Tips for Working
with Writing with Symbols 2000
Writing with
Symbols 2000 is produced by Widgit Software
and distributed in the US by Mayer-Johnson. Symbols
and Computer Technology
explains how Writing with Symbols is used and the Ideas page
provides more information. Special projects include the Family
History Book and the Going on a
Plane Trip story.
Tips
Startup with an environment
We
use several environments. One, though, loads a writing area and the grid for
Mike's main menu. We have an icon on the desktop so Mike can start Writing with
Symbols by himself and go directly to the grid with the main menu.
-
To start WWS2000 with a specified
environment, include the environment and its path in the shortcut’s startup
properties. For example, the following starts Writing with Symbols 2000
on our system:
C:\WWS2000\Application\USWWS2000.exe
-
Using an environment named
mike.wit that is saved on the C:\ in WWS2000\files\mikework, the shortcut’s
target is:
C:\WWS2000\Application\USWWS2000.exe C:\wws2000\files\mikework\mike.wit
-
In order to include an environment
in the properties, do not include spaces when naming folders or
files.
-
The only space in the above
is immediately after USWWS2000.exe
Acknowledgment: This tip was developed following a question to Widgit's technical
support when we used an earlier version of Writing with Symbols. The above example
is from Writing with Symbols 2000. It has been invaluable in making it so Mike
can use Writing with Symbols independently. We also have other icons on the
desktop so Mike can independently start the computer and use the program he
wants.
For more information on
how we use Writing with Symbols 2000, please check the Symbols
and Computer Technology page.
Create
a booklet with multiple grids on a page
It is possible in Writing
with Symbols 2000 to print a single grid; however, Mike uses 22 grids and
occasionally it is useful to have a printed copy with multiple grids on
a page for Mike to carry, such as when we visit family or go on vacation.
The following steps use Microsoft Word 97 and TechSmith's
SnagIt, a screen capture utility:
-
Configure SnagIt to capture
(input) a region and output it to the clipboard
-
In Writing with Symbols 2000,
open a grid
-
Press the capture hotkey (by
default it is Ctrl+Shift+P) and capture the grid (click and drag the upper
left corner to the lower right corner and then let go of the mouse button).
-
In Word 97, insert a table
- 1 column by 1 row
-
Set the alignment within the
cell to center
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Paste the image of the grid
previously captured using Edit, Paste or Ctrl+V
-
The image will be floating
over the text. Do the following to remove float over text:
-
Click on the image to select
it and on the menu, go to Format, Picture
-
Or right mouse click the image
(perhaps twice) and select Format Picture
-
At the top of the dialog box,
click the Position tab
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Deselect Float over text
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Click OK
-
Press Tab to insert another
row
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Repeat the process until all
the grids have been captured and pasted into the table.
-
Enhancing the table with the
grids:
-
Remove the lines around the
table - use Table, Select Table and then Format, Borders and Shading, Borders,
None
-
Another option is leave a line
between the grids - Table, Select Table and then Format, Borders and Shading,
Borders, All and then remove the lines on the sides
-
Increase the spacing between
the grids - use Table, Select Table and Format, Paragraph, Spacing Before
and / or Spacing After.
Note: In Writing with Symbols 2000 the grids Mike uses are 7 inches wide by
2.75 inches in height. We are able to get 4 grids on a page in Word. In Word
the grids are sized at 6 inches wide by approximately 2.37 inches high. The
print margins are set at 0.3 inches on the top and 0.6 inches on the bottom.
The paragraph spacing is 5 points before and 5 points after.
