Automatic capture mode enables you to conduct and record an interpreting session without having to keep manually saving the text to disk or worrying about it being lost.

When automatic capture mode is enabled, the entire contents of the visual window are saved to disk in the background at regular intervals, without interruption to the interpreting session. This automatic updating will include all new text typed, and will incorporate any changes that have been made by editing. Even if the computer crashes for whatever reason, the text will still have been saved up to the last automatic update. By default, updates take place every 2 minutes, providing changes have been made to the text (more added or editing). A final update is automatically performed when automatic capture mode is turned off or when the program is closed, so that you do not have to remember to disable the feature before closing down at the end of the session. It is also possible to resume the last interpreting session rather than start a new one.

Turn automatic capture mode on by selecting the automatic capture mode option on the communications file menu. This option can be used when either the Braille line or the visual window is active (has focus). When this item is checked, automatic capture mode is enabled and the visual window contents are being automatically saved to the capture file at regular intervals, without interruption to the use of WintextCom. saving takes place irrespective of whether the visual window or Braille line is active, or of an other situation, enabling uninterrupted interpreting to a Braille reader with continuous automatic updating to disk. The contents of the visual window at the time of enabling the feature are immediately saved to initialise the session recording.

Turn automatic capture mode off by selecting the menu item again, which unchecks it, this is a toggle command. When automatic capture mode is turned off, the current contents of the visual window are saved, if it has changed since the last automatic save, so as to make sure the record is up-to-date. Automatic saving also takes place if you close WintextCom (Alt+F4) without having turned automatic capture mode off. This ensures that if you close WintextCom while automatic capture mode is enabled, the current contents of the visual window are saved. You can habitually just close WintextCom at the end of a recorded interpreting session, without needing to explicitly ensure the capture file is up-to-date. You should remember to shut down WintextCom itself before shutting down Windows, however, not just the latter.

If the capture file already exists when you turn automatic capture mode on, a message box is displayed to that effect and presenting the options to continue the existing file or start a new one. If you select the Yes button to continue the existing file, the current contents of the file are inserted at the top of the visual window, and then the entire contents of the window saved back to the capture file. If you select the No button, the existing capture file is just overwritten with the current contents of the visual window. Being able to resume the session by pre-loading the contents of an already-saved file is a useful feature if the interpreting spans several meetings, or it is inappropriate to leave a laptop computer running during a lunch break, for instance, you can switch off and pack away then resume later.

The reloading of an existing capture file is not reflected on the Braille line. The Braille display shows

"Capture file reloaded"

at the time the option is chosen, but the text of the file does not become available to the Braille user, it is only loaded into the visual window. The above notification message on the Braille display is "transparent", meaning that it will disappear and the session text return as soon as any key is pressed, and the key i processed as if the message had not been there.

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Automatic Capture Mode