Learn To Type is a comprehensive package which will teach you how to type. The course is suitable for everyone - beginners, two-finger typists and touch typists, although familiarity with basic operation of a Macintosh is assumed. Learn To Type is shareware - $15 (see inside the program for details). All documentation and information is built into the program, so this file only contains information you may need in order to run the program, i.e. system requirements, memory information, and troubleshooting information. Please take a couple of minutes to glance over it before starting Learn To Type.
System Requirements
Minimum system requirements:
System software 7.0 or later.
68030 processor or greater (runs native on PowerMacs).
4 megabytes of RAM with a 2127K partition for LTT.
12 inch screen with 256 colours.
The fonts Chicago, Courier and Geneva.
Quicktime 2.0 or later is required to run the game.
Recommended system requirements:
System software 7.0 or later.
68040 or PowerPC processor.
5 - 8 megabytes of RAM, with a 2700K partition for LTT.
12 inch screen with 256 colours.
The fonts Chicago, Courier and Geneva.
Quicktime 2.0 or later is required to run the game.
Learn To Type does not run well under virtual memory, but will run if there is not alternative.
Users of multiple monitors - please make sure that the monitor running 256 colours is the main one.
Older computer users - a black and white version is available. It requires a 68020 instead of a 68030 processor, and can be got by writing or emailing us at the address below.
Memory Information
This information is for 68k Macs only. PowerMac users see note below.
Learn to Type has two memory partition options (you can set these by selecting the Learn To Type icon and choosing “Get Info”).
If you have a 4 megabytes of RAM, set the partition to 2127k. If you have more RAM, set the partition to 2700k. Learn To Type uses two different methods of handling information depending on this setting. Please do not use any value between the two as doing so will confuse Learn To Type, and may result in out of memory errors.
Playing the game with only 4 megabytes of RAM.
In order to run the game, Quicktime must have enough memory left to run - about 400k. On a 4 meg. machine, this can be hard, though not impossible to attain. Set Learn To Type’s memory partition to 2127k (see above). Use the memory control panel to turn off virtual memory, and also to set the “disk cache” to either off, or the lowest setting possible. Turn off all extensions and control panels except Quicktime, by either dragging them out of their folders, or by using Extensions Manager or similar utility. Restart your machine, and run Learn To Type.
PowerMac Memory requirements
PowerMac memory requirements differ from machine to machine. Please allow Learn To Type enough memory to run. This is likely to be about 3500K.
Tip: if you want to know if Learn To Type has as much memory as it can use, try typing a mistake whilst playing the game. If you here an dull beep, then Learn To Type has all the memory it can use. Increasing the setting will not improve performance. If you don't, then you may get slightly better performance with more memory allocated!
Troubleshooting
We hope you don’t run in to trouble with Learn To Type.
If you do, you are likely to run into an error dialogue box, which will give you several options. Note that the only reliable option is to “quit”. Use the others at your own risk. Try to avoid force quitting Learn To Type, as this may cause damage to both the application and cause a system freeze. Before contacting us, please do the following:
Check your memory partition set-up (above).
If the error persists, then note down: the error number, what you were doing at the time (how do we repeat it?), your system software version, Mac Model, and amount of RAM installed.
Dealing with corrupted files
If for any reason you student file becomes corrupt (e.g. system error when using LTT, or disk error), we may be able to repair it for you. You can send a copy of your file to us, together any information you think may be relevant. We do not make any guarantees, but we will try to repair the file.
Known bugs
Any force quitting, 'unexpected quits', or resets performed whilst the program is running may cause it to become corrupt. If this happens, the next time you load the program it may have: a "bad checksum error", and refuse to open; or may simply 'unexpectedly quit'. If this happens, replace the application from a backup.
Attempting to change any monitor values (e.g. bit depth, or resolution) whilst the program is running may cause it to crash. We have also had reports of errors after changing resolutions on multiple scan monitors. If this affects you, make sure that Learn To Type is not open when making these changes, and that you restart your computer, after making such a change - before attempting to load Learn To Type. Whilst the built in monitor switching offered at startup is less likely to cause problems, in some cases this too has been incompatible in some cases. If this affects your machine, please change the settings using the control panel before running the program.
If you run Learn To Type on a PowerMac with Quicktime installed, but without the "Quicktime Power Plug" then Learn To Type will not load, but will crash with a "Type 11" error. Re-installing the Quicktime extension (which will automatically install a 'Power Plug' extension) will fix the problem.
We hope to fix these problems in a later version of the software.
Version History
Changes since v1.1
Altered the boat animation coding in the game to provide better reliability with some system configurations and versions of Quicktime.
Updated the 'SalesAgent' module to fix a problem with mail and phone registration methods.
Changes since v1.0.3/4
Fixed a problem which occurred when opening a saved file under modified date systems.
Fixed a bug that occurred when loading preferences after having replaced the application.
Revised the introduction to the game, adding a story.
Added the option to show black score marks when a mistake is typing in the lesson window.
Added the "SalesAgent" module, to allow easy 24-hour credit card payment.
Added U.S. keyboard support.
Added option to have one or two spaces between sentences.
Added facility to automatically change the monitor to 256 colours if required. Note that automatic changing may not be compatible with all models of display or video card (if you have difficulties please use the monitors control panel before running Learn to Type and report the problem to us).
Eliminated the estimate on reaching target speeds as it was too inaccurate.
Altered lesson programming to ignore extra (accidental) spaces at the end of lines typed.
Fixed problem with saving files when the program is quit from outside the application (e.g. by choosing "Shut down" in the finder before quitting Learn To Type.
Added a delay to the save command on unregistered copies to encourage registration.
Changes since v1.0.2
Fixed the incompatibility between LTT and a 68030 running System 7.5.
Fixed a couple of minor display issues in the game.
Fixed a problem when opening files under certain circumstances from in the finder.
Made a few other minor alterations to spelling, etc.
Changes since v1.0
Fixed a problem whereby on some PowerMacs the program incorrectly reported the processor as being too old!
Fixed a problem with colour checking using multiple monitors.
Fixed an error which occurred when using some symbol keys in "Extra Tuition".
Changed the registration form to accept cheques.
Revised the 'Save' command slightly to speed up the process.
Fixed a loading problem during low memory situations in the game.
Changed the preferred memory setting from 2450K to 2700K, as it was found to improve performance slightly.
If you are upgrading from an older version, please delete your old preferences file (in the preferences folder of the system folder) before running v1.1. Note however that older student files are compatible with v1.1, but files saved or modified with v1.1 are not compatible with older versions of the software.
Contact Information
We are really keen to here any comments you may have about Learn To Type, together with any suggestions, complaints, bug reports, etc. Please write to us at either of the addresses below.
