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Braille Lite Training Materials
(Revised October 1999 by Jay Stiteley & Jim Allan)
Physical Components of the Braille Lite (BLT)
Hold the BLT so the on/off rocker switch is on the right side of the device 
and the braille display is closest to you.
  - When the BLT is positioned as described above, the keys will appear 
  similar to the Perkins keyboard. These keys correspond with the dots in 
  Braille. From left to right, they are identified as keys (dots) 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 
  6. The key slightly below and perpendicular to the six keys is the space bar. 
  The long bar positioned between the space bar and the braille display is the 
  advance bar for the display. 
  
 - On the right side of the BLT are the on/off rocker switch and earphone 
  jack. Pressing down on the raised part of the rocker switch will turn the BLT 
  on. Now the rocker switch is pushed in at the end closest to the earphone 
  jack. 
  
 - On the left side of the device there are three ports and the power adapter 
  socket. 
  
    - With the BLT positioned as described above, move your finger along the 
    left side of the BLT, close to the top edge, from front to back. First, you 
    will find a recessed rectangular area. Within this rectangle, There are two 
    circles. The first circle or port encountered is the disk drive port. The 
    second circle or port is the serial or communication port. 
    
 - Past the serial port, and outside the recessed area, there is a round 
    hole. This is where the power adapter is plugged into the BLT. 
    (approximately 30 hours battery life, with a two hour quick charge, maximum 
    of four hours of charging without damaging the machine.) 
    
 - Below the serial and disk drive ports, there is a standard parallel 
    port. 
 
 
VOCABULARY TERMS
  - Advance Bar 
  
 - pressing right side of bar moves the display forward 18 characters, 
  pressing left side of bar moves display back 18 characters. 
  
 - Chord commands 
  
 - This means that the space bar is pressed down with whatever dot keys, 
  letters or contractions are listed in the command. For example Chord ST means 
  pressing (dots 3-4) and the space bar simultaneously. 
  
 - Writing cursor 
  
 - The writing cursor is always at the bottom of the file. The reading cursor 
  is there with it unless reading commands are given. As soon as writing begins 
  the reading cursor jumps to the bottom of the file with the writing cursor. 
  The writing cursor only moves from the bottom of the file when the "insert" or 
  "delete" commands are used. 
  
 - Reading cursor 
  
 - The reading cursor is free to move around the file separate from the 
  writing cursor. Caution: when using the reading commands, if 
  the command is not executed properly, by releasing the space bar and 
  respective dot keys at the same time, then the BLT thinks that it is a writing 
  process and immediately pulls the reading cursor to the bottom of the file and 
  writes the keystrokes. 
  
 - Insert 
  
 - This command pulls the writing cursor to the reading cursor and allows the 
  user to insert up to the size of the clipboard. 
  
 - Delete 
  
 - This command allows deleting or erasing of characters, words, lines, 
  sentences, paragraphs, or the remainder of the document. The writing cursor is 
  pulled to the reading cursor position and the deleting process is started from 
  the reading cursor position. 
  
 - Backspace 
  
 - This command will keep the reading and writing cursors together and only 
  works from the bottom of the file. It will allow the erasing of the most 
  recently written character. But it will only erase from the bottom of the 
  file, not in the middle of the file. To remove a character from somewhere 
  other than the bottom, the "delete" procedure will need to be used. The 
  backspace command is available in the "insert" mode. 
  
 - Status Menu 
  
 - This menu is entered by pressing Chord ST (dots 3-4), enabling the user to 
  change all settings (except Speech Parameters). Parameters include port 
  settings, printing parameters, and braille display options. Chord E will exit 
  the Status Menu, save the settings, and return to the current file. 
  
 - Return 
  
 - This refers to carriage-return/linefeed. Chord (dots 4-6) is used to 
  generate a return character. When a file is transmitted to the printer, each 
  time the printer receives a return character it will push the print head to 
  the left margin and force a linefeed. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE WRITING CONVENTIONS USED IN THESE TRAINING 
MATERIALS
This section describes how the training materials are written to make it 
clear what letters, spaces punctuation marks, etc. are part of the command and 
which are just written for clarity.
  - When a Chord command includes a letter, the letter will be capitalized, 
  but the letter is NOT to be capitalized when executing the command. 
  
 - Quotation marks are used to set off statements or messages made by the BLT 
  or to set off words, numbers, or letters that should be entered by the user. 
  In no situation should the quotation marks be written in as part of the 
  statement or command. 
  
 - The phrase (dots 1-3-5) is used to indicate which dots should be pressed 
  for a letter or character as an additional reminder. Sometimes it may not have 
  the parentheses around the word "dots" if it is only a single dot that is 
  being pressed, usually this will be with a Chord command. The hyphens are only 
  separators and the numbers represent only the dot numbers to be pressed. 
  
 - Nemeth code numbering will be shortened to Nemeth or Nemeth numbering. 
  This means that the braille number should be represented in the bottom four 
  dots of the cell (dots 2, 3, 5, 6), no number is sign used, just the Nemeth 
  digits. 
  
 - Capitalization--individual letters that are part of a command will be 
  capitalized to make it easier to recognize it as a command letter. The letter 
  is NOT to be capitalized when executing the command. 
 
SETTING THE SPEECH PARAMETERS
The speech can be controlled in terms of volume, speed, pitch, frequency, 
punctuation and echoing capabilities.
Chord (dots 3-4-5) will enter the speech mode. Speech Command(s) then can be 
given, a Chord E (dots 1-5) will exit the speech parameters and invoke the 
settings.
  - softer volume--dot 1 
  
 - louder volume--dot 4 
  
 - slower speech--dot 2 
  
 - faster speech--dot 5 
  
 - lower pitch--dot 3 
  
 - higher pitch--dot 6 
  
 - lower frequency--dots 2-3 
  
 - higher frequency--dots 5-6 
 
Key echo, key click, or silent keys--space bar pressed repeatedly will cycle 
through these options:
  - silent keys: This setting will not announce any braille writing, but it 
  will announce Chord commands, message prompts, reading commands, and editing 
  commands. 
  
 - key click on: This option will operate identical to the silent keys 
  echoing pattern and it will click with each keystroke as well. 
  
 - echo keystrokes: This option will echo every letter keystroke that is 
  made. 
  
 - Speak words only when writing 
  
    - In speech Parameters choose "silent keys" 
    
 - Chord E, exit speech parameters 
    
 - Chord G (dots 1-2-4-5), BLT says "Interactive on", toggles interactive 
    mode 
    
 - When writing words are announced when space bar is pressed 
 
   - Punctuation Announcements: 
  
    - This refers to the amount of punctuation marks announced while reading 
    text. 
    
 - z--zero or no punctuation marks announced 
    
 - s--some punctuation marks announced, such as: parentheses, quotations, 
    brackets. (this is the default setting) 
    
 - m--most punctuation, speaks all punctuation marks but not spaces. 
    
 - t--total punctuation, says all punctuation marks and spaces in reading 
    and command statements, like "top space of space file space" This latter can 
    become very confusing and annoying. 
 
   - Numbers: 
  
    - Pressing "n" (dots 1-3-4-5) will toggle between "say full numbers" and 
    "say digits" 
 
 
BRAILLE DISPLAY PARAMETERS
All display parameter changes occur in the Status Menu Chord dots 3-4. All 
parameters are yes/no choices, toggled with the space bar. Chord B (dots 1-2) 
jumps to Braille display parameters. Move down the list using Chord dot 4 or up 
the list using Chord dot 1. Below is a list of braille display parameters (note 
default parameter setting is in all CAPS).
  - Braille display ON/off 
  
 - Speech ON/off 
  
 - 8 dots mode on/OFF 
  
 - Serial tracking ON/off 
  
 - Keyboard tracking ON/off 
  
 - Control Chars (characters) on/OFF 
  
 - Cursor always visible on/OFF 
  
 - Word wrap ON/off 
  
 - End display on carriage return on/OFF 
  
 - Display all ON/off 
  
 - Grade 2 messages ON/off 
  
 - Reverse advance on/OFF 
  
 - View in Grade 2 on/OFF (converts text files to Grade 2)
--Last braille 
  display parameter  
CREATE A FILE
  - Press Chord O (dots 1-3-5) 
  
 - BLT says "Option." 
  
 - F (dots 1-2-4) to indicate you want to work with a file. 
  
 - BLT says "Enter file command." 
  
 - C (dots 1-4) to indicate you wish to create a new file. 
  
 - BLT says "Enter name of file to create." 
  
 - Braille the name of the file you want to create, using grade 1 Braille 
  symbols. It is recommended that capital signs, grade two contractions, and 
  numbers not be used when writing the file name. Press a Chord E (dots 1-5) to 
  accept the filename. (Note: a file with no extensions or with brl, bfm, brf, 
  br*, extensions will be grade 2 files, all other extensions are computer 
  braille files.) 
  
 - You are now in your file, and may begin entering data. Grade one or two 
  braille is acceptable for writing any file being printed to either an ink or 
  braille printer. (Note: Grade three braille, can be used if only printing to a 
  braille printer or using it for personal notes. The speech output will not be 
  as clear because the translator is not capable of converting the grade three 
  to understandable English.) 
 
WRITING IN THE FILE
There are 3 writing modes. The default mode is Append. All text will be added 
to the end of the file unless the insert or delete command is used.
Other writing modes must be turned on in the Status Menu using PC Edit mode. 
Steps follow:
  - Chord dots 3-4 
  
 - BLT says "Status Menu" 
  
 - Dots 1-2-4-6 
  
 - BLT says "PC is Edit Off" (this is the default Append Mode) 
  
 - You now have 3 choices, entering the letter "Y", "I", or "N" for 
  
    - Y = PC Edit mode on with append mode active at startup. You may cycle 
    between the append, insert, and over-write modes using Chord I (dots 1-5) in 
    the document. (note: append voice is normal (how you set it), insert voice 
    is higher pitch, and over-write voice is lower pitch.) 
    
 - I = PC Edit Mode on with insert mode active at startup. The default mode 
    is append. All text will be added to the end of the file unless the insert 
    or delete command is used. 
    
 - N = Append only (this is the default), you are not able to switch to the 
    other modes. To insert text in the document, the standard Insert Process 
    must be used (see Editing Text below) 
 
 
Write as you would on a Perkins braille writer. Using traditional grade two 
braille rules and spacing for the braille. Letter signs should be used more 
often.
Writing Commands
  - Chord B 
  
 - Backspace, moves the cursor back one space and erases that character. The 
  BLT will then announce the character to the left of the new writing cursor 
  position. The character to the left of the cursor position is announced 
  because if the Chord B is given again the announced character is the character 
  that will be erased. 
  
 - Chord dots 4-6 
  
 - creates a carriage return in your text. If "key echo" is on the BLT says 
  "new line" 
  
 - Chord dots 4-6 Chord dots 4-6 
  
 - places two new lines together thus making the beginning of a new 
  paragraph. 
  
 - Chord dots 4-5 (n), Chord E 
  
 - (n) is a number. This is the TAB command, it will place (n minus 1) spaces 
  in the document. The writing cursor will appear in the number position 
  indicated in (n). For example, if the number 6 was used for the tab number; 
  there will be five spaces added to the document, and the writing cursor is on 
  the sixth space waiting for the next keystroke. (Hint: all TABs start from the 
  left margin, not the current character position) 
 
HINTS FOR WRITING A FILE TO BE PRINTED TO INK
  - Tabs--decide how long the print line will be when determining the tabs. Be 
  sure the tabs are set with print in mind (five spaces for paragraphs. 
  Remember, to get five spaces the number in the tab command must be a six.) 
  
 - The line length, left margin, page length, and top margins are all set at 
  the point of printing, Only use "return" when a new line or paragraph is to be 
  started. 
 
HINTS FOR WRITING A FILE TO BE PRINTED TO BRAILLE
If a file was originally written with printing it to ink and now it will be 
printed to braille, consider the following changes:
Tabs changed from five to two spaces. This will require searching with the 
Find Command (See Find Command below for more details )
READING CURSOR FUNCTIONS
These commands move the Reading Cursor within the file. If in "Append Mode" 
the writing cursor will remain at the bottom of the file. If the PC Edit is set 
to Y or I, and you are in the insert or over-write mode the writing cursor 
follows the reading cursor.
Reading Cursor Commands
  - Chord L (dots 1-2-3) 
  
 - moves the cursor to the top of the file and says "top of file". 
  
 - Chord dots 4-5-6 
  
 - moves the cursor to the end of the file and says "bottom of file". 
  
 - Chord dot 3
  
 - previous character, moves the cursor back one character and announces the 
  character. The cursor is on the announced character. 
  
 - Chord dot 6
  
 - next character, moves the cursor forward one character and says the new 
  character. The cursor is on the announced character. 
  
 - Chord dots 3-6
  
 - says the current character. If you press the Chord twice, the BLT says the 
  HAM call word starting with the same letter. For example, for the letter C the 
  word "Charlie" would be said. 
  
 - Chord dot 2
  
 - previous word, moves the cursor back one word and says it. The cursor is 
  on the first character of the spoken word. A word is defined as any string of 
  characters between to spaces. 
  
 - Chord dot 5
  
 - next word, moves the cursor forward one word and says that word. The 
  cursor is on the first character of the spoken word. 
  
 - Chord dots 2-5
  
 - says current word. Pressed twice, the BLT will spell the word. The cursor 
  is on the first character of the word. 
  
 - Chord dot 1
  
 - previous line, moves the cursor back one line and announces the line. The 
  cursor is on the first character of the spoken line. A line is any string of 
  characters between two single returns. 
  
 - Chord dot 4
  
 - next line, moves the cursor forward one line and says the line. The cursor 
  is on the first character of the spoken line. A line is any string of 
  characters/words between two single return symbols. 
  
 - Chord C (dots 1-4)
  
 - reads the current line and the cursor is on the first character of the 
  line. 
  
 - Chord dots 2-3
  
 - previous paragraph, moves the cursor back one paragraph and announces it. 
  The cursor is on the first character of the spoken paragraph. A paragraph is 
  any string of characters/words between any double set of return symbols. 
  
 - Chord dots 5-6
  
 - next paragraph, moves the cursor forward one paragraph and announces it. 
  The cursor is on the first character of the spoken paragraph. 
  
 - Chord dots 1-2-4-5-6
  
 - read to end of file, will read the text in your file, starting at the 
  cursor position. To stop the reading, press Chord E. The reading will stop at 
  the end of the current line the cursor is on. The cursor will be on the first 
  character of the next line. 
  
 - Chord dots 1-5-6
  
 - where is cursor, speaks cursor position within the file. The position on 
  the current line and the overall character number of the cursor in the file. 
  
 - Chord R (dots 1-2-3-5)
  
 - room left in memory, announces the amount of reserved memory available in 
  the file. 
 
OPENING AN EXISTING FILE
There are several options for opening a file you have already created.
The following procedure works well if you remember the name of your file and 
how you spelled it.
  - Chord O (dots 1-3-5), BLT says "option." 
  
 - F (dots 1-2-4), to indicate you want to work with a file, BLT says "file 
  commands". 
  
 - (dots 1-3-5), to indicate you want to open an existing file. BLT says 
  "Enter file to open." 
  
 - Enter the name of the file you want to open, 
  
 - Execute the command with a Chord E (dots 1-5). You are now in your file 
  and may begin editing. 
 
This next procedure works well if you can not remember the name of your file 
and/or how it was spelled.
  - Chord O (dots 1-3-5), BLT says "option." 
  
 - F (dots 1-2-4), to indicate you want to work with a file, BLT says "file 
  commands". 
  
 - L (dots 1-2-3), to indicate you want to hear a list of all the files in 
  your BLT. BLT says "file list, help 9 pages …" The BLT will immediately begin 
  reading the list of file names. 
  
 - If you want to examine the list more closely, Use a Chord dot 4, to move 
  down the list, or a Chord dot 1 to move up the list. 
  
 - As the Chord dot 1 and Chord dot 4 method is being used, when you hear the 
  name of the file you want to open, press a Chord O. You are now in your file 
  and may begin editing. 
 
Another way to open an existing file is to remember the number of the file. 
To find out the file number execute a Chord C while in the file list.
  - Chord O (dots 1-3-5), BLT says "option." 
  
 - Braille in Nemeth the file number. If the number is nine or less the zero 
  must be entered as part of the number. For example, to open file number eight, 
  Chord O 08, No Chord E is necessary. The file name will be announced as it is 
  being open. 
 
USING THE "FIND" FEATURE
This is a method of locating specific text strings in a file. It is very 
useful for locating names in a phone or address list.
Find Text in Current File Procedure
  - Chord F (dots 1-2-4), to indicate you want to find a specific string of 
  text. BLT says "Enter text to find." 
  
 - Enter the text you are looking for. Enter enough characters (63 maximum) 
  to have a fair chance of finding the text. Entering too much text increases 
  the possibility of making an error. The backspace command (Chord B) is valid 
  in Find. 
  
 - Complete the command with a Chord E (dots 1-5). The cursor moves to the 
  first character of the found text string being searched for, then reads from 
  that position to the end of the line. 
  
 - If you want to search backward instead of forward in your file, end the 
  find string with a Chord dots 1-4-5-6. This will move the reading cursor back 
  to the first character of the previous occurrence of the text string in the 
  Find command. 
 
To Find the next occurrence of the same text string, press Chord F, Chord E. 
Braille no text in for the statement "enter text to find"
To Find a previous occurrence of the same string press Chord F, Chord dots 
1-4-5-6. Again enter no text when the BLT says "enter text to find"
Find and Replace Procedure
  - Chord F (dots 1-2-4), to indicate you want to find a specific string of 
  text. BLT says "Enter text to find." (note: Find and Replace only works from 
  cursor position to bottom of file.) 
  
 - Enter the text you are looking for. Enter enough characters (63 maximum) 
  to have a fair chance of finding the text. Entering too much text increases 
  the possibility of making an error. The backspace command (Chord B) is valid 
  in Find. 
  
 - Chord R (dots 1-2-3-5), BLT says "enter replacement text" 
  
 - Enter text you want as replacement. 
  
 - Complete the command with a Chord E (dots 1-5). 
  
 - The cursor moves to the first character of the found text string, BLT says 
  "Replace, Skip, or All". Enter: "R" to replace the text, "S" to skip this 
  occurrence, or "A" to replace all occurrences (note: to hear the found text in 
  context enter Chord C). 
 
Find Text in ANY File Procedure (Global Find)
  - Chord F (dots 1-2-4), to indicate you want to find a specific string of 
  text. BLT says "Enter text to find." 
  
 - Enter the text you are looking for. Enter enough characters (63 maximum) 
  to have a fair chance of finding the text. Entering too much text increases 
  the possibility of making an error. The backspace command (Chord B) is valid 
  in Find. 
  
 - Chord F (dots 1-2-4), BLT says "enter search options." Enter one or more 
  of the following letters. 
  
    - A search all files 
    
 - R search RAM file 
    
 - F search FLASH files 
    
 - Z search RAM and FLASH files 
    
 - search files in current folder 
    
 - B search Braille files (files with no extension or extension of brf, 
    brl, bfm, or br*) 
    
 - D search Duxbury or Megadots files 
    
 - T search Text files (files with txt or non-braille file extension) 
    
 - S search small files less than 2 pages in length 
    
 - M search medium size files, 3-10 pages in length 
    
 - L search large files, greater than 10 pages in length 
    
 - C perform a case sensitive search 
    
 - Q quiet search, no file names announced 
    
 - Dots 4-6 search currently open file 
    
 - Dots 3-4-5-6 place file names in which search string was found in the 
    clipboard 
 
 
The following defaults are in effect-Search all RAM files both text and 
braille regardless of folder and not case sensitive.
Complete the command with a Chord E (dots 1-5). (note: if you do not enter 
any letters, the defaults are used)
The cursor moves to the first character of the found text string, BLT says 
"C, O, S, or Z" where
  - C = continue find 
  
 - = stop search and open file 
  
 - S = skip the current file and continue search in next file 
  
 - Z = abort search 
  
 - Chord C = speak found text in context or use Advance bar to read silently 
  with braille display. 
  
 - Chord dots 1-5-6 = hear file name where text was found 
 
EDITING COMMANDS
In this section deleting, inserting, and single character corrections will be 
described.
Delete Text
Move the cursor to the first character of the text you want to delete. 
Remember: the cursor is on the first character of whatever increment of cursor 
movement is being used. If you want to position the cursor on a specific 
character use the Chord dot 6 or Chord dot 3. The cursor is on the spoken 
character.
Press Chord D (dots 1-4-5). BLT says, "Enter delete parameter."
  - Chord D deletes current character 
  
 - C character(s) 
  
 - W word(s) 
  
 - L line(s) 
  
 - P paragraph(s) 
  
 - Z text from the cursor to the end of the file 
 
After you have entered C, W, L, or P, you must also tell the BLT how many 
characters, words, lines, or paragraphs you want deleted. Remember, you must 
enter numbers in Nemeth code. For example to delete 3 characters enter C3. If 
only a single character, word, line, or paragraph is to be deleted, no number is 
needed.
Chord E. (Note: all deletions occur from the cursor to the end of the 
increment specified, C, W, L, or P.)
Note: all deleted text is copied to the clipboard. If text being deleted is 
larger than clipboard, BLT says "Insufficient space in clipboard, continue 
anyway. Enter Y or N"
Inserting Text
  - Position the cursor on the character or space where you want the insertion 
  to begin. 
  
 - Chord I (dots 2-4) BLT says "Insert mode active." 
  
 - Enter the text you want to insert. 
  
 - Chord E inserts text and ends the insertion mode, or 
  
 - Chord Z (dots 1-3-5-6) aborts insertion, no text is inserted in document 
  
 - Note: if BLT turned off before Chord E is executed all insertion text is 
  lost. This insertion mode is different than PC Edit mode. 
 
Overwrite
If you are editing your text and find a character you want to change, follow 
the steps below.
  - Move your cursor to the character you want to change. 
  
 - Press Chord dots 2-4-6. BLT says "Overwrite." 
  
 - Braille the new character. You DO NOT end this command with a Chord E. The 
  BLT simply makes the correction. The cursor stays on the character that was 
  corrected. Remember this is only good for a single character correction. 
  
 - For multiple character replacements, change to "continuous overwrite" with 
  Chord dots 2-4-6, Chord dots 2-4-6. When you have completed overwrite enter 
  Chord dots 2-4-6 to end overwrite mode. 
 
USING THE HELP FILE.
The BLT has a built-in help file. If you want to review some commands, you 
can open the help file using the Chord dots 1-4-5-6 command, BLT says "Help is 
Open." Use your "find" commands to help you locate the specific information. The 
BLT help file is written in Grade 1 Braille, so you will need to braille in your 
search string in Grade 1 Braille also. The reading commands are usable as well. 
When you have found the information you need, press Chord Z, and you will be 
returned to file you were editing. The Help File is "Write Protected," This 
means that no text can be written, inserted, or deleted in the Help File. The 
message "file is write protected" is spoken anytime a non-Chord command is 
given.
USING THE CLIPBOARD FEATURE
You can use the clipboard as a copy, cut and paste buffer.
Cut and Paste
  - Use the delete feature of the BLT to delete a line, paragraph, or the 
  page. The text you have deleted is automatically moved to the Clipboard. (file 
  number 01), or 
  
 - If you want to delete a block of material that is not a line, paragraph or 
  page, move the cursor to the beginning of the text you want to cut, press 
  Chord M dots 1-3-4, BLT says "Mark". 
  
 - Move your cursor to the end of the text you want to cut 
  
 - Press Chord D dots 1-4-5, M (not chord), Chord E. This will delete the 
  marked block of text from your file and move it to the Clipboard. 
  
 - Move the cursor to the place you want to insert the material (either in 
  the current file or in a different file.) Press Chord dots 3-4-6. BLT says 
  "paste what" 
  
 - Enter the letter C for clipboard. The data will be moved from the 
  Clipboard and inserted at the cursor position. 
  
 - Note: all deletions go to the Clipboard. Be sure that you do not delete, 
  insert, or backspace any other text between steps 4 and 5. Otherwise, the 
  material to be inserted will be lost. 
 
Copy
  - Move the cursor to the beginning of the text you want to copy, press Chord 
  M dots 1-3-4, BLT says "Mark". 
  
 - Move your cursor to the end of the text you want to copy 
  
 - Chord dots 1-2-6. The copy command, BLT says "Copy or Append, Enter C or 
  A. The marked block will remain in the current file position. "Copy" will copy 
  marked text to the clipboard, overwriting existing clipboard information. 
  "Append" will append marked text to the end of text in clipboard. 
  
 - Move cursor to the position in your current file or to a different file 
  where you want to insert the text from the Clipboard. 
  
 - Chord dots 3-4-6. BLT says "Paste What" 
  
 - Enter "C" for clipboard 
 
PRINTING
Cable the BLT parallel port to the printing device (ink or braille 
printer).
  - Chord dots 3-4, enter the status menu, BLT says "status menu" 
  
 - "L", BLT says "printer is Epson compatible." 
Cycle through 
  choices with space bar.  
   - Choices are Epson, Imagewriter, or HP (must be DOS compatible). You may 
  also use "E", "I", or "H" to select a printer choice. Default is 
  Epson. 
Default settings for print are: line length 75, print left 
  margin 10, print page length 60, print top margin 6. These settings are 1 inch 
  margins all around the page. 
Default setting for braille are: line 
  length 33 (8.5 by 11 inch paper), braille left margin 1, braille page length 
  25, braille top margin 1. If you wish to change any of these parameters use 
  Chord dot 4 to move through Status Menu. When you hear parameter you wish to 
  change, enter Nemeth code numbers for the new value. Save parameter setting 
  with a Chord E, BLT announce parameter setting. 
   - Chord E exits Status Menu, BLT says "Exit" 
 
Print text to ink printer through parallel port
  - Chord T dots 2-3-4-5, BLT says "enter transmit parameter" 
  
 - Chord T dots 2-3-4-5, formatting and translating text to parallel port 
  (All braille is back translated to ink print characters.) 
 
Print text to braille printer through parallel port
  - Chord T dots 2-3-4-5, BLT says "enter transmit parameter" 
  
 - Chord B dots 1-2, formatting and transmitting braille to parallel port 
  (printing braille prints exactly what is in the file. No braille translation 
  occurs.) 
 
DISK DRIVE
Connect Disk Drive to either serial (round) port on the BLT. BLT must be 
turned on first, Disk drive turned on next.
Saving to disk
  - Open BLT file to be saved 
  
 - Chord S dots 2-3-4, BLT says "storage" 
  
 - "S" BLT says "Save, enter file name" 
  
 - Enter the file name (NO Grade 2, 8 characters maximum followed by 
  period-dots 4-6 and a 3 character extension) (NOTE: file will be saved exactly 
  as it is written.) 
  
 - Chord E, BLT: "beeps" 
 
Loading file from Disk Drive
  - Create a new file (see above) 
  
 - Insert disk with file to be loaded (file can be text or Grade 2 braille 
  translated file.) Chord S, BLT says "storage" 
  
 - "L", BLT says "load, enter file name" 
  
 - Enter file name 
  
 - Chord E, when loading complete BLT says "OK" 
  
 - Note: When reading this file after it is loaded and it sounds like 
  gibberish with many punctuation marks, turn on Grade 2 translator, Chord P 
  dots 1-2-3-4, "T", "Y" 
 
Saving a braille file as a back translated text file
  - Chord S dots 2-3-4, BLT says "storage" 
  
 - "W" BLT says "Save text without formatting, enter file name" 
  
 - Enter the file name (NO Grade 2, 8 characters maximum followed by 
  period-dots 4-6 and a 3 character extension) (NOTE: file will be saved exactly 
  as it is written.) 
  
 - Chord E, BLT says "n pages printed" and "beeps" 
 
Directory of disk
  - Chord S dots 2-3-4, BLT says "storage" 
  
 - "D", BLT says "directory, enter file name" 
  
 - Chord E reads root directory 
  
 - If you want to read a specific sub-directory, Enter file name 
  (sub-directory name), Chord E to read sub-directory 
 
USING THE CALCULATOR
The BLT has basic and scientific calculators available. Below are several of 
the commands available in the simple calculator.
Chord O, C -- opens the calculator. All numbers are written in Nemeth Code in 
the lower portion of the cell, and no number signs are used.
Math Functions
  - addition--dots 3, 4, 6 
  
 - subtraction--dots 3, 6. 
  
 - multiplication--dots 1, 6 
  
 - division--dots 3, 4 
  
 - per cent--dots 1, 4, 6 
  
 - square root--Chord 3, 4, 5 
 
Commands
  - Chord E 
  
 - concludes the problem, and pressing it a second time will repeat the 
  answer, not repeat the operational functions of the problem. 
  
 - Chord F 
  
 - toggles the announcements of the numbers between digits and full numbers. 
  
 - Chord S followed by letters A-Z.  
  
 - This stores the current answer in a memory area labeled by the indicated 
  letter. 
  
 - Letters A-Z.  
  
 - Letters used in a problem will represent the value that has been stored in 
  that letter. 
  
 - Chord Z 
  
 - exits the calculator and returns to the previous file. 
 
MACROS
A "macro" is a single keystroke that will execute a series of keystrokes that 
it has been programmed to perform. The BLT has a total of 63 possible macros. 
Each macro can have up to 63 keystrokes in it.
Create Macro
  - Chord N dots 1-3-5-6, BLT says "Macro, Enter a character" 
  
 - Enter the character by which you want to identify the macro, BLT says 
  "recording" 
  
 - Type in the commands that you would normally execute manually. It is 
  advisable to write each step down prior to writing them into the BLT. This may 
  minimize mistakes, or forgotten steps. Note: placing a Chord K dots 1-3 as 
  first character of macro will silence all following keystrokes when macro is 
  executed. 
  
 - Chord N to save macro, BLT say "macro end." 
 
Executing a Macro
  - Position cursor at location from which you want to execute the macro. 
  
 - Chord J dots 2-4-5, BLT says "Macro" 
  
 - Enter character name of desired macro to execute 
  
 - Macro is executed 
 
Troubleshooting
Warm Reset –returns all setting back to factory defaults, no data is lost
  
    - Chord 1-2-3-4-5-6, BLT says "warm reset, please verify" 
    
 - Chord 1-2-3-4-5-6, returns all setting back to factory defaults, no data 
    is lost 
 
One-Handed Braille Mode
  - Dot 6 held down on turn on 
  
 - Dot 3 held down on turn on returns to two-handed braille mode. 
 
Silent turn on – space bar held down on turn on, no sign-on messages 
spoken
 
 
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