The directory is presented as a simple list, which fills most of the program main window. The directory list has its own title bar, which is

"Auto-dial and Information Directory"

by default, but can be customised on a per-list basis.

Above the directory is a multi-line toolbar, containing button click alternatives to most of the program's menu commands. Above the toolbar comes the program main menu bar and the main title bar at the top.

Below the directory is a line called the time bar, displaying the current time and date (assuming your computer clock is right!), and a customisable help or information message. Time bar information is only customisable in the registered version of the software, in the unregistered version, it displays your remaining evaluation time.

Below the time bar is the "Braille line", a portion of the screen reserved for use by users of Braille displays for communications and reading.

Underneath the Braille line, across the bottom of the WintextCom window, runs the status line. In normal operation, the status line displays information about the position of the currently selected (highlighted) directory entry, the total number of entries and paragraphs in the directory list, the name of the file where it is stored on disk, and automatic dialling information.

In communications and reading modes, the directory disappears and is replaced by a large communications window, called the visual window. Both the menu bar and the status line also change. The status line shows the program's connected status and location information, slightly different depending on whether the user is working in the visual window or on the Braille line. The menu bar reflects a completely new set of commands and features pertaining to telecommunications and access to information. The use of these modes are described in the telecommunications tutorial and the reading mode sections of this documentation.

All menu items in all modes display their associated accelerator keystrokes, making it easy to use the menu system for quick reference. In most cases, an expanded help message is shown across the bottom of the window for each menu item as it is selected. Many menu items have two keyboard commands, the "local command" that is available when WintextCom is the active application, and the "global command" that can be used at any time from any application (including WintextCom). Local commands are shown with a space separating the individual keys in the combination, and global commands use the plus sign as separator. For example, the documents submenu of the directory tools menu contains an item to open your word processor, shown as:

"W: Word processor <Control W, Control+WindowsKey+W>" (there is a little more to it, explained later).

This means that you can press Control+W to start your word processor from the WintextCom directory, or Control+WindowsKey+W to start it at any time, regardless of the active application. In general, global commands use either of the Windows Logo Keys (start menu keys) as part of their key combination.

Most menu items that have global accelerators are customisable, as described in the configuration and customisation section of this documentation. Their default actions provide quick, ready-to-go, access to frequently used facilities such as your word processor, spreadsheet, E-mail, Internet, My Documents. Menu items with global commands are called WintextCom shell extensions.

Many of the WintextCom menu commands can also be invoked straight from the directory, by a process called embedding, also described under configuration and customisation. Embedding can be a useful tool in organising your work and providing customised user interfaces. Menu items that can be invoked from the directory show the associated embed after the keyboard commands, and some, like the shell extensions, also show the configuration switch to customise the option. The inclusions in the menu items are intended for quick reference and to indicate that the option can be embedded/customised, you should consult the relevant section under configuration for detailed information.

For example, the word processor item under the tools menu is actually:

"W: Word processor <Control W, Control+WindowsKey+W>, %:w, %w".

The meaning of the two keystrokes has been explained above. "%:w" is the directory embed for the word processor option, which means that if you specify "%:w" in th information field of a directory entry, selecting that entry will run your word processor. "%w" means that you use the "%w" setup directive to specify a new action for this item, for instance, to have it open a specified document instead of just a new blank window, or even run a different program if preferred.

Page url: http://wtcmanual.wintextware.com/index.html?ug_program_layout.htm

Program Layout