The PC Blackboard program is a simple point-to-point interactive
communication program that can be used on any IBM "XT/AT" compatible PC.
It allows two PCs to interact over a standard telephone line. Data
transfer and interaction may be achieved at varying speeds, depending on
the type of modem being used. Quite simply, it provides the same
flexibility a teacher would have in a classroom, and more. It allows users
to free hand draw and add text from the keyboard on a blank screen.
Drawing tools are also available to create geometric shapes and lines for
flowcharts, diagrams or any other conceivable purpose. Further, the user
may send and receive faxes. With those received, he/she may interact on
those documents with the interactive tools.
The idea behind PC Blackboard is two fold. First, a complete
software solution to enhance a standard phone call. In this way, the user
could take the floppy disk to any "XT/AT" compatible machine with a modem.
The program then allows the users to interact, so that ambiguous or
intangible ideas and concepts could be expressed more concretely through the
use of our interactive functions.
Second, with the addition of a fax modem, users can now receive
faxes directly into their PC. Simply stated, whatever document you wish to
discuss is faxed to your computer, displayed on screen, and then annotated
upon as desired. Sites on-line can then use the interactive capabilities
to highlight points of the document, or to add notes to the document.
Moreover, anything you put to your screen may be faxed to a fax machine.
The interactive functions include:
- Free hand draw, Squares, Rectangles, Lines, and Circles
- Change drawing attributes (line widths and filled or non filled
shapes)
- Text input
- Point
- Screen transfer
- File transfer. The file is sent and saved at the remote site.
- Clearing local and remote screen
- Loading and saving of one bit per pixel PCX images
- Receiving, sending, and loading of fax documents
- Change drawing color and/or Background color.
We, at Serial Solutions, Inc., feel this will help diminish those
frustrating calls where it takes hours to explain ideas and concepts, that
should only take minutes. As well as, cutting down on unnecessary business
travel, which is necessitated by the inability to explain ideas thoroughly
through language alone. This is accomplished most through the ability to
control what is on both screens. That is, for a multi-page document, it
is very difficult to get people on the correct page, paragraph, and/or
sentence. Now, since the document is displayed at both sites, this
confusion factor is eliminated. The users all see the same portion of the
document and may then interact on those portions together. Then as one
site scrolls through the document, the document is automatically scrolled
through at the remote site.
Technical Requirements
1) An IBM "XT/AT" compatible PC
2) A CGA card or higher
3) A pointing device (mouse or graphics tablet).
4) A modem
Options
Fax/Data modem - for utilization of fax capabilities
CURSOR ACTION VIA INPUT DEVICES
Movement is achieved by moving your pointing device (mouse or stylus)
or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. All the functionality of this
program can be reached via pop-up menus through the keyboard, a mouse,
and/or a Summa compatible graphics tablet. You may use both a mouse and a
tablet in the program; you are not limited to one or the other, however,
additional serial ports may be necessary.
Keyboard
The keyboard can be used to move the cursor, pop-up the main menu,
select and change options within the main menu and submenus, use function
keys for special options, and enter text. The location of the cursor on the
screen determines where text will be placed on the screen.
Note: If you have a tablet installed, make sure that the stylus is not on
the tablet, or your text will all occur in the same location. In
other words, you will keep putting each character on top of the
preceding character.
The arrow keys will move the cursor to the left, right, up, or down,
depending on which arrow key is pushed. However, the cursor will only move
one pixel at a time, so it will be very slow to move around the screen. The
keys to remember are:
<Esc> - The <Esc>(Escape) key has three uses:
1). Calling the main menu if there are no menus on the screen.
2). Exiting from any menu that you are currently in.
3). Canceling the drawing of a circle, line, square, or rectangle if
hit while the ghost image is on the screen. That is, when you
are either holding the left button of a mouse down, or while
holding down on the stylus.
<Enter> - The <Enter> key has three uses:
1). Activating or changing the current highlighted option on a menu.
This depends on the type of menu currently occupying the screen.
2). Moving your cursor to the beginning of the next text line.
This is the result of using the enter key if there are no menus
on the screen.
3). Selecting text that has been input by the user. This generally
comes in the form of entering the name of a file which is to
be loaded, saved, or transmitted or entering a telephone
number for the system to dial.
Mouse
The mouse allows you to access all menus, access all items within
those menus, and utilize all tools. To move the cursor, simply move your
mouse. To pull up the main menu, click the middle button of a three button
mouse, or the first and second buttons simultaneously of a two button mouse.
To select an option within a menu, click the left button when the desired
option is highlighted or when the cursor is in a location to change an
option (depending on the type of menu). To leave or escape from a menu,
hit the right button.
When there are no menus on the screen, you can change your drawing
tool by clicking the right button. This will scroll through the available
tools, (your cursor will change to the shape of the new tool).
Tablet
The tablet allows you to access all items within menus and to utilize
all tools. To move the cursor, simply move your stylus. The only way to
pull up the main menu, if you only have a tablet, is to hit the Escape key
on the keyboard. To select an option within a menu, push the stylus down on
the tablet when the desired option is highlighted, or when the cursor is in
a location to change an option. To leave or escape from a menu, push the
button on the stylus.
When there are no menus on the screen, you can change your drawing
tool by pushing the button on the stylus. This will scroll through the
available tools, (your cursor will change to the shape of the new tool).
To use a tool, position your cursor where you wish to start, then
push the stylus down on the tablet. This is the same as clicking the left
button on the mouse.
See mouse section for further instructions.
Select/Deselect
Before proceeding, some terms need to be defined:
Select: The term "select" means to
(1) hit the Enter key from the keyboard,
(2) click on the left button of the mouse,
(3) push down on the stylus.
Deselect: The term "deselect" means to
(1) hit Escape on the keyboard,
(2) click the right button of the mouse,
(3) push the button on the stylus.
Select Deselect
Keyboard <Enter> <Esc>
Mouse Left Button Right Button
Tablet Down Stylus Button on Stylus
Drawing Tools
This program provides six drawing tools, all represented by different
cursors. The shape of the cursor determines which tool you are using. These
tools are changed by either clicking on the right button of your mouse or by
pushing the button on the stylus when there are no menus on the screen.
To use a tool, position your cursor where you wish to start. Use the
select key(button) and the tool will be under your control. The following
lists what happens for each tool:
Free Hand Draw
Free hand draw is represented by the Pencil Icon. As you move the
pointing device while holding down the left button of a mouse or holding
down the pen, you will draw a continuous line.
Rectangle
The rectangle is represented by the Rectangle Icon. As you move the
pointing device while holding down the left button of a mouse or holding down
the pen, you will see a ghost box. You may move this ghost box above or
below your starting point, as well as to the left or to the right of your
starting point. If you let up on the left button of the mouse or let up the
pen, the rectangle will be drawn with the present attributes, with the
coordinates you have specified by the ghost box. If you do not wish to draw
the rectangle, simply deselect it. This will erase the ghost box.
Square
The square tool will force you to draw perfect squares. The square is
exactly like rectangle except that you can only move the ghost box to the
right and below of your starting point.
Line
The fourth drawing tool is the line drawing tool. The line tool is
represented by the angled line, similar to back slash on the keyboard ("/").
As you move the pointing device while holding the left button of the mouse
down or holding down the pen, a ghost line will appear that extends to your
new position on the screen. If you release the left button or let up on the
pen, the line will be drawn with its current attributes between the points
specified by your ghost line. If you do not wish to draw the line, simply
deselect. This will erase the ghost line.
Circle
The fifth tool is the circle tool. This allows the user to draw
circles. As you move the pointing device while holding the left button of a
mouse down or by holding down the pen, a ghost circle will appear that grows
as you move your pointing device. If you wish to draw the circle, just let
up the left button or the pen. If you do not wish to draw the circle,
deselect it. This will erase the ghost circle.
Point
The final tool is the pointer. It is represented by the upward
arrow. Point is slightly different than the other tools. Locally, you
always see the pointer, but if connected, the remote will only see the
pointer while you push the left button or hold down the pen. As long as you
hold down the left button, the pointer will be displayed at the remote site.
NOTE1: If using a mouse and you wish to deselect the ghost box with the
mouse, you must click the right button while you are holding down the
left button. If you wish to deselect the ghost box with the pen, you
must push the button on the stylus, while holding the pen down.
NOTE2: With all the tools, you cannot leave the boundaries of the screen.
Therefore, your boxes, circles, and lines will stop at the nearest
boundary.
MAIN MENU OPTIONS
The Main Menu provides you with all the functionality that the P.C.
Blackboard program offers. This is the first menu that the user will
encounter. The main menu can be accessed by "selecting" it. Each option of
the main menu will be explained in detail in the following sections. Each
menu function can be "selected" by moving the highlight bar to the desired
option. This can be done with the arrow keys on the keyboard, by moving the
mouse, or by moving the stylus. Once you are at the desired option, select
it. Then, depending on the chosen option, it will either complete the
function or go to a submenu. The main menu provides the user with twelve(12)
options:
(1) Screen colors
(2) Tool attributes
(3) Communications
(4) Configuration
(5) Print menu
(6) Files menu
(7) Fax menu
(8) Send screen
(9) Undo
(10) Selective erase
(11) Clear screen
(12) Quit to dos.
PALETTE
The palette allows the user to either change both the background and
foreground colors if you have a VGA card, or change the foreground color if
you have a CGA card.
CGA
If you have a CGA card, you will be able to change the foreground
only. After selecting palette from the main menu, a window will appear which
allows you to change the foreground. You may change the color by selecting
anywhere on the screen. That is, you are not constrained to select within
any confined area or window. The foreground color will change each time you
select. Once you have chosen the desired color, you can leave the palette
submenu by deselecting it.
VGA
If you have a VGA card, you can change both the foreground and
background. When palette is chosen, a window will pop up that has two boxes
in it. One box is labeled foreground, the other is labeled background. If
you move your cursor into one of these boxes and select it, the color of the
chosen option will change. Thus, if your cursor is in the background box and
you select on that box, your background color will change every time you
select within that box. The same holds true for the foreground box.
NOTE: This only changes the background and foreground locally. Therefore, if
you are connected, it has no effect on the remote screen.
ATTRIBUTES
The attribute option allows you to change the features for the
presently chosen tool. Some tools have more attributes than others. For
draw and line, you only have the option to change the line width. For
rectangle, square, and circle, you can change the line width and you may
have the object be filled or not. If you choose fill, the line width will
not have any effect. Point does not have any attributes.
Line Width:
You can change the line width by moving your cursor along the grid.
As the box in the grid moves to the right, your line width will increase.
The actual line width is represented above this grid. As you move to the
left, your line width will decrease. The minimum line width is one, and the
maximum line width is four.
Fill:
For tools having the fill option, you can toggle between having
filled on or off by positioning your cursor on the box where the word "ON"
or "OFF" appears. By selecting on this box, you will toggle to the opposite
of what is currently displayed. That is, if the word "ON" appears, by
selecting on this, the word "OFF" will appear. This means that previously
the tool had fill turned on, now it has fill turned off. Thus, your shape
will just be an outline.
Once you have set the attributes, you can leave the attribute menu
by deselecting it. If you have fill "OFF", the width of the outline will
then be determined by the line width you chose.
COMMUNICATIONS
The communications menu allows you to establish a call, disconnect a
call, and toggle between on-line and off-line.
Call Status:
Call status indicates whether you are on-line or off-line with your
remote site. This can only be selected if you have already established a
connection. If you are connected, but wish to do something locally that you
do not want the remote to see, you may want to go off-line without
disconnecting. By selecting on this box, you will toggle between off-line
and on-line. If you go off-line, you will be able to do everything except
send or receive data. If you go off-line and wish to go back on-line, just
select on this box again. A message will occur in the middle of your screen
with the word "On-Line" or "Off-Line", depending on which state the modem is
in.
Note: The F1 key will toggle between off-line and on-line and is much quicker
to access.
Connect:
Connect allows you to dial a remote machine so that you may begin to
interact. Connect works differently for a modem than it does for a Null
Modem.
Null Modem: If you are using a Null modem, this will call the other
PC automatically. You will not need to input a phone
number. If the connection is made, both sites will be
notified.
Modem: The connection process works differently for a modem. When
you select connect, you will be asked to enter the phone
number of the remote site. You may enter the phone number as
you normally would, with or without hyphens.
Example: Entering: 303-480-9421 and
3034809421 are handled the same.
Once you have entered the number, press the Enter key and the modem
will call the remote. If a connection is made, you will get a message that
states either which modem is connected or at which baud rate you have
connected. If you are using the Telebit Trailblazer or the AT&T Comsphere,
the message will say "Connect Fast" or "Comsphere Connection" respectively.
Otherwise, the message will give the baud rate of the current connection.
Further, the Call Status box will change from "Off-line" to "On-line".
Tip: An important dial command to know is the comma (","). A comma
is a two second pause. A pause may be necessary when you have
to wait for an outside line. This command is useful when
dialing out of a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), or when making a
long distance call. If you have to dial a 9 before dialing the
phone number, or a 1 for a long distance call, the comma would
follow the 9 and 1.
Example: A long distance call through a PBX, < 9,1,303-480-9441 >
If the delay is not long enough with one comma, you may
enter multiple commas.
Before making a call, both sites must verify that they have each
chosen the same communication device and at the same baud rate. If both
sites are not setup the same, there is a good chance that the connection
will fail. If you are using a modem and both sites do not have the same
modem, then select Hayes compatible. This will allow different types of
modems to communicate with one another.
Note: If you are using a Telebit Trailblazer in Hayes Compatible mode, you
must manually set it to conventional mode.
IMPORTANT: While attempting to call another PC, the other PC should not have
any menus on the screen. This will allow the receiving site to
see the "Incoming Message" signal, as well as the connection
message. This tells the receiver that a call is coming in, and
that a connection has occurred.
Disconnect
Disconnect does exactly what it says. If you are connected to a
remote site, this will disconnect the call. This is done by simply selecting
on the DISCONNECT box. If the call is disconnected, the word "Off-line" will
appear in the CALL STATUS box. The calling site will get a message in the
middle of their screen telling the user that they are going off-line. A
message will be displayed to the screen that the call has been disconnected.
The receiving site will also have a message saying that the call is being
disconnected.
CONFIGURATION
This menu allows you to setup both your communication device and
tablet. The first two items listed in the menu show which graphics card you
are using, and if a mouse has been installed. The second two options allow
you to change your communication parameters and/or your tablet parameters.
To change your communication parameters, select "Modem Setup". To change
your tablet parameters, select "Tablet Setup".
Modem Setup
Modem setup has six options: device type, com port, baud rate,
address, interrupt number, and initialize.
Device:
The device option allows you to choose your specific mode of
communication. Generally, this contains the type of modem you are going to
use. This program supports all Hayes compatible modems, the Telebit
Trailblazer modem, and the AT&T Comsphere 3820. The software allows a NULL
Modem, which is a special cable used to allow two PCs to communicate with
one another at the same site. The final choice is "None", which means that
you are not going to connect to a remote site. You may choose the modem type
of your choice by selecting on the box to the right of DEVICE. This will
scroll through your options. The following is a list of acceptable modems
and their capabilities.
Null Modem: Select this if you are using a direct connection (a
special cable) from one PC to another.
Hayes Compatible: If you are not using a Telebit Trailblazer or AT&T
Comsphere modem, you must select Hayes Compatible.
You should also verify that your modem is truly
Hayes Compatible. (See your specific modem manual
for details on how to set the modem into this mode)
Telebit Trailblazer: The Telebit Trailblazer allows you to transmit
at speeds of up to 19200 bits per second (bps).
For the Telebit Trailblazer to work in Hayes
Compatible mode, you must manually set it to
conventional mode. (See your Telebit manual)
AT&T Comsphere 3820: This modem allows you to communicate with your
modem at speeds up to 115,200 bps.
Com Port:
This is where you tell the program where your communication device
(modem or Null modem) is connected. You have a possibility of four com
ports. Therefore, by selecting on the box to the right of COM PORT, you will
scroll through your options. It is up to the user to determine which port
the communication device is connected. If you choose an incorrect com port,
the word "None" will appear in the DEVICE box and you will get a message
saying "Modem Not Found". If a tablet is connected, you will not be allowed
to change the com port to the tablet com port.
Baud Rate:
Baud rate determines the rate at which data is sent. The software
allows for data rates from 1200 bps to 115,200 bps. Although these speeds
are available, not all modems can use the high-end speeds. It is up to the
user to know what speeds your modem handles. If you set a baud rate which
the modem cannot handle, you will get a message saying "Modem Not Found" and
"None" will appear in the DEVICE box.
Address:
Address shows where the chosen com port can be located within the
machine. This option is for experienced users. A default address will
appear for each com port. If you are using a device (such as a fax modem)
that uses unique addresses for their comports, this default value will need
to be changed. Your particular communication device manual will list these
values. If a change is required, select on the box next to "Address". A
box will appear waiting for you to input the desired address. If after
choosing this box you wish to keep the old address, just deselect the box.
Otherwise, type in the address and hit the <ENTER> key.
Interrupt Number:
Each com port must have a unique interrupt request number. A default
value will appear for the com port chosen, but if you are using a device,
such as a fax modem, that allows the user to manually change interrupt
values, the user will need to enter the new interrupt number. Again, this is
available for experienced users. An invalid value can create serious
problems. If you do wish to change the interrupt, select the box to the
right of "Interrupt #". A box will appear awaiting the user to enter the new
interrupt value. If after choosing this box, you wish to keep the old
interrupt number, just deselect the box. Otherwise, type in the interrupt
number and hit the <Enter> key.
Initialize:
The initialize button allows you to initialize the modem. The modem
will automatically be initialized when you leave the modem setup after
changing one of the above options. However, there may be a case in which you
need to initialize the modem without changing any of the above options. To
do so, select the "Initialize" box. The messages displayed will tell you if
the modem was installed or not.
NOTE: You cannot change any of the parameters within the modem setup if you
are already on-line. Furthermore, if DEVICE is set to none, ADDRESS is
set to zero, or INTERRUPT NUMBER is zero you will not be able to select
any box until you select a communication device. If you have changed
any of the above options, you will be notified that the new parameters
are being used to setup the com port and modem.
Tablet Setup
Tablet setup has six options: size, com port, baud rate, address,
interrupt number, and initialize.
Size:
The size option allows you to select the size of graphics tablet you
are using. If no tablet exists, the box will be labeled "None". The two
sizes available are "12 x 12" and "6 x 9." You may choose the tablet size of
your choice by selecting on the box to the right of SIZE. This option will
allow you to scroll through your options.
Com Port:
This is where you tell the program where your graphics tablet is
connected. You have a possibility of four com ports. Therefore, by
selecting on the box to the right of COM PORT, you will scroll through your
options. It is up to the user to determine which port the communication
device is connected. If you choose an incorrect com port, the word "None"
will appear in the SIZE box and you will get a message saying "Tablet Not
Found". If a modem is selected, you will not be allowed to change the com
port to the modem com port.
Baud Rate:
Baud rate determines the rate at which data is sent. The software
allows for data rates from 1200 bps to 115,200 bps. Although these speeds
are available, you are advised not to change the default value of 9600. Most
graphic tablets use a baud rate of 9600, and if you change this value the
tablet will most likely not work. If you set a baud rate which the tablet
cannot handle, you will get a message saying "Tablet Not Found" and "None"
will appear in the SIZE box.
Address:
Address shows where the chosen com port can be located. This option
is for experienced users. A default address will appear for each com port.
In most cases, the default value will be correct for the tablet. If a change
is required, select on the box next to "Address". A box will appear waiting
for you to input the desired address. If after choosing this box, you wish
to keep the old address, simply deselect the box. Otherwise, type in the
address and hit the <ENTER> key.
Interrupt Number:
Each com port must have a unique interrupt request number. A default
value will appear for the com port chosen. Again, this is for experienced
users. An invalid value can create serious problems. If you do wish to
change the interrupt value, select the box to the right of "Interrupt #". A
box will appear awaiting the user to enter the new interrupt value. If after
choosing this box, you wish to keep the old interrupt number, just deselect
the box. Otherwise, type in the interrupt number and hit the <ENTER> key.
Initialize:
The initialize button allows you to initialize the tablet. The
tablet will automatically be initialized when you leave the Tablet Setup
after changing one of the above options. However, there may be a case in
which you need to initialize the tablet without changing any of the above
options. One such example would be if you shock the tablet. This will, in
some cases, "knock out" the tablet. Thus, you will need to re-initialize the
tablet. To do so, select the "Initialize" box. The messages displayed will
tell you if the tablet is installed or not.
Note: The tablet will not be initialized if "NONE" appears in the SIZE box,
if the ADDRESS is zero, and/or if the INTERRUPT # is zero. Furthermore,
if SIZE is set to none, you will not be able to select any box until
you select a tablet size. If you have changed any of the above options,
you will be notified if the tablet is installed.
To leave the configuration menu, simply deselect it.
PRINT MENU
Print File:
Print file allows you to print any .PCX images, .TXT or .FAX files.
Select the file of your choice just as you would for load file. You can
either scroll through the possible files or enter the file name. You must
add the file extension if you manually input the file name. Once you have
selected a file to be printed, you will see a box in the middle of your
screen which says "SAVING PRINT FILE." If you wish to stop printing the
document for any reason, hit the <Esc> button on your keyboard. This will
bring up an error box on your screen, notifying you that the printing was
aborted. Otherwise, the document will be printed.
Print Screen/Page:
Print screen allows you to print the currently displayed page or
image. If you have annotated on the currently displayed page, those
annotations will also be included.
If you wish to stop printing the screen or page for any reason, hit
the <Esc> button on your keyboard. This will bring up an error box on your
screen, notifying you that the printing was aborted. Otherwise, the document
will be printed.
FILES
The files menu provides the user with four options. It allows you to
save and load any screens created in this program, send any file to a remote
location, and change the current drive and directory.
Save File:
To save a PCX image that you've created, select on the save box. You
may save the screen to the file name of your choice or to an existing PCX
file.
A) Save a File Via the Scrolling Box:
To save your screen to an existing file, just select that filename
when it is highlighted. A maximum of five files will appear in the
box. To see the remaining files, move your cursor to the bottom of
the box, and it will scroll through the files. To see files that
were at the top of your list, just move your cursor to the top of
the box.
B) Manually Entering the File Name:
To save the screen to a new file name or to a file name that
already exists, just enter the new filename via the keyboard. You
may wish to simply type in the name of file, even if it already
exists, since it may take time to find the correct file by
scrolling through all the PCX images. A window will pop-up and
your file name will appear as you type it. You do not need to give
a file extension, since PCX will be automatically appended to the
name.
If you do not wish to save the screen, just deselect it.
Note: F4 will allow you to save the screen to a filename of your choice. A
window will pop-up waiting for your input.
Load File:
Once you have saved a screen in a file, you may load that screen at a
later date. To load, select on the load box. This will bring up all PCX
images in the current directory. If there are none, you will be told so.
A) Load a File Via the Scrolling Box
If you wish to load one of these, move the highlight bar to the
desired file and select it. A maximum of five files will be in the
window at one time. If there are more in the directory, then by
just moving your cursor to the bottom of the box, it will continue
scrolling through the other files.
B) Entering the File Name Manually
If you wish to enter the name of the file without trying to locate
it by scrolling through all the files, just enter the filename
when the window of all possible images is on the screen. A window
will pop up and the name of the file will occur as you type it.
You do not need to add the PCX extension. When you have completed
the title, hit the Enter key.
If you do not wish to select a file, just deselect this window. If
you are connected to another PC and this image also exists on that machine,
you will automatically load this image on the remote screen.
Note: If you have loaded a file that was previously a fax file, you will
notice that only a portion of the page is on the screen. (See the
Document Pages section on page for a discussion on individual pages.)
Send File:
Send file allows you to send any file to another PC, if you have
already established a connection. It will be saved in the remote's current
directory. You select the file of your choice just as you would for load and
save file. You can either scroll through the possible files or enter the
filename. In this case, you must add the file extension if you manually
input the file name. Once you have selected a file, a window will pop up
with the file to be sent, as well as the total number of packets to be sent
and a running count of the number of packets sent. The remote site will have
the same window on their screen, so that the remote site realizes that a file
is being received. It too, will have a running count of received packets.
Thus, this is a very useful file transfer feature. The remote site cannot
have any menus on the screen, or the file will not be received.
If you wish to stop sending the file for any reason, hit the Escape
button on your keyboard. This will bring up an error box on your screen,
notifying you that the transmission was aborted.
Directory:
The directory option allows you to change your current drive and
directory to any existing drive and directory.
A) Change Drive:
To change the drive, select drive when it is highlighted. This
will then bring up a window with all available drives. Just
select the desired one. To leave the drive menu, just deselect
it.
Note: If you choose drive "A" or "B", make sure that a disk is in the desired
drive and that the door is shut if it is a 5 1/4 drive.
B) Change Directory:
To change directory, move the highlight bar to the desired
directory and select it. The ".." option will take you to the
parent directory of the current directory.
To leave the Directory Menu, simply deselect it. You will notice
that when you return to the main directory menu, that your current path is
shown below the menu. This is to help you make sure that you are in the path
of your choice.
FAX MENU
The Fax Menu provides the user with five options. It allows you to
load received faxes, fax a fax or PCX file to a fax machine, fax a screen to
a fax machine, rename a received fax, and change the current drive and
directory.
Load Fax:
Once you have received a fax, you may now load that document. To
load, select on the load box. This will bring up all FAX documents in the
current directory. If there are none, you will be told so.
A) Load a Fax Via the Scrolling Box
If you wish to load one of these, move the highlight bar to the
desired file and select it. A maximum of five fax files will be in
the window at one time. If there are more in the directory, then
by just moving your cursor to the bottom of the box, it will
continue scrolling through the other fax files.
B) Entering the Fax File Name Manually
If you wish to enter the name of the fax file without trying to
locate it by scrolling through all the fax files, just enter the
file name when the window of all possible fax documents is on the
screen. A window will pop up and the name of the file will occur
as you type it. You do not need to add the FAX extension. When
you have completed the title, hit the Enter key.
If you do not wish to load a fax file at this time, simply deselect
the file box. If you are connected to another PC and this image also exists
on that machine, you will automatically load this image on the remote screen.
Note: If you load a fax file, you will notice that only a portion of the page
is on the screen. (See the Document Pages section on page for a
discussion on individual pages.)
Fax File:
Fax file allows you to send any received faxes or PCX images to a fax
machine or PC fax board. You select the file of your choice just as you would
for load fax file. You can either scroll through the possible files or enter
the filename. You must add the file extension if you manually input the file
name. To use this feature, you must first select "FAX BOARD" in your
communications menu as your communications device. Once you have selected a
file to be faxed, you will see a box in the middle of your screen which says
"CONVERTING TO FAX FORMAT." Depending on the complexity of the image and the
number of pages in the file, this could take a few minutes to get set-up.
Once the conversion is complete, a window will pop up with the number of
pages to be sent and a running count of the number of pages sent. Further,
a window will pop-up, asking you to enter the fax machine's phone number.
If you do not wish to fax this document at this time, just deselect.
Otherwise, after the number has been entered, your PC will call the fax
machine and send the document page by page.
If you wish to stop sending the document to the fax machine for any
reason, hit the Escape button on your keyboard. This will bring up an error
box on your screen, notifying you that the transmission was aborted.
Otherwise, after the document has been faxed completely, the Fax box will
disappear, and you will return to the Fax Menu.
Fax Screen:
Fax screen allows you to send your screen or particular page to a fax
machine. When this feature is selected, you may have two options. If you are
displaying a page of a multi-page document, you will be asked if you wish to
send the entire document.
To answer "YES", you can either highlight the "YES" and select it,
or hit 'Y' or 'y' on your keyboard.
To answer "NO", you may highlight the "NO" and select hit, hit 'N' or
'n' on the keyboard, or simply deselect this box.
If you answered "YES", the entire document will be faxed. If you
have annotated on the currently displayed page, those annotations will also
be included. If you answered "NO", only the current page, with its
annotation, will be faxed.
Note: If you are displaying a screen image (one that does not go beyond the
limits of the screen), or a single page fax, you will not be prompted
to ask about sending the entire document.
To use this feature, you must first select "FAX BOARD" in your
communications menu as your communications device. Once you have selected a
file to be faxed, you will see a box in the middle of your screen which says
"CONVERTING TO FAX FORMAT." Depending on the complexity of the image and the
number of pages in the file, this could take a few minutes to get set-up.
Once the conversion is complete, a window will pop up with the number of
pages to be sent and a running count of the number of pages sent. Further,
another window will pop-up, asking you to enter the fax machine's phone
number. If you do not wish to fax your screen at this time, just deselect.
Otherwise, after the number has been entered, your PC will call the fax
machine and send your current screen page by page.
If you wish to stop sending the document to the fax machine for any
reason, hit the Escape button on your keyboard. This will bring up an error
box on your screen, notifying you that the transmission was aborted.
Otherwise, after the screen has been faxed completely, the Fax box will
disappear, and you will return to the Fax Menu.
Rename Fax:
Rename fax allows you to rename a fax document to another fax
document. The reason for this is due to the way "P.C. Blackboard" saves
incoming faxes. "P.C. Blackboard" will provide a unique name to each
received fax. It will consist of six numbers and two characters. The first
six numbers are a combination of the day, month, and hour. The last two
characters are created to insure uniqueness. It is recommended that you
rename these files to a name which is more descriptive of the fax itself.
Directory:
The directory option allows you to change your current drive and
directory to any existing drive and directory.
A) Change Drive:
To change the drive, select drive when it is highlighted. This will
then bring up a window with all available drives. Just select the desired
one. To leave the drive menu, just deselect it.
Note: If you choose drive "A" or "B", make sure that a disk is in the desired
drive and that the door is shut if it is a 5 1/4 drive.
B) Change Directory
To change directory, move the highlight bar to the desired
directory and select it. The ".." option will take you to the
parent directory of the current directory.
To leave the Directory Menu, simply deselect it. You will notice that
when you return to the main directory menu, that your current path is shown
below the menu. This is to help you make sure that you are in the path of
your choice.
SEND SCREEN
If you are connected to another PC, this will send your screen to the
remote's screen. Once again, the remote cannot have any menus on the screen,
or the screen will not be received. A box will appear at both sites showing
the users the percentage of data sent and received.
Note: Hitting the F3 key on the keyboard will also send your screen to the
other PC. This is usually more convenient than going back to the main
menu to send your screen.
If you wish to stop sending the screen for any reason, hit the Escape
button on your keyboard. This will bring up an error box on your screen,
notifying you that the transmission was aborted.
UNDO
The undo feature will remove all annotations from the screen since
the last save of the image. This includes free hand draw, shapes, and text.
This means that the original image will now be in place, without the
annotation. If you wish to make any annotation permanent, save the image via
the files menu. If you do save the image, undo will not remove the marks made
prior to saving the image.
To undo, simply select "UNDO" from the Main Menu. If there is not
enough disk space for undo, you will get an error message and be returned to
the Main Menu. If there is enough disk space, all annotation marks made
since the last save will be removed.
SELECTIVE ERASE
This feature allows the user to remove annotation from a user
defined area on the screen. Select "Selective Erase" from the main menu.
Your cursor will be represented by the cross. The user then positions this
cross where they wish to remove annotation. A ghost box will appear. Drag
the box to enclose the desired area to be erased and let up on the pen or
release the left button of the mouse. This works just like the rectangle
drawing tool. Any annotation within the box will now be removed from the
image. If you do not wish to erase that particular area on the screen,
deselect it. If you had previously saved the image with the annotation,
you will not be able to erase those annotations. Therefore, you may only
erase annotation marks since the last save. When you are finished using
selective erase, deselect and you will return to the previous drawing tool.
CLEAR SCREEN
This will clear your screen to your current background color. If you
are connected to another PC, it will clear their screen also.
Note: Hitting the F2 key on the keyboard will also clear your screen. This
is usually more convenient than going back to the main menu to clear
your screen.
EXIT
The final option on the menu is Exit. This will exit you from "P.C.
Blackboard" and return you to DOS. If you are connected, it will disconnect
the call first, then exit to DOS.
Note: All drawing tool attributes and all parameters for communications and
the tablet are saved. So the next time you enter the "P.C. Blackboard"
program, they will all be just as you left them.
DOCUMENT PAGES
Documents received from a fax machine are displayed differently than
images created in the "P.C. Blackboard" program. Only a portion of each page
can be shown at one time. This is due to the resolution required to display
the amount of data that it necessary for a fax image. Therefore, we have
created a virtual page. That is, each page extends to the right of the
screen, as well as below the screen. Through the document queue, the user
can then scroll through the document. The options will appear in a queue in
the bottom, right hand corner of the screen. This queue will allow you to
scroll left and right, up and down, jump to the top of the page, jump to the
bottom of the page, and go to a particular page of a multi-page document.
Further, you may put the entire page on the screen. This queue is the
interface for the document pages. As you move your cursor towards the bottom
of the screen, your cursor will change to a CROSS. As you position your
cursor over the desired icon and select it, the function, associated with
that icon, will occur. The following list provides a description of the
document queue's options.
A) Scroll Left: This is represented by the arrow pointing left. This
will allow you to display portions of the screen which lie to the left of what
is currently displayed on your screen. If nothing exists to the left of your
image, this function will do nothing. This just means that you have reached
the left side of the page.
B) Scroll Right: This is represented by the arrow pointing right.
This is just like the scroll left feature, except that it allows you to
scroll right. This will allow you to display portions of the screen which
lie to the right of what is currently displayed on your screen. If nothing
exists to the right of your image, this function will do nothing. This just
means that you have reached the right side of the page
C) Scroll Up: This is represented by the arrow pointing up. This
will allow you to scroll towards the top of the document. That is, portions
of the page that lie above your currently displayed page will now be
displayed, while less of the bottom portion will be displayed. When you have
reached the top of the document, this function will have no effect.
D) Scroll Down: This is represented by the arrow pointing down. This
will allow you to scroll towards the bottom of the document. That is,
portions of the page, which are below your currently displayed portion, will
now be displayed, while less of the currently displayed portion will be on
the screen. When you have reached the bottom of the document page, this
function will have no effect.
E) Top of Page: This is represented by the capitol 'T'. This will
automatically jump to top of the image. This is more convenient than
continually scrolling to the top of the page. Basically, this is used to
save the user the time of scrolling.
F) Bottom of Page: This is represented by the capitol 'B'. This is
similar to the Top of Page function, except that it jumps to the bottom of
the page. Again, this is meant to save the user from continually scrolling
down the page.
G) Preview: This is represented by the capitol 'P'. This function
allows you to display the entire page on the screen. It will be difficult to
read anything within the document, but it is used more as a reference point.
That is, it can be used to establish which area of the document you wish to
discuss.
Note: This function shows why it is necessary to only show a portion of the
page at any given time. Otherwise, you would not be able to read
anything on your screen.
H) Change Page: This is represented by the current page number. When
you first load a document, the number '1' will appear in this box. If you
touch on this box, another box will appear in the middle of your screen.
This box will allow you to display any page that exists in the document. As
you move your pointing device, the available pages will appear. When you come
to the desired page number, select it. The program will then load this page
to your screen. If this is only a one (1) page document, selecting this
option will do nothing.
If the document queue is in your way, hit the F6 key on the keyboard
to take the queue away. You can now use your drawing tools within this area.
However, you will not be able to scroll, preview, or change pages until you
bring the queue back. To bring it back, you must hit the F6 key once again.
FUNCTION KEYS
F1 - On-Line/Off-Line: If you are connected to a remote site, this
will toggle between off-line and on-line. If you are on-line, you will go
off-line, and if you are off-line, you will go on-line. A message will
appear in the bottom right hand corner with the word "On-Line" or "Off-Line",
depending on which state the modem is in currently. (See the Call Status
portion of the Communications section for an understanding of on-line and
off-line.)
F2 - Clear Screen: This will clear your screen to the current
background color. If you are connected to a remote site, this will clear
their screen to their background color.
F3 - Send Screen: If you are connected to a remote site, this will
send your screen to the remote's screen.
F4 - Fax Screen: This will fax your screen, current page of FAX or
PCX file, or entire FAX or PCX file. (See part 3: Fax Screen in the Fax Menu
section.)
F5 - Save Screen: Allows you to save the screen to a filename of your
choice. The maximum number of characters in the filename is eight. The
filename will automatically become a PCX image, so you do not need to add an
extension. This is quicker than accessing the save option under the Files
menu. A window will pop-up and wait for the file name to be typed in. When
you are finished, hit the Enter key, and the screen will be saved to the file
name you just typed in. If you do not wish to save the screen after hitting
the F4 key, deselect it.
F6 - Toggle Document Queue: This will toggle the document queue. If
the queue is displayed, this will take it away. If it is not displayed, it
will display it. This is a useful feature, when the queue is covering
something you wish to discuss, or when you wish to draw within the area
occupied by the queue.
F7 - Change Tool: This function key will automatically change to the
next drawing tool in the list. This can be very helpful if for some reason
you don't have a pointing device to change to next tool.
F8 - Undo: The F8 key will automatically undo any annotation that has
occurred since the last save. This function key can be much faster than
bringing up the main menu to undo the screen.
F9 - Information Screen: This will bring up the information screen.
It contains the version number and revision number of the program, as well as
the serial number. It also contains Serial Solution's address and phone
number, which may be useful if inquiries are required.
BEGINNING THE PROGRAM
To start P.C. Blackboard, at the DOS prompt type:
C:>PCBB
When you start the program, a window will pop up with information in
it. It contains the program version as well as information concerning
peripheral devices. It will tell you if a mouse is installed, whether a
tablet is installed, the kind of graphic card you have, and the type of modem
being installed if one exists. You may want to keep an eye on these as they
are displayed to confirm that everything you want installed is installed.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Mouse: If it does not install, first make sure you install the mouse
driver for the correct com port from DOS. Second, make sure the mouse is
connected to the PC. Then make sure it does not conflict with any device.
That is, make sure you have not assigned another device to the same com port.
Tablet: If it does not install, make sure it is turned on. Second,
make sure it is connected to the PC. Third, check the configuration screen
to make sure it is setup for the correct com port. If it is not, follow the
steps outlined in the configuration section to re-install it.
Modem: If it is not found, make sure it is turned on. Second, make
sure it is connected to the PC at the correct com port. Third, make sure
your modem can handle the baud rate at which you are attempting to set it up
for.
ERROR MESSAGES
There are thirty-six possible errors that can occur while in the
"PC Blackboard" program.
Error 1: "Board Detected not Supported"
This error occurs at start-up when a card is detected that cannot be
set to the mode that this program requires. If this error occurs, the
program will exit to DOS. Generally, this would mean you have a faulty
graphics card, or you are attempting to use a monochrome card.
Error 2: "Tool File Corrupted - Using Default"
This error occurs at start-up when the program attempts to read the
tool file. The tool file holds the previously set attributes for all the
tools, as well as the communication and tablet parameters. When this error
occurs, the tool attributes, the communication parameters, and the tablet
parameters will be set to their default values.
Error 3: "Unable to Create Tool File"
This error occurs when exiting from the program. If this error
occurs, it means that the program was unable to create a tool file. Thus,
any changes made to the tool attributes, communication parameters, and tablet
parameters will not be saved. Therefore, they will take on their default
values the next time you enter the "P.C. Blackboard" program.
Error 4: "Not Enough Memory For Data Allocation"
This error occurs when the program cannot allocate memory for
internal buffers that will be used for reading and writing to disk.
Error 5: "Not Enough Memory For Menu Allocation"
This error occurs when the program cannot allocate memory for a menu
which is to be displayed to the screen.
Error 6: "Error Saving Tool File"
This error is similar to Error 3, except that the file was created,
but the Tool file could not be written to. Again, since the attributes and
parameters could not be saved, the tool attributes, communication parameters,
and tablet parameters, will take on their default values.
Error 7: "Time Out Error"
This error occurs when sending or receiving a file or screen. If
data is not received in a time determined by the baud rate being used, this
error will occur. It means that the data was not sent or received in its
entirety. If this error occurs, attempt to re-send. It may have been a
problem in the telephone line. If the error persists, you should try two
things. First, disconnect the call, and attempt the call again. This should
clear up any problems that may have been occurring with the telephone line or
com port. Or second, verify that both sites are setup at the same baud rate.
If you are not, the time out value will not be correct for the actual baud
rate. The one with the highest baud rate will time out to early.
Error 8: "Unable To Open File"
This error occurs when the "P.C. Blackboard" program attempts to load
a PCX image to the screen, but is unable to. If this error occurs, attempt
to reload it. If it continues to fail, the file is likely to be corrupted.
Error 9: "Invalid Response Code"
This error occurs when a file or screen is being sent to a remote
site. It means an error has occurred in transmission. You should attempt
to re-send the file or screen.
Error 10: "Unable To Read From File"
This error occurs when the "P.C. Blackboard" program is unable to
read a PCX image which is to be loaded to the screen. If this error occurs,
attempt to reload it. If it continues to fail, the file is likely to be
corrupted.
Error 12: "Unable To Write To File"
This error occurs when attempting to save your screen to disk. If
this error occurs, attempt to re-save the screen. If it continues to fail,
you may want to check your hard drive or floppy disk to make sure enough
memory exists to save the image.
Error 13: "Graphic Card Does Not Handle This Image"
This error occurs when the program attempts to load a PCX image which
is not a one bit per pixel image. Other PCX images are too complex for the
mode being utilized.
Error 14: "Invalid File or Path"
This error occurs when the user attempts to change the current
directory to a directory that does not exist.
Error 15: "Unable to Rename File"
This error occurs when you attempt to rename a received fax to a new
name of your choice, and the PC is unable to perform this action.
Error 16: "Unable to Delete File"
This error occurs when the PC is unable to delete the file you have
selected to be deleted from the File Menu.
Error 17: "Not a Valid PCX Image"
The PCX image that you are attempting to load, is not in the correct
PCX format.
Error 18: "Fax Response Error"
This error may occur during the transmission of a fax image. You
should try to send the image again.
Error 19: "User Aborted Transmission"
This error occurs when the user aborted the transmission of a file or
screen.
Error 20: "Fax Board Not Installed"
This error occurs if you try to access the fax file or fax screen/page
options within the Fax Menu. To remedy this problem, setup your fax/data modem
within the configuration menu.
Error 21: "Unable to Continue, Already On-Line"
This error occurs if you attempt to change communication parameters
while you are connected. You must first disconnect from the remote site
before changing communication parameters.
Error 22: "Unable to Continue, Not On-Line"
This error occurs if you hit the F1 key to toggle between off-line
and on-line. This key has no function if you are not connected to another PC.
Error 23: "No Modem Defined"
This error occurs if you attempt to change any of the parameters
within the configuration menu without a modem type being chosen. To remedy
this problem, select your desired communication device.
Error 24: "Fax Board Cannot Utilize This Menu"
This error occurs if you attempt to access the communication menu if
you have chosen a fax board within the configuration menu.
Error 25: " Baud Rate Cannot Be Changed For Fax Board"
The baud rate for the fax board is fixed. If you attempt to change
it, you will get this error.
Error 26: "Drive Not Ready"
This error occurs if you attempt to access the "A" or "B" drive when
it is not ready. You should check to see if a disk exists within the desired
drive, and that the door is shut if it is a 5.25 drive.
Error 27: "Point Does Not Have Any Attributes"
This error occurs if you attempt to select the Attribute Menu while
the pointer is your current tool.
Error 28: "Not Connected to Another PC"
This error occurs if you attempt to change the status box in the
communication menu. This box is of no use if you are not connected to another
PC.
Error 29: "User Aborted The Receiving Of Data"
This message is more informational than it is an error message. This
message will let the user know that the system will discontinue receiving the
data and that they are returning to the interactive mode.
Error 30: "Not Enough Disk Memory For Undo"
This occurs when there is not enough disk space to hold the undo file. To remedy this, you must leave the program and delete any unnecessary files. This will create more disk space, which will provide the necessary space for the undo
file.
Error 31: "User Aborted The printing of Data"
This occurs when you hit the <ESC> key to abort a print that is
currently in progress.
Error 32: "Document Queue Does Not Exist"
This occurs if you hit the F6 key to toggle the queue. It simply
tells you that no queue exists.
Error 33: "Printer Error - Not Connected or Not On"
This occurs when you attempt to access the printer menu and the
printer is either off-line or not turned on. You should check the power
button and make sure the on-line light is on.
Error 34: "No Tablet Defined"
This error occurs if you attempt to change any of the parameters
within the configuration menu without a tablet being chosen. To remedy this
problem, select your desired tablet size.
Error 35: "No Address Is Assigned"
You cannot initialize a modem or tablet when the address value is
zero. You must input an address value.
Error 36: "No Interrupt Number Is Assigned"
You cannot initialize a modem or tablet when the interrupt value is
zero. You must input an interrupt value.
Note: When displaying an error message, the memory needed to be allocated may
not be enough. If this case occurs, you will be notified through
another error message saying so, as well as a message telling you that
the previous screen will be lost. Thus, the program did not have enough
memory to save the previous screen as well as the data required for the
error message. If this occurs, you would be advised to leave the "PC
Blackboard" program and check the available memory on your machine.
