Nitrous Voice Flux Help File

Help Topics:

1. System Requirements

2. Installation

3. Control Panel Buttons:
        a. Stop listening
        b. Start listening
        c. Hide
        d. Help/About
        e. Exit
        f. Options
        g. Add/Edit/Remove Command

4. Hints/tips
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1. System Requirements

        To run Nitrous Voice Flux you will need:

        -Windows 98 or higher
        -Pentium 233 MHz or higher
        -At least 12 MB free disk space
        -At least 64 MB of RAM
        -A Microphone
        -Speakers

2. Installation

To install Nitrous Voice Flux run setup.exe. When setup begins Nitrous Voice Flux will be installed. Once that is done you will get message saying that there are 2 engines that need to be installed:
a. The Microsoft Speech Recognition Engine 4.0 (English)
b. Lernout & Hauspie TruVoice American English TTS Engine

These two engines must be installed for Nitrous Voice Flux to work.  Click on both  "Yes" for the license agreement, You should not have  to install them again for upgrades.

Once this is done than Nitrous Voice Flux is installed and ready to use. 

3. Using Voice Flux

        A. Stop Voice Flux from listening

To stop Voice Flux from listening for the next command, click the "Stop Listening" button on the main console.

 B. Start Voice Flux Listening

Voice Flux is listening when it starts, but to make it start listening for commands after you have clicked Stop Listening, click the "Start Listening" button on the main console.

        	C. Hide button

When the main console is open clicking the "Hide" button puts Nitrous Voice Flux down on the System Tray next to the Time/Date.

        	D. Help/About

Clicking on the Help/About button brings up the:
 -Help section
 -About Nitrous Voice Flux
 -Email address to send/report bugs to (kanarde@nitrousonline.net)
 -Information on the installer for Nitrous Voice Flux
 -About the two engines installed for Nitrous Voice Flux to work
 -The Nitrous Online web site.

       	E. Exit

Clicking the "Exit" button closes and exits Nitrous Voice Flux.

        	F. Options

Clicking on Options brings up the Options Console.

The Start command

a. The "start Command" is a word that you say that tells Nitrous Voice Flux to start listening for a command. The default is "Computer". You say "Computer", Voice Flux then listens for a command. You then say for example, "Notepad" and Voice Flux then opens Notepad. This helps to eliminate false commands which is where the speech engine thinks you said a command but really did not. You can turn this option on or off and change the default Start command word.

 		Windows startup

a.  When the "Start when Windows Starts" box is checked you have 3 choices:
1)	Start Normal - When Windows boots up to your Desktop the Nitrous Voice Flux Console will remain open.
2)	Start Minimized - When Windows boots up to your Desktop the Nitrous Voice Flux Console will be minimized on your Task Bar.
3)	Start Hidden(In System Tray) - When Windows boots up to your Desktop The Nitrous Voice Flux Console will be in you System Tray. (Where the Date/Time are)

Interaction

What to say when launching a program with confirmation enabled.

a. When this option is checked whenever you give a start command Nitrous Voice Flux will ask you "Are you sure you want to" run whatever program you told it to. In this window you can change the message to whatever you want.  

How long to display confirmation screen(Sec)

a. When the "Ask for confirmation before running a  program" Option is turned on a small window drops down at the top left of your screen displaying the message "Are you sure you want to". In this window you can change how long that message is displayed. The Default is 15sec.

How long to wait for a command after hearing the "Start Command".(Sec)  

a. When the "Start Command" is enabled and you give the "Start Command" "Computer" for example, Nitrous Voice Flux listens for the command to start a program. In this window you can change the length of time that Voice Flux listens for a command after hearing "Computer". The default is 5 secs.

Ask for confirmation before running a program

a. When this option is checked Nitrous Voice Flux Will ask you if you really want to run the program that you just gave the command for. 

G. Add/Edit/Remove Command

1. Add a command 

        a. Click on the Add/Edit/Remove Command Button. The "Edit Commands" window will open. On the left side you will see any commands that you have created. 
        b. To create a new command click the "New" button. 
        c. In the "Command" Window type in whatever name you want for the new command. 
        d. In the "Path" window click on "Browse". This will bring up a window with all the folders on your computer. Find the folder that contains the program that you want to run and click on the .exe icon for that program. (If your not sure which file is the exe find the one that has .exe after the file name, or simple click on the file and see if the program starts.) After you have clicked on the .exe click open. The path of the program you just added will show up in the "Path" window. 
        e. Stop listening when above program starts. When this box is checked Nitrous Voice Flux will stop listening after that program has started. 
        f. Click the "Add" button to add the new command. The command you just added will now show up in the list on the left.
        g. You can click the "Cancel New" button at anytime after you have started creating a new command.
        h. Click the "Done" button when you are done adding, editing, or removing commands. 

2. Edit a command
        
        a. Click on the Add/Edit/Remove Command Button. The "Edit Commands" window will open. On the left side you will see any commands that you have created.
        b. Clicking on any of the commands in the list on the left side will allow you to make changes or delete that command.

3. Remove a command
        
        a. Click on the Add/Edit/Remove Command Button. The "Edit Commands" window will open. On the left side you will see any commands that you have created.
        b. Clicking on any of the commands in the list on the left side will allow you to delete them. highlight the command you want to delete and click the "Delete" button.

4. Hints/Tips

Runtime Errors
        
        a. If you try to run Nitrous Voice Flux and it will not start and you get a Runtime Error, completely uninstall Nitrous Voice Flux and the two Engines from the Add/Remove and then re-install everything over again.

        b. For optimal performance when giving voice commands:
                
1) Make sure you have a decent microphone. You may have to try a couple different types. Ideally the type that clips onto your shirt is the best because it is only 4-6inches away from your mouth. I have also had good success with the boom type microphone  that sits on your desk. 
2) Windows also allows you to adjust the sensitivity of your microphone. Experiment with this but to high and you may get feed back and false commands.