You'll Soon Be Typing... How To Use the
Program
This page is an online reference on how to use You'll Soon Be
Typing. Since the program is unusually easy to use, most people do
not need to refer to this page. Remember:
- All screens were designed to be self-explanatory.
- The bottom of the screen always tells you
what to do to next. When
in doubt ... Look down!
- The top of the screen always tells you exactly where
you are and lists optional function-key commands and/or on-off switches.
To increase usability, You'll Soon Be Typing is organized like
a book:
- You can browse through the Table Of Contents
(Main Menu).
- The program is divided into 7 Sections.
- Each Section is divided into several Lessons (or
Options or Tests).
- Each Lesson has numbered pages that you read and/or
perform an activity in.
- Browsing (navigational) commands always let you
skip to the next page or go back to the previous page.
- An invisible bookmark automatically keeps track of
the last place where you left off. If you are a registered user, this
Lesson/Option/Test is automatically highlighted in the Table Of Contents
the next time that you start the program.
Unlike a book:
- A page (screen) can contain animations,
practice drills, or tests as well
as, tutorial text to read.
- In the Table Of Contents, Sections/Lessons that you have completed
are marked with an * (asterisk). So you can tell at a glance
which lessons you have completed and which ones you haven't completed.
The top line of your screen shows where
you are. In the Table Of Contents (Main Menu), the top line contains:
- The number of Sections in which you have completed
all lessons.
- The total number of Sections in the program.
- The number of Lessons that you have completed in
the highlighted Section.
- The total number of Lessons in the highlighted Section.
In Lessons, the top line contains:
- The current Section number.
- The current Lesson number, and the name
of the lesson.
- The current page and the total number
of pages in the current lesson.
- Additional information, if any, such as your typing speed
goal.
The bottom two lines of your screen show what key(s)
to tap to continue on with the next part of the program,
and/or other helpful information. For example:
- During Intro/Exit animations, the prompt tells you how to bypass the
animation.
- In the Table Of Contents (Main Menu) the prompt tells you
how to highlight the Section and Lesson that your want. And how to
select (run) the lesson.
- During lessons, the prompt tells you how to continue
on with the program.
- During practice drills, the prompt gives technique
instructions on how to tap the next key. This supports the
graphical help provided by the screen keyboard.
Records are kept whenever you run You'll Soon Be Typing
including:
- The lessons you've completed.
- Your current typing speed goal.
- Your current color preference.
- The last Section/Lesson you were in.
- Your fastest/slowest scores.
If you are a registered user,
your records will be filed (stored) on computer disk for
future use. If you are a visitor, your records will only
last as long as you run the program. After you exit from the program, your
visitor records will be gone.
You can see your records by selecting the Section 7, YOUR RECORDS
option from the Table Of Contents.
- Page 1 shows your fastest/slowest scores for all
typing tests and several practice drills. Percent accuracy
and the number of times (tries) that you
typed a test/drill is included.
- Page 2 shows the number of lessons you've completed
and not completed in each Section of the program.
Commands take you to another part of the program, like a HELP
screen. On/Off Switches turn features, like sound, on
and off, at the touch of a key ... No need to leave
the current screen and waste your time wading through a sea of menus!
Function keys are used to issue a command and to turn
switches on and off. Alt key alternatives
can also be used. To issue a command with
an Alt key alternative ... Hold down the Alt while you tap the
first letter of the command name. For example, you can issue the
F2=Exit command in these ways:
- Tap the F2 function key.
- Or hold down the Alt key while you tap the
E key.
- Or you can also tap the ESC key.
- Or you can also hold down Ctrl while you tap the
Break key.
Currently-available commands appear on the second line
of screen. Switches have indicator lights
similar to those used on stereo equipment. If a switch is
on, it is green (or black
with an X if in a black & white video mode). If a switch is
off, it is gray (or white). Here are the commands and on/off
switches:
- F1=Help displays a brief context-sensitive
help message.
- F2=Exit displays an Exit Options menu
that gives you the option of: exiting from the program, going
back to the same screen you just exited from, or another option
like going to the Table Of Contents (Main Menu).
You can also use ESC or Ctrl-Break or Ctrl-C (for
those in the habit of using these).
- F3 Sound switch turns sound on/off. Sound only
indicates mistakes and special situations, like errors. Softwrights
recommends that you leave this on. Sounds are quick, unobtrusive beeps.
No annoying drawn-out beeps, noises, or music!
- F4 LockErrors switch helps you concentrate on
accuracy (switch on) or speed (off).
When the switch is on during a drill, the cursor stays
at the current key until it is typed correctly (errors locked). When
it's off, the cursor moves to the next key (errors
unlocked). This switch is only available during
practice drills.
- F5 Keys switch turns the on-screen
keyboard on and off. If you don't need, or want, the graphical
guidance of the screen keyboard while typing a practice drill, you may
want to turn it off. This switch is only
available during drills.
- F6 Technique switch turns the display of
bottom-line finger technique instructions during
drills, on/off. Softwrights recommends that you leave this on,
unless your very old computer can't keep up with your typing speed.
Text takes longer to display in graphics modes
than in text mode. This graphics program runs fast enough on most
computers to keep up with professional typists. But old computers, like
XT's, may not keep up with your typing speed.
- F7=Ordering Info & License Agreement displays
info on how to order Softwrights products and the License Agreement
... Legal mumbo-jumbo.
- F8=RemoveHighlightedName removes a registered user
from the program. This is available only in the
IDENTIFY YOURSELF screen.
- F9=PreviousPage skips you back to the previous page
of the current lesson. You can also use the
PgUp or Page Up key.
- F10=NextPage skips you forward to the next page of
the current lesson. You can also use the
PgDn or Page Down key.
The IDENTIFY YOURSELF menu appears at the beginning of the program.
- The top items of the menu are registration options
that let you enter the program if you are not publicly
registered.
- The bottom items of the menu contain the names of
all publicly registered users (if any).
If your name appears, use Cursor keys, SpaceBar,
Home (move to top), or End (move to
bottom) to highlight it. Then tap Enter to go to the
Welcome Back screen and the Table Of Content (main
menu). Otherwise, select one of the options:
- Option 1: REGISTER ME - My records will be filed (stored) on
disk: Select this option if you are not
registered yet, and if you want to keep records of your progress stored
on disk for future use.
- Option 2: I'M A VISITOR - My records will NOT be filed:
Select this option if you do not want to maintain
records of your progress. Visitors' records will be kept, but only as
long as the program runs. When you exit from the
program, your records will not be stored on disk for future use.
- Option 3: I'M PRIVATELY REGISTERED - My records are on my
own floppy disk: Select this option if you previously
registered yourself under the Private (floppy disk)
registration option. You'll be prompted to put
your private disk in disk drive A, before you go to the Table Of
Contents (main menu).
If you want to un-register (remove) a publicly
registered user; highlight the name of the user, then tap F8
to select the RemoveHighlightedName command.
If you choose the REGISTER ME option from the IDENTIFY YOURSELF menu,
you'll be asked to choose between two types of registration, choose a
screen keyboard layout that matches your keyboard, and choose the screen
colors that you prefer.
- Standard (Public) Registration is fast and easy.
You identify yourself by highlighting your name on the IDENTIFY YOURSELF
menu at the beginning of the program. Your
records are stored on the same disk that the You'll Soon Be Typing
program is on.
- Private (Floppy Disk) Registration is not as
convenient, since you must insert a floppy disk to identify yourself.
But it's private and portable. Your
records can't be seen or removed by others. You have the advantages of
privacy and security without the hassles of
easy-to-forget passwords. If you're in a room
full of computers, you can use different computers (if they have the
program installed). Yet, your records will be up-to-date, since they
travel with you on your own floppy disk.
- Screen Keyboard... All keyboards are not
alike. Some have more keys. Some have keys like \ in different
locations (requiring different finger techniques). Some have
different labels for the same key, like Enter
or Return. Keys can also be different sizes and
shapes.
At registration time, you'll be asked to match the on-screen
keyboard layout with your keyboard layout (unless you're using the Kn
Startup Option). You can choose from 12 realistic,
finely-detailed layouts. A few keys that distinguish one layout
from another are highlighted to help identify the
layout that most closely matches yours. Technique instructions
auto-adjust to your layout. The layout you choose
will automatically appear from then on; until you, or another user,
changes it. You can also change the layout with the Section 7
SCREEN KEYBOARD option from the Table Of Contents
(main menu).
- Screen Colors... At registration time, you'll be
asked to choose the colors that you prefer (on color monitors only). You
can choose from 20 color combinations.
You can also change your personal color choice
with the Section 7 SCREEN COLORS option from the Table
Of Contents (main menu).
Publicly registered users can be removed at the IDENTIFY YOURSELF
screen. Just: highlight the name of the user. Then tap F8
to select the RemoveHighlightedName command.
A double-check prompt appears to make sure you
want to remove the user. The name of the user who will be removed appears.
Tap Y to remove the user. Or tap N to
cancel the removal and return to the Identify Yourself screen.
Note:
- Up to seven (7) users can be publicly
registered. If seven users are already registered, you'll have to
remove a user before somebody else can be publicly
registered. If you try to register publicly when
there are already 7 publicly registered users, an informative prompt
explains how to remove a user.
- There is no limit to the number of privately
registered users since their records are stored on their own individual
floppy disks. So you can always register privately.
The Welcome Back screen is the first screen
that appears after a registered user selects his/her
name from the Identify Yourself menu. It
also appears after a privately registered user selects the I'm
Privately Registered option from the Identify Yourself
menu.
Your registered name appears at the top of the screen.
Helpful prompts remind you about several features of the program. Tap the
SpaceBar to continue to the Table Of Contents
(Main Menu).
The Table Of Contents serves as a main menu. You can
quickly select any lesson, test, or option. It was designed to meet the
needs of students to have a broad overview of the tutorial, what has been
completed, what's next, and what's left. It is easier and more informative
than traditional pull-down menus. The seven (7) sections
of the program are listed on the left side of the screen ... One section
is always highlighted. The lessons, tests or options in the
highlighted section are on the right ...
The sections and lessons that you have completed are
marked with an * (asterisk).
Here's a list of all the Sections, Lessons, Tests, and Options:
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTIONS:
- Lesson 1: How To Use Program (on-screen,
animated user manual)
- Lesson 2: Program Overview (overview of the
whole program)
- Lesson 3: Keyboard Overview (covers all keys,
including non-typewriter keys)
- Lesson 4: Why Learn To Type? (benefits of
knowing how to type)
- Lesson 5: How Long To Learn? (approximate
learning times)
SECTION 2: LEARN THE BASICS :
- Lesson 1: Hands On Home (how to puts your
hands on the keyboard)
- Lesson 2: Finger Techniques (fundamental
finger movements)
- Lesson 3: Which Finger? (keys that each
finger types)
- Lesson 4: Your Environment (ergonomics)
- Lesson 5: Your Posture (improve your comfort
and productivity)
- Lesson 6: Speed & Accuracy (how to balance
speed and accuracy)
- Lesson 7: How To Type Drills (drill &
learning aids instructions)
- Lesson 8: How To Type Tests (test
instructions)
SECTION 3: LEARN 76 KEYS:
- 76 individual lessons cover all the keys, one by
one, in the typewriter section (letters, numbers and all symbols) of the
keyboard. There are plenty of guided hands-on practice drills, useful
advice and explanations of numerous symbols and punctuation marks
... Numerous animated reminders from Section 2 are sprinkled throughout
the lessons. This refreshes your memory and reduces the need to
memorize.
SECTION 4: TAKE A TEST:
- 10 typing tests (some are
large, full-screen tests).
SECTION 5: OPTIONAL PRACTICE:
- Option 1: Type Anything You Want (simulates a
word processor)
- Option 2: Do Your ABC's (quick review of all
keys)
- Option 3: Quick Fox / Lazy Dog (sentence with
entire alphabet)
- Option 4: Random Characters (you control which
characters)
- Option 5: Common Words (randomly selected,
common words)
- Option 6: Easy-To-Misspell Words (randomly
selected words)
SECTION 6: WRITING A LETTER:
- Lesson 1: Parts Of A Letter (quick discussion
about the parts of a letter)
- Lesson 2: Letter Styles (quick discussion
about different styles)
- Lesson 3: Envelopes (addressing envelopes and
folding letters)
- Lesson 4: State Abbreviations (list of U.S.A.
State abbreviations)
SECTION 7: RECORDS & OPTIONS:
- Option 1: Your Records (your detailed,
personal records)
- Option 2: Screen Colors (change your color
preference)
- Option 3: Screen Keyboard (change the screen
keyboard layout)
To distinguish a practice drill from reading material, remember:
- A blinking underline cursor indicates that all the
text at, and following, the cursor position is a drill (or test,
if you're in Section 4) for you to type.
- Drills (and tests) appear in a different
color than reading material (on color monitors with EGA
or VGA color graphics capabilities).
Practice drills have several helpful features:
- As you type, the character above the cursor is erased,
and the cursor moves to the next character. This conserves screen space
and helps you to focus on the portion of the drill
that remains. It also provides a game-like
atmosphere.
- A pacer line moves at your speed goal rate, above
the drill text. It lets you know if you are even with, ahead of, or
behind your speed goal ... Without taking your
eyes off your work.
- The cursor blinks at your speed goal rate. To meet
your goal, tap a key every time the cursor blinks
... It's a quiet metronome!
- Your speed goal appears in the upper-right corner.
You can change your speed goal at the end of a drill
... The program often suggests that you do so.
- The screen keyboard automatically highlights
the next key to tap. If a Shift key has to
be held down, the correct one to hold is also highlighted. By showing
the location of the key on screen, the screen keyboard helps you to quit
looking at your hands ... Think of the screen
keyboard as your training wheels. After a while you won't even need to
look at the screen keyboard. You'll be typing faster!
- A blinking home line on the screen keyboard shows
which finger to use and the distance it moves. It is drawn between the
key to type and its home key. No
line appears if the key to type is already a home key.
- Technique instructions automatically appear at the
bottom of the screen. These instructions tell you how to type the next
key. If a Shift key has to be
held down, instructions for that key also appear.
- Softwrights recommends that you leave the F3 Sound
switch ON since a brief beep lets you know when you've
made a mistake.
- To concentrate on typing accuracy, turn the
F4 LockErrors switch ON.
This ensures accuracy since you can't continue
until you type the correct key.
- To concentrate on typing speed, turn the
F4 LockErrors switch OFF.
You're unlocked! You're free to type anything
(even errors) without interruptions, so you can push for speed.
- The F5 Keys switch turns the screen
keyboard on and off. As your confidence
increases you may want to turn it off. The keyboard stays off until you
turn it on again. But it may appear briefly, for special instructions or
reminders.
- The F6 Technique switch turns the bottom-line
technique instructions on and off. Softwrights recommends that you keep
this switch ON since the helpful prompts are out of
the way, yet available if you need some help. But
if your computer is old and slow, you might be able to type faster than
it takes your computer to display the technique instructions. If that
happens, turn the F6 switch OFF. Then turn the F6 switch ON, only on an
as-needed basis.
- After you finish a drill, you'll get a detailed report
of your typing speed and accuracy, along with suggestions on
how to proceed. You have options to continue to
the next page, change your speed goal, and/or retype the drill.
- If you made any errors, a detailed error review
highlights all your errors. As the cursor moves
from error to error, the top of the screen tells how many errors you had
at each location and exactly what the most recent error was.
Note: As always, you can use any currently-displayed
function-key command or on/off switch at any time ...
Even in the middle of a typing drill!
This includes skipping to the next page or back to
the previous page. Page skipping command prompts don't appear on practice
drill screens (not enough room) but they're still available!
There are 10 tests in Section 4. Normally, you should
take these tests after you complete all the lessons in
Section 3. But you are free to take them whenever
you want. You can take tests as many times as you want.
Tests are similar to drills. Like drills, tests
appear on your screen and each character is erased when
you type it. Like drills, each line of a test can be up to 78 characters,
and the left-arrowhead symbol at the end of each line represents the Enter
key. Like drills, optional reading material may appear above the test.
Like drills, the entire test fits on one screen
... No annoying, where's the end? scrolling.
But tests are designed to simulate actual typing conditions.
So, unlike practice drills, tests do not have the
learning aids that drills have. There is no screen
keyboard, no technique instructions, no speed goal, no pacer line, and the
cursor doesn't blink at your speed goal rate (it blinks at a fixed,
standard rate).
- You can use the CapsLock key while typing a test
(in drills, a prompt appears instead). An
indicator light on line 2 shows if CapsLock is on/off.
- Tests can be up to 19 lines long
... Enough for a 10 minute test at 30 wpm (drills
can be up to 7 lines long).
- Like drills, after you complete a test, a detailed report
of your typing speed and accuracy appears. The report also shows the
number of times you've typed the test and your fastest speed so far.
These statistics include the test you just typed.
The screen is erased before a special prompt appears.
So the prompt is the only thing visible on the screen
... You immediately know that special action must be taken. Your attention
is focused on the task or problem. There are no distractions.
Instead of erasing the screen, some programs
display special prompts by superimposing a dialog box or window over part
of the screen. This can be confusing since you may be focused on another
area of the screen. And the screen may be dominated by noise (screen
information that is not useful at the moment).
Special prompts appear:
- Whenever an error is detected by the program. You'll
Soon Be Typing was designed to catch most errors that can possibly
happen. This includes DOS critical errors that normally result
in confusing DOS Abort,Retry,Fail prompts.
Instead, the informative explanations (some full
screen) that appear can usually help your solve the problem ... Without
leaving the program.
- At special times when double-checking,
and other prompts may be helpful. For example, if
you make 10 mistakes in a row in a practice drill ... An informative
screen appears that may help you solve your problem.
Copyright © 1996 - 1999 by
Softwrights, Inc. All Rights Reserved
