The GestureLaunch Engine is intended for users of other buttonbar enhancements (right now, just DashBoard by FiveSpeed software) who also want to use GestureLaunch. It *does not* function on it's own. If you do not use a compatible buttonbar enhancement (right now, just DashBoard), then you should use the full version of GestureLaunch (a demo is available at our web site - www.newts.com).
The GestureLaunch Engine does *not* include the functionality of BarKeep, so please ignore any references to BarKeep which may appear in this document.
***GLEngine vs GestureLaunch***
The GestureLaunch Engine (GLEngine) is a "lite" version of GestureLaunch 3.1 which is specifically tuned to work cooperatively with compatible button-bar enhancements (right now, just DashBoard by FiveSpeed software). It is *not* a standalone product (it won't work without DashBoard). If you already own GestureLaunch 3.x (ie; you own NewtCase 3.1 or later), then you can use the GLEngine for free (email dan@newts.com for a code). If you do not own GestureLaunch already, you can get it by ordering NewtCase 3.1 from PelicanWare (www.pelicanware.com), or you can purchase the GLEngine alone directly from us for just $10. You can purchase GLEngine online at <http://order.kagi.com/?IC> - note that GLEngine will *not* operate as a standalone product - it requires a compatible buttonbar (right now, just DashBoard) to be installed.
The full version of GestureLaunch is included as part of the NewtCase utility suite (version 3.1 or later), and includes the functionality of our popular button bar enhancement, BarKeep, as well as the usefull KillBB utility (see our web site for more information about BarKeep). NewtCase 3.1 is available now from PelicanWare (see contact info at the bottom of this file) for $49.95, or wherever Newton software is sold. [As of this writing (8/14/98), PelicanWare is offering electronically distributed (no box) versions of NewtCase 3.1 on their web site for just $29.95]. The full version of GestureLaunch is not sold as a standalone product.
Reduced-cost (or free, depending on when you bought NewtCase) upgrades from previous versions of NewtCase are available directly from PelicanWare.
***HOW TO REGISTER***
If you already own GestureLaunch 3.x (ie; you own NewtCase 3.1 or later), then simply email dan@newts.com with your registration information and you will receive a code within a few days. Be sure to include your serial number and the name under which the product is registered.
You can register the GLEngine alone by visiting our online registration pages at <http://order.kagi.com/?IC>. Once you register, you should receive a registration code via return email within a few days. Be sure not to wait until the last minute to register, or the product will expire and you will have to wait for your code before you can use it again.
***WHERE TO GET SUPPORT***
If you own the full version of GestureLaunch (which came with NewtCase 3.1), you can obtain technical support for GestureLaunch by contacting the publisher, PelicanWare (support@pelicanware.com). If you own only the GLEngine for DashBoard, you can get support directly from ICS by emailing support@newts.com.
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS SECTION!!
Most early users of GestureLaunch haven't had much difficulty figuring out how to use it (even without a manual, most were up and running in under 15 minutes), but the two most commonly encountered questions/problems were:
Q - help! I can't drag my icons anymore!
A - GestureLaunch can't tell the difference between a gesture and a drag, so we invented a new gesture for dragging icons - the tap-drag. It's just as if you were copying text in the notepad. Tap briefly, then drag (like a double tap, except the second tap is a drag). It's really easy when you get the hang of it.
Q - help! I can't open the gesturelaunch configuration window!
A - Open the gesturelaunch configuring window by "selecting" an icon on the buttonbar. Do this by holding the pen on the icon for a couple of seconds until the ink gets fat, and the Newton "squeeks" (if sound is on). It's just like selecting text.
This version of GestureLaunch is intended to be used with DashBoard by FiveSpeed Software. If you do not have DashBoard installed, it will not operate. GLEngine needs to load AFTER DashBoard, so you should install the GestureLaunch Engine and DashBoard on the SAME store (ie; if DashBoard is on a card, GLEngine should be on the same card). If you have DashBoard installed internally, you may install GLEngine on either card. If you install GLEngine internally and DashBoard is on a card, it will not operate properly.
Use your favorite package installer (NBU, NCU, Newton Package Installer, X-Port) to download the GestureLaunch package to your MessagePad 2000. You may install GestureLaunch on a card, but it will use more heap than if it were installed internally, and you will receive the "Newton still needs this card.." message if you try to remove the card (you will still be permitted to remove the card, but you will have to reinsert it briefly first). We therefore recommend that you install GestureLaunch internally.
GestureLaunch will appear in your extras drawer as an extension called "GLEngine:ICS." Do not install GLEngine and the full version of GestureLaunch at the same time.
You should also install the scripts.pkg package, which includes approximately 40 scripts for use with GestureLaunch. When you download the scripts package, it will install the scripts and automatically delete itself. Scripts are always installed internally. Descriptions for the scripts can be viewed in the GestureLaunch configuration window.
The KillBB utility which is included with the full version of GestureLaunch is not compatible with DashBoard, so it is not included with the GLEngine.
***************************
***USING GESTURELAUNCH 3.0***
***************************
Complete instructions on how to use GestureLaunch 3.0 can be found in the NewtCase manual, which is included with this distribution. The NewtCase manual is in ACROBAT (.pdf) format. An Acrobat viewer can be found at http://www.adobe.com/. The text of the relevant sections are included for your reference below. If you have Acrobat viewer, you should view the Acrobat version, since it has screenshots and better formatting. You should ignore all references to BarKeep and/or KillBB in this documentation if you are using the GLEngine with DashBoard.
Overview
--------
GestureLaunch allows you to configure the MessagePad’s built-in buttons so
that when you write a gesture over a button, a predetermined action will be
performed. A gesture can be a letter, number, punctuation mark, or a double-tap.
Examples of some possible actions are launching a package, initiating a
Dock, displaying heap statistics, or toggling the backlighting on or off without
using the power switch. These are just a few of the many actions available, and
advanced users who are familiar with NewtonScript can add their own.
The actions you can choose from in GestureLaunch are called scripts. When
you want to configure a button with GestureLaunch, first associate a gesture to
the button, then associate a script to the Gesture. GestureLaunch comes with
over thirty pre-designed scripts.
Here are some ways you could use GestureLaunch:
* Write a letter on the extras icon, and have a popup package picker
appear, already scrolled to the letter your wrote.
* Write a letter on the names icon to open the names application to a
particular letter
* Write a number on the dates icon to create a Todo or Appointment that
many days in the future
* Write a number on the dates icon to open your agenda/todo list that many
days in the future
* Configure letters to launch your favorite applications (P for NewtPaint,
X for X-Port, Q for QuickFigure, etc)
* Double tap the notes icon to open the notepad, create a new recording
note, and begin recording automatically
* Configure a gesture to bring up a configurable list of often-used
phrases
* Insert a Date and/or Timestamp with a single gesture
* Scroll past a multi page note in the notepad with a single gesture
* Configure a button to simulate common command-key equivalents (Z- undo,
C- copy, X- cut, V- paste, etc)
* The possibilities are nearly endless!
If you are familiar with the NewtonScript programming language, you may be
able to design your own scripts. A small NewtonScript expression can be made
into a GestureLaunch script with the Script Editor. The script editor is not included with the demo - it is included only with the full retail package.
**IMPORTANT NOTE: When GestureLaunch is installed, icons on the built-in button
bar cannot be selected and moved as usual. To drag an icon on the buttonbar while
GestureLaunch is installed, use the "tap-drag" gesture that you would normall use
to copy text in the notepad. Tap briefly, then drag.
Using GestureLaunch
------------------
A. To select a button for configuration, hold your pen on it for a few seconds and
then release it. If you have sound turned on, you will hear the customary
"squeak" sound, which indicates that you have selected the icon. When you release
your pen, the configuration window will appear. The icon for the button you are
configuring and the button’s name will appear at the top of the window.
B. To configure a different button, you can either select it in the button bar (as above), or
tap the button’s name at the top of the configuration window and a pop up list
of all available icons will appear. The latter option allows you to configure
icons which are not currently visible on your button bar.
C. Tap New to get a pop up list of the predefined gestures that can be assigned
to a button. Valid gestures are 0-9, A-Z, and the following symbols: !, #, $, %,
&, *, ?, ^, and ~. You may have difficulty using some of them due to their
similarity (i.e., “oh” and “Zero”). To select the gesture you want to use, either
tap it on the list, or perform the gesture on the sample icon box. When you
write on the sample icon, the screen will briefly display the letter it recognized.
In addition to regular gestures, there are three “events” that can be assigned to a
button. These appear on the pop up list of gestures. The “BeforeScript” is
executed for all gestures before the configured script is executed. The
“AfterScript” is executed for all gestures after the configured script is executed.
The “DefaultScript” executes if the user writes a gesture which has no defined
action.
D. You can also choose the gesture to be configured by writing it on the sample
icon. If GestureLaunch recognizes the gesture, it will ask you if you would like
to create a configuration for it. If so, tap Yes and proceed.
E. Once you’ve selected a gesture to configure, choose the action you would
like it to perform from the list of available scripts.
F. When you choose a script, a description of that script will appear in the
information box below the list.
G. Some scripts have “parameters” that need to be set. For the launch
application script, the package you would like to launch when the gesture is
performed is the parameter. Other scripts take text or lists of text items as
parameters. The information box for the script will specify when it needs a
parameter, and what the parameters are. When a script requires it, an Edit
Parameter button will appear. To enter the parameters, tap the button and enter
them according to the instructions that appear in the script’s description. Once
saved, the information box will show the current parameter for the script with
the rest of the description.
H. When finished configuring your button for a gesture, tap the Save button. If
you try to change icons or gestures without saving, you will be prompted to
