•• Main Window ••

The following describes all of the elements in the main window of the DictationMachine.


• Close Box •
By clicking in this box which is located in top left corner of the main window, you can close the currently loaded tape.

• Title window •
The name of the tape currently loaded is displayed in the top right corner of the main window.  If no tape is loaded, it would indicate that user must either create anew tape or open a tape previously created.

• Drag Region •
Using this region with series of horizontal lines, user can drag the window around the desktop to reveal underlying windows of other applications.

• Shrink/Expand •
Using this box located on the top right corner of the main window to shrink the main window to make more desktop space visible and reveal windows of other applications..

• Volume •
Current volume level selected for the playback of sound is displayed in the digital display portion.  The volume setting (range of values are 0 to 100 percent) can be adjusted by the up (+) and down (-) buttons below the volume display.

• Sensitivity •
Current sensitivity level selected for the recording of sound is displayed in the digital display portion.  The sensitivity setting (range of values are 0 to 100 percent) can be adjusted by the up (+) and down (-) buttons below the sensitivity display.

• Rate •
Current rate (pitch) value selected for the playback of sound is displayed in the digital display portion.  The rate setting (range of values are 0 to 400 percent) can be adjusted by the up (+) and down (-) buttons below the rate display.

• Delay •
Current Delay selected for stop of the recording of sound is displayed in the digital display portion.  The delay setting (range of values are 0 to 1 second) can be adjusted by the up (+) and down (-) buttons below the delay display.

• Remaining •
In the record mode this portion displays the amount of time available for recording (based on hard disk space).  In playback mode it indicates remaining portion of the recorded sound.

• Elapsed •
This display shows the current time elapsed when in playback mode, and the recorded time in the record mode.

• Rewind •
This control button can be used to rewind the tape to a desired position while hearing an audio feedback which can aid in the selection process.

• Play •
Initiate playback using this control button.

• Fast Forward •
This control button can be used to advance the tape to a desired position while hearing an audio feedback which can aid in the selection process.

• Record •
Use this control button to initiate recording to tape.

• Pause •
Use this control button to either pause recording or playback.

• Stop •
Use this control button to either stop recording or playback.

• Level Indicator •
This bar is the record level indicator.  The values below threshold are in red and the above threshold values are in blue (in gray scale light and dark gray respectively).

• Sound Display •
When recording this portion displays the current record level and threshold.  In playback mode, this portion displays the actual sound being played in real-time.

• Progress Display •
This portion displays the completed versus remaining time of either recording, playback, or tape editing in progress.  You can also use this portion to quickly jump to any point in the tape by simply clicking in it.  See the "Quick jump feature" for more details.

• Erase •
Use this button to select and erase a portion of the recorded sound.  See the "Removing a sound segment" section for more details.

• Add •
Use this button to add a sound in to an already recorded sound.  See the "Adding in a sound segment" section for more details.


• Help •
This button would activate the on-line help module which has more detailed descriptions of the various features of the DictationMachine than offered with the balloon help windows.

• Skip To Start (left) •
Use this button to make a quick skip to the beginning of the tape.

• Skip To End (right) •
Use this control button to make a quick skip to the end of the tape.

• Open •
Select this button to be presented with a dialog which allows you to select a tape to open for playback and recording.

• New •
Using this button you can create a new blank tape for recording.

• Reset •
Click this button to return volume, rate, sensitivity, and delay to the values selected in the preferences settings.  See the description for the "Reset" item in the "Tape" menu for more details.

• Repeat •
Selecting this button would cause the playback to start again from the beginning of the tape once it reaches the end (auto replay).