Multimedia Vocabulary/VOCAB.iso/MULTVOC.DOC

Text File | 1998-01-15 | 26KB | 609 lines

                      MultiMedia Vocabulary
                           Version 1.2

Program and supporting materials, including this documentation
file, are copyrighted 1996-98, by BC Enterprises Software Inc.

I. Introduction

        Congratulations on your acquisition of MultiMedia
Vocabulary from Pro One Software!  We have worked hard to bring a
program to you that helps you build your vocabulary, but which is
also fun and easy to use.  We think the MultiMedia Vocabulary
program fits this bill, and we hope you will agree.

        This program is directed toward two groups of people who
have widely divergent goals, but whose methods can be very
similar.  One focus of this program is to provide a quick and
easy drill for students who will be taking the SAT test.  For
this reason, most of the words in the tests are those commonly
found on the SAT.

        The second group this program will benefit is the large
number of adults who would like to improve their vocabulary.
There are many books available these days which help improve
vocabulary, but a computer program is infinitely easier and more
practical.  With this computer program, you can drill whenever
you want to, taking any test as many times as you want.  Also,
you can add to or modify the tests as much as you like, so that
you can concentrate on any problem area.  We have heard many
times that the way to improve vocabulary is to learn a certain
number of new words every week.  With MultiMedia Vocabulary, you
would simply enter your new words, and you have ready-made tests!

        The testing program contains a total of 1600 words in
four categories: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, and Word Elements.  Up
to 400 new words can be added by the user in a category called
Custom.  Additionally, any or all of the current words and
definitions can be replaced or modified.  Each of the categories
is broken up into 20 tests of 20 words each.  The program offers
three separate testing formats for drill on the words.

        MultiMedia Vocabulary, however, is more than just a drill
of words.  We think that the most significant feature of the
program is that it teaches prefixes, suffixes, and roots (word
elements) -- the very building blocks of words.  The program
shows you the word elements (usually taken from Latin or Greek),
and then you can see the English words that are built out of
them.  If you sit down and learn 400 words, then you only know
400 words.  If you learn 400 word elements, then you will be able
to discern the meanings of tens of thousands of words.

        Due to the importance of learning these words elements,
we suggest that you take the time to study these first, before
going through the other tests.  Having learned the word elements
beforehand, the meanings of previously unfamiliar words on the
other tests will be clear to you.

        Besides learning the meaning of the words, you can also
learn proper pronunciation.  And, with the spelling module, you
can also learn spelling of all the nouns, verbs, and adjectives
contained in the program.  Remember, though, that the
pronunciation in this program is not necessarily the only
possible correct pronunciation.  Many words have more than one
acceptable pronunciation.


II. Using MultiMedia Vocabulary

II.1. System Configuration

        MultiMedia Vocabulary requires Windows 3.0 or higher,
running in Standard or 386 Enhanced mode.  Any computer which can
run in at least Standard mode can run MultiMedia Vocabulary,
although faster computers will certainly have improved
performance.  MultiMedia Vocabulary also works well with Windows
95.

        MultiMedia Vocabulary is optimized for screen resolutions
from 640 by 480 to 800 by 600.  Higher screen resolutions will
work, but may make the program screens difficult to read.


II.2. Program Installation

        MultiMedia Vocabulary can run entirely from the CD
without copying any files to your hard drive.  (The program does
create some files on the hard drive when it runs.)


II.3. Setting a Current User

        One of the most helpful functions of MultiMedia
Vocabulary is its ability to graphically display your progress
via a sophisticated graphing package.  In order to keep track of
the data needed to generate the charts, you can enter up to 50
users.  At least one user must be entered for the program to run.

        The first time you run MultiMedia Vocabulary, you will be
asked to enter a user name.  The first name you enter will
automatically become the current user.  After that, you can enter
other users, if you wish, and choose a current user from among
them.  You do not need to enter more than one user, but you must
enter one.

        When you exit the User window, the program will create
user data files for everyone you entered, as well as a general
user file which keeps track of the other files.  The list of the
users is kept in a file called VOCUSERS.DTA.  The individual
user data is kept in files with the first eight (or fewer)
characters of the user name, plus .DTA.  (This means that you
can't have two users with the same first eight characters of a
name.)  User information cannot be kept on the CD-ROM, since it
is read-only, so it must be kept on your hard drive.  The user
information is kept in the directory C:\MULTVOC unless you
specify another directory.

        You can change and edit current users from many different
screens in MultiMedia Vocabulary.


II.4. The Main Menu Screen

        On the Main Menu Screen, you will notice that there are
listed five different categories of tests which you may select:
Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives, Custom, and Word Elements.  To use any
of the test categories, use the mouse to click on the applicable
button or on the word.

        Along the bottom of the screen is a section showing the
current user, and offering the buttons "About", "Stats",
"Maintenance", "Users", and "Exit".


II.5. Choosing Test Number and Format

        Once you decide which category of test you would like to
take, a new window will pop up in which you can choose the test
number (1 through 20), and the test format.  The five test
formats are multiple choice, matching, sentence, spelling, and
scramble.  Not every test format is available for every test
category.

        To choose the test format, click the radio button of the
format you want.  To choose test number, click on the pull-down
box arrow, and choose a test number.

        Note: Custom tests will not be available unless you enter
them yourself.  All twenty words in a user file must be entered
before the file is usable.


II.6. The Vocabulary Tests

II.6.1. The Multiple Choice Test

        The Multiple Choice test is very straightforward, and
should not be difficult to understand.  The target word is
presented in a box at the top of the screen.  Underneath the
target word are four definitions.  Choose the number
corresponding to the definition of the target word.  The program
will tell you if you make the right choice.  If you miss a word,
the program will tell you this, and will also highlight the
correct definition.

        At the top, the program notes which number and category
test you are taking.  At the bottom right, the program notes the
word you are currently on.  If you are using the Word Element
section of the test, then the program will note in the lower left
of the screen whether the "Derived Word Display" is on or off.
If the derived word display is on, then after you enter your
response to the target word, the program will open a window
showing you up to ten words derived from the target word.  For
instance, if the target word element is "portare", then the
program would open a window showing such words as "portable",
"importance", and "transport".  In order to remove this window
and continue, you may push -Enter- or click on Continue.  In
order to toggle this option on or off, click the button at the
lower left.  We suggest that you generally keep this option set
to "ON", especially the first few times you go through a test.
When viewing the derived words, a good exercise is to try to
determine what the words might mean, based on your knowledge of
the root.  Keeping a dictionary nearby is also a good idea.

        To hear the pronunciation of a word, click on the word.
Pronunciation is not available for word elements.

        To go to the next word, click on Next.  The program will
allow you to skip words without guessing their definitions, but
it is generally not a good idea to do so.  To exit from the test,
click the Exit button.


II.6.2. The Matching Test

        On the left side of the screen are five target words,
with the letters A through E next to them.  On the right side of
the screen are the definitions, with boxes next to them.  Match
the definitions with the correct word.  To do this, use the drag-
and-drop method.

        If you want to change a letter, then you can "undo" the
dropped letter by double-clicking on it.  Of course, each letter
can only be placed with one word at a time.

        If you are using the Word Elements tests, then the
program will note at the bottom middle of the screen whether the
"Derived Word Display" is set to on or off.  You may toggle this
option by clicking the button.

        When you are through entering your choices, click on the
OK button at the bottom right of the screen.  At that point the
program will display a happy face for each word you got right and
a "not-happy" face for each word wrong.  If you want to skip a
set of words, you can click the Next button.

        To hear the pronunciation of any of the words on the
left, click on the word.  Pronunciation is not available for word
elements.

        After the program displays which words are right and
wrong, the "Next" button changes to "PUSH ME!".  Click that button
to go to the next set of words.  If you want to end the test, use
the Exit button.


II.6.3. Sentences

        The sentence test helps you gauge your knowledge of words
in real-world use.  On this test, you should fill in the blank
by clicking (or pushing) the number of the BEST word to complete
the sentence.  There may be times when more than one word could
possibly fit in the sentence, but one word will be BEST based
upon the context of the sentence.

        To hear any of the words pronounced, click on the word.

        The sentence test is very similar in appearance and
operation to the multiple choice test.


II.6.4. Spelling

        The spelling tests help you to learn proper spelling of
words.  This is very important because you will want to use your
new vocabulary in written as well as spoken communication.

        When the test starts, the first word is pronounced.  You
should type in the spelling of the word in the box provided.
Push -Enter- when done.

        To hear the word pronounced again, press the ear button.
To go to the next word, press the Next button, or exit by
pressing the Exit button.


II.6.5. Letter Scramble

        Along the top of the screen of the letter scramble test
is the definition of a word.  Underneath the definition, the
letters of the word are scrambled in boxes.  To unscramble the
word, drag and drop and letters in the lower boxes in the proper
order.

        To undo any letter, double click on the letter.  To check
that the letters you have placed are correct, push the check
button.  If you are stumped, press the Solve button.

        Note: The letter scramble test is not included in the
statistics (see next section) about number of words right and
wrong.


II.7. Stats

        Pushing the Stats button on the main menu screen will
bring up a sophisticated graphing package which helps you to see
your progress in learning words.

        The graphing package will show you many different types
of graphs.  The graph loaded when the function first comes up
shows you the percentage of right and wrong answers on all tests.
Other graphs, shown in the pick list under "Available Graphs",
will show you the percentage of right and wrong in each category,
or the number right and wrong for individual tests in a category.
Also, the program will show you how much you have worked with
each category of words, as well as which tests you have used, and
how many words you have attempted.  These last two graphs are
useful for making sure that you have done all the tests.

        Below the Available Graphs pick list is a "Graph Types"
pick list, in which you can choose from several different types
of graphs, including bar graphs and pie graphs.  Which graph
types are available depends on what figures are being graphed.

        The last pick box on the left is the "Graph Background"
box, which changes the background, as well as the foreground,
colors of the graph.

        You can change users while in the graphing function by
pushing the User button in the bottom right hand corner.  You can
also erase the figures the program uses to generate graphs by
using the Reset function from the User window.

        Graphs generated by the program can be printed to a
printer, or copied to the clipboard.  If you are printing the
graph, it can be output in either color or black and white.  If
you are copying to the clipboard, the graph is copied in color,
in Windows metafile format.  Since metafiles can be stretched or
shrunk to any size, they are very convenient if you want to
include a graph in another application.

        The graphs generated by the program can help to show you
the areas in which you are weak and need to concentrate more.
This means that your word study can be much more effective and
systematic.


II.8. About

        The About box tells a little bit about the MultiMedia
Vocabulary program.  You can also view the manual from this box,
by clicking on the Read Manual button.  If you load the manual, a
Table of Contents list box will appear to the right of the manual
text.  You can click on an entry in the Table of Contents to
bring up that item in the text box.

        If you want to find a particular word or phrase in the
manual, push the Find button.  If the word or phrase is found, it
will generally be located in the last line of the text box.

        If you want to print the manual, load the file
MULTVOC.DOC into Notepad and use its printing capabilities.


III. File Maintenance

III.1. Introduction

        The File Maintenance window offers an easy way for you to
customize the MultiMedia Vocabulary program to your tastes.
Through the File Maintenance window, you can set many program
options, including the use of sound and fonts.  Additionally, you
can add to or modify the data files which come with the program.
You can also print out any or all of the data files.

        When you load the File Maintenance window, the last word
file you used will be automatically loaded as well.  If you have
not used any word file, then the file WORDS1.1 (first category,
first word file) will be loaded.  The name of the currently
loaded word file is displayed at the upper left corner of the
screen.  If, for some reason, the word file cannot be found, then
the program says "No File Loaded."

        The name of the file displayed in the top left of the
window is a numerical file name.  For instance, if you choose to
change the third test in the verb category, the file name
displayed will be WORDS1.3, rather than VERBS3.  WORDS1.3 is the
actual file name on disk of the third test (or word file) in the
verbs category.  This is because "Verbs" is the first category
listed in the MultiMedia Vocabulary program and in all other
selection boxes.  All the data files on the disk are named in the
same way.  For instance, the tenth data file in the category
Nouns would be named WORDS2.10.

        The File Maintenance window has a pulldown menu system
along the top, and a set of four pushbuttons on the right.  The
four buttons are Next, Previous, Blank, and Restore.  These
buttons operate on the words in the currently loaded file.  The
Next and Previous buttons will show you the next or previous word
in the file.  The Blank button will erase all fields for the
current word.  The Restore button will restore all fields to
their previous contents, in case you make a change that you
decide you do not want.  Once you go to the next or previous
word, however, changes cannot be undone.

        To edit fields, simply click the mouse on the field you
want to change, or use the Tab key to change fields.  You can
easily see the current edit field because it has highlighted
colors.  Note also that not all fields are available for all file
types.


III.2. The File Menu

        The File menu has four choices: Open, Print, Copy Word
Files to Hard Drive, and Quit File Maintenance.  Quit closes the
file maintenance window and takes you back to the main menu.


III.2.1. Open

        When you choose Open, another window appears in which you
can specify which word file you want to use.  The file selection
process is pretty self-explanatory.  The file you specify is
looked for in the current directory or the current path.  If the
file you pick is not found, the program will ask you if you want
to create the file.  If you are trying to open one of the Custom
files, then you will probably want the program to create the
file.  Otherwise, you will probably not want to create the file,
but enter a path where the file may be found.


III.2.2. Print

        When you choose the Print function, the program will
first ask you if you want to print the current word file.  Note
that only the current word file can be printed.  If you say that
you do want to print, then another box will pop up to show you
the progress of the printing.  The printed output is in the
currently selected font, at 12 point.

        Since the printing function uses the currently selected
font, the printed output may take one, two, or several pages.
Printing Word Elements will take more pages, since the derived
words are also printed out.


III.2.3. Copy Word Files to Hard Drive

        The MultiMedia Vocabulary program can run entirely from
the CD, but if you want to edit any of the word files, you need
to copy the word files to your hard drive.  This is because the
CD is read-only and no changes can be written to the CD.

        You do NOT need to copy all the word files to your hard
drive in order to create your own custom word files.  Custom word
files are automatically created in your user directory on your
hard drive.

        The word files are copied to your current user directory
unless you specify a new directory.  You need about 100K of hard
drive space to copy the word files.


III.3. The Setup Menu

        The Setup menu has seven functions: Path to Data, Show
Derived Words, Play Sounds, Sound Volume, Start Sound Recorder,
Fonts, and Users.


III.3.1. Paths to Data

        Setting a path to data tells the MultiMedia Vocabulary
program where to look for your data files.  This allows you, if
you want, to place your word files and sound files in different
directories.

        The MultiMedia Vocabulary program uses three different
paths: word files, sound files, and user files.  Word files are
the files of words, definitions, and sentences.  Sound files are
the pronunciation WAV files for the words.  User files are where
information about users, used to generate the statistics, is
kept.

        Normally, your WAV and word files would be on your CD.
This would only change if you copy the word files to your hard
drive in order to edit them.  (However, if you create Custom word
files, these are kept in the user files directory.)  When you run
the program, these directories are set by default to your CD.

        When you first run the MultiMedia Vocabulary program, the
program will automatically create a user directory on your hard
drive.  This is C:\MULTVOC by default, but you can change it.


III.3.2. Show Derived, Play Sounds

        These menu selections set different options for the
MultiMedia Vocabulary program.  When these options are enabled,
they have a check mark beside them on the menu.  When they are
disabled, they have no check mark.  To change the settings of
these, click on the menu item you want to change.  This has no
effect on the pronunciation WAV files.

        Setting Derived ON means that when you are using Word
Elements in the MultiMedia Vocabulary tests, the program will
bring up a screen of words which are derived from the target
word.  Setting Derived OFF means that this screen will not be
shown, and the program will run faster.  However, this specifies
only the initial setting, and can be changed while in the testing
program.

        Setting Sound ON means that the program will generate
sound as it runs.  When sound is on, many different actions
generate sound.  However, it is not necessary for the smooth
operation of the program.

        NOTE: Due to the way in which Microsoft Windows handles
sound, it is possible that other programs may not be able to
generate sound while MultiMedia Vocabulary is running with Sound
ON.  Also, if, for any reason, MultiMedia Vocabulary terminates
abnormally with an error, you may need to restart Microsoft
Windows before any program can use sound.


III.3.3. Sound Volume, Start Sound Recorder

        Sound Volume controls the volume of the pronunciation WAV
files.  Your sound card may also contain software to set sound
volume (most do).  And, if you have amplified speakers, you can
always just turn them up or down.

        Start Sound Recorder starts the WAV recording/editing
program that comes with Windows.  This tries to start either the
program that comes with Windows 3/3.11, or the version that comes
with Windows 95.

        The Custom files let you record and play custom
pronunciation WAV files.  The sound recorder that comes with
Windows can be used for this purpose, or you can use another WAV
editor.


III.3.4. Fonts

        The fonts dialog box lets you pick the primary font for
use with MultiMedia Vocabulary.  This font is used in all the
tests, as well as for printing word files.

        The font selection box is the common dialog box for
selecting Windows fonts.


III.3.5. Users

        The Users function has been explained somewhat above.  It
is pretty self-explanatory.

        To run the MultiMedia Vocabulary program, you need at
least one user.  If you have only one user, that is the current
logged user.  If you have more than one user, you can set a
current user by highlighting a user in the list box and clicking
on the Current User button.

        You can also delete or reset a user by highlighting the
user and clicking on the appropriate button.  Deleting a user
removes that user name from the user list.  Resetting a user
leaves the user name in the list, but it deletes all user data
used for generating graphs.

        You cannot delete or reset the current user.  So, if you
only really want one user, but want to delete or reset the
current user, you will have to add another user temporarily, then
make the new user the current user, and delete or reset the other
user.  (It is less complicated than it sounds.)



                            Appendix A
                          Program Errors


        Most program errors that may occur are handled by the
program in such a way that you will not even know that an error
happened.  This is the case for such errors as file not found
errors, or printer errors.

        Other errors may occur when the screen display does not
look right.  Many video cards for Windows come with a large
number of video drivers, some of which may not work properly with
MultiMedia Vocabulary.  If a particular driver does not seem to
work, you should try switching to another driver.  The standard
VGA and Super VGA drivers which come with Windows 3/3.1/3.11 or
95 should always work properly.

        It is possible that an error may occur which the program
cannot handle.  In that case, MultiMedia Vocabulary will give an
error message and end.  Usually, the error will go away just by
restarting the program.  If the error does not go away, and you
need to contact technical support about an error, please have
ready 1) the text of the error message, 2) the circumstance(s)
under which it occurs, and 3) whether the error is reproducible
(does it happen every time).  This will help us to correct the
error.


                            Appendix B
                  MultiMedia Vocabulary INI File

        An INI file for MultiMedia Vocabulary is kept in your
Windows directory.  The INI file is called MULTVOC.INI.  This
files contains several different settings needed for the
MultiMedia Vocabulary program.  If, for some reason, the program
does not seem to be working properly, the problem might be solved
by deleting the INI file.  The program will automatically create
a new one with default settings.

        The settings in the INI file are:

        Version Number
        Current User
        Derived Words ON/OFF
        Unused
        Sounds ON/OFF
        Font Name
        Font Bold
        Font Italic
        Multiple Choice Top
        Multiple Choice Left
        Matching Top
        Matching Left
        Maintenance Window Top
        Maintenance Window Left
        Word Path
        Font Size
        User Path
        Sound Path