[bookshare-discuss] Re: Introduction:
- From: Brenda Mueller <brendin@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 00:17:04 -0400
Linda,
First of all, you need to know what kind of server your ISP is using. I'm
hoping it's a pop3 server. Next you'll need to set up your braille note so you
can log in.
>From the main menu type e to get into where your email options are. If you
>space through them, you will find set up options. Hit return on that, and
>choose directory of services. In there one of the options is add a service.
>Return on that and follow the prompts. Before I go any further, I should say
>that when I'm setting up anything in there, my system is set for computer
>braille. Of course I respond to the prompts in computer braille.
I happen to be using dial-up.
The reason you don't need any special software in your braille note to download
books is because you already have a book reader on your system. When you're on
bookshare and have chosen a book in either brf or txt format, (most will be in
brf), then the book should go to your download folder. After the download the
thing seems to leave you on a blank screen. Hit return with b to go back. Hit
l until you hear log out, return on it, and use an e-chord (e with space bar)
until your system asks you if you want to stay connected with the modem. Let's
assume that you just have to read this book, so tell it no by typing n. If the
book you chose is a txt book, leave the system in computer braille. If it's in
brf, set the system to grade two braille. Use your file manager to copy the
book from downloads to your mybooks folder on the flash disk. Those files end
with a bks extension, so the book reader sees them as books.
>From the main menu type b for the book reader. Now find your book, hit return
>on it, and follow the prompts. The book will open.
I could go through step-by-step instructions about bookshare, but I'm assuming
you have an account there and have been there.
Now what is this book reader really? It's something that unzips the books from
bookshare.
That's not it's only use. When I was first starting, someone sent me a nice
post with a handy trick. That way I can go to other sites, get zipped files,
and by following this lady's instructions, I can very quickly unzip most files.
Here's the post with the trick that I have saved for a couple of years.
This trick should work with 5.00 and higher.
"Brenda,
The BrailleNote really does not have an unzip utility to handle .zip files. If
you're running a version earlier than version 5.0, then you need to unzip that
file using a computer.
If, on the other hand, you're using version 5.0, then there's a work-around
that another BN list member, Aman Singer, had discovered. Do the following,
but again, only if you're running version 5.0:
1) From the Main Menu, type F to enter the File Manager. Press R for the
Rename File option.
2) Select the Flash Disk as the drive, and Downloads as the folder. Then SPACE
through the files there and hit ENTER on that .zip file to select it.
3) When asked for the new name to give the file, you are offered the original
file name. Press SPACE with dots 4-6 (READ with SEMICOLON) and type .bks.
Note carefully that the period preceding the letters in .bks is entered by
pressing dots 4-6 on the Braille keyboard (it's still the PERIOD on the
qwerty-style keyboard). Alternatively, you can type a different file name if
you wish to change the original, but still put a .bks at the end of that new
file name. Hit ENTER, and when asked if you wish to change the extension, type
Y for yes.
4) Now press ENTER with BACKSPACE with B (FUNCTION with 9) to enter the Book
Reader. Select the Flash Disk as the drive and Downloads as the folder. Then
select the file you have renamed with the .bks extension.
5) The BrailleNote sees this file as a Bookshare book, and calls it that way.
You will be asked where you wish to unpack the Bookshare book. Select the
destination folder. If you're not sure which drive it will be unpacked, or if
you wish to change the drive, press BACKSPACE at the folder prompt, and SPACE
through the drives you can choose from.
6) Then you will be asked for the password, and just press ENTER here, without
typing anything. You will be asked to wait for a while as the .bks file is
unpacked. The length of time you need to wait will depend on how large and how
many files are in the zip archive. Don't worry, you will hear progress beeps
anyway.
7) When the BN is finished unpacking the so-called Bookshare book, you will be
asked if you wish to delete the original .bks file. I suggest that you answer
N for no, just in case you'll need that file to unzip it on a computer later.
Then, you will be placed either in the file itself or at the prompt to review
the options for that file. If you wish to read the file using Keybook, then
you can do that here, answering Y or N to the prompt about reviewing the
options. If you type N, you will be taken into the file and you can start
reading. If you type Y, you will be placed in a list of settings you can
configure, and when you're done changing them or if you don't really want to
change anything but just open the file, type SPACE with E (ESCAPE). You can
also read and modify the file in the Keyword Menu. Just type ENTER with
BACKSPACE with W (FUNCTION with 4) to switch to that application.
Keep in mind that again depending on how the file/s had been zipped, this
work-around may or may not work (but most of the time, it does). If it
doesn't, then the task of unzipping it must be done on a computer, using a
program like Winzip. If you need to do that, follow steps 1 through 3 but this
time, give the .bks file its original .zip extension.
HTH, Roselle"
Note that Roselle gave instructions for both types of keyboards. Hope this
helps.
Brenda Mueller
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