/r,
                                          "0" or "ins"
  kpinsert    <esc>kpinsert.          numeric pad 0 key p/r,
                                          "0" or "ins"
  kpleft      <esc>kpleft.            numeric pad 4 key p/r,
                                          "4" or "left arrow"
  kpmidl      <esc>kpmidl.            numeric pad 5 key p/r,
                                          "5"
  kpminus     <esc>kpminus.           numeric pad minus key p/r,
                                          "-"
  kppagedown  <esc>kppagedown.        numeric pad 3 key p/r,
                                          "3" or "pgdn"
  kppageup    <esc>kppageup.          numeric pad 9 key p/r,
                                          "9" or "pgup"
  kppgdn      <esc>kppgdn.            numeric pad 3 key p/r,
                                          "3" or "pgdn"
  kppgup      <esc>kppgup.            numeric pad 9 key p/r,
                                          "9" or "pgup"
  kpplus      <esc>kpplus.            numeric pad plus key p/r,
                                          "+"
  kpright     <esc>kpright.           numeric pad 6 key p/r,
                                          "6" or "right arrow"
  kpslash     <esc>kpslash.           numeric pad divide key p/r,
                                          "/"
  kpstar      <esc>kpstar.            numeric pad star key p/r,
                                          "*"
  kptimes     <esc>kptimes.           numeric pad star key p/r,
                                          "*"
  kpup        <esc>kpup.              numeric pad 8 key p/r,
                                          "8" or "up arrow"
  lalt        <esc>lalt.              left alternate key p/r
  lcontrol    <esc>lcontrol.          left control key p/r
  lctrl       <esc>lctrl.             left control key p/r
  left        <esc>left.              left arrow key p/r
  leftalt     <esc>leftalt.           left alternate key p/r
  leftcontrol <esc>leftcontrol.       left control key p/r
  leftctrl    <esc>leftctrl.          left control key p/r
  leftshift   <esc>leftshift.         left shift key p/r
  lshift      <esc>lshift.            left shift key p/r
  multiply    <esc>multiply.          star key p/r,
                                          "*"
  numlk       <esc>numlk.             num lock key toggled
  numlock     <esc>numlock.           num lock key toggled
  pagedown    <esc>pagedown.          page down key p/r
  pageup      <esc>pageup.            page up key p/r
  pause       <esc>pause.             pause key p/r
  period      <esc>period.            period key p/r,
                                          "."
  pgdn        <esc>pgdn.              page down key p/r
  pgup        <esc>pgup.              page up key p/r
  ralt        <esc>ralt.              right alternate key p/r
  rcontrol    <esc>rcontrol.          right control key p/r
  rctrl       <esc>rctrl.             right control key p/r
  ret         <esc>ret.               return or enter key p/r
  return      <esc>return.            return or enter key p/r
  right       <esc>right.             right arrow key p/r
  rightalt    <esc>rightalt.          right alternate key p/r
  rightcontrol <esc>rightcontrol.     right control key p/r
  rightctrl   <esc>rightctrl.         right control key p/r
  rightshift  <esc>rightshift.        right shift key p/r
  rshift      <esc>rshift.            right shift key p/r
  scroll      <esc>scroll.            scroll lock key toggled
  scrolllock  <esc>scrolllock.        scroll lock key toggled
  shift       <esc>shift.             shift key p/r
  space       <esc>space.             space key p/r
  tab         <esc>tab.               tab key p/r
  tilde       <esc>tilde.             tilde key p/r,
                                          "`"
  up          <esc>up.                up arrow key p/r

3)      All modifier keys

  Action      Send from aid           Action(s)

  alt         <esc>,hold,alt.         alternate key pressed down
  control     <esc>,hold,control.     control key pressed down
  ctrl        <esc>,hold,ctrl.        control key pressed down
  lalt        <esc>,hold,lalt.        left alternate key pressed down
  lcontrol    <esc>,hold,lcontrol.    left control key pressed down
  lctrl       <esc>,hold,lctrl.       left control key pressed down
  leftalt     <esc>,hold,leftalt.     left alternate key pressed down
  leftcontrol <esc>,hold,leftcontrol. left control key pressed down
  leftctrl    <esc>,hold,leftctrl.    left control key pressed down
  leftshift   <esc>,hold,leftshift.   left shift key pressed down
  lshift      <esc>,hold,lshift.      left shift key pressed down
  ralt        <esc>,hold,ralt.        right alternate key pressed
                                          down
  rcontrol    <esc>,hold,rcontrol.    right control key pressed down
  rctrl       <esc>,hold,rctrl.       right control key pressed down
  rightalt    <esc>,hold,rightalt.    right alternate key pressed
                                          down
  rightcontrol  <esc>,hold,rightcontrol.
                                      right control key pressed down
  rightctrl   <esc>,hold,rightctrl.   right control key pressed down
  rightshift  <esc>,hold,rightshift.  right shift key pressed down
  rshift      <esc>,hold,rshift.      right shift key pressd down
  shift       <esc>,hold,shift.       shift key pressed down

4)      Additional key combination commands

  Action       Send from aid         Action(s)

  combine      <esc>,combine,<key1>,...<key5>.
                                     combines up to five keys, all
                                         pressed simultaneously.
  hold         <esc>,hold,<key>.     holds down <key> until the next
                                         key is pressed and released.

  lock         <esc>,lock,<key>.     locks down <key> until the rel
                                         command is used.
  rel          <esc>,rel.            releases any keys held down
                                           by the lock command.

5)      Mouse commands

  Action       Send from aid          Action(s)

  click        <esc>,click,left.      clicks the left mouse button
  click        <esc>,click,left,right.
                                      clicks the left and right
                                          mouse buttons at the
                                          same time
  click        <esc>,click,right.     clicks the right mouse button
  dlbclick     <esc>,dblclick,left.   double-clicks the left mouse
                                          button
  dlbclick     <esc>,dblclick,right.  double-clicks the right mouse
                                          button
  dlbclick     <esc>,dblclick,left,right.
                                      double-clicks the left and
                                          right mouse buttons at
                                          the same time
  goto         <esc>,goto,+<n>,+<m>.  moves mouse pointer to
                                          absolute coordinates
                                          <n>,<m>.
  mouanchor    <esc>,mouanchor.       saves current mouse location
                                          OR returns to previously
                                          saved location.
  moulock      <esc>,moulock,left.    locks the left mouse button
  moulock      <esc>,moulock,left,right.
                                      locks the left and right
                                          mouse buttons at the
                                          same time
  moulock      <esc>,moulock,right.   locks the right mouse button
  mourel       <esc>,mourel.          releases any mouse buttons
                                      currently locked by the
                                          moulock command
  moureset     <esc>moureset.         resets mouse and moves to
                                          upper left corner
  move         <esc>,move,<n>,<m>.    moves the mouse cursor
                                          <n> units right and
                                          <m> units down
6)      Miscellaneous commands

  Action       Send from aid          Action(s)

  baudrate     <esc>,baudrate,300.    sets SerialKeys to 300 baud
  baudrate     <esc>,baudrate,600.    sets SerialKeys to 600 baud.
  baudrate     <esc>,baudrate,1200.   sets SerialKeys to 1200 baud.
  baudrate     <esc>,baudrate,2400.   sets SerialKeys to 2400 baud.
  baudrate     <esc>,baudrate,4800.   sets SerialKeys to 4800 baud.
  baudrate     <esc>,baudrate,9600.   sets SerialKeys to 9600 baud.
  reset        <NUL><NUL><NUL>        initiates SerialKeys session,
                                          or resets SerialKeys status
                                          and sets speed to 300 baud.