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An Introduction to ActivInspire (Studio)
Exploring ActivInspire Studio
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A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio
Exploring ActivInspire Studio
What you see when you first run ActivInspire Studio depends on whether you have ActivInspire Professional or Personal.
Where appropriate, we show you both in this illustrated tour:
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Welcome to ActivInspire
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Home > Welcome to ActivInspire
Welcome to ActivInspire
ActivInspire is the new teaching and learning software from Promethean for computers and interactive whiteboards
With ActivInspire you can:
Teach as with a traditional chalkboard, vary the pace of your presentations and deliver practical training sessions.
Write and draw, then erase, just as you normally would.
Save your pages as a flipchart file, then retrieve them for use with a different class, or in another classroom.
Add pictures, movies and sounds to your lesson’s flipchart pages.
Quickly structure your lesson content and timing to match your lesson plan.
Add text, for example from Microsoft Word®, or directly from the
Internet. ActivInspire can even recognize your writing and convert it to text.
Use Learner Response
Systems - ask your students questions, or display prepared questions in your flipcharts. Students can vote or text answers on
ActiVote and
ActivExpression devices and the results can be displayed in different formats.
Quickly adapt your flipcharts in response to results from your class, or in line with syllabus file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/welcome_to_activinspire.htm[1/21/2010 6:06:44 PM]
Welcome to ActivInspire requirements.
Use simple but effective tools to stimulate thought, engage your students and focus their attention.
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A tour of ActivInspire
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> A tour of ActivInspire
A tour of ActivInspire
This section is for new users and current users of Activstudio and Activprimary software. It contains some introductory topics, and takes you on a tour of ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire Primary:
Exploring ActivInspire Primary
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Dashboard
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Dashboard
When you run ActivInspire, after choosing your initial preferences, the first thing you see is the
Dashboard.
The Dashboard contains shortcuts to flipcharts and useful tools to save you time.
The Dashboard will remain open until you close it.
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Dashboard
If you uncheck the 'Show the dashboard window on startup' box, the Dashboard will not open next time you run
ActivInspire.
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ActivInspire window
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ActivInspire window
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire window
When you run ActivInspire, the ActivInspire window opens behind the Dashboard.
What this window looks like depends on several things:
Your preferences at startup.
Whether you are using ActivInspire Professional or Personal.
Whether you have customized any of its components.
Here we introduce the main components of the ActivInspire window for ActivInspire Professional and ActivInspire Personal.
ActivInspire Professional
The following picture shows a thumbnail of the ActivInspire Professional window. The list on the left identifies each numbered component:
1
Main Toolbox
2
Browser
3
Menubar
4
Flipchart name
5
Sizing details
6
Flipchart page
7
Trashcan
ActivInspire Personal
The following picture shows a thumbnail of the ActivInspire Personal window.
ActivInspire Personal does not give you the same range of tools and Browsers as
ActivInspire Professional. For example, it does not include the file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/activinspire_window_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:06:49 PM]
ActivInspire window
Shape
Tool and the
Action Browser
.
Tip
Look for these small icons at the top of Browsers, Menus and Toolboxes. They allow you to quickly customize an item's behavior:
Toolbox
Options
Roll Up
Pin Toolbox
Select from a drop-down menu where the item should be located and how much of it should be visible.
A toggle switch to roll the item up so it takes up less space, or to unroll it again.
A toggle switch to pin the item in place. This prevents it from automatically hiding, or from being moved accidentally.
To move an item, click in the dark blue area along its top edge and drag and drop it where you want it.
Next time you run ActivInspire, it will remember your preferences.
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A tour of ActivInspire
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Main Toolbox
Main Toolbox
The Main Toolbox opens on your display when you start ActivInspire. When you start ActivInspire for the very first time, the toolbox contains a set of the most popular tools.
The items in the Main Toolbox are just a selection of the many tools available. You can access a large range of additional tools from the Tools Menu. Next time you start ActivInspire, it will remember where you left the toolbox last time and which tools it contained
.
Preferences
You can keep the default toolset, remove tools, or replace some or all of them with other tools. You can define your preferences in a profile and save them when you are satisfied.
You can create as many profiles as you need and quickly switch between them with the
Switch Profile
icon.
For details of how to customize profiles, see
Making Profiles work for you .
Back to top
ActivInspire's Browsers
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers
ActivInspire's Browsers
This section introduces ActivInspire's Browsers.
What is a Browser?
A flipchart can have many pages and elements, each with a range of characteristics and properties.
ActivInspire makes working with these characteristics and properties simple, by providing a Browser for each major area.
The Browsers allow you to see at a glance:
What's already included in your flipchart.
What else you could add or customize.
How to do this.
Use the Browsers to quickly build, refine and enhance your own and other people's flipcharts.
Each Browser:
Is structured to give you clear and detailed information about the area you are browsing.
Has its own Popup Menu and/or set of icons to help you work effectively with your flipchart.
In addition, you can make the Browser wider or narrower and adjust the level of detail you can see to suit your needs.
What Browsers are there?
There are seven Browsers in ActivInspire:
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Viewing a flipchart
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Viewing a flipchart
Viewing a flipchart
When you open a flipchart, the Page Browser shows thumbnails of the pages in the flipchart and the work area in the ActivInspire window shows the first page of the flipchart.
Here we describe five easy ways to view a flipchart:
Preview several pages at a time
Increase and decrease the page size
View one page at a time
Two ways to view one page at a time:
Click on the
Next Page
and
Previous Page
icons.
From the
View Menu, select Next Page or Previous Page.
You automatically insert a new flipchart page when you click on the
Next Page
icon on the last page of a flipchart.
To prevent unwanted pages at the end of your flipcharts, always add an indicator to the last page. This could be a shape, a picture, or a simple
"The End".
Preview several pages at a time
You can increase or decrease the size of the thumbnails you see in the Page Browser. The smaller the thumbnails, the more pages you can preview at a time.
Two ways to preview several pages:
Click and drag the edge of the Page Browser, or use the slider at the bottom right-hand side of the Page Browser to change the size of the thumbnails.
Move the slider at the top right-hand edge of the Page Browser pane down or up to scroll past thumbnails of the pages in your flipchart. Then click on the thumbnail of the page you want to see.
Example
The picture on the right shows all the pages in the currently open flipchart as thumbnails in the Page Browser. You can see, in both the Browser and the work area, that the last page is the current page.
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Viewing a flipchart
[add
Increase and decrease the page size
By default, ActivInspire is set to scale the complete flipchart page into the ActivInspire window. This is termed 'Best Fit'.
You can easily change this with the drop-down menu at the top right-hand corner of the window.
Click the down icon, then select a setting to suit your needs.
If you cannot see the down icon, click the
>> icon.
Welcome to the World!
If you select a setting that is smaller than 100%, the size of the flipchart page will be proportionally reduced in the
ActivInspire window.
This opens up an area around the flipchart page called the
World. You can use the World like a blotter, to position objects temporarily outside the boundary of the flipchart page, for later use. These objects can then remain hidden when the page is scaled to fit the ActivInspire window. For example file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/viewing_a_flipchart_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:06:55 PM]
Viewing a flipchart things you don't want to make visible to your students, or items you want to reveal at a certain point in a lesson.
Zoom in and out
You can use
Page Zoom
to magnify or shrink what you see on the flipchart. Page Zoom does not change your flipchart, it only affects how the flipchart is viewed.
Zoom in
1. From the
View Menu, select Page Zoom
2. Click on the page and wait for a moment. The zoom begins and continues until you release the ActivPen or mouse button.
Page Zoom
is now in the Quick Access Toolbar.
Zoom out
With
Page Zoom selected:
1. Right-click on the page.
2. Hold the right-click button down.
If you double-click on the page while
Page Zoom is selected, the Page Scale returns to Best Fit.
Pan around the flipchart
When you have zoomed in on a flipchart to the point where the flipchart page is larger than the ActivInspire window, you can no longer see the whole flipchart page at once.
In this situation you can pan around the page in one of two ways:
Use the vertical and horizontal slide bars that appear around the page
Use
Page Zoom. Notice that when this tool is selected, as you move the cursor over the page, a small hand icon is displayed. If you now click on the page and drag, you can pan around the page to bring other areas into view. Note that this behavior also applies when you are zoomed out of the page.
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Managing multiple flipcharts
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Managing multiple flipcharts
Managing multiple flipcharts
Every time you open or create another flipchart, a new Document Tab appears in the Document Bar. You can work with an unlimited number of flipcharts at the same time.
To move from one flipchart to another, click the Document Tab of the flipchart you want to work on. This becomes the current flipchart.
The name of the flipchart appears in bold in its Document Tab. To close the flipchart, click on .
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Authoring at your computer
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Authoring at your computer
Authoring at your computer
When you are working at your computer, you need easy access to a range of tools for lesson preparation.
The quickest way to achieve this is to switch to the 'Authoring' profile provided with ActivInspire:
Click on
Switch Profile
and select the
Authoring profile from the drop-down list.
Alternatively, you could experiment with your favourite combinations of tools and settings, then save them to a profile.
For more information about creating and working with profiles, see
Making profiles work for you .
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Presenting at the board
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Presenting at the board
Presenting at the board
When you are presenting at the board, you need easy access to a range of presentation tools. You want to maximize the available space and minimize distractions.
Here are some ways to achieve this:
Set the display to Fullscreen Mode (F5).
Hide menus.
Pin or dock the Main Toolbox.
Add tools you intend to use, such as the Math Tools, Spotlight, Dual User, or Tickertape to the Main Toolbox before the lesson.
Remove any tools that you know you don't need from the Main Toolbox.
Enable interactive elements, such as actions or links.
Hide action objects.
Open the Page or Resource Browser.
Show the Trashcan.
Experiment with your favorite combinations of tools and settings, then save them to a profile.
Alternatively, click on
Switch Profile
and select the
At The Board profile from the drop-down list.
For more information about:
Presenting at the board, see
.
Creating and working with profiles, see
Making profiles work for you .
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Collaborating at the board
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Collaborating at the board
Collaborating at the board
There are many ways in which you can encourage your students to work together at the board. Usually this means they have to take turns with the ActivPen.
ActivInspire takes collaborative working a step further by allowing two people to work interactively with the same flipchart. We call this way of working 'Dual User' mode, because each collaborator uses their own ActivPen and ActivInspire toolbox to work on the ActivBoard.
Only the teacher can enable Dual User mode.
Starting Dual User mode enables the Dual Toolbox, which contains a subset of the tools available in the Main Toolbox.
The person using the Dual Toolbox can only work on the current flipchart page.
Only the user of the Main Toolbox has full access to all ActivInspire's functions.
The Dual Toolbox remains under the control of the person who is using the
Main Toolbox.
Access to the Dual Toolbox can be revoked from the Main Toolbox at any time.
You need ActivInspire Professional to use Dual User mode.
Tips for working in Dual User mode
Here we have compiled some quick tips to spark your creativity when working in Dual User mode.
Two ActivPens are better than one
Encourage students to work towards one goal. Make sure students are constantly communicating and sharing with each other. This could involve working out a puzzle or pooling knowledge to answer questions on the ActivBoard.
Swap roles
Swap roles half way through the activity so one student doesn’t get trapped in an area they do not know well.
Teacher back up
The teacher can keep control of the Main Toolbox, annotating students’ work as they come out to the ActivBoard, to help boost students' confidence.
A new workspace
Dual User mode opens up a space where two students can work, together or individually, at the ActivBoard, making the ActivBoard a workspace in itself.
Constructive pairwork
Pair a stronger student with a weaker student. The stronger student teaches the weaker student. The weaker student strengthens the stronger student’s knowledge.
Joint presentations
Encourage students to create presentations in pairs, so they can discuss which role to perform and how they can work together at the ActivBoard.
Encouraging creativity
Two groups can now write their ideas on the ActivBoard at the same time. By seeing the other group’s ideas, students can inspire each other, helping their creativity.
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Collaborating at the board
Taking roles
Give students different roles to perform at the ActivBoard, so they can see the results of effective teamwork. For example, one person could be in charge of text whilst the other is in charge of images.
Appreciating another point of view
Two points of view can be displayed and discussed, simultaneously at the ActivBoard. Students can then identify where ideas overlap and diverge.
Encourage clear thinking
The class reads instructions to two students working back to back, to see whether both students understand the instructions in the same way.
For more details, see
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Exploring tools
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Exploring tools
Exploring tools
ActivInspire includes many tools to help you create engaging lessons to captivate your audience and to add interest while working at the board.
The Main Toolbox contains the most popular tools and more tools are available from the Tools Menu.
Here, we describe just a few of the fun tools for you to explore:
This tool allows you to capture sound to a file for inclusion in your flipchart. For example, you can create sound clips and link them to words, to help your students pronunciation, or capture sound while making a screen recording with the
Screen Recorder
.
This tool allows you to capture whatever happens on screen to a video file (.AVI), which you can keep in your flipchart, or save to a resources folder and replay as often as required.
A presentation tool that allows you to create a message that scrolls like a tickertape across the top of the board. You can stop, start and change it at any time.
Open Flipchart
A clock for use during a lesson, for example, to teach your learners the time, or to use as a stop watch or count down for timed activities.
This tool allows you to take an instant snapshot of what's on the screen and place it in your flipchart, the clipboard, or into the My Resources or Shared Resources folder. A range of options allow you to tailor the size and shape of the snapshot to your needs.
A shortcut to the 'Open flipchart' Dialog Box, which you can use to navigate to and open flipcharts.
A fun tool for hiding and revealing areas of the flipchart page! Great for guessing games and for rekindling flagging interest.
A tool for collaborative working at the board. It enables a second toolbox which can be used by a learner to write, draw, select, fill and connect objects on the board.
Tools remember their settings. When you switch tools, each one remembers your last choice. For example, the
Highlighter remember their color and width settings.
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Most often used tools
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Most often used tools
Most often used tools
While you are working with ActivInspire, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar on the right of the Main Toolbox gradually fills up with icons.
ActivInspire automatically places your Most often used tools there, so that they are easily accessible.
In the picture on the right, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar includes some of the tools you explored in the previous topic.
To see a description of a tool, click on the link:
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One application, two products
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A tour of ActivInspire > One application, two products
One application, two products
Previous generations of Promethean software made you choose between Activstudio and Activprimary software. The good news is, this is no longer the case in ActivInspire.
To quickly get you started with ActivInspire, you choose your preferred look and feel when you first run the application. ActivInspire tailors your tools and screen layout according to your choice. Whichever one you choose, you get the benefit of ActivInspire's powerful features.
Your choices are:
Promethean Activstudio
Promethean Activprimary
Other Applications, such as Powerpoint®
Once you are up and running, you can customize ActivInspire even further, then save all your preferences as a profile for future
use. For more information, see Making profiles work for you .
In this help file, we concentrate on showing you how to work with ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire
Primary.
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About flipcharts
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> About flipcharts
About flipcharts
A flipchart is the large rectangular work space in your ActivInspire window, where you create lessons.
A few facts about flipcharts:
When you launch ActivInspire, a blank flipchart opens, ready for your input.
Flipcharts can include a vast range of objects, shapes and interactive features, including sounds, animations and actions.
You can work with as many flipcharts at the same time as you wish.
Each flipchart opens within its own tab in the ActivInspire window.
You can quickly move back and forth between flipcharts using the document tabs.
A flipchart can contain as many pages as you like.
You can also create desktop flipcharts, where you annotate either the live desktop, or a snapshot of the desktop.
Flipcharts created with ActivInspire have the file extension .flipchart.
You can convert any flipcharts created with earlier versions of Promethean software (version 2.0 and later) to the new file format.
You can open flipcharts created with Activprimary and Activstudio in ActivInspire. Once you save these flipcharts in
ActivInspire, you cannot open them in Activprimary or Activstudio.
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary
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A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary
Exploring ActivInspire Primary
What you see when you first run ActivInspire Primary depends on whether you have ActivInspire Personal or Professional. Where appropriate, we show you both in this illustrated tour:
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Making profiles work for you
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> Making profiles work for you
Making profiles work for you
ActivInspire has a carefully thought-out range of default menus, settings and behaviors that give you consistent results every time you work with flipcharts.
However, what you get may still not be exactly what you want. If you have used creative software before, you may be familiar with changing settings and options to suit your needs. In ActivInspire we call this creating a profile.
See for yourself in:
Creating and switching profiles
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Page Browser
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Page Browser
Page Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly put together the foundations of your flipchart.
Use the Page Browser to:
View the entire flipchart as page thumbnails.
Navigate flipchart pages.
Set the backgrounds and grids for pages.
Organize your flipchart pages using drag and drop reordering, in addition to Cut, Copy, Delete and Duplicate commands.
Example
The picture on the right shows a flipchart that contains multiple pages.
The Page Browser is open and shows thumbnails of the first two pages in your flipchart. The Popup Menu icon
in the thumbnail indicates that this is the current page. This means you can select an item or area on that page and work with it.
To display another page, click on its thumbnail.
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Resource Browser
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Exploring ActivInspire Studio >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Resource Browser
Resource Browser
This browser helps you to quickly view, navigate and use the resources provided with ActivInspire to enrich your flipcharts. The
Resource Library contains a huge range of games and activities, annotations, assessments, backgrounds, concept maps, images, shapes, sounds and other items too numerous to list.
You can easily extend the library with your own and other people's resources and add resource packs from the Promethean Planet website on www.prometheanplanet.com
, or from our partners.
Use the Resource Browser to:
Quickly navigate to and view all the resources in a particular folder, for example My Resources, Shared Resources or other locations on disk or on the network.
Display thumbnails and filenames of selected resources in the browser.
Drag and drop resources such as page templates, activity pages and question pages from the browser into your flipchart.
Drag and drop your own creations from a flipchart page into a folder in the Resource Library.
Change the transparency of a resource in your flipchart.
Use the Rubberstamp to quickly create multiple copies of a resource in your flipchart.
Example
By default, the Resource Browser opens the Shared Resources folder. All resources provided with ActivInspire are organized by category and stored in clearly named folders.
The picture on the right shows some of the resources in the Shared
Resources folder.
Click on the icons at the top to browse the following for resources:
My Resources
Shared Resources
Another resource folder
Another folder on your computer
Promethean Planet
The pane at the top of the Browser shows the folders. Its Popup
Menu allows you to import and export Resource Packs.
The 'Import' function is only available from the Popup Menu for the top level folder.
The pane at the bottom shows thumbnails of the resources in that folder and their filenames.
From there you can:
Change the size and layout of the thumbnails of the resources
Insert resources from the Resource Library into your flipchart
Delete resources from the Resource Library.
The area between the two panes shows the number of items in the currently selected folder.
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Resource Browser
It also contains two useful tools for copying and changing resources:
Toggle Transparency lets you make the background color of an image resource transparent at the time you drag it onto the page.
Rubberstamp lets you quickly insert multiple copies of a resource into your flipchart.
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Object Browser
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> Object Browser
Object Browser
Here we introduce objects and the Object Browser:
About objects
In ActivInspire, everything you add to a flipchart is an object of one kind or another. For example, if you write something with the
Pen
, draw a shape, add a picture, or add a link to a sound file, each of these items is an object. You can add many different types of objects to a flipchart. The Object Browser helps you to keep track of the number and types of objects in your flipchart and to quickly get to grips with objects in a flipchart created by somebody else.
About layers and stacking
The Object Browser shows details of the objects on the current page. Although a page is flat, a flipchart page actually has four layers! These are like transparent sheets which only contain certain object types unless you move objects from one layer to another. Within a layer, you can stack objects on top of each other.
By default:
This layer...
Contains...
Top
Annotations: anything you draw with the
Pen
,
Highlight
, or
Magic Ink
, a secret weapon which we introduce later.
Middle
Bottom
Images, shapes and text objects.
Anything you draw with the
Connector
, but you can also drag and drop other objects onto this layer.
Backgrounds, grids and page color.
Background
By selecting objects listed in the Object Browser you can drag and drop them between the first three layers in the Browser, but not the background layer. This directly alters their layering on the flipchart page. Layers are completely separate from each other. In other words, you can replace the background without affecting your images or annotations. Or you can annotate over your photographs and background without affecting other layers.
For more details, see
.
View objects
Use the Object Browser to see at a glance:
The display order of objects and which objects are on the top, middle and bottom layers of a page.
Which objects are grouped together. This allows you to work on all of them at the same time.
If a page contains any hidden objects.
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Object Browser
If a page contains any objects that are locked so that they cannot be moved.
Work with objects
Use the Object Browser to:
Drag and drop objects from one layer to another.
Group, stack and reorder objects.
Show or hide objects.
Lock or unlock selected objects, for example, if you are planning a student activity where only certain objects can be dragged and dropped and others must stay in place.
Example
The picture on the right shows details of the objects on the current flipchart page.
You can see in the Browser, that all the objects are identified by:
The icon of the tool that created them
Their name.
The Browser shows clearly which objects are on which layer:
There are eight objects in the top layer.
These are the annotations written with the
Pen
There are four objects in the middle layer:
The printed text created with the
Text
Tool.
Note the lock next to the Text object in the Browser. This indicates that the object has been locked in place. The lock is a toggle switch that allows you to quickly lock and unlock objects.
The triangle and squares created with the
Shape
Tool are in the middle layer by default. Note the crossed-out eye next to the object in the Browser. This indicates that the triangle is a hidden object. As you can see on the flipchart page, the triangle is not visible. The eye is a toggle switch that allows you to quickly show and hide objects.
There is only one object in the bottom layer, a square created with the Shape Tool. In the Object Browser, we dragged this object down from the middle layer, where it was created.
The yellow page background is on its own layer. We inserted this background with the Page Browser.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:15 PM]
Object Browser file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:15 PM]
Notes Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Studio >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser
Notes Browser
This Browser helps you to make your flipchart even easier to use, by allowing you to create, view and edit notes about your flipchart. You can use these notes in any way you choose. As you will know from experience, lesson notes can make the difference between an uninspiring lesson and one that flies. We therefore encourage you to make full use of the Notes Browser to enrich your own and other people's experience of teaching with ActivInspire.
Use the Notes Browser to:
Add your own notes and comments to a flipchart, helping to make it easier to share and reuse.
If you are using a flipchart created by someone else:
View other teachers' notes and comments about their flipchart and add your own notes where appropriate.
View notes from publishers about how to best use their flipcharts and add your own notes if appropriate.
Example
The picture on the right shows the Notes Browser. You can type your notes as plain text, or open the Format Toolbar and format the text.
ActivInspire displays the
Page Notes
icon in the
Menubar if the current flipchart page contains notes.
You can add notes to each page of a flipchart and print them, either with the flipchart pages, or separately.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/notes_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:16 PM]
Property Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Studio >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Property Browser
Property Browser
This Browser helps you to see all of the properties of an object at a glance. It's a powerful tool for quickly adding interactivity to your lessons.
Use the Property Browser to:
Display all the properties of an object. Slide the vertical scrollbar of the Browser up and down to see the complete range of properties available.
View and manipulate the position and appearance of an object by changing its settings in the Property Browser. Of course, you can still control the position of an object by dragging and dropping it and edit it to change its color.
Add interactive features to your flipchart and control how they can be used.
Add permanently visible labels to objects, or add interactive fun by making a label appear only when the mouse cursor runs over the object.
Control the behavior of an object by defining rules, called restrictors, that constrain its movement. This is a very useful feature if you want, for example, to create your own on-screen game.
All properties are clearly categorized so that you can select properties by type.
Example
The picture on the right shows some of the properties of the red square, the currently selected object, in the
Property Browser. You can see the name of the object and some details of its position on the page. You can also see that the square is on the middle layer.
On the flipchart page, you can also see the round Sizing Handles that surround the selected object. These indicate that you can move or resize the object. The row of square icons alongside the object are the Object Edit Menu and other
Marquee Handles for working on the object.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/property_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:18 PM]
Property Browser file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/property_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:18 PM]
Action Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Studio >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Action Browser
Action Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly associate an action with an object. This means that, when you or someone else selects the object, the action that you have associated with the object will happen. For example, a tickertape will run, displaying your message, or a sound will play, or a flipchart vote will begin, to name just a few possibilities. All actions are clearly categorized, so that you can select actions by type. You can set up any number of actions in your flipchart to make your lesson as varied and interactive as you like.
Use the Action Browser to:
Apply a command action to an object, for example, the
Dice Roller
, so that up to five dice will roll when someone selects the object on the board.
Apply a page action to an object, for example, to go to the next page.
Apply an object action to an object, for example, to change the size, position or translucency of an object.
Apply a document or media action to an object, for example, to insert a link to a file or website.
Apply a voting action to an object, for example to Start/Stop a Flipchart Vote.
Remove an action that is no longer required.
Preview an action to check that it does exactly what you want.
Example
The picture on the right shows the Action
Browser. We have associated the
Dice
Roller
with the blue square. You can tell that an action is associated with this object, because the cursor over the blue square has changed to a blue
Preview
icon.
When you click on the square, the 'Dice
Roller' Popup window opens and the dice roll.
You can:
Choose the number of dice to roll.
Increase or decrease the speed.
Roll the dice as many times as you wish.
Send the total of all the numbers thrown to the current flipchart.
Roll the dice!
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/action_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:19 PM]
Action Browser
You need ActivInspire Professional to use the Action Browser.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/action_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:19 PM]
Voting Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Studio >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Voting Browser
Voting Browser
This Browser helps you manage all aspects of registering your ActivSlate, ActiVote and ActivExpression devices, running your voting sessions, as well as recording, storing and browsing the results of such sessions.
Use the Voting Browser to:
Register ActivSlate, ActiVote and ActivExpression devices.
Assign students to devices.
Toggle between anonymous and named voting.
Select either ActiVote or ActivExpression devices for a voting session.
Set, suspend or change the time allowed for responses.
Start and stop voting.
Show or hide the 'Vote Now' prompt.
Browse voting results and export results to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/voting_browser_studio.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:21 PM]
Working at the board
Show
>
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board
Working at the board
In this section, we describe how to take advantage of using ActivInspire's powerful Presentation Tools while working at the board:
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_at_the_board.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:22 PM]
Working in Dual User mode
Show
>
>
Working at the board > Working in Dual User mode
Working in Dual User mode
This section explains Dual User mode and also the interactivity offered by this feature:
Additional ActivInspire Primary trays
The concept
Promethean Technology supports true multiple user interaction and multiple operations happening at the same time. This takes the idea of multi-user to a new level. Individual users are differentiated in the Promethean system and while emulating any other multitouch surface - it also “knows” who the teacher is and who the learners are.
The pedagogy
Promethean’s approach offers a completely new Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) paradigm – that opens a new world of easy to manage, but pedagogically advanced teaching and learning opportunities.
Benefits when used by two or more users include:
It's non-technical - As easy as two people drawing on a big sheet of paper!
Allows people to work at the same time on screen and in the same application (specially developed) – all other systems require users to take turns.
Users can collaborate to solve problems or puzzles.
Users can compete in real time.
Enables team or role-based use of the board/display.
Greatly increases productivity at the board.
Teacher can work with a child providing close support and advice, exploring ideas with no pen or role swapping.
What you require
To enable Dual User mode you must ensure you have the following hardware and software:
An ActivBoard v3 OR an upgraded ActivBoard v2 (containing ActivBoard firmware v2.3 or later).
Dual User ActivPens (Teacher Pen and Student Pen).
The Dual User enabled ActivDriver.
ActivInspire.
For further information regarding Dual User hardware and software requirements please contact Promethean Ltd.
How it works
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_in_dual_user_mode.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:25 PM]
Working in Dual User mode
The Dual User functionality of ActivInspire is available whenever the software detects a Dual User enabled ActivBoard connected to your computer. If this is not the case, the Dual User functionality will be unavailable within ActivInspire.
This section is written with the assumption that Dual User is enabled.
Dual User is designed around the concept of a Teacher Pen and a Student Pen:
Teacher Pen
Student Pen
By default, when Dual User mode is not enabled, both the Teacher and the Student pens behave as standard single input
ActivPens, in that you can use either of the pens, but only one at a time.
With either of the pens you can enable Dual User functionality as follows:
From the Main Menu, select
Tools > Dual User
When Dual User is enabled, a second, floating Student Toolbox is displayed within ActivInspire:
Student Toolbox (ActivInspire
Studio)
Student Toolbox (ActivInspire
Primary)
When Dual User mode is enabled:
The Student Pen is restricted to the following areas of the program:
Positioning the Student Toolbox.
Selecting and using tools from the Student Toolbox on the flipchart page.
Interacting with the contents of the flipchart page.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_in_dual_user_mode.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:25 PM]
Working in Dual User mode
The Teacher Pen will continue to control the full functionality of ActivInspire, with the exception that it cannot be used to interact with the Student Toolbox.
The computer mouse cannot interact with the flipchart material or the Student Toolbox, but will continue to control all other aspects of ActivInspire.
The Student Toolbox offers the following tools...
These allow the student to...
Move and size page objects.
Select
Annotate on the page.
Pen
Highlight areas of the page.
Highlight
Fill page objects.
Fill
Add shapes to the page.
Shape
Connect page objects.
Connector
Add recognized text objects to the page.
Handwriting Recognition
Add recognized shapes to the page.
Shape Recognition
These tools behave in much the same way as the standard tools for single pen input.
For details, see the individual sections on these tools in this Help file.
It is important to rrealize that any Student Pen activity can occur on the page independently from and simultaneously to the Teacher Pen activity.
This therefore provides for many types of collaborative activity, including:
Teacher and student both writing together.
Teacher writing and student highlighting words.
Teacher writing and student selecting and moving objects.
Teacher and student both moving, sizing, rotating, dragging and dropping objects.
All the actions and properties of page objects such as containers and restrictors apply to both Teacher and Student
Pens.
Additional ActivInspire Primary Trays
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_in_dual_user_mode.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:25 PM]
Working in Dual User mode
Dual User Mode within the ActivInspire Primary interface offers some additional tool trays.
When the Student Pen selects the
Pen pens, highlighters and colors:
, the Student Pen Tray is displayed in the Tray area, allowing the Student to select
When the Student Pen selects the Fill Tool, the Student Fill Tray is displayed in the Tray area, allowing the Student to select the
Fill
color:
These trays will appear alongside any trays currently in use by the Teacher Pen.
Rules of Engagement
When working in Dual User mode, ActivInspire imposes the following rules of engagement:
The Teacher Pen cannot select Student Tools. The Student Pen cannot select Teacher Tools.
Any Inspire windows and dialogs (for example, those for the Clock, or Dice Roller) are inaccessible to the Student Pen.
When you select a page object (or objects) with one of the pens, so that the Marquee Handles are showing, these objects will be inaccessible to the other pen. This rule stays in force until the Marquee Handles are removed by whatever means. In other words, each pen can define its own independent selection of Marquee Handles which are inaccessible to the other pen.
If one pen is interacting with an object on the page, for example, the first pen is in the ‘pen nib down’ state over an object, the second pen cannot interact with this object until the first pen releases its hold on the object.
The Student
Shape Tool does not display the Shape Toolbox. The Shape Toolbox must be shown by the Teacher
Shape Tool, whereupon both the Student and Teacher pens can select shapes from the common Shape Toolbox. Both pens will always use the most recent shape as selected by each pen.
When the Student Pen uses the
Handwriting Recognition word is recognized (unlike the Teacher Pen).
Tool, no word alternatives are provided once the
If both pens are writing, the stacking order of the annotations are defined by the relative pen down events of both pens.
Therefore if Pen 2 is in the process of drawing an annotation, Pen 1 can always draw over the top of this annotation (and vice versa).
If two Maths tools are showing on the page (for example, rulers, compasses, protractors), each pen can interact with its own maths tool.
When using the ActivInspire Primary look and feel, the position of any Teacher and Student trays will depend upon the position of the Teacher and Student Toolboxes. If the Teacher Toolbox is to the right of the Student Toolbox, then the related trays will appear in the same order.
Deactivating Dual User mode
When Dual User mode is enabled, you can use the Teacher Pen or the computer mouse to ‘turn off’ Dual User mode as follows:
From the Main Menu, select
Tools > Dual User. Once Dual User is turned off, both pens revert to standard, single pen use (the default condition).
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_in_dual_user_mode.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:25 PM]
Working in Dual User mode
Content for Dual User mode
All pages support dual user input, single user input and sequential use. Multiple users will not be a prerequisite for use of pages, yet pages used in this way will be most effective due to the very nature of collaborative learning and its benefits.
The criteria for multi-user templates are as follows:
Activity templates which students can use as a focus for information collation, ideas exchange and discussion.
Activity templates in which students can work together to manipulate or engage with page elements to co-construct and consolidate knowledge.
Activity templates that promote higher order thinking skills encouraging students to think of concepts in more advanced or complex ways (from basic levels of thought to more complex levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation).
Activity templates allowing synchronous completion of the identical or similar activities - with or without a competitive element according to teachers’ preference.
Activity templates enabling joint creative exercises.
Activity templates which serve to enhance understanding when used as a core part of learning – to encourage student engagement and interaction with concepts and each other, and not necessarily lower order ‘interaction’ with the IWB/IWB tools alone (technical versus conceptual interaction).
Activities employing the ‘Back-to-back’ technique in collaborative or competitive tasks.
There are plenty of multi-user page templates and multi-user activities to be found within the Shared Resources
Library sub-folders in:
Shared Resources > ActivInspire file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_in_dual_user_mode.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:25 PM]
Sound Recorder
Show
Sound Recorder
What?
Allows you to capture an audio recording (speech and/or music) to a file using the audio capture capabilities of your computer.
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
Main Menu > Tools > More Tools… > Sound Recorder
Desktop Tools
CTRL+Shift+R (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+R (Mac®)
In the Sound Recorder Toolbox, click on the red
Record icon to start capturing your audio. You may then use the
Pause or Stop icons at any time.
What can I customize?
To record speech, you should ensure that you have a suitable microphone connected to your system. For more information, see your Operating System Help files.
Add To Flipchart
Save To Disk
Adds a sound icon to your flipchart page when you finish recording. Click on the icon, with Enable Actions activated, to play your recording.
When you click on the
Record icon, ActivInspire prompts you to specify a file name and location for your sound file before the recording begins.
Both
Both of the above.
Where can I customize it?
Settings > Recordings > Sound Recordings
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding multimedia
Reference > Settings > Recordings
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/sound_recorder.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:27 PM]
Screen Recorder
Show
Screen Recorder
What?
Recording the actions on a flipchart, desktop flipchart, the desktop, or another application, saving them as a .avi file, then playing them back as an animation.
Where?
How?
Tools > More Tools > Screen Recorder
Desktop Tools
Click on the red
Record button and type a filename. Alternatively select the video format and audio compression first, then begin the recording. Click on the black
Stop button to end the recording.
What can I customize?
In the Screen Recorder Menu:
Video
Compression
Audio Format
To save disk space, choose from the supported video compressors installed on your computer.
Choose mono or stereo and the quality of recording. The greater the number of kilobits per second, the better the sound quality and the larger the file.
In the Recordings section of Settings:
Capture frame rate
Default = 5
The number of frames to be captured per second (1-10).
The greater the number of frames, the better the video quality and the larger the file.
Record audio
Default. If you have suitable sound equipment, records sounds as well as video.
Records only video.
Quick capture
Select when recording activities with lots of cursor movement over large, static areas. For example, a software demo.
Default.
Capture mouse pointer
Default. Records cursor movements in the video.
Does not record cursor movements.
Capture layered windows
Layered windows are used by applications to create translucent windows. For example, the translucent image that appears when you drag and drop an icon onto your desktop.
Select when recording applications that use layered windows.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/screen_recorder.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:28 PM]
Screen Recorder
Where can I customize it?
The cursor may flash while recording, but this effect will not appear in the video.
Default.
Disable hardware acceleration during recording
Default.
Hardware acceleration improves the performance of
3D graphics on your computer but can adversely affect the performance of the Screen Recorder.
Select to switch off hardware acceleration at the start of the recording and restore it upon completion of the recording.
Hide screen recorder toolbox whilst recording
Hides the Screen Recorder toolbox at the start of each new recording.
When the toolbox is hidden, stop the recording by clicking on the Screen Recorder icon.
Default. Screen Recorder is displayed during recording so that you can stop, pause or restart the recording.
Screen Recorder Menu
Edit Profiles > Settings > Recordings
More info...
More about ActivInspire > working with objects > Adding multimedia
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/screen_recorder.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:28 PM]
Tickertape
Show
>
> Tickertape
Tickertape
What?
Allows you to create and show text messages that scroll across your display over your presentation. Tickertapes can be created, edited, saved as files and reused.
Where?
Tools Menu > More Tools > Tickertape
Desktop Tools
Shortcut?
CTRL+Shift+T (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+T (Mac®)
How?
When you select this tool, a new, default Tickertape message scrolls across the display. You can use the 'Tickertape Edit' window to enter your message and change its properties. Use the Tickertape File Menu to save and load your tickertapes.
What can I customize?
Tickertape properties like color and speed.
Where can I customize it?
'Tickertape Edit' window
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Tickertapes
More info...
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/tickertape.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:30 PM]
Clock
Show
>
Clock
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
What can I customize?
Where can I customize it?
More info...
Classroom clock,
timed activities and competitions.
Tools > More Tools > Clock
Desktop Tools
Circular Spotlight (see description below):
CTRL+Shift+U (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+U (Mac®)
Set the display, choose count down or count up as desired:
Displays analog clock
Displays digital clock
Displays both an analog and a digital clock
Toggle switch. Pauses or restarts the clock
Opens 'Clock Counter' Dialog Box.
Use to set:
Countdown/Countup interval
Repeat countdown/countup
Reset
Play sound after timeout
Perform an action after timeout
Clock Box
Edit Profiles > Settings > Clock Tool
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/clock_reference.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:31 PM]
Clock file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/clock_reference.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:31 PM]
Camera
Show
Camera
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
>
Taking a snapshot from the screen – this may be a picture on a website or flipchart, for example.
Tools > Camera
Desktop Tools
Area Snapshot (see description below):
CTRL+Shift+K (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+K (Mac®)
Choose the type of snapshot from the dropdown menu, then choose the destination for your snapshot from the Camera Snapshot Box.
Area Snapshot
A highlighted box is displayed. Click inside the box and drag to move it – change the measurements with the handles. For fine adjustment, use the Position controls in the 'Camera Snapshot' Box.
Point to Point
Snapshot
Click and drag, drawing straight lines to enclose a highlighted outline area on the greyed-out screen. The snapshot area cannot be moved or modified – if you get it wrong, just close the 'Camera Snapshot Box' and try again. The Camera is enabled when the outline is complete.
Freehand Snapshot
Click and drag, drawing freehand to enclose a highlighted outline area on the greyed-out screen. The snapshot area cannot be moved or modified – if you get it wrong, just close the 'Camera Snapshot Box' and try again.
Window Snapshot
Fullscreen Snapshot
Capture dialog boxes, or the ActivInspire window.
Capture the full screen.
Choose the destination:
Current Page
New Page
Clipboard
My Resources
Shared Resources
A new page, which is inserted after the current page.
My Resources or Shared Resources.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/camera.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:33 PM]
Camera
More info...
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/camera.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:33 PM]
Revealer
Show
>
> Revealer
Revealer
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
Selectively revealing parts of the flipchart page.
Tools > Revealer
CTRL+R (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+R (Mac®)
How?
The Revealer is a toggle switch. Reveal hidden object(s) by clicking and dragging the blind from the top, bottom, right or left.
What can I customize?
rColor of the Revealer blind
Animation speed (1 to 20 seconds) - for use with ActivRemote.
Where can I customize it?
Edit Profiles > Effects > Reveal Tool
More info...
More about ActivInspire> Working at the board > Using the Revealer
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/revealer.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:35 PM]
Dual User
Show
Dual User
What?
Where?
How?
More info...
>
Collaborative working with two ActivPens on your ActivBoard version 3, or upgraded
ActivBoard version 2..
Tools > Dual User
Start Dual User mode, then two collaborators can simultaneously write and work on the board, using a Student Pen and Teacher Pen.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/dual_user.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:36 PM]
Pen
Show
Pen
What?
Where?
Drawing or writing annotations on the board.
Tools > Pen
Main Toolbox
Dual Toolbox
Shortcut?
CTRL+P (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+P (Mac®)
How?
Draw or write slowly, try to keep the "ink" flowing to avoid creating many small annotations.
Where can I customize it?
Set the color and width in the Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio), or in the Pen
Tray (ActivInspire Primary).
More info...
First steps with ActivInspire > Writing on a flipchart
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/pen_reference.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:38 PM]
Highlighter
Show
>
Highlighter
What?
Where?
Emphasising areas of your flipchart with translucent olor.
Tools > Highlight
Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio)
Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Dual Toolbox
Dual Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Shortcut?
CTRL+H (Windows
TM
and Linux
TM
)
Cmd+H (Mac®)
How?
Drag the cursor across the area to be highlighted.
Where can I customize it?
Select the olor and width in the Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio) or in the Pen
Tray (ActivInspire Primary).
More info...
First steps with ActivInspire > Writing on a flipchart
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/highlighter.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:39 PM]
Desktop Annotate
Show
>
Desktop Annotate
What?
Writing annotations on your computer's live desktop with the Pen or
Highlighter
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
More info...
Interacting with other applications on your desktop with Select
Tools > Desktop Annotate
CTRL+Shift+A (WindowsTM & LinuxTM)
Cmd+Shift+A (Mac®)
Your computer's desktop becomes the background of your flipchart page. The Main
Toolbox remains open, so you can select tools and save or discard your desktop flipchart.
You can browse your computer, launch applications and use ActivInspire's tools to create and manipulate annotations and other objects. The objects you create in your flipchart are an overlay of the desktop, they will not remain on your desktop when you close the desktop flipchart.
If you save the flipchart, it will not include a picture of your desktop.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Annotating the desktop
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/desktop_annotate.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:41 PM]
Page Zoom
Show
Page Zoom
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
More info...
>
> Page Zoom
Magnifying or miniaturizing the current page.
View > Page Zoom
CTRL+Shift+Z (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+Z (Mac®)
Click on the page, press and hold to zoom in, right-click on the page, press and hold to zoom out.
Click and drag with Page Zoom enabled to pan across a flipchart page.
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Viewing a flipchart
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Viewing a flipchart
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/page_zoom.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:42 PM]
Dashboard
Show
Dashboard
When you run
ActivInspire, after choosing your initial preferences, the first thing you see is the Dashboard.
The Dashboard contains shortcuts to flipcharts and useful tools to save you time.
The Dashboard will remain open until you close it.
>
Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Dashboard
If you uncheck the 'Show the dashboard window on startup' box, the Dashboard will not open next time you run
ActivInspire.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/dashboard_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:44 PM]
ActivInspire window
Show
ActivInspire window
>
Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire window
When you run ActivInspire, the ActivInspire window opens behind the Dashboard.
What this window looks like depends on several things:
Your preferences at startup.
Whether you are using ActivInspire Professional or Personal.
Whether you have customized any of its components.
Here we introduce the main components of the ActivInspire window for ActivInspire Professional.
ActivInspire Professional
The following picture shows a thumbnail of the ActivInspire Professional window. The list on the left identifies each numbered component:
1
Main Toolbox
2
Trashcan
3
Pen Tray
4
Page Browser
5
Object, Notes,
Property, Action and
Voting Browser
6
Menubar
7
Flipchart name
8
Context Menu
9
Page Indicator
10
Sizing Indicator
11
Flipchart page
ActivInspire Personal
ActivInspire Personal does not give you the same range of tools and Browsers as ActivInspire Professional. For example, it does not include the
Shape
Tool and the
Action Browser
.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/activinspire_window_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:45 PM]
ActivInspire window
Tip
Look for these small icons at the top of Browsers, Menus and Toolboxes. They allow you to quickly customize an item's behavior:
Toolbox Options
Select from a drop-down menu where the item should be located and how much of it should be visible.
Roll Up
Pin Toolbox
A toggle switch to roll the item up so it takes up less space, or to unroll it again.
A toggle switch to pin the item in place. This prevents it from automatically hiding, or from being moved accidentally.
To move an item, click in the yellow area along its top edge and drag and drop it where you want it.
Next time you run ActivInspire, it will remember your preferences.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/activinspire_window_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:45 PM]
Main Toolbox
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Main Toolbox
Main Toolbox
The Main Toolbox opens on your display when you start ActivInspire. When you start ActivInspire for the very first time, the toolbox contains a set of the most popular tools.
The items in the Main Toolbox are just a selection of the many tools available. You can access a large range of additional tools from the Tools Menu. Next time you start ActivInspire, it will remember where you left the toolbox last time, and which tools it contained.
ActivInspire
Professional
ActivInspire
Personal
Tools
Main Menu Clear
Previous Page
Start/Stop Flipchart
Vote
Select
Switch Profile
Next Page
Express Poll
Tools
Reset Page
Undo
Redo
Pen
Shape
Insert media from file
Fill
Connector
Text
Edit user-defined buttons
You need ActivInspire Professional if you want to create your own shapes with the
Shape
Tool.
Preferences
You can keep the default toolset, remove tools, or replace some or all of them with other tools. You can define your preferences in a profile and save them when you are satisfied. You can create as many profiles as you need and quickly switch between them with the
Switch Profile
. icon. For details of how to customize profiles, see Making Profiles work for
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Pen Tray
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Pen Tray
Pen Tray
The Pen Tray opens along the bottom edge of the display when you click on the
Pen
It contains the basic tools you need for writing on the board and making quick changes and corrections. The following picture shows the Pen Tray. The list on the left identifies each numbered component:
1
2
3
Highlighters
Pens
Erasers
4
5
Color Palette
Spaces for custom colors file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/pen_tray.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:49 PM]
ActivInspire's Browsers
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers
ActivInspire's Browsers
This section introduces ActivInspire's Browsers.
What is a Browser?
A flipchart can have many pages and elements, each with a range of characteristics and properties.
ActivInspire makes working with these characteristics and properties simple, by providing a Browser for each major area.
The Browsers allow you to see at a glance:
What's already included in your flipchart.
What else you could add or customize.
How to do this.
Use the Browsers to quickly build, refine and enhance your own and other people's flipcharts.
Each Browser:
Is structured to give you clear and detailed information about the area you are browsing.
Has its own Popup Menu and/or set of icons to help you work effectively with your flipchart.
In addition, you can make the Browser wider or narrower and adjust the level of detail you can see to suit your needs.
What Browsers are there?
There are seven Browsers:
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Viewing a flipchart
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Viewing a flipchart
We describe five easy ways to view a flipchart:
Preview several pages at a time
Increase and decrease the page size
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Viewing a flipchart
View one page at a time
Two ways to view one page at a time:
Click on the
Next Page
and
Previous Page
buttons.
From the View Menu, select
Next Page or Previous Page.
You automatically insert a new flipchart page when you click on the Next Page icon on the last page of a flipchart.
To prevent unwanted pages at the end of your flipcharts, always add an indicator to the last page. This could be a shape, a picture, or a simple
"The End".
Preview several pages at a time
From the Main Toolbox, open the Page Browser
.
Preview the thumbnails of the flipchart and click on the black triangles on the film reel to see other thumbnails. To display a page in the
ActivInspire window, click on its thumbnail.
Increase and decrease the page size
By default, ActivInspire is set to scale the complete flipchart page into the
ActivInspire window. This is termed 'Best Fit'. You can easily change this with the drop-down menu at the top right-hand corner of the window.
Click on the small white triangles your needs.
then select a setting to suit
Welcome to the World!
If you select a setting that is smaller than 100%, the size of the flipchart page will be proportionally reduced in the ActivInspire window.
This opens up an area around the flipchart page called the World. You can use the
World like a blotter, to position objects temporarily outside the boundary of the flipchart page, for later use. These objects can then remain hidden when the page file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/viewing_a_flipchart_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:52 PM]
Viewing a flipchart is scaled to fit the ActivInspire window. For example, things you don't want to make visible to your students, or items you want to reveal at a certain point in a lesson.
Zoom in and out
You can use
Page Zoom
to magnify or shrink what you see on the flipchart. Page Zoom does not change your flipchart, it only affects how the flipchart is viewed.
Zoom in
1. From the
View Menu, select Page Zoom
.
2. Click on the page and wait for a moment. The zoom begins and continues until you release the ActivPen or mouse button.
Page Zoom
is now in the Quick Access Toolbar.
Zoom out
With
Page Zoom selected:
1. Right-click on the page.
2. Hold the right-click button down.
If you double-click on the page while
Page Zoom is selected, the Page Scale returns to Best Fit.
Pan around the flipchart
When you have zoomed in on a flipchart to the point where the flipchart page is larger than the ActivInspire window, you can no longer see the whole flipchart page at once.
In this situation you can pan around the page in one of two ways:
Use the vertical and horizontal slide bars that appear around the page
Use
Page Zoom. Notice that when this tool is selected, as you move the cursor over the page, a small hand icon is displayed. If you now click on the page and drag, you can pan around the page to bring other areas into view. Note that this behavior also applies when you are zoomed out of the page.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/viewing_a_flipchart_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:07:52 PM]
Viewing a flipchart
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Managing multiple flipcharts
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Managing multiple flipcharts
Managing multiple flipcharts
Every time you open or create another flipchart, a new Document Tab appears in the Document Bar. You can work with an unlimited number of flipcharts at the same time.
To move from one flipchart to another, click the Document Tab of the flipchart you want to work on. This becomes the current flipchart.
The current flipchart is highlighted in yellow in its Document Tab. To close the flipchart, click on .
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Authoring at your computer
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Authoring at your computer
Authoring at your computer
When you are working at your computer, you need easy access to a range of tools for lesson preparation.
The quickest way to achieve this is to switch to the 'Authoring' profile provided with ActivInspire:
Click on
Switch Profile
and select the
Authoring profile from the drop-down list.
Alternatively, you could experiment with your favourite combinations of tools and settings, then save them to a profile.
For more information about creating and working with profiles, see
Making profiles work for you .
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Most often used tools
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Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Most often used tools
Most often used tools
While you are working with ActivInspire, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar on the right of the Main Toolbox gradually fills up with icons.
ActivInspire automatically places your Most often used tools there, so that they are easily accessible.
In the picture on the right, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar includes some of the tools you explored in the previous topic.
To see a description of a tool, click on the link:
Open Flipchart
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More about ActivInspire
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More about ActivInspire
This section contains more detailed information about how to work with ActivInspire:
> More about ActivInspire file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/more_about_activinspire..htm[1/21/2010 6:07:58 PM]
About profiles
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Making profiles work for you > About profiles
About profiles
Here we look at profiles in more detail:
What can you customize in a profile?
Which profiles are included in ActivInspire?
What is a profile?
ActivInspire can be adapted to suit different teaching techniques.
Whether you need lots of tools on your board, or just plenty of space – ActivInspire suits all teaching styles. When you start
ActivInspire, it displays items such as tools according to a profile file.
If you have used other computer applications, you may be familiar with options and preferences. ActivInspire creates a profile based on your use of tools.
For example, when you dock or roll in the Browser, ActivInspire makes a note in the profile. Next time you launch ActivInspire, things like menus, tools and other items will look and behave just like you left them.
You can continue to work with this profile, or select Edit > Profiles to create and save one or more profiles of your own. You can create different profiles for different circumstances and save your preferences in as many profiles as you wish. You can then use your profiles on another computer. Other teachers can use their profiles on your computer, then you can change back to your own profile when they have finished.
Your personal profiles are stored in the My Profiles folder.
What can you customize in a profile?
Profiles are a great way to personalize ActivInspire and make it truly yours. You can customize almost everything in ActivInspire and save your preferences in one or more profiles. To make this easy for you, we have grouped things into four major categories.
Each category is represented by its own tab in the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
This category Allows you to...
Layout
Choose the position, visibility and behavior of items like the Main Toolbox, Menubars and
Document Tabs.
Commands
Personalize the Main Toolbox and Marquee and Sizing Handles, by adding or remove items to suit your circumstances.
User Defined Buttons
Create your own shortcuts, so that when you press one of your own buttons, ActivInspire performs one of the following:
Inserts a special keystroke.
Displays the text you have previously associated with that button.
Opens a file or launches a program.
Settings
Customize the way on which you work with your Learner Response System, math tools, multimedia and many others.
Which profiles are included in ActivInspire?
ActivInspire includes five profiles. Their names indicate their intended purpose. You can use them as provided, or customize them further to suit your needs: file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/about_profiles.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:00 PM]
About profiles
At The Board
Authoring
Languages
Mathematics
Media
Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes some presentation tools for use at the board, as well as the Page Browser and Resource Browser buttons.
Puts authoring tools at your fingertips for quick lesson development. Opens with the Page Browser open and pinned and includes the extended Color Palette in the Main Toolbox, as well as the Quick
Access Toolbar.
Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes additional tools for language teaching, like the On-screen Keyboard, Text Recognition, Tickertape and
Spell Checker.
Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes additional math tools, like the Ruler, Protractor, and XY Origin.
Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes additional media tools, like the Sound Recorder, Screen Recorder, Camera and Insert Media from File.
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Creating and switching profiles
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Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles
Creating and switching profiles
Here we show you how to create, customise and switch profiles:
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Using layers and stacking
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Working with objects > Using layers and stacking
Using layers and stacking
Here we show you how to use layers and stack objects:
Move an object to another layer
More about layers
You may remember that all objects are placed on layers by default and that you can move objects from one layer to another.
Top layer
By default this layer contains all annotation objects that are made using the Pen, Highlighter and
Magic Ink tools. Such objects display on top of any other objects placed on the lower layers.
Middle layer
By default, this layer contains images, shapes and text objects.
Recognised annotations are automatically converted to text objects and placed on the middle layer..
These objects are displayed below (or underneath) any object placed on the top layer but are displayed above (or over) the top of any object placed on the bottom layer.
Bottom layer
Initially empty, the bottom layer can contain connectors and any object which is physically placed on it. For details, see
Move an object to another layer below.
Background layer
The background layer consists of three elements:
Background page color
Background image (optional)
Grid (optional)
In addition, you can place any other objects on the background layer, whereupon they will become locked on the background and will appear below all objects on the other layers.
If the background layer contains a background image, the way the image fills the page is dictated
by its Background Fit property. For details, see Reference > Properties > Miscellaneous properties .
The layers are completely separate from each other. In other words, you can replace the background without affecting images or annotations on other layers. Or you can annotate over your photographs and background without affecting other layers.
Move an object to another layer
1. Right-click on the object.
2. From the Popup Menu select
Reorder > To Top Layer
To Middle Layer
or
To Bottom Layer
This allows you to cover, for example, an annotation object with an image object.
Magic Ink annotations will hide any 'top layer' objects (or parts of objects) that the Magic Ink crosses over ( including annotations and images), allowing you to see through to the layers beneath.
Use the appropriate
Clear
Tool to delete objects from each layer.
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Using layers and stacking
Stack objects
All objects are allocated a position in the stack according to the order in which they are added to the page. Each successive object is placed on top of the preceding one within its own layer. Think of it as a pack of playing cards, where you must take a card out of the pack and place it on top in order to fully view it. The most recently placed object on a page is on top of the stack.
The cards in the example on the right were added in the following order:
Blue 1
Yellow 2
Red 3
The following rules apply:
The blue card will display under the yellow and red cards.
The yellow card will display on top of the blue card, but will be under the red card.
The red card will display on top of the yellow and blue cards.
These rules apply in each layer. Not only is there a stacking order in terms of the layers, you also need to consider the stacking order within each layer.
Change the stacking order
You can change the stacking order by sending an object to another place in the stack.
The order of the cards in the example on the right has changed. The Red 3 is now at the bottom of the stack.
Here we show you two ways to change the stacking order.
Change one step
1. Select the object.
2. From the Context Menu select
Send Backwards
Bring Forwards in the stacking order.
or
The object moves one step up or down
3. Repeat as necessary.
Go all the way
1. Select the object.
2. From the Edit Menu, select
Reorder > Bring to Front or Send to
Back. This will move the object to the front or back of the stack accordingly.
You can also select multiple objects to send the selection to the front or back. Each object will retain its stacking position in relation to the other objects.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_layers_and_stacking.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:03 PM]
Using Learner Response Systems
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Using Learner Response Systems
This section contains information about Learner Response Systems (LRS):
Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard
Quick questions and ExpressPoll
Home > Using Learner Response Systems
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Pre-flight checklist
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Working at the board > Pre-flight checklist
Pre-flight checklist
Working with a flipchart at the board is different from working with it on your computer. Fonts, objects and colors that look great on your computer screen may not work so well on the board.
We recommend that you try your flipchart out on a board before you teach with it in front of an audience. Now is the time to make final changes:
Ask yourself...
Suggestions
Are the learning goals clear?
State the learning goals at the beginning and revisit them for a vote at the end of the session.
Incorporate learning goals into every page:
Make them into a tickertape and keep it running throughout the lesson.
Place them at the top of each page, perhaps on the bottom layer, or make them restricted, so they can't be moved or deleted accidentally.
More info...
Making flipcharts interactive > Creating containers
Making flipcharts interactive > Creating restrictors
Working with objects > Using layers and stacking
Is each flipchart page clearly structured?
Is all text clearly legible?
If a page looks too cluttered, consider spreading its contents over two pages.
Ensure that text has a point size of at least 16.
If necessary, change the font, font size or text colors for greater clarity.
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text
Is there enough color contrast?
If you are using actions, do they work correctly?
Do all images display correctly on the board?
Do all links work?
Consider changing text and object colors for greater contrast and impact.
Check that actions are enabled and that the correct action has been associated with each object.
You may need to resize them for best effect.
Working with objects > Changing object properties
Making flipcharts interactive > Working with actions
Working with objects > Changing object properties
Working with objects > Adding and removing links
If you have added links, make sure that you can access the required areas from the classroom. If you need internet access, make sure you are connected to the network.
Are all objects and buttons accessible?
To enable you and your students to work at the board, ensure that anything you or they need to access during the lesson is in the bottom third of the flipchart.
Have you chosen a profile for teaching with this flipchart?
Do you intend to use this flipchart for collaborative working in Dual User mode?
Do you need to limit
You may want to use one of the profiles provided with
ActivInspire, or you may want to tailor a profile to your particular lesson or group of learners.
If the answer is "Yes", make sure that the tasks you set your students can be completed with the tools available in the Dual Toolbox.
Consider using Teacher Lock to keep students focussed
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Pre-flight checklist
access to any of
ActivInspire's functions when students are working at the board?
on current activity.
For expert advice on best teaching practice in the ActivClassroom, check out the Professional Development section on Promethean
Planet .
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Annotating the desktop
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>
Working at the board > Annotating the desktop
Annotating the desktop
Use the Desktop Annotate button when you want to use ActivInspire tools, such as the Pen, Highlighter and Eraser, on your desktop or any application you have open on your desktop. When you annotate your desktop, you will create a Desktop Flipchart, which can be saved for future use.
Use this feature in lessons about:
Websites
Software applications
Annotate the desktop
1. From the Tools Menu, select
Desktop Annotate
. The desktop is displayed in between
ActivInspire’s Browser and the Main Toolbox, as shown on the right.
2. Click on the
Desktop Annotate button in the toolbox to restore the previously hidden items. The
Menubar shows a new flipchart has been created, with the name ‘desktop flipchart’. The desktop flipchart is transparent.
You can annotate the desktop and deliver a lesson based on the content, such as a website or a software application.
When you select the pointer and click on the desktop, you can:
Start and use desktop applications.
Select objects from applications or websites and copy them. From the clipboard you can paste into flipcharts.
Display the layered structure
Open the Object Browser to see the layer structure of annotation objects.
The default structuring is as follows:
Pen annotations, including Highlighter go onto the top layer.
Text and shapes go onto the middle layer.
Connectors go onto the bottom layer.
When you save a desktop flipchart, the objects are saved onto an invisible background. The desktop does not form part of the flipchart and will not be saved.
Options
You can have the desktop as part of your flipchart in the following ways: file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/annotating_the_desktop.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:08 PM]
Annotating the desktop
As the background of your flipchart.
Using Desktop Overlay and Desktop Snapshot.
From the File Menu, select
Edit > Page Background. The
Set Background Dialog Box opens.
Click the Desktop Snapshot radio button. To look at the desktop before taking the snapshot, click the
Show
Desktop icon.
When you are ready to take the snapshot, click on the
Take
Snapshot icon.
After the snapshot has been taken, click on
Done.
If you want your current page to have no background:
Click on the
Desktop Overlay radio button, then click on
Done.
The desktop does not form part of the flipchart and will not be saved.
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Using Desktop Tools
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> Using Desktop Tools
Using Desktop Tools
Desktop Tools are a collection of commonly used ActivInspire tools which you may find useful when working in other applications, on occasions where you might not necessarily require the full facilities offered by
Desktop Annotate
When you click on the
Desktop Tools icon, ActivInspire is minimised and the floating Desktop Tools toolbox is displayed:
.
This toolbox can be moved around the desktop by dragging the icon to the required position, where it remains showing over other applications.
You can click on the icon to expand the Desktop Tools.
The toolbox contains the following tools (moving clockwise from the top):
Restore Inspire
ExpressPoll
Screen Recorder
More Tools
Camera
On-screen keyboard
Promethean Planet
More Tools
When you move the cursor over the More Tools icon a further level of the Desktop Tools Toolbox open.
You can select the following tools:
Closes the Desktop Tools Toolbox and returns you to the main ActivInspire application.
Shows or hides the voting Wonderwheel.
Starts the ActivInspire Screen Recorder.
See below.
See below.
Loads your chosen on-screen keyboard program.
Opens the Promethean Planet web site in your web browser.
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Using Desktop Tools
Starts the ActivInspire Tickertape feature.
Tickertape
Displays the ActivInspire Clock.
Clock
Starts the ActivInspire Sound Recorder.
Sound Recorder
Opens your chosen Calculator program.
Calculator
Dice Roller
Camera
When you move the cursor over the Camera icon a further level of the Desktop Tools Toolbox opens.
You can select the following snapshot types:
Displays the Dice Roll feature.
Fullscreen Snapshot
Window Snapshot
Freehand Snapshot
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_desktop_tools.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:11 PM]
Using Desktop Tools
Point to Point Snapshot
Area Snapshot
For details of all the tools available on the Desktop Tools Toolbox, see the relevant sections of this Help file.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_desktop_tools.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:11 PM]
Using the Camera
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Using the Camera
Use the Camera tool to capture an image of your Desktop, Flipchart and paused video frames or animations. You can take a photograph of the complete display screen or you can define a specific area on the screen to capture only part of it.
The photograph will capture all types of objects displayed on screen including backgrounds, annotations, grids, lines, shapes, text and other images.
1. From the Tools Menu, select
Camera.
Choose the type of snapshot from the drop-down menu:
Area Snapshot – A highlighted box is displayed. Click inside the box and drag to move it – change the measurements with the handles. For fine adjustment, use the Position controls in the
Camera Snapshot box.
Point to Point Snapshot –
Click and drag, drawing straight lines to enclose a highlighted outline area on the greyed-out screen. The snapshot area cannot be moved or modified – if you get it wrong, just close the Camera
Snapshot box and try again.
Freehand Snapshot – Click and drag, drawing freehand to enclose a highlighted outline area on the greyed-out screen. The snapshot area cannot be moved or modified – if you get it wrong, just close the Camera Snapshot box and try again.
Window Snapshot – Capture dialog boxes, or the ActivInspire window.
Fullscreen Snapshot –
Capture the full screen.
2. Choose the destination for your snapshot from the Camera Snapshot box:
Current Page – Capture the image to the current flipchart page.
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Working at the board > Using the Camera
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Using the Camera
New Page – Capture the image to a new page at the end of the flipchart.
Clipboard – Capture the image to the clipboard.
My Resources – Capture the image to the My Resources folder.
Shared Resources – Capture the image to the Shared
Resources folder.
The resultant image of all of these objects, which can be added to your Flipchart page, Resource Library, Shortcut bar or clipboard as an object that you can manipulate. The photograph is simply an image of the screen, so any objects within your photograph will not be editable. You can resize or rotate the photograph like any other image object.
Make sure that the screen is displaying the image you wish to capture. Choose from one of the following snapshot types, which are discussed in order as they appear on the Camera tool menu:
Area
A dotted line in a rectangle shape will appear on your screen. The rectangle can be positioned anywhere on your screen by a click inside the rectangle shape and drag it to another part of the screen. It can also be resized using the Sizing Handles that surround the border. Move these around until the shape contains the image you want to photograph, then choose from one of the paste options available from the Photograph toolbox.
Point to Point
Allows you to capture an irregular shape made up from straight lines. The first click starts the shape. Every time you click, you add another node to the shape so you can move the line in another direction. To end the shape, click close to the first point and ActivInspire will automatically close the shape for you. A preview of your photograph will appear on screen surrounded by a pink background.
Choose from one of the paste options available from the Photograph toolbox.
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Using the Camera
Freehand
Allows you to capture an irregular shape using freehand lines. Click and drag the cursor to start the capture. As you move the cursor, a dotted line follows it to define the capture area.
To end the shape, just release the click and
ActivInspire will close the shape by placing a straight line between the first and last point. A preview of your photograph will appear on screen surrounded by a pink background.
Choose from one of the paste options available from the Photograph toolbox.
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Using the Camera file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_camera.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:13 PM]
Using the Clock
Show
Using the Clock
Use the clock to show the time on the board.
You can also do a countdown and have automated flipcharting actions.
From the Tools Menu, select
More Tools >
Clock.
The clock is displayed in a box.
Click on the icons in the box to toggle between clock displays – analog, digital and both.
>
>
Working at the board > Using the Clock
Click and drag the sides or the corners of the box to change the size of the box and the clock.
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Using the Clock
Click on the button with the pause symbol to pause the clock.
Click on the down arrow to count down from a time.
Click on the up arrow to count up from a time.
Click on
x
to close the clock.
Clicking on either arrow opens the 'Clock
Counter' Dialog Box.
Set the time in the format 00:00:00 (hr:min:s).
Check the
Repeat box to repeat the counting action until the clock is closed.
Drop-down menus let you:
Choose a sound to play after the timeout.
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Using the Clock
Choose a page turn or page reset action after the timeout.
If you choose Turn to Next Page and you have checked the
Repeat box, blank pages will be added to the flipchart until the clock is closed.
Click
Reset to return to the default settings for the Clock Counter.
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Using Handwriting Recognition
Show
Working at the board > Using Handwriting Recognition
Using Handwriting Recognition
The
Handwriting Recognition Tool is in the Tools Menu.
Use this to convert freehand annotations into text, if you prefer the display appearance of formatted text in your flipchart. ActivInspire can do this in real time as you write at the board. As well as recognizing handwriting and shapes within ActivInspire, the Handwriting Recognition Tool can also recognize handwriting in other applications, for example Microsoft Word®.
1. Select
Handwriting Recognition
2. Write a word on the page. Wait for it to be converted to text.
3. If the word has not been converted correctly, click on the
Alternatives icon for more options. Click on the correct option.
4. Write another word or click on a different tool.
The new text object takes on the most recent text settings.
When the annotation becomes a text object, it moves to the middle layer, and you will not be able to use the Eraser Tool.
Select the (converted) annotation, then click on the
Text to display the Format Toolbar.
Highlight the text and format it.
You can finish a section of writing and convert it to text later:
From the Object Edit Menu , select
Convert to text.
Tool file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_handwriting_recognition.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:18 PM]
Using Handwriting Recognition
Options and Settings
Recognition Tools options and settings are in the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles'
Dialog Box:
Recognition Timeout – The slider adjusts the timeout between 1 and 5 seconds.
Fill recognized shapes – Check the box to fill enclosed shapes produced by conversion. Fill color options become available – you can fill the shape with the outline color, or check the
Another color box and select accordingly.
Handwriting recognition language – For details of the available languages, see
Reference > Settings > Language.
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Using Shape Recognition
Show
> Using Shape Recognition
Using Shape Recognition
Freehand drawing annotations can be converted into shape objects as you draw at the board with the ActivPen.
The
Shape Recognition Tool is in the Tools Menu.
As the annotation becomes a shape object, it moves to the middle layer.
When you select the new shape, you can transform it using:
The Marquee and Sizing Handles.
The Main Toolbox.
The Property Browser.
While the object is in the middle layer, you will not be able to use the
Eraser
. If you move the object to the top layer, you will be able to use
Magic Ink
.
Settings and Options
Select File > Settings > Edit Profiles > Settings > User Input
If you prefer to work without enabling Shape Recognition, you can convert a freehand annotation to a shape object at any time.
Right-click on the annotation and select
Convert to shape.
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Using Magic Ink
Show
>
Working at the board > Using Magic Ink
Using Magic Ink
Here we introduce Magic Ink and show you how to use it.
You can use Magic Ink to make any 'top layer' object (or part of an object) invisible. Think of Magic Ink as a pen that can draw a
'see through' annotation on the top layer. Magic Ink allows you to punch holes through the objects on the top layer, so that you can see the objects on the layers beneath.
Example 1
Add an image from the Resource Library. The image will be on the middle layer of the page. Then select the Pen Tool and set the width to wide, color over the image until it is completely obscured. This pen annotation will be on the top layer. Finally use Magic
Ink to remove the pen annotation to reveal the image beneath.
Example 2
Add two photographs of the same landscape scene, one taken in winter, one in summer. Place the winter photo on the top layer so that it is positioned exactly over the summer photo. Then use Magic Ink to gradually erase the winter image to reveal the summer image beneath.
Why does Magic Ink only work on some items?
The annotations you create with Magic Ink are themselves objects. So you can use Magic Ink to conceal objects you want to reveal later.
Layers and stacking are important when using Magic Ink:
Magic Ink works only on the top layer.
On the top layer, Magic Ink only works on items lower in the stacking order.
Any item placed on the top layer can, therefore, be made invisible with Magic Ink.
For more information, see Using layers and stacking
.
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Using Magic Ink
Change the size of the Magic Ink nib
In the Main Toolbox:
Click on one of the preset widths, or
Use the Pen width slider to choose any size between 1 and 100 pixels.
Before and after...
See through an annotation
To see through an annotation:
1. From the Tools Menu, select
Magic Ink.
2. Click and drag the cursor over the annotation you want to see through.
Find a Magic Ink annotation
To find out if a flipchart contains any items created with Magic Ink:
1. Open the Object Browser and look for objects with the Magic
Ink icon, like the one indicated in the example on the right.
2. When you click on the item in the Object Browser, it is selected on the flipchart page:
Now you can move the Magic Ink annotation, delete it, or change it in some other way.
Alternatively:
Move the cursor over the Magic Ink annotation (you can tell that you are in the right place when the cursor looks like this ).
Delete Magic Ink
You can delete Magic Ink annotations like any other objects:
Select the Magic Ink annotation on the flipchart page, or in the Object Browser and press
Delete, or
Drag and drop the annotation into the Trashcan.
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Using Tickertape
Show
>
>
Working at the board > Using Tickertape
Using Tickertape
From the Tools Menu, select
More Tools >
Tickertape. Three items are displayed in the
'Tickertape' Dialog Box:
The default scrolling tickertape message.
Continuous preview responds instantly to changes.
The tickertape controller.
You can:
Adjust the speed with the slider.
Pause or resume playback.
To enter the tickertape message:
Type a tickertape message into the textbox.
Lengthy messages combined with large font sizes, require large amounts of memory. In extreme cases, you may find the tickertape message will not display.
Shadow
Enter a number into the Drop textbox to add or change the size of the shadow. A zero indicates no shadow is required. Any changes to the shadow are displayed immediately on the scrolling message, allowing you to review your tickertape. Click on the
Color box to view the Color Palette and select a different color for the shadow.
Background
Select the Screen radio button to select the current screen as the background for your tickertape.
Select the Color radio button if you would prefer the tickertape to scroll across a plain color background strip. Click on the Color box to view the Color Palette and select a different color for the tickertape background.
Font...
Allows you to alter the font, size, style and script attributes for the current tickertape.
Test
Click on this button to test your tickertape.
Loop
Select the checkbox to ensure the tickertape will scroll continuously until interrupted by a right-click on the message itself
Position
Click on the drop-down arrow and select Top, Middle or Bottom from the list to specify the scroll position of the tickertape.
Make Default
Click on this button to remember the current tickertape settings for the next time you define a tickertape.
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Using Tickertape file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_tickertape.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:23 PM]
Using the Revealer
Show
> Using the Revealer
Using the Revealer
The Revealer simulates a roller shade or blind. The flipchart page is covered and the cursor becomes a shade pull. You reveal the page gradually, moving the cursor inward from any side of the page. While the Revealer is enabled it will cover all flipchart pages by default.
To use the Revealer, select Tools > Revealer.
To disable the Revealer:
In the Property Browser, select Page Tools > Tools Off from the Drop-down Menu.
To change Revealer settings:
1. From the File Menu, select Settings. The 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box opens.
2. Select Effects.
3. To change the color, double-click the box next to
Color. The Color Palette opens.
4. Select a color.
5. To save your changes, click
Done.
If you have an ActivRemote presenter device, you can activate the Revealer from anywhere in the classroom.
To adjust the animation speed:
1. Select Effects as described above.
2. Move the slider from 1 (slow) to 20 (fast).
3. To save your changes, click
Done.
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Using the On-Screen Keyboard
Show
>
Working at the board > Using the On-screen Keyboard
Using the On-Screen Keyboard
The On-Screen Keyboard is in the Format Toolbar and in the Tools Menu under More Tools.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard to add text into your flipchart (or other applications) while presenting at the board.
With the Text Tool selected, and a text box open:
1. Click on On-screen Keyboard
The keyboard opens. It contains the standard keyboard layout and keys. What it looks like depends on your computer's operating system.
2. To move the keyboard, click anywhere in the Titlebar of the On-Screen Keyboard, and drag and drop it elsewhere on your display.
3. To add text, with a text box open, click on any of the keys.
4. To close the keyboard when you have finished adding text, click on the
x
key.
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Using the Spotlight
Show
>
Working at the board > Using the Spotlight
Using the Spotlight
The Spotlight is a presentation tool. It masks part of the flipchart, so only a portion is visible.
The default settings of a black background and circular white spotlight simulate an actual spotlight and help to focus attention.
From the Tools Menu, select
Spotlight.
You can define options for displaying the
Spotlight Tool in the 'Spotlight Settings' Dialog
Box:
Border width
Move the slider to increase or decrease the width of the border, which surrounds the spotlight area. The range is between 0 and 20 pixels.
Border color
To change the color of the spotlight border, click on the Color Box and select a color from the CColor Palette.
Background colour
Click here to select the color of the nonspotlighted area when using the Spotlight Tool.
Translucent border
Select the checkbox if you would like to see through the spotlight border. Clear the checkbox if you prefer to have the spotlight border as a solid color.
Translucent screen
Select the checkbox if you would like to see through the spotlight screen (the darkened area that covers the Flipchart or Desktop window).
Clear the checkbox if you prefer to have the spotlight screen as a solid color.
Right-click captures image
With one of the spotlights activated, right-click on the page and an image of the spotlight area will be pasted on your current flipchart page.
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Using the Spotlight file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_spotlight.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:28 PM]
Using Teacher Lock
Show
>
>
Working at the board > Using Teacher Lock
Using Teacher Lock
You can lock ActivInspire to prevent changes if you are away from the board.
From the Tools Menu, select
More Tools > Teacher
Lock.
The 'Teacher Lock' Dialog Box opens, certain features of
ActivInspire are disabled.
To resume working with ActivInspire you have to enter the
'Teacher Lock' password from the computer keyboard. The default password is 1234.
To change the password, select
Change Password and complete the fields in the 'Change Teacher Lock' Dialog Box.
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Using Maths tools
Show
Using Math tools
This section describes:
Using the Ruler
> Using Maths tools file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/usig_maths_tools.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:30 PM]
Reference
Show
Reference
These reference sections list and briefly describe the purpose of the tools, menus, actions, properties and settings available in
ActivInspire:
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/reference.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:32 PM]
Tools
Show
Tools
This section describes in detail all the tools available in ActivInspire. For each tool, we describe what it does, how to use it, what you can customize and where to find it by default.
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Adding multimedia
Show
Working with objects > Adding multimedia
Adding multimedia
You can have sound and video in your flipcharts, provided that your hardware supports them.
Sound files
Some sound files are provided in ActivInspire resources.
Display the
Resource Browser and navigate to Shared Resources > Sounds > Animals > Bird.wav.
Drag the file to your flipchart. It is inserted as an image object with an applied action to play the file.
When you hover over the image the blue 'action associated' icon is shown.
When you click on the image the sound plays and the ActivInspire Sound Controller is displayed by default.
Select
View > Sound Controller to hide the Sound Controller.
You can disable display of the Sound Controller from your profile:
Select
File > Settings > Settings Tab > Multimedia and deselect the checkbox Show sound controller.
When you right-click on the image it is selected, as indicated by the Marquee Handles.
The
Object Browser (below) shows the image and the Action Browser shows the applied action.
You can play two different types of sound file at one time. Two controllers are displayed, showing
Track 1 and Track 2.
Track 1 plays speech or sound audio files, such as: .wma .wav .snd .au .aif .aifc .aiff.
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Adding multimedia
Track 2 plays more complex audio files, such as: .mp3 .cda .mid .rmi .midi.
From the Menubar select
Insert > Media.
The 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box opens.
Select
Insert > Link.
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Recordings
Show
>
> Recordings
Recordings
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Capture Frame Rate Rate at which frames will be recorded in frames per second.
Range = 1 - 10
Default = 5
Record audio
Default = Record sound while you create your video.
Do not record sound.
Quick capture
Optimize recording activities with lots of cursor movement over large, static areas.
Default = Do not optimize.
Capture mouse pointer
Capture layered windows
Disable hardware acceleration during recording
Hide screen recorder toolbox whilst recording
Sound Recording
Add To Flipchart
Default = Record cursor movements in your video.
Do not record cursor movements.
Layered windows are used by applications to create translucent windows. For example, the translucent image that appears when you drag and drop an icon on your desktop.
Record applications that use layered windows. Capturing layered windows can cause the cursor to flash when recording. This effect will not, however, appear in the actual video file.
Default = Do not capture layered windows.
Hardware acceleration improves the performance of 3D graphics on your computer but can adversely affect the performance of the screen recorder.
Default = Allow ActivInspire to switch off hardware acceleration at the start of the recording and restore it upon completion of the recording.
Keep hardware acceleration switched on.
Hide the Screen Recorder toolbox at the start of each new recording. When the toolbox is hidden, stop the recording by clicking the Screen Recorder icon.
Default = Display the toolbox.
Location where your sound recordings will be saved. Select from the drop-down menu:
Default = Add a sound icon to your flipchart when you finish file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_recordings.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:37 PM]
Recordings
Save To Disk
Both your recording. To play your recording, click on the icon, with
Enable Actions activated.
When you click on the Record icon, you are prompted to specify a file name and a location for your sound file before the recording begins.
Be prompted to give your recording a name and to specify where you want to save it; an icon will also be placed on your flipchart.
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Tools
Show
>
Tools
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Default tool Tool that is enabled when ActivInspire starts. Choose from the drop-down menu: Pen, Highlighter, Eraser or Select Tool.
Default = Pen
Show pen width indicator
Default = Show a small colored outline at the tip of the pen. The outline will be in the currently selected color.
Do not show color at the tip of the pen.
Camera captures main toolbox
ActivInspire's Main Toolbox will be included in your snapshot when you use the Camera.
Default = The snapshot will not include the Main Toolbox.
Maths Tools
Tool color Default = Grey
Click to change the color of your ruler, protractor or compass.
Tool text color
Translucency
Tool scale
Image fill tolerance
Highlighter Translucency
Default = Black
Click to change the colorof the text on your ruler, protractor or compass
Make the protractor, ruler or compass more or less translucent.
Range = 20 - 255
Default = 255
Use the slider to increase or decrease the size of the math tools to suit the size of your display.
Range = 50 - 200
Default = 150
Applies to .jpg and .png graphic files. Use the slider to set how closely the Fill color must match a corresponding color in the selected file. A low tolerance means only closely matching areas of the graphic file will be filled, while a higher tolerance has the opposite effect.
Range = 0 - 100
Default = 5
Use the slider to increase or decrease the translucency of the file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_tools.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:38 PM]
Tools
Dice Roller
Dice speed
Number of dice
Calculator
Use calculator supplied with operating system
Use calculator specified by user
Highlighter.
Range = 20 - 255
Default = 128
Use the slider to change the speed at which the dice will roll.
Range = 3 - 11
Default = 7 seconds
Use the slider to change the number of dice.
Range = 1 - 5
Default = 5
Default = Use the calculator supplied with ActivInspire
Use the default calculator supplied with your operating system.
Click and browse to select another calculator.
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Working with actions
Show
>
> Working with actions
Working with actions
In ActivInspire, you can associate an action with an object. This object then becomes an action object. When you click on the action object, the associated action happens. For example, a sound file or animation plays, or a different flipchart page opens. You can test actions immediately and they are enabled when you leave Design Mode.
There are several hundred actions available in the Action Browser, where they are presented in five different categories. You can either access actions by category, select from a list of all actions, or select one of the most popular actions from the 'Drag and Drop' Tab.
For details of all available actions, including the differences between ActivInspire actions and those created with previous generations of Promethean software, see
Here we introduce the action categories, describe how to add actions, show you how to drag and drop an action onto an object, give one example for each action category, then show you how to remove actions:
Examples
Action categories
Category Description
Command Actions
Page Actions
Actions which run a command or start a tool.
Actions which work with flipchart pages.
Object Actions
The widest range of actions: show and hide items, rotate items, manipulate images and text, change an item's alignment or position.
Document/Media
Actions
Voting Actions
Actions which insert media or links, or open a document, file, or sound.
Actions which start different LRS activities or tools.
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Working with actions
Add an action
To add an action:
1. Select the object on the page to which you wish to apply an action.
2. Open the Action Browser.
3. Scroll through the action list to select your required action.
4. At the bottom of the Action Browser, click on
Apply Changes. This associates the chosen action with the selected object.
Some actions require you to add ‘Action Properties’ and are shown where necessary at the bottom of the Action Browser. For example the ‘Size Top Incrementally’ action allows you to provide a ‘target object’ to which the sizing action will apply and also to provide a ’Y’ property which allows you to specify the amount of sizing that will occur on the target object (in pixels).
If you select more than one object, you can use the Action Browser to apply the same action to all objects in the selection.
To add a Drag and Drop action:
1. Select the object.
2. Open the Action Browser.
3. Click on the 'Drag and Drop' Tab.
4. Scroll through the action list to select your required action.
5. Drag and drop the action onto the object.
Remove an action
To remove a Drag and Drop action, click on the action icon (in our example, the Ruler icon in the red triangle) and drag and drop it into the Flipchart Bin.
To remove other actions:
1. With the
Select
Tool, drag around the action object to select it.
2. In the Action Browser, click on
Remove Existing.
If you're not sure which flipchart pages contain action objects:
Switch to
Design Mode
. Actions are disabled and all action objects are identified by a red square.
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Working with actions
Drag and drop an action
This is the quickest way to add interactive elements to a flipchart:
1. Select the object.
2. In the Action Browser, open the 'Drag and Drop' Tab.
3. From the list select
Ruler.
4. Drag and drop the Ruler action onto the action object, in our case a red triangle. The Ruler icon on the triangle and the action cursor indicate that the action has been added successfully.
5. Test the action. When you click on the red triangle, the
Ruler appears. Use the Ruler as you normally would, then drag and drop it into the Trashcan.
You can repeat the action as often as you wish. It will remain associated with the object until you delete either the object or the action.
For details of all actions in this category, see
Reference > Actions > Drag and Drop Actions .
Add a command action
With the object selected and the Action Browser open:
1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select
Command
Actions.
2. Click on
Circular Spotlight.
3. Click on
Apply Changes.
4. Test the action. When you click on the object, the screen changes and the Circular Spotlight appears. Use the
Spotlight as you normally would, then select
Close from its Popup Menu.
For details of all actions in this category, see
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Working with actions
Add a page action
With the object selected and the Action Browser open:
1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select
Page Actions.
2. Click on
Set Background.
3. Click on
Apply Changes.
4. Test the action. When you click on the object, the 'Set
Background' Dialog Box opens. Choose the background and layout, then click on
OK to close the dialog.
For details of all actions in this category, see
Add an object action
Some object actions give you a choice: you can make the action object itself the target of the action, or make the action happen to another object altogether. Here we show you an example of both.
Action object is target object
With the object selected and the Action Browser open:
1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select
Object Actions.
2. Scroll down and click on
Reflect.
3. In 'Action Properties', click on the
Selector button .The 'Select Object' Dialog Box opens.
4. Select the object, in our example a speech bubble.
5. Click on
Apply Changes.
6. Test the action. When you click on the speech bubble, it is reflected. It now points at the other face.
Action object is not target object
With the action object selected, in our case the red triangle, and the Action Browser open:
1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select
Object Actions.
2. Scroll down and click on
Original Size.
3. In 'Action Properties', click on the
Selector button .The 'Select Object' Dialog Box opens.
4. Select the target object, in our example the blue triangle.
5. Click on
Apply Changes.
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Working with actions
6. Test the action. Make the blue triangle larger or smaller. When you click on the red triangle, the blue triangle returns to its original size.
For details of all actions in this category, see
Reference > Actions > Object Actions .
Add a document/media action
With the object selected and the Action Browser open:
1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select
Document/Media Actions.
2. Click on
Open Website.
3. In 'Action Properties', type in the URL of the website you want to associate with the object, for example, www.prometheanplanet.com.
4. Click on
Apply Changes.
5. Test the action. When you click on the object, in our example an image of a flame, the Promethean website opens.
For details of all actions in this category, see
Reference > Actions > Document/Media Actions .
Add a voting action
With the object selected and the Action Browser open:
1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select
Voting Actions.
2. Click on
Start/Stop Flipchart Vote.
3. Click on
Apply Changes.
4. Test the action. When you click on the object, voting starts. In our example, the object is a picture of the
Start/Stop Flipchart Vote icon for ActivInspire Primary.
For details of all actions in this category, see
Reference > Actions > Voting Actions .
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_with_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:41 PM]
Command Actions
Show
>
> Command Actions
Command Actions
Use command actions to enable a tool, for example, the
Clock
Flipchart, when you click on an action object.
, or to issue a command, for example,
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:
Close
Effect More info... Action
1024 x 768 Flipchart
1152 x 864 Flipchart
1280 x 1280 Flipchart
About
Action Browser
Creates a new 'Untitled' flipchart of the specified size.
Opens the 'About ActivInspire' Dialog Box.
Opens the Action Browser.
Area Snapshot
Calculator
Circular Spotlight
Clock
Close Flipchart
Compass
Connector
Custom Size Flipchart
Dashboard
Starts an area snapshot.
Enables the Calculator.
Places a circular spotlight on the current page.
Enables the Clock.
Closes the current flipchart.
Enables the Compass.
Enables the Connector Tool.
Creates a custom new flipchart of the size you specify.
Opens the Dashboard.
A tour of ActivInspire > Action
A tour of ActivInspire > Action
Reference > Tools > Calculator
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Command Actions
Design Mode
Dice Roller
Dual User
Edit Profiles
Eraser
Enables Design Mode.
Opens the 'Dice Roller' Box.
Starts Dual User mode and enables the Dual
Toolbox.
Opens the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
Enables the Eraser.
Reference > Tools > Dice Roller
Exit
Fill
Freehand Snapshot
Fullscreen Snapshot
Grid Designer
Handwriting Recognition
Help
Hide Grid
Highlighter
Magic Ink
New Flipchart
Notes Browser
Exits ActivInspire and prompts you to save changes if applicable.
Enables the Fill Tool.
Starts an freehand snapshot.
Starts an fullscreen snapshot.
Opens the Grid Designer.
Enables Handwriting Recognition.
Opens this help file.
Hides the grid.
Enables the Highlighter.
Enables Magic Ink.
Creates a new 'Unnamed' flipchart.
Opens the Notes Browser.
Adding and manipulating shapes > Fill a shape
Reference > Tools > Handwriting
Reference > Tools > Highlighter
Writing on a flipchart > Add highlights
A tour of ActivInspire > Notes Browser
A tour of ActivInspire > Notes Browser
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Command Actions
Object Browser
On-screen Keyboard
Open From My Flipcharts
Page Browser
Page Zoom
Pen
Point to Point Snapshot
Print...
Property Browser
Protractor
Redo
Resource Browser
Opens the Object Browser.
Displays the On-screen Keyboard.
Opens the 'Select a flipchart' Dialog Box, so that you can browse to and select a flipchart.
Opens the Page Browser.
Enables Page Zoom.
Enables the Pen.
Starts a point to point snapshot.
Opens the 'Flipchart Print' Dialog Box.
Opens the Property Browser.
Enables the Protractor.
Redoes the previous command.
Opens the Resource Browser.
A tour of ActivInspire > Object
A tour of ActivInspire > Object
First steps with ActivInspire >
A tour of ActivInspire > Page Browser
A tour of ActivInspire > Page Browser
Viewing a flipchart > Zoom in and out
Viewing a flipchart > Zoom in and out
First steps with ActivInspire > Printing a flipchart
A tour of ActivInspire > Property
A tour of ActivInspire > Property
Reference > Tools > Protractor
Reference > Tools > Undo and Redo
A tour of ActivInspire > Resource
A tour of ActivInspire > Resource
Revealer Enables the Revealer.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/command_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:43 PM]
Command Actions
Ruler
Save to My Flipcharts
Screen Recorder
Screen Size Flipchart
Search Resources on
Promethean Planet
Select
Shape
Shape Recognition
Snap to Grid
Enables the Ruler.
Using the Ruler
Opens the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box, so that you can save the flipchart to your chosen location.
Enables the Screen Recorder.
Reference > Tools > Screen Recorder
Using the Screen Recorder
Creates a new 'Untitled' screen size flipchart.
Opens the Promethean Planet website in your internet browser.
Enables the Select Tool.
Enables the Shape Tool.
Enables Shape Recognition.
Makes moved objects snap to the grid, regardless of whether the grid is visible.
Adding and manipulating shapes
Reference > Settings > Shape
Recognition
Reference Tools > Snap to Grid
Enables the spotlight of your choice.
Solid Circular Spotlight
Solid Square Spotlight
Sound Controller
Sound Recorder
Spellcheck Flipchart
Square Spotlight
Teacher Lock
Opens the Sound Controller.
Opens the 'Sound Recorder' Popup Box.
Enables the Flipchart Spellchecker.
Enables the square spotlight.
Opens the 'Enter Teacher Lock password' Dialog
Box.
Reference > Tools > Sound Recorder
Using the Sound Recorder
Reference > Tools > Teacher Lock
Text file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/command_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:43 PM]
Command Actions
Tickertape
Timestamp
Toolbox Rollup
Undo
Voting Browser
Web Browser
Window Snapshot
XY Origin
Enables the Text Tool.
Opens the 'Tickertape' Dialog Box.
Applies a timestamp to the current flipchart page.
Rolls up the Main Toolbox.
Undoes the previous command or action.
Opens the Voting Browser.
Opens your web browser.
Places the Camera into 'Window snapshot' mode, letting you select one of the currently visible windows to capture.
Turns on the XY Origin Tool, around which all selected objects will be rotated.
Reference > Tools > Tickertape
Reference > Tools > Undo and Redo
A tour of ActivInspire > Voting
A tour of ActivInspire > Voting
Using Learner Response Systems
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/command_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:43 PM]
Writing on a flipchart
Show
First steps with ActivInspire > Writing on a flipchart
Writing on a flipchart
When you are working at the board and do not want to use your computer keyboard, you can write on your flipchart with the
Pen
Here we show you how to:
Change the Pen and Highlighter width
All the tools we describe in this section are in the Main Toolbox
.
Write with the Pen
When you run ActivInspire, the
Pen is enabled by default, so that you can start writing immediately. At other times, you may have to click or tap on it to select it.
With the
Pen enabled:
1. Position the cursor where you want to begin.
2. Tap and drag to draw a line or shape, or write a word.
Whatever you draw or write appears in the currently selected Pen color on the flipchart.
Every time you write on a flipchart, you create an annotation.
The
Pen remains enabled until you select another tool.
Add highlights
To make some or all of your text stand out:
1. Click on the
Highlighter
The cursor changes to a little highlighter with a circle.
2. Move the cursor to where you want to begin.
3. Click or tap, and drag to highlight an area of the flipchart.
Just like a real highlighter, you can use the
Highlighter on any area of your flipchart, not just on text.
Change the Pen and Highlighter width
ActivInspire Studio
In ActivInspire Studio, the
Pen width is set to 4 pixels, and the Highlighter to 20 pixels, by default.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/writing_on_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:45 PM]
Writing on a flipchart
To change the width:
1. Click on the
Pen
or
Highlighter
2. Set the line width:
Click on one of the presets: 2, 4, 6 or 8, for the
Pen, and 10, 20,35 or 50 for the
Highlighter, or
Click and drag the width slider to choose any size between 0 and 100 pixels.
ActivInspire Primary
In ActivInspire Primary, you simply select a wider or narrower
Pen or Highlighter from the Pen Tray.
Change the color
The
Pen color is set to black, and the Highlight to translucent yellow, by default.
Quickest way (ActivInspire Studio)
1. Click on the
Pen or Highlighter.
2. Click on another color in the
Color Palette.
Quickest way (ActivInspire Primary)
1. Click on the
Pen or Highlighter.
2. Click on another color in the
Color
Palette.
More choices (ActivInspire Studio)
1. Click on the
Pen or Highlighter.
2. Right-click on the
Color Palette. The Extended Color
Palette opens.
3. You have three choices:
Click on one of the colors in the palette.
Use the
Color Picker
to pick a color from anywhere in the ActivInspire window.
Use the
Color Dialog
to mix your own color.
To pick a color from the ActivInspire window:
1. With the Extended Color Palette open, click on the
Color Picker
.The Color Picker box opens.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/writing_on_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:45 PM]
Writing on a flipchart
2. Move the
Color Picker to the window area with the color of your choice. The Color Picker box shows the color at and near the
Color Picker.
3. When the square at the centre of the box shows the desired color, click to add it to the Color Palette.
To mix your own color:
With the Extended Color Palette open, click on the
Color Dialog
icon. A dialog box specific to your operating system opens.
Windows Example
The picture on the right shows the dialog box for the
Windows operating system.
1. You can use it to:
Choose from 48 basic color.
Click anywhere in the Color Spectrum.
Click anywhere in the Color Spectrum, then use the slider on the right to make the color lighter or darker.
Click on the appropriate
Up and Down icons to adjust the red, green, blue color balance, as well as the hue and saturation.
2. Click on
Add to custom color.
3. Create as many custom colors as desired.
4. Click on
OK to save the color, or Cancel to discard them.
1
Basic colors
2
Color Spectrum
3
Slider
4
Up and down buttons
5
Add to Custom Color button
6
OK and Cancel buttons
ActivInspire saves your chosen
Pen and Highlighter color and width settings. Next time you use these tools, they'll be set to use whatever color and width they were set to previously.
More choices (ActivInspire Primary)
1. Click on the
Pen or Highlight.
2. Right-click on one of the three blank color slots in the
Pen Tray. The Extended Color Palette opens.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/writing_on_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:45 PM]
Writing on a flipchart
3. You have three choices:
Click on one of the color in the palette.
Use the
Color Picker
to pick a color from anywhere in the ActivInspire window.
Use the
Color Dialog
to mix your own color.
ActivInspire saves your chosen
Pen and Highlighter color and width settings.
Next time you use these tools, they'll be set to use whatever color and width they were set to previously.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/writing_on_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:45 PM]
Page Browser
Show
>
Exploring ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Page Browser
Page Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly put together the foundations of your flipchart. It displays thumbnails of pages in a film strip along the bottom edge of the display.
Use the Page Browser to:
View the entire flipchart as page thumbnails.
Navigate flipchart pages.
Set the backgrounds and grids for pages.
Organize your flipchart pages using drag and drop reordering, in addition to Cut, Copy, Delete and Duplicate commands.
Example
The picture on the right shows a flipchart with multiple pages in the Page Browser. You can see thumbnails of the first five pages in your flipchart. The Popup Menu icon in the thumbnail indicates that this is the current page.
This means you can select an item or area on that page and work with it.
To display another page, click on its thumbnail.
To see thumbnails of other pages in the flipchart, click on the black triangles on the film reel.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/page_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:48 PM]
Resource Browser
Show
>
Exploring ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Resource Browser
Resource Browser
This browser helps you to quickly view, navigate and use the resources provided with ActivInspire to enrich your flipcharts. The
Resource Library contains a huge range of games and activities, annotations, assessments, backgrounds, concept maps, images, shapes, sounds and other items too numerous to list. You can easily extend the library with your own and other people's resources and add resource packs from the Promethean Planet website on www.prometheanplanet.com
, or from our partners.
The Resource Browser displays thumbnails of resources in a film strip along the bottom edge of the display.
Use the Resource Browser to:
Quickly navigate to and view all the resources in a particular folder, for example My Resources, Shared Resources or other locations on disk or on the network.
Display thumbnails and filenames of selected resources.
Drag and drop resources such as page templates, activity pages and question pages from the browser into your flipchart.
Drag and drop your own creations from a flipchart page into a folder in the Resource Library.
Change the transparency of a resource in your flipchart.
Use the Rubberstamp to quickly create multiple copies of a resource in your flipchart.
Example
By default, the Resource Browser opens the
Shared Resources folder. All resources provided with ActivInspire are organized by category and stored in clearly named folders.
The picture on the right shows some of the resources in the Shared Resources folder.
Click on the icons at the top to browse the following for resources:
My Resources
Shared Resources
Another resource folder
Another folder on your computer
Promethean Planet
The 'Resource Locations' Popup Box shows the folders. Its Popup Menu allows you to import and export Resource Packs.
The 'Import' function is only available from the Popup Menu for the top level folder.
From there you can:
Insert resources from the Resource
Library into your flipchart
Delete resources from the Resource
Library.
The filmstrip at the bottom of the ActivInspire window shows thumbnails of the resources in file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/resource_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:49 PM]
Resource Browser that folder and their filenames.
The picture on the right shows some buttons and icons in the Resource Browser.
The Tool Pod next to the Browser opens the
Resource Library. There are also two useful tools for copying and changing resources:
Toggle Transparency lets you make the background color of an image resource transparent at the time you drag it onto the page.
Rubberstamp lets you quickly insert multiple copies of a resource into your flipchart.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/resource_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:49 PM]
Object Browser
Show
>
>
Exploring ActivInspire Primary
>
> Object Browser
Object Browser
Here we introduce objects and the Object Browser:
About objects
In ActivInspire, everything you add to a flipchart is an object of one kind or another. For example, if you write something with the
Pen , draw a shape, add a picture, or add a link to a sound file, each of these items is an object. You can add many different types of objects to a flipchart. The Object Browser helps you to keep track of the number and types of objects in your flipchart and to quickly get to grips with objects in a flipchart created by somebody else.
About layers and stacking
The Object Browser shows details of the objects on the current page. Although a page is flat, a flipchart page actually has four layers! These are like transparent sheets which only contain certain object types unless you move objects from one layer to another. Within a layer, you can stack objects on top of each other.
By default:
This layer...
Contains...
Top
Annotations: anything you draw with the
Pen
,
Highlighter
, or
Magic Ink
, a secret weapon which we introduce later.
Middle
Bottom
Images, shapes and text objects.
Anything you draw with the
Connector this layer.
, but you can also drag and drop other objects onto
Background Backgrounds, grids and page color.
By selecting objects listed in the Object Browser you can drag and drop them between the first three layers in the Browser, but not the background layer. This directly alters their layering on the flipchart page. Layers are completely separate from each other. In other words, you can replace the background without affecting your images or annotations. Or you can annotate over your photographs and background without affecting other layers.
For more details, see
.
View objects
Use the Object Browser to see at a glance:
The display order of objects and which objects are on the top, middle and bottom layers of a page.
Which objects are grouped together. This allows you to work on all of them at the same time.
If a page contains any hidden objects.
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Object Browser
If a page contains any objects that are locked so that they cannot be moved.
Work with objects
Use the Object Browser to:
Drag and drop objects from one layer to another.
Group, stack and reorder objects.
Show or hide objects.
Lock or unlock selected objects, for example, if you are planning a student activity where only certain objects can be dragged and dropped and others must stay in place.
Example
The first picture on the right shows the objects on the current flipchart page.
The second picture shows what the details of these objects look like in the Object Browser.
You can see in the Layered Tab in the Browser, that all the objects are identified by:
The icon of the tool that created them
Name.
The Browser shows clearly which objects are on which layer:
There are nine objects in the top layer. These are the annotations written with the Pen
There are five objects in the middle layer:
The printed text created with the Text Tool and some shapes.
The triangle and squares created with the Shapes tool are in the middle layer by default.
The lock next to the Text object in the Browser indicates that the object has been locked in place. The lock is a toggle switch that allows you to quickly lock and unlock objects.
The crossed-out eye next to the triangle in the Browser indicates that the object is a hidden object. As you can see on the flipchart page, the triangle is not visible. The eye is a toggle switch that allows you to quickly show and hide objects.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:51 PM]
Object Browser file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:51 PM]
Notes Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser
Notes Browser
This Browser helps you to make your flipchart even easier to use, by allowing you to create, view and edit notes about your flipchart. You can use these notes in any way you choose. As you will know from experience, lesson notes can make the difference between an uninspiring lesson and one that flies. We therefore encourage you to make full use of the Notes Browser to enrich your own and other people's experience of teaching with ActivInspire.
Use the Notes Browser to:
Add your own notes and comments to a flipchart, helping to make it easier to share and reuse.
If you are using a flipchart created by someone else:
View other teachers' notes and comments about their flipchart and add your own notes where appropriate.
View notes from publishers about how to best use their flipcharts and add your own notes if appropriate.
Example
The picture on the right shows the Notes Browser. You can type your notes as plain text, or open the Format Toolbar and format the text.
ActivInspire displays the
Page Notes
icon in the
Menubar if the current flipchart page contains notes.
You can add notes to each page of a flipchart and print them, either with the flipchart pages, or separately.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/notes_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:53 PM]
Property Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Property Browser
Property Browser
This Browser helps you to see all of the properties of an object at a glance. It's a powerful tool for quickly adding interactivity to your lessons.
Use the Property Browser to:
Display all the properties of an object. Slide the vertical scrollbar of the Browser up and down to see the complete range of properties available.
View and manipulate the position and appearance of an object by changing its settings in the Property Browser. Of course, you can still control the position of an object by dragging and dropping it and edit it to change its color.
Add interactive features to your flipchart and control how they can be used.
Add permanently visible labels to objects, or add interactive fun by making a label appear only when the mouse cursor runs over the object.
Control the behavior of an object by defining rules, called restrictors, that constrain its movement. This is a very useful feature if you want, for example, to create your own on-screen game.
All properties are clearly categorized so that you can select properties by type.
Example
The first picture on the right shows all the objects on the page, with the red square selected.
On the flipchart page, you can also see the round Sizing
Handles that surround the selected object. These indicate that you can move or resize the object. The row of square icons alongside the object are the Object Edit Menu and other
Marquee Handles for working on the object.
The second picture shows what some of the properties of the red square look like in the Property Browser.
You can see the name of the object and some details of its position on the page. You can also see that the square is on the middle layer.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/property_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:54 PM]
Property Browser file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/property_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:54 PM]
Action Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Action Browser
Action Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly associate an action with an object. This means that when you or someone else selects the object, the action that you have associated with the object will happen. For example, a tickertape will run, displaying your message, or a sound will play, or a flipchart vote will begin, to name just a few possibilities. All actions are clearly categorized, so that you can select actions by type. You can set up any number of actions in your flipchart to make your lesson as varied and interactive as you like.
Use the Action Browser to:
Apply a command action to an object, for example, the
Dice Roller
, so that up to five dice will roll when someone selects the object on the board.
Apply a page action to an object, for example, to go to the next page.
Apply an object action to an object, for example, to change the size, position or translucency of an object.
Apply a document or media action to an object, for example, to insert a link to a file or website.
Apply a voting action to an object, for example to Start a Flipchart Vote.
Remove an action that is no longer required.
Preview an action to check that it does exactly what you want.
Example
The picture on the right shows the Action
Browser. We have associated the
Dice Roller with the blue square. You can tell that an action is associated with this object, because the cursor over the object has changed to a yellow
Preview icon.
When you click on the square, the 'Dice
Roller' Popup window opens and the dice roll. You can:
Choose the number of dice to roll.
Increase or decrease the speed.
Roll the dice as many times as you wish.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/action_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:56 PM]
Action Browser
Send the total of all the numbers thrown to the current flipchart.
Roll the dice!
You need ActivInspire Professional to use the Action Browser.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/action_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:56 PM]
Voting Browser
Show
Exploring ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Voting Browser
Voting Browser
This Browser helps you manage all aspects of registering your ActivSlate, ActiVote and ActivExpression devices, running your voting sessions, as well as recording, storing and browsing the results of such sessions.
Use the Voting Browser to:
Register ActivSlate, ActiVote and ActivExpression devices.
Assign students to devices.
Toggle between anonymous and named voting.
Select either ActiVote or ActivExpression devices for a voting session.
Set, suspend or change the time allowed for responses.
Start and stop voting.
Show or hide the 'Vote Now' prompt.
Browse voting results and export results to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/voting_browser_primary.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:58 PM]
Working with resources
Show
Working with resources
This section contains more information about working with resources:
Adding resources to a flipchart
Importing and exporting resource packs
Working with your own materials
>
> Working with resources file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_with_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:08:59 PM]
Working with objects
Show
Working with objects
This section contains more information about working with objects:
>
> Working with objects file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_with_objects2.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:01 PM]
Making flipcharts interactive
Show
> Making flipcharts interactive
Making flipcharts interactive
This section contains information about adding interactive elements to your flipcharts:
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/making_flipcharts_interactive.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:02 PM]
Importing and exporting files
Show
>
> Importing and exporting files
Importing and exporting files
Here we show you how to import files from other applications and export a flipchart page to a graphics file.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/importing_and_exporting_files.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:03 PM]
Creating a profile
Show
>
>
Making profiles work for you >
Creating and switching profiles > Creating a profile
Creating a profile
Your default profile evolves whenever you select or change something in ActivInspire. New tools appear in the Toolbox Shortcut
Bar and perhaps you have opened or closed the Browser, pinned or moved the Main Toolbox, or changed the display so that you can use the World area. All these preferences are recorded in your default profile.
In the example on the right, you can see that:
The Main Toolbox is docked along the bottom.
The Flipchart Bin is above it on the left.
The Browser is closed and
The page size has been reduced to give access to the World area.
To create a profile:
1. From the Edit Menu, select
Profiles
. The 'Layout' Tab opens in the
'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
2. Click on options to select or change them.
3. Click on the 'Commands' Tab and add or remove tools.
4. Click on the 'User defined buttons' Tab and define your own buttons.
5. Click on the 'Settings' Tab, select an area from the left-hand pane and change its settings.
6. When you are satisfied with your profile, click on
Save Profile As
The 'Save Profile As' Dialog Box opens.
7. Type the name of your new profile, for example, 'Show world' and click on
Save.
8. The new 'Show world' profile is now the current profile.
9. Click on
Done.
For detailed information about how to customize each area (Steps 2. to 5.), see:
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Choosing the layout
Show
>
Creating and switching profiles
> Choosing the layout
Choosing the layout
Here we introduce the components of the ActivInspire window whose layout you can customize and show you how to do this:
What can you customize?
You can control the default position, visibility and behavior of toolboxes, toolbars, browsers and other areas of ActivInspire.
Here we briefly describe the available layout options.
Option Description
Icon size
Set the icon size appropriate to working at the computer or at the board and to the age of your learners.
The range is from16 to 32 pixels. The larger the number, the larger the icons in the ActivInspire window.
Main Toolbox
Position the Main Toolbox and control its behavior:
Dock top, bottom, left, right or floating
Display 8, 16 or 24 colors
Pinned, Rolled up, Rolled in
Attach the Main Toolbox to the inside edge of the ActivInspire window in the chosen position, or leave it floating, so that you can drag and drop it as required.
Set the number of colors to be displayed in the Color Palette.
Pin the Main Toolbox, so it stays in place when you move the cursor to another part of the ActivInspire window. Or leave it unpinned, so that it rolls into the margin when not in use.
Roll up the Main Toolbox, so that only the first row of icons in the toolbox is visible.
Roll in the Main Toolbox, so that the Toolbox Shortcut Bar is hidden.
Dual Toolbox
Position the Dual Toolbox and control its behavior:
Dock left, dock right or floating
Attach the Dual Toolbox to the inside edge of the ActivInspire window in the chosen position, or leave it floating, so that you can drag and drop it as required.
Display 8, 16 or 24 colors
Pinned
Set the number of colors to be displayed in the Color Palette.
Pin the Dual Toolbox, so it stays in place when you move the cursor to another part of the ActivInspire window. Or leave it unpinned, so that it rolls into the margin when not in use.
Browsers
Position the Browsers and control their behavior:
Dock left, dock right or floating
Attach the Browsers to the inside edge of the ActivInspire window in the chosen position, or leave them floating, so that you can drag and drop them as required.
Pinned
Pin the Browsers, so they stay in place when you move the cursor to another part of the ActivInspire window. Or leave them unpinned, so that they roll into the margin when not in use.
Visible
Show or hide the Browsers.
Menubar
Position the Menubar and control its behavior:
Dock top or dock bottom
Attach the Menubar to the top or bottom inside edge of the ActivInspire window.
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Choosing the layout
Document Tabs
Show Trashcan
Show fullscreen
Visible
Show or hide the Menubar.
Position the Document Tabs and control their behavior:
The Document Tabs settings are not available for Mac®.
Dock top or dock bottom
Attach the Document Tabs to the top or bottom inside edge of the
ActivInspire window.
Visible
Show or hide the Document Tabs.
Show or hide the Trashcan.
Show flipcharts in Fullscreen Mode, or in the size in which they were created.
Open Layout Tab
1. From the
Edit Menu, select Profiles. The Layout Tab opens.
2. Select the profile whose settings you want to customize, or accept the default.
3. Select the components whose layout you want to customize.
ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary
Save changes
You can save the changes to the current profile, or to a new profile.
Save changes to the current profile
Click on
Done.
Save changes to a new profile
1. Click on
Save As
The 'Save Profile As' Dialog Box opens.
2. Type the name of your new profile, for example, 'Show World' and click on
Save.
3. The new 'Show World' profile is now the current profile.
4. Click on
Done.
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Choosing the layout
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Choosing your tools
Show
>
Creating and switching profiles
> Choosing your tools
Choosing your tools
ActivInspire lets you add and remove tools to and from the Main Toolbox and customize the Marquee Handles that appear when you select an object.
1. From the File Menu, select
Settings. The 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box opens. The current profile is shown at the top-left.
2. From the drop-down menu, select the profile you want to edit, or accept the default.
3. Click on the
Commands Tab.
4. From the drop-down menu, select tools to add to or remove from the Main Toolbox or to the Marquee Handles.
To add a tool:
1. Select the tool in the left-hand pane and click on
Add. The tool appears in the right-hand pane.
2. To change its position in the toolbox, click on
Move Up or Move Down.
To remove a tool:
Select the tool in the right-hand pane and click on
Remove.
To save the profile and exit, click on
Done.
To save as a new profile, click on the
Save as icon.
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Defining your own buttons
Show
>
>
>
Creating and switching profiles > Defining your own buttons
Defining your own buttons
From the File Menu, select
Settings. The
'Edit Profiles' Dialog
Box opens.
Select the 'User defined buttons'
Tab
and click
Add....
The User defined button icon is displayed.
Select
Program/File
from the menu.
1. Under
Program/File, enter the path for the file you want to open.
2. Under
Command line parameters
enter the command line to start the application which will open the file above.
You can add a
Tooltip.
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Choosing application settings
Show
>
Making profiles work for you >
Creating and switching profiles > Choosing application settings
Choosing application settings
Here we introduce the areas of ActivInspire that you can customize by changing their settings and show you how to do this.
What can you customize?
The following table briefly describes each of the areas you can customize. For details about the available settings for each area, click on the links in the table.
Use these settings to...
Customize the look and feel of the Clock
Control how objects behave while Design Mode is selected. These settings override individual object properties, which are set in the Property and Action Browsers.
Specify how you want the Spotlight
Specify default settings for your flipcharts.
and Revealer to work.
Shape Recognition
Define options to improve the quality of and for displaying objects.
Change the language ActivInspire uses.
Customize the way in which you work with ActivExpression and ActiVote devices and how to display responses.
Customize the way in which you work with sound, video and Flash files.
Enter the details necessary for you to access online resources using ActivInspire.
Specify where you want to store profiles, My Resource Library and Shared Resource Library folders, as well as template and question page files.
Change various video and sound settings. Changing these settings can, particularly, improve the performance of the
Screen Recorder.
Automatically fill shapes that were created with the Shape Recognition Tool.
Define rules for spell checking.
Change the look of rulers, protractors and the compass. There are also options to change the location of the Resource
Library and the speed of the Dice Roller and Page Zoom.
Change how the Floating Keyboard and Handwriting Recognition work.
Open Settings Tab
1. From the
File Menu, select Settings. The 'Settings' Tab opens.
2. Select the profile whose settings you want to customize, or accept the default.
3. In the left-hand pane of the 'Settings' Tab, select the area you want to customize, for example,
Learner Response System.
ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary
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Choosing application settings
Change settings
Some settings have a simple check box that acts like a toggle switch, while other settings have different controls:
To choose a setting, check or uncheck the box.
To change the setting, select the default and type over it.
or
To change the color, click on the color and select another one from the standard Color Palette for your operating system.
To change the setting, move the slider.
To change the setting, select a different one from the drop-down menu.
To change the setting, click on the icon and browse to another folder.
Save changes
When you have made the changes, click on
Done to save them.
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Switching profiles
Show
>
>
Making profiles work for you >
Creating and switching profiles > Switching profiles
Switching profiles
Switching profiles is useful when you need to quickly change between previously saved application layouts and settings. For example, you may have a profile that contains all your preferences and settings for preparing flipcharts and another one for your chosen presentation style, or you may wish to switch to a profile containing all the math tools.
Two ways to switch profiles:
1. In the Main Toolbox, click on
Switch Profile
A popup box listing the available profiles opens.
2. Click on the desired profile, for example,
Multimedia. The box closes and the profile becomes active immediately.
Or
1. From the Edit Menu, select
Profiles... The 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box opens.
2. From the drop-down list, select the desired profile. The profile becomes active immediately.
3. Click on
Done.
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Miscellaneous properties
Show
Miscellaneous properties
For details of how to change properties, see
>
Properties > Miscellaneous properties
Property
Option Description
End Cap A None Default
Radius Apply an end cap to the left-hand edge of open shapes, lines and connectors.
End Cap B
Pick Trough
Arrow
None
Radius
Arrow
True
Default
Apply an end cap to the right-hand edge of open shapes, lines and connectors.
Transparent Color
Transparent
Tiled
Fill Mode
Drag a Copy
False
Blue
True
False
None
False
True
Default
If an object's 'Transparent' property is set to 'True', allows you to click on the transparent area of an object to select another object beneath it.
Default
Only enabled if the object's 'Transparent' property is set to 'True'.
Click the color box to enable the Color Picker and choose a color from anywhere on the display, then apply it to the object.
Default
Select to make the object opaque.
Default
Default
Set to 'True' to be able to create copies of the object by clicking and dragging it.
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Overview
Show
>
Using Learner Response Systems > Overview
Overview
What is it?
The ActivClassroom Learner Response System (LRS) consists of:
ActivBoard
Computer with ActivInspire installed
ActivHub model AH1 or AH2
Voting devices
For details of which devices are compatible, see
.
How does it work?
1. You connect the ActivHub to a USB slot on your computer.
2. Hand out the voting devices to your students.
3. Start ActivInspire and register the devices.
4. When you have presented your question, click on
Start Vote
5. When all the students have voted, or the timeout is reached, the results are displayed on the board.
You also have the option to assign students to devices. This may be useful where the same students are going to use the same devices over an extended period of time.
Can I use ActiVote and ActivExpression devices in the same voting session?
You can use both ActiVote and ActivExpression devices in your lesson, although not at the same time. You can run two voting sessions – you don’t have to close your flipchart or the results display before running further voting sessions.
What's the difference between anonymous and named voting?
In
Anonymous voting, device numbers are displayed - you don’t see who sent which answer.
In
Named voting, device names are displayed, so you can see more easily, which devices have sent which votes.
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Registering devices
Show
Registering devices
Here we show you how to set up your Activclassroom Learner Response System (LRS).
Register ActivExpression devices
Rename ActivExpression devices
Register ActiVote devices - model AV3
Register ActiVote devices - model AV2
About Device Registration
Device registration is the process of telling the ActivHub how many devices and device groups there are in the classroom. You need to register devices before you begin a voting session.
You start device registration from the Voting Browser. The pictures on the right show the information you can see in the 'Device Registration' Dialog
Box:
How many ActivHubs are connected to your computer.
Device groups.
How many devices are registered with each ActivHub.
The good news is, once you have registered them, you can take the devices and the ActivHub with you to another location, plug the ActivHub into another computer with ActivInspire installed and begin voting immediately.
Using Learner Response Systems > Registering devices
There are two types of ActivHub:
This ActivHub...
AH2
AH1
Is compatible with...
ActiVote AV3, ActivExpression
ActiVote AV2
Register ActivExpression devices
Before you begin registration:
1. Start ActivInspire.
2. Connect an ActivHub model AH2 to your computer.
3. Distribute ActivExpression devices and ensure that they are switched ON.
To register:
1. Open the Voting Browser and click on
Device Registration
The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens.
2. Select
ActivExpressions and click on Register.
3. Enter the number of devices you want to register (or use the arrows) and click on
Next.
The next window shows a PIN code which must be entered on each file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/registering_devices.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:19 PM]
Registering devices
ActivExpression device to be registered. The window has clear instructions, with photos, so your students can finish the registration (you might like to practise the procedure first!).
If the students are finishing the registration, they have to: a. Press the
MENU / SYM button on the ActivExpression devices.
b. Press the Register option key, indicated on the ActivExpression screen.
c. Enter the PIN code, by pressing the ActivExpression option keys corresponding to the PIN code, as indicated on the screen.
The PIN code is not entered with the text keys.
When three letters have been entered, as displayed in the PIN code box on the ActivExpression screen, the letters are transmitted to the ActivHub. The
ActivHub sends the code to ActivInspire.
The PIN code can be edited before transmission, but only if one or two letters have been entered. Option keys for
Clear and Abort can be used for editing and also the
Delete key on the keypad.
ActivInspire registers the devices to the ActivHub one by one. You can see the number updated in the window, just below the PIN code.
When this number is equal to the number you entered in Step 3 above, the window closes automatically, because all devices have been registered. If registration fails for any of the devices, the window has to be closed manually.
If a PIN code is entered incorrectly, steps a
. to c
. must be repeated, for a successful registration.
This procedure can be repeated any number of times, but it should not be necessary - the system is proven to be extremely reliable. After a couple of failures for a device you can either:
Click on
Finish to close the window and proceed, or
Replace it with another ActivExpression device, registering it if necessary.
Rename ActivExpression devices
There are two places where you can rename devices:
Rename individual device in the 'Device Registration' Window
Rename individual or all devices in the 'ActivExpression Devices Group' Box
Rename individual devices
To rename individual devices in the 'Device Registration' Window:
1. Select any individual device and click on
Rename. The existing device name is displayed in a box which you can edit.
2. Enter the new name and click on
OK. The new name is shown in the 'Device Registration' Dialog Box. This means it is stored on the
ActivHub. The ActivExpression device may be switched OFF, but the next time it is switched ON, it communicates with the ActivHub and receives its new name.
To rename individual devices in the 'ActivExpression Devices Group' Box:
1. Click on
Rename. The' Device Naming' Box opens.
2. Double click on the name and edit it.
3. Click in the column ‘Committed’. The device is renamed as above.
Rename all devices
You can rename all your devices with sequential numbering and a common prefix.
1. In the ActivExpression Devices Group Box, click on
Rename to display the 'Device Naming' Box.
2. Click in the box ‘Rename all of the devices using the prefix’ and enter a prefix.
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Registering devices
3. Click on
Apply prefix. All ActivExpression devices in the group are renamed on the ActivHub, as described above, with the prefix and numbers, starting with 1.
The numbers can be edited separately.
Register ActiVote devices - model AV3
Before you begin registration:
1. Distribute the ActiVote devices and ensure that they are switched ON.
2. Connect an ActivHub model AH2 to your computer.
3. Start ActivInspire.
To register:
1. Open the Voting Browser and click on
Device Registration
The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens. It shows:
A picture of an ActivHub AH1.
ActiVote and ActivSlate devices under Device Groups.
2. Select ActiVotes and click on
Register.
3. Enter the number of devices you want to register (or use the arrows) and click on
Next.
The next window shows clear instructions, with photos, so your students can finish the registration (you might like to practise the procedure first!).
A three letter PIN code is displayed, which must be entered on each device to be registered.
If the students are finishing the registration, they have to: a. Press and hold the central
Registration button on the ActiVote devices, until both the top lights are illuminated.
b. Enter the PIN code, pressing the ActiVote device keys.
ActivInspire registers the devices to the ActivHub one by one. You can see the number updated in the window, just below the PIN code.
When this number is equal to the number you entered in Step 3. above, the window closes automatically, because all devices have been registered. If registration fails for any of the devices, the window has to be closed manually.
If a PIN code is entered incorrectly, both steps a.
and b.
must be repeated, that is, the central button must be pressed and held until both lights are on and the correct PIN code must be entered, for a successful registration.
This procedure can be repeated any number of times, but it should not be necessary - the system is proven to be extremely reliable. After a couple of failures for a device you can either:
Click on
Finish to close the window and proceed, or
Replace it with another ActiVote device, registering it if necessary.
Register ActiVote devices - model AV2
Before you begin registration: file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/registering_devices.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:19 PM]
Registering devices
1. Start ActivInspire.
2. Connect an ActivHub AH1 to your computer.
3. Distribute the ActiVote devices and ensure that they are switched ON.
To register:
1. Open the Voting Browser and click on
Device Registration
The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens. It shows:
A picture of an ActivHub AH1.
ActiVote and ActivSlate devices under Device Groups.
2. Select ActiVotes and click on
Register.
3. Enter the number of devices you want to register (or use the arrows) and click on
Next.
The next window shows clear instructions, with photos, so your students can finish the registration (you might like to practise the procedure first!).
If the students are finishing the registration, they have to: a. Press and hold the central
Registration button on the ActiVote devices. The top red light flashes, followed by the green light.
b. Release the
Registration button.
ActivInspire registers the devices to the ActivHub one by one. You can see the number updated in the window.
When this number is equal to the number you entered in Step 3. above, the window closes automatically, because all devices have been registered. If registration fails for any of the devices, the window must be closed manually.
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Assigning students to devices
Show
>
Using Learner Response Systems > Assigning students to devices
Assigning students to devices
Here we describe the advantages of assigning students to devices and show you how to do so:
Why assign students to devices?
Why assign students to devices?
You don't have to assign students to devices, but to do so can reduce the time you need to collate and process results and can give you an immediate insight into each students' progress.
You can assign student names from database files. You can use existing databases, or you can generate and export a database using ActivInspire.
When you attach an ActivHub to your computer, registered devices are shown in the 'Device Registration' Dialog Box. Depending on the Voting Browser selections, the box shows one of the following:
Device Number - Anonymous voting.
Device Name - Named voting (students not assigned to devices).
Student Name - Named voting (students assigned to devices).
Assign students to devices
In the Voting Browser:
1. Click on
Assign students to devices.
The 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box opens.
The student names and id have to be placed in this Dialog Box from a database file. Names can be imported from a database with the file extension .edb or.csv, or you can generate and export a class database from within ActivInspire.
2. Click on
Edit Student Database. The
'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box opens.
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Assigning students to devices
3. Add a class to box
a
: a. Click on
Add Class. The 'Add Class'
Dialog Box opens.
b. Enter Class Name and Teacher
Name; Notes are optional.
c. Click on
Submit.
4. Add students to box
b
: a. Click on
Add Student. The
'Student' Dialog Box opens.
b. Enter Name, Forename, and Student
ID.
c. Click on
Submit.
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Assigning students to devices
Back in the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box:
5. Highlight the class.
6. Highlight the student names you want to assign to voting devices.
7. Click arrows to add or remove students to or from box
c
.
8. Click on
OK. The 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box closes, and ActivInspire returns to the 'Assign students to devices'
Dialog Box.
Students displayed in this box can be assigned. If the number of students is greater than the number of registered devices, a warning is displayed.
If you want to register more devices before assigning students to devices, select
Top-up
Registration. The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens. For details, see
In the 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box:
9. Select
Assign Devices - Device PIN numbers appear in the dialog box. On ActivExpression devices, a prompt is also displayed on the screen.
10. Each students has to enter the correct PIN numbers:
ActiVote devices – press voting buttons
ActivExpression devices – press option buttons
The 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box shows devices assigned, highlighted in green. Now, when you select
Named Voting, the Voting Browser displays student names.
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Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard
Show
Using Learner Response Systems > Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard
Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard
How it works
The Question Wizard presents you with series of
Dialog Boxes, each with detailed instructions to help you.
You have to:
1. Choose the type of question.
2. Choose a layout style.
3. Enter text for your question and answers, where applicable.
4. Click on
Finish to close the Question
Wizard.
The Question Wizard places text objects on your flipchart page, turning it into a Question page. If you choose one of the layout templates offered, there are graphic objects too. Use the Browsers to identify objects. You can edit any of the text or objects.
Whenever you navigate to that page, the
Start
Vote
button is highlighted green and you can click on the button to start a voting session.
Further important options
You can nominate correct answers in all of the question types. When these answers are returned in the vote, they are highlighted green in all optional results displays, apart from the pie chart, file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/prepared_questions_-_using_the_question_wizard.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:23 PM]
Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard where they are highlighted red
For important information about properties and tags, see
Reference > Properties > Identification properties .
Text answers which are nominated ‘correct’ are case sensitive. Numerical answers which are nominated ‘correct’ allow a level of error which can be set in the Question Wizard.
All question types are concluded with a prompt for a follow-on question. This is to encourage further discussion among your group and generate feedback.
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Quick questions and ExpressPoll
Show
Using Learner Response Systems > Quick questions and ExpressPoll
Quick questions and ExpressPoll
At any time during your lesson, you can ask your students a question and click on
ExpressPoll
. voting ‘Wonderwheel’.
This displays the
Use it a few times and you will realize why it is so-called. The design of the Wonderwheel helps you communicate your question clearly, so your students quickly understand how they are expected to answer.
How it works
1. You hover with the pen over the Wonderwheel and highlight a question style.
2. Move the pen radially and outward to show the options for the style you just highlighted.
3. Click to select one of the options.
The picture on the right shows the Wonderwheel for ActiVote devices. The highlighted question style is 'True/False'. This question style has four answering options. The option selected allows the possible answers, 'True', 'False' and 'Don’t know'.
These possible answers are shown in the displayed 'Voting Summary' Box.
You can set a timeout now, next to the red
Stop Vote button, by entering a number or using the arrows. If your profile already has a timeout set for
ExpressPoll, the countdown starts as soon as the summary box is displayed. When you use a timeout, you also have a
Pause Vote button for extra control.
.
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Creating containers
Show
>
> Creating containers
Creating containers
As the name implies, containers are objects that can contain other objects. This is useful for creating activities that rely on objects being recognized and either accepted or rejected by another object. Any object that does not match all the chosen properties is rejected, whenever someone attempts to put it into the container.
You can select container properties and therefore define the container's behavior, in the 'Container' section of the Property
Browser.
For details of available container properties, see Reference > Properties > Container properties
.
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties
.
Here we explain container rules, how to create a container and add a reward sound:
Container rules
Any type of object, except annotations, can be a container.
The object to be contained must be in front of the container. Therefore it must be either:
On a higher layer than the container, or
Higher in the stacking order on the same layer as the container.
Containers can contain other containers, allowing you to create nested containers.
Annotations that are drawn directly into a container object are automatically contained.
Create a container
Here we show you how to turn a shape object into a container that can contain one specific object, but will reject any others.
1. Select
Shape
and create three shapes, one larger than the others. In the picture on the right, we have created a yellow square, the container and two triangles, one red, one blue.
For this example, we changed the 'Name' property of the object to be contained to 'Red Triangle' in the 'Identification' section of the Property Browser.
2. Select the largest shape, in our case the yellow square.
3. Open the
Property Browser down to the Container section.
and scroll
4. In the 'Container' section, set the properties. In the picture on the right we set: a.
Can Contain to Specific Object. This means only one particular object can be put in the yellow square container.
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Creating containers b.
Contain Object to Red Triangle. The yellow square can only contain the red triangle.
c.
Contain Rule to Completely Contained.
The red triangle must be placed inside the container.
d.
Return if not Contained to True. If the red triangle is not completely contained, or you try to put another object into the yellow square, the object will return to the starting position.
5. Test the container. Only the red triangle, but not the blue one, can be put in the container.
When an item has been contained, you can move it out of the container in one movement. Any further movements, when the object is not being contained will return it to the starting position.
Add a reward sound
A reward sound is a sound file that plays when an object is correctly contained.
Here we show you how to add a reward sound to a container:
1. Create the container as shown above.
2. In the 'Container' section of the Property Browser, set the sound properties: a. Set
Reward Sound to True.
b. Set
Reward Sound Location to the location of the sound file you want to play when an object is correctly contained. In the picture on the right, this is the file a.wav.
3. Test the container. When the correct object is put into the container, the Sound Controller opens and plays the chosen reward sound.
The Sound Controller remains on the screen until you close it.
Set the 'Reward Sound' property on the container, not the contents.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_containers.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:27 PM]
Creating containers file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_containers.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:27 PM]
Creating restrictors
Show
>
Making flipcharts interactive > Creating restrictors
Creating restrictors
Use restrictors to control how items can move on the page.
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties
.
You can use restrictors in many different ways.
Here we show you how to create a restrictor that constrains a circle, so that it can only move along a particular path
1. Select
Design Mode
2. With the
Pen
.
, draw a line on the page.
3. Select
Shape
4. Select the circle.
and create a circle.
5. Open the
Property Browser
'Restrictors' section.
and scroll down to the
6. In the 'Restrictors' section, select the properties as shown on the right: a. For
Can Move select Along path from the Drop-down list.
b. For
Move Path, click on the Selector button . The 'Select
Object' Dialog Box opens.
c. Select the line object, here Pen 4.
7. Click on
OK.
8. Leave Design Mode.
9. Test the restrictor. When you click on the red circle, it jumps to the blue line. Now the circle can only move along the line.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_restrictors.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:29 PM]
Adding and formatting text
Show
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text
Adding and formatting text
Here we show you how to:
Finally, we also give you a taste of two
power tools for working with text at the board.
Add text
ActivInspire has several useful tools for adding text, either at the board, or at your computer.
You can also copy and paste, or drag and drop, text from existing documents, for example from a Word file, into your flipchart.
Text Tool
The Text Tool in the Main Toolbox is a quick way to add text from your computer:
1. Click on the
Text
icon. The Format Toolbar opens and the cursor changes to a little bar with some letters.
2. Move the cursor to where you want to create text and click. Two things happen:
A text box with two handles opens. These allow you to freely move
or extend the text box.
The Format Toolbar opens, either at the top or bottom of the
ActivInspire window, depending on your preferences at startup. You can use it to format your text. We show you how in the next section.
3. At your computer keyboard, type in the text. The text appears in the text box in the default font, color and size.
We show you how to change these in Format text
.
To correct a mistake:
1. With the Text Tool selected, position the cursor where you want to begin in the text and click.
2. Keep the mouse button pressed and drag the cursor over the letters you want to change.
3. When they are highlighted, begin typing to replace the selected text, or press the Backspace key to delete it.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_formatting_text.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:32 PM]
Adding and formatting text
Format text
The Format Toolbar opens when you select the Text Tool. It contains standard tools for text formatting and the On-Screen
Keyboard icon. Use the Format Toolbar to change text properties and alignment. For example, to change the color, size, font, text box outline and fill characteristics of the selected text.
ActivInspire Studio
Here we briefly describe the tools.
1
Change the font and font size of the selected text
2
3
4
Increase or decrease the font size
Put text in bold or italic, or underline it
Add subscript or superscript
7
8
Increase or decrease the spacing between lines
Increase or decrease the indent
9
Format as bulleted list
10
Open the On-screen Keyboard
5
Alter the text color (defaults to black) and also the text background color (defaults to transparent)
11
Select all the text in the text box
6
Align left, centered or right
12
Insert a symbol
ActivInspire Primary
In ActivInspire Primary, the layout
and look of the Format Toolbar is slightly different, but the tools are the same.
Change all the text in a text box
1. With the Text Tool selected and a text box open, click in the text box.
2. In the Format Toolbar, click on
Select All
To change the font or font size, click on the drop-down menus.
To change the color, text alignment and other characteristics, click on the appropriate buttons.
3. To finish editing, click on another tool.
Change part of the text
1. With the Text Tool selected and a text box open, click in the text box.
2. Keep the mouse button pressed and drag the cursor over the words you want to change. When they are highlighted, click on the appropriate buttons or drop-down menus.
3. To finish editing, click on another tool.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_formatting_text.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:32 PM]
Adding and formatting text
Spellcheck
You can quickly check and correct the spelling in all or part of your flipchart, with the
Flipchart Spellchecker
This tool always begins to check the spelling at the beginning of the flipchart, even if you start it on the final page.
You'll find the Flipchart Spellchecker in:
Tools Menu > More Tools
To use the Flipchart Spellchecker:
1. With the Text Tool selected and a text box open, click in the text box.
2. From Tools > More Tools, select Flipchart Spellchecker. The 'Spell Checker' Dialog Box opens. Possible spelling errors appear in red. You can deselect this option with
Edit Profiles
in the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
3. You can accept or reject spelling suggestions, apply them to the current, or to all instances of the word, or select text in the dialog box and type in your own changes.
4. Make choices until the confirmation dialog box indicates that spell checking is complete, or click on
Done to stop spell checking.
Power tools
ActivInspire also offers two power tools for working with text.
Use this tool...
To...
On-Screen Keyboard
Add text at the board, when you don't want to use the Pen. You simply tap on the letters and symbols on the on-screen keyboard to form words and sentences.
For details, see
Using the On-Screen Keyboard .
Handwriting Recognition
Write on the board and let ActivInspire turn your writing into typed text.
For details, see
Using Handwriting Recognition .
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_formatting_text.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:32 PM]
Changing object properties
Show
>
>
Working with objects > Changing object properties
Changing object properties
Object properties define an object. You can view and change these properties in the Property Browser.
1. Select the page or object whose properties you want to view or change.
2. Open the Property Browser.
3. In the Browser, select the property category, for example, 'Identification' properties.
4. Change the object's properties. Any changes you make apply immediately.
Each time you change a property, this is added to the Undo History, allowing you to undo each change you make.
Property types
Some properties have numerical values, while other properties can be altered with different controls:
To change the property, select the default and type over it.
or
To change the color, click on the color and select another one from the standard Color Palette for your operating system.
To change the property, move the slider.
To change the property, select a different one from the drop-down menu.
To change the property, click on the icon.
Use these properties to...
Identification
Uniquely identify an object or page. This is useful if you are going to reuse the object or flipchart, or if you are going to add it to your Resource Library, or share it with others.
Appearance
Outline
Fill
Background
Position
Control the appearance of an object on the flipchart page.
Control the characteristics of the outline that surrounds an object.
Add texture to the object with graduated shading from one color to another.
Control the characteristics of the background of an object.
Control the position and size of an object on the flipchart page. There are three ways to change these properties:
Drag the object's Marquee and Sizing Handles.
Use the Object Edit Menu.
Edit the properties in the Property Browser.
Label
Add a label to an object and define the way the label looks and behaves.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/changing_object_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:34 PM]
Changing object properties
Container
Rotate
Restrictors
Miscellaneous
Multimedia
Page
Tools
Revealer
Spotlight
Grid
Create activities where objects are recognized by other objects.
Control the way in which an object can be rotated on the page.
Define rules to restrict the movement of an object.
Define some miscellaneous characteristics for your object.
Define properties for Flash, video and sound files.
Control the appearance of a flipchart page.
Set the Spotlight or Revealer to keep the currently selected property, or revert to the tool's default setting as defined in the currently selected profile.
Control the behavior of the Revealer.
Define the type and size of the Spotlight, as well as its position when selected.
Show or hide the grid and change its properties.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/changing_object_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:34 PM]
Adding and removing links
Show
Working with objects > Adding and removing links
Adding and removing links
Use links to files or websites in your flipcharts to enrich the learning experience, change the pace of a lesson, or refocus your students attention.
To open the file or access the website, simply click on the link at an appropriate moment in the lesson.
Here we show you how to:
Create a link to a file
When you create a link to a file, you have the following options to control how the link appears on the page and where the file is stored:
Choose this option...
To do this...
Add link as...
Add the link as a text string.
Text
Image Icon
Action Object
Add the link as an image icon on the page.
Add the link as an action object.
Existing object
Placeholder
Associate the link with an existing object on the page.
Insert a placeholder (for multimedia files). You can change the placeholder
Store as
Store file externally
Store file in flipchart
Store file in flipchart + Directory
Multimedia
Autoplay
Loop
Controller
Placeholder image if you wish.
Store the file separately from the flipchart.
Include the file in the flipchart. Depending on the size and nature of the file, this may increase the size of the .flipchart file considerably.
Included the file in the flipchart, as well as in a directory of your choice.
Applies to multimedia files only:
Play file automatically when the flipchart is opened.
Play the file in a continuous loop.
Display the Multimedia Controller so that you can stop and start play.
Add the link as a placeholder image. You can either accept the default image, or browse to and select another image.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]
Adding and removing links
Here we show you how to link an existing object to a file, so that the file opens, when you click on the object.
1. From the Insert Menu, select
Link >
File. The 'Select File' Dialog Box opens.
2. Browse to the folder that contains the file you want to link to.
3. Double click on the file, or select it and click on
Open. The 'Insert File' Dialog
Box opens.
4. Select
Existing object, as shown on the right.
5. Click on the
Selector button
The 'Select Object' Dialog
Box opens.
6. Select the object with which you want to associate the link. In the picture on the right, this is the black triangle.
7. Click on
OK. The 'Select File' Dialog
Box opens again.
8. Select where you wish to store the file, for example, Store externally.
9. Click on
OK.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]
Adding and removing links
Create a link to a website
Creating a link to a website is almost the same as creating a link to a file. You can add the link as:
Text
Image Icon
Action Object
Existing object
For descriptions of the options, see Create a link to a file above.
Here we show you how to add a link as an image icon, so that the internet browser supplied with your operating system opens the selected URL, when you click on the icon.
1. From the Insert Menu, select
Link >
Website. The 'Insert Website' Dialog
Box opens.
2. Type the URL of the website you want to link to.
3. Select
Image Icon.
4. Click on
OK.
Remove or edit a link
Websites change and so do your flipcharts. Sometimes you may have to remove or edit a link and here we show you how.
Remove a link
Two quick ways to remove a link, right-click the icon, image, object or text string, then:
Drag and drop it into the Trashcan.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]
Adding and removing links
Select
Delete from the Popup Menu.
Alternatively:
1. Right-click on the link.
2. From the Popup Menu, select
Action Browser.
3. Click on
Remove Existing.
Edit a link
1. Right-click on the link.
2. From the Popup Menu, select
Action Browser.
3. In 'Action Properties', select the URL and change it.
4. Click on
Apply Changes.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]
Using the Dice Roller
Show
>
Using Maths tools > Using the Dice Roller
Using the Dice Roller
Roll some dice
1. Click on the
Dice Roller
2. In the 'Dice Roller' Box, click on the
Roll
button.
Change the number of dice
1. In the 'Dice Roller' Box, click on the drop-down arrow.
2. Select the number of dice you want.
Change the speed of the dice
In the 'Dice Roller' Box, use the Speed slider to increase or decrease the speed of the dice.
Put the dice total on the page
In the 'Dice Roller' Box, click on the
Output to
Flipchart button.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_dice_roller.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:37 PM]
Using the Calculator
Show
>
Using Maths tools > Using the Calculator
Using the Calculator
To use the calculator supplied with ActivInspire:
From the
Tools Menu select Math Tools > Calculator.
To use the calculator supplied with your operating system, or another one of your choice:
1. From the
File Menu, select Settings.
2. Select
Tools.
3. Scroll down to
Calculator settings
Check
Use calculator supplied with operating system, or
Next to
Use calculator specified by user, browse to the calculator of your choice.
4. Click on
Done.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_calculator.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:39 PM]
Using the Protractor
Show
>
Using Maths tools > Using the Protractor
Using the Protractor
Use the Protractor to measure angles and draw arcs.
From the
Tools Menu, select Math Tools >
Protractor. You can have more than one protractor.
The default colors are grey / black. To change the color of rulers and protractors, select
File >
Settings > Tools.
The color changes are shown in the next ruler or protractor you select.
The right-click Popup Menu gives options for the protractor and arc drawn.
When you are ready to draw, hover with the pen near the edge of the protractor.
The cursor jumps or snaps to the protractor.
Click and drag along the edge of the protractor, and a perfect arc will be drawn. The three different arc styles are shown on the right.
The angle is viewed from the scale on the protractor (zoom in for greater accuracy).
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_protractor.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:41 PM]
Using the Protractor file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_protractor.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:41 PM]
Using the Compass
Show
>
>
Using Maths tools > Using the Compass
Using the Compass
The compass draws a simple arc with the outline and fill characteristics of the
Pen
From the
Tools Menu, select MathTools > Compass. You can have more than one compass.
To set up the compass, click on its various parts:
Click on the left arm to move the compass around the page.
Place the spike where you want the centre of rotation.
Click on the right arm to rotate the compass without drawing.
Click on the pencil holder to widen the span of the compass.
Click on the hinge to hide the compass.
When you are ready to draw, hover with the pen near the tip of the pencil.
.
The cursor jumps or snaps to the pencil tip.
Click and drag to draw your arc.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_compass.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:42 PM]
Setting the XY Origin
Show
>
Using Maths tools > Setting the XY Origin
Setting the X / Y Origin
You can rotate any object just by selecting it and using the
Rotate Object Marquee Handle to spin the object around its center point. However, you may not want to rotate an object around its center point. Instead, use the XY Origin Tool to add an origin point anywhere on a page. The object will spin around the page origin point when you click and move the
Rotate Object Marquee
Handle.
Ensure the object you want to rotate is located on your page, then click on the
XY Origin Tool to display the origin point. Move the origin point to a new position, this will be the position that you want to be the center of rotation. Select the object with the
Select Tool, notice the XY Origin Tool button remains selected. Then, use the Rotate Object Marquee Handle to spin the object around the new origin point. When you have finished, click on the
XY Origin Tool once more to remove the rotate point.
The origin point will remember its last position on a page. When you switch it on again, it will automatically appear in the same position when it was last displayed.
A group of objects will rotate about the center point of the selected group, unless the
XY Origin Tool is switched on. In this case the group will rotate around the XY origin point.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/setting_the_xy_origin.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:44 PM]
Keyboard Shortcuts
Show
>
Reference > Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Function Windows
TM
Help
Toggle Design Mode
ExpressPoll
Dual User
Toggle Full Screen
Desktop Tools
Flipchart Spellchecker
Page Browser
Property Browser
Action Browser
Dashboard
Promethean Planet
Select All
Toggle Browsers
Copy
Duplicate
Eraser
Fill
Toggle Grouped
Highlighter
Insert Blank Page After Current
Edit Profiles
CTRL+A
CTRL+B
CTRL+C
CTRL+D
CTRL+E
CTRL+F
CTRL+G
CTRL+H
CTRL+I
CTRL+J
F4
F5
F6
F7
F1
F2
F3
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
Linux
TM
F4
F5
F6
F7
F1
F2
F3
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
CTRL+A
CTRL+B
CTRL+C
CTRL+D
CTRL+E
CTRL+F
CTRL+G
CTRL+H
CTRL+I
CTRL+J file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/keyboard_shortcuts.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:45 PM]
Mac®
F1
F6
F7
F8
F9
F2
F3
F4
F5
F10
F11
F12
Cmd+A
Cmd+B
Cmd+C
Cmd+D
Cmd+E
Cmd+F
Cmd+G
Cmd+H
Cmd+I
Cmd+J
Keyboard Shortcuts
On-screen Keyboard
Insert Link to File
Insert Media
Open a new flipchart
Open an existing flipchart
Pen
Insert Question
Revealer
Save a flipchart
Text
View Customize
Paste
Close
Cut
Redo your last action
Undo your last action
Increase Object Size
Decrease Object Size
Desktop Annotate
Send to Back
Connectors
Desktop Snapshot
Export Page
Bring to Front
Grid Designer
CTRL+S
CTRL+T
CTRL+U
CTRL+V
CTRL+W
CTRL+X
CTRL+Y
CTRL+Z
CTRL+K
CTRL+L
CTRL+M
CTRL+N
CTRL+O
CTRL+P
CTRL+Q
CTRL+R
CTRL+
+
CTRL+
-
CTRL+Shift+A
CTRL+Shift+B
CTRL+Shift+C
CTRL+Shift+D
CTRL+Shift+E
CTRL+Shift+F
CTRL+Shift+G
CTRL+Shift+A
CTRL+Shift+B
CTRL+Shift+C
CTRL+Shift+D
CTRL+Shift+E
CTRL+Shift+F
CTRL+Shift+G file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/keyboard_shortcuts.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:45 PM]
CTRL+S
CTRL+T
CTRL+U
CTRL+V
CTRL+W
CTRL+X
CTRL+Y
CTRL+Z
CTRL+K
CTRL+L
CTRL+M
CTRL+N
CTRL+O
CTRL+P
CTRL+Q
CTRL+R
CTRL+
+
CTRL+
-
Cmd+S
Cmd+T
Cmd+U
Cmd+V
Cmd+W
Cmd+X
Cmd+Y
Cmd+Z
Cmd+K
Cmd+L
Cmd+M
Cmd+N
Cmd+O
Cmd+P
Cmd+Q
Cmd+R
Cmd+
+
Cmd+
-
Cmd+Shift+A
Cmd+Shift+B
Cmd+Shift+C
Cmd+Shift+D
Cmd+Shift+E
Cmd+Shift+F
Cmd+Shift+G
Keyboard Shortcuts
Handwriting Recognition
Toggle Hidden
Toggle Drag a Copy
Camera - Area
Toggle Locked
Magic Ink
Notes Browser
Circular Spotlight
Edit Question on Page
Sound Recorder
Shapes
Tickertape
Clock
Bring Forwards
Send Backwards
Flip X
Flip Y
Page Zoom
Select
Go to next page
Go to previous page
Delete
CTRL+Shift+H
CTRL+Shift+I
CTRL+Shift+J
CTRL+Shift+K
CTRL+Shift+L
CTRL+Shift+M
CTRL+Shift+N
CTRL+Shift+O
CTRL+Shift+P
CTRL+Shift+Q
CTRL+Shift+R
CTRL+Shift+S
CTRL+Shift+T
CTRL+Shift+U
CTRL+Shift+V
CTRL+Shift+W
CTRL+Shift+X
CTRL+Shift+Y
CTRL+Shift+Z
Esc
PgDown
PgUp
Del
CTRL+Shift+H
CTRL+Shift+I
CTRL+Shift+J
CTRL+Shift+K
CTRL+Shift+L
CTRL+Shift+M
CTRL+Shift+N
CTRL+Shift+O
CTRL+Shift+P
CTRL+Shift+Q
CTRL+Shift+R
CTRL+Shift+S
CTRL+Shift+T
CTRL+Shift+U
CTRL+Shift+V
CTRL+Shift+W
CTRL+Shift+X
CTRL+Shift+Y
CTRL+Shift+Z
Esc
PgDown
PgUp
Del
Esc
Down
Up
Del
Cmd+Shift+H
Cmd+Shift+I
Cmd+Shift+J
Cmd+Shift+K
Cmd+Shift+L
Cmd+Shift+M
Cmd+Shift+N
Cmd+Shift+O
Cmd+Shift+P
Cmd+Shift+Q
Cmd+Shift+R
Cmd+Shift+S
Cmd+Shift+T
Cmd+Shift+U
Cmd+Shift+V
Cmd+Shift+W
Cmd+Shift+X
Cmd+Shift+Y
Cmd+Shift+Z file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/keyboard_shortcuts.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:45 PM]
Customisation Options
Show
Reference > Customisation Options
Customization Options
You can customize the behavior and location of all toolboxes, browsers and menubars in ActivInspire.
All can be pinned and dragged and dropped. Some can float, or be rolled in or out, or docked.
Option Studio Primary
Description
Toolbox
Options
Dock left Positions the toolbox to the right/left/top/bottom of the ActivInspire window.
Dock right
Dock top
Dock bottom
Floating
Roll Up
Pin Toolbox
Roll Up
Roll In
Allows you to click on the Titlebar at any time and drag and drop the item anywhere in the ActivInspire window.
You can set the toolbox to 'Floating' at any time, by dragging it from a docked location into the middle of the screen.
Toggle switch.
When the toolbox is in its normal (rolled down) state, click this to
'roll up' the toolbox, showing only the Main Menu and Page
Navigation icons.
When the toolbox is rolled up, click this to return the toolbox to its rolled down state, where all tools are displayed.
Toggle switch.
Shows or hides the Main Toolbox Shortcut Bar.
See "Roll Up" above.
Toggle switch.
Pins the toolbox in place to prevent it from automatically sliding out of view when docked.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/customisation_options.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:47 PM]
Menubar
Show
>
> Menubar
Menubar
This page lists the default functions in each menu of the ActivInspire Menubar:
For further details of the tools provided in ActivInspire, see
File
The File Menu includes:
Menu item
New Flipchart
New
Description
Opens a new 'Untitled' flipchart
Open...
Open Recent
Close flipchart
Option
Screen Size
Flipchart
1024 x 768
Flipchart
1152 x 864
Flipchart
1280 x 1280
Flipchart
Custom Size
Flipchart
Clear List
Opens a new flipchart of the specified size.
Opens the 'My Flipcharts' folder.
Opens a drop-down list of recent flipcharts.
Resets your recent flipcharts list.
Closes the current flipchart. If it contains unsaved changes, opens a dialog box inviting you to confirm if you want to save changes or cancel.
If you click
Yes to save before closing, opens the 'My flipcharts' folder in the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/menubar1.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:49 PM]
Menubar
Save
Save As...
Summary...
Publish...
Saves the current flipchart. If it is 'Untitled', opens the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box.
Title
Description
Grade
Keywords
Opens 'My flipcharts' folder in the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog
Box. You can rename the flipchart, save the flipchart in this folder, or navigate to anywhere on disk or network.
Click:
Save to save the flipchart
Cancel to exit without saving
Opens the 'Flipchart Summary' Dialog Box.
This lets you record information about your flipchart.
Click:
OK to save the flipchart summary
Cancel to exit without saving
Enter the title of your flipchart.
Enter a brief description of its contents.
Note the grade for which this flipchart is designed.
Add words to classify the flipchart.
Opens the 'Publish Flipchart' Dialog Box.
This lets you restrict what others can do with this flipchart, once it has been published.
Click:
Cancel to exit without saving
Save Details to save changes without publishing
Publish... to apply and save your changes and publish the flipchart
Publisher
Information
Enter information in the textbox. This information is hidden from users. The textbox automatically shows any information you entered previously.
Prevent copying pages and objects
Prevent Flipchart saving and exporting
Prevents users from saving or exporting your flipchart. This restriction also prevents exporting of Learner Response System results.
If saving is allowed, the newly saved flipchart is saved as a normal flipchart without any restrictions.
Prevent Flipchart printing
Prevent Camera
Protects your flipchart pages and objects from being cut or copied.
Users can still duplicate and mirror objects, as well as deconstruct text.
Prevents users from printing your flipchart.
Prevents users from using the Camera in the current session.
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Menubar
Tool
Submit Flipcharts to Promethean
Planet
Import
Print...
Settings...
Exit
Will also apply to other flipcharts open at the same time.
Opens the Promethean Planet website in your web browser.
For each of the import operations, you can browse to the file's location and select it.
Click:
Open to begin the import operation
Cancel to exit without saving
PowerPoint® As
Images
PowerPoint® As
Objects
ExamView® XML file
IMS QTI XML file
SMART Notebook
File v8, v9, v9.5, v10
SMART Gallery
Item File
Resource Pack
To My
Resources...
Resource Pack
To Shared
Resources...
Opens a dialog box that lets you browse to and select the file you wish to import.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.
Opens the 'Open Resource Pack' Dialog Box to let you import resources into your Resource Library.
Sends the current flipchart to the default printer.
Opens the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box. Here you can customize features such as the Learner Response System,
Tools and Multimedia.
For details of all available settings, see
Exits ActivInspire. Prompts you to save any changes to flipcharts, before closing.
Click:
Yes to save changes.
No to quit without saving.
Cancel to continue working.
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Menubar
Edit
The Edit Menu includes:
Menu item
Design Mode
Option
Description
Toggle switch that enables/disables Design Mode. For details of
Design Mode Settings, see
.
Undo
Redo
Select
Undoes/redoes the previous command or action.
Select All
Page
Background...
Grid...
Clear
Reset Page
Cut
Copy
Paste
Clear Annotations
Clear Objects
Clear Grid
Clear Background
Clear Page
Enables
Select
.
Select all objects on the current page.
Opens the 'Set Background' Popup Box to let you select a background for the current page.
Choose from:
Fill - select a single color or two colors for a graduated fill
Image - browse for an image and choose its positioning and fit
Desktop Snapshot
Desktop Overlay
Opens the Grid Designer to let you create your own colorful multilevel grids.
All Clear actions apply to the current page.
Deletes anything created with the Pen, Highlighter or Magic Ink.
Deletes any objects including text created with the Text Tool.
Deletes all grid levels.
Deletes the background.
Deletes everything on the page.
Resets the current page to the state it was in when it was last saved.
Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or deletes the currently selected object(s) or page.
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Menubar
Duplicate
Delete
Transform
Increase Object
Size
Decrease Object
Size
Original Size
Best Fit to Width
Best Fit to Height
Best Fit to Page
Mirror in X Axis
Mirror in Y Axis
Increases or decreases the size of the object by 10% of its current size.
Resets the size of the object back to the original.
Sets the selected object(s) to best fit the page width or height, while preserving the aspect ratio of the object(s).
Only applies to objects whose initial size is larger than the flipchart page, for example, scanned images.
Sets the selected object(s) to best fit the page size (both width and height), while preserving the aspect ratio of the object(s).
Only applies to objects whose initial size is larger than the flipchart page, for example, scanned images.
Creates a mirror image of the object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.
Creates a mirror image of the object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.
Flips the object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.
Flips the object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.
Flip in X Axis
Flip in Y Axis
Align
Align Left
Align Center
X
Align Right
Align Top
Align Center
Y
Aligns groups of objects.
Aligns all selected objects so that their left edges are the same as the left-most object in the selection.
Aligns all selected objects so that their centers match horizontally, with their center points being placed at the centers of the initial bounding rectangle.
Aligns all selected objects so that their right edges are the same as the right-most object in the selection.
Aligns all selected objects so that their top edges are the same as the highest object in the selection.
Aligns all selected objects so that their centers match vertically, their center points being placed at the center of the initial bounding rectangle.
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Menubar
Reorder
Question on
Current Page...
Student
Database...
Profiles...
Bring to Front
Bring Forwards
Send to Back
Send Backwards
To Top Layer
To Middle Layer
To Bottom Layer
Align Bottom
Align Width
Align Height
Align Angle
Align
Complete
Aligns all selected objects so that their bottom edges are the same as the lowest object in the selection.
Stretches all selected objects to the same width as the first object created within the selected objects.
Aligns objects at the height of the first object created in the group.
Aligns objects at the angle of the first object created.
Aligns all selected objects to match the left, right, bottom, top, width, height and angle properties of the first object created within the selected objects.
Moves selected objects to a different place in the stacking order, or to another layer
Sends the object to the front of the stack.
Sends the object forwards by one position within the stack.
Sends the object to the back of the stack.
Sends the object backwards by one position within the stack.
Sends the object to the top, middle or bottom layer.
Opens the 'Insert Question' Wizard, which lets you choose a question type and design.
For details, see
Using Learner Response Systems > Prepared
Questions - Using the Question Wizard .
Opens the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box.
For details, see
Using Learner Response Systems > Assigning students to devices
.
Opens the 'Layout' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.
Opens the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
Design Mode
Settings...
View
The View Menu includes:
Description
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Menubar
Menu item
Switch Profile
Fullscreen
Displays a drop-down menu of available profiles.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.
Switches to fullscreen mode.
Click on the
Fullscreen
icon to exit or switch to fullscreen mode.
Displays a drop-down menu of the currently open flipcharts.
Goes to the next or previous page.
Flipcharts
Next Page
Previous Page
Page Zoom
Browsers
Menubar
Document tabs
Flipchart bin
Dashboard
Sound Controller
Customise...
Begins Page Zoom. Left or right-click to zoom in or out. Click and drag to pan around the flipchart page.
Toggle switches that show or hide the Browsers, Menubar, Document Tabs and Trashcan.
Displays the ActivInspire Dashboard.
Displays the Sound Controller when you click on a sound file to play the sound. The Sound
Controller is displayed until you close it, or go to another flipchart page.
Opens the 'Commands' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
Insert
The Insert Menu includes:
Menu item
Page
Option
Blank Page
Before Current
Blank Page After
Current
Desktop
Snapshot
Description
Inserts a blank page before or after the current page.
Displays the desktop and enables Desktop Snapshot. when you click on
Take Snapshot, inserts snapshot of the desktop after the current page.
Other menu options may also be available here. These depend on the resources file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/menubar1.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:49 PM]
Menubar
Question...
Media...
Link
Text
Shapes
Connectors
Timestamp
Tools
The Tools Menu includes:
Menu item
Desktop Annotate
Option
Desktop Tools
Dual User
ExpressPoll
Pen
you have installed.
More Page
Templates
File...
Website...
Opens 'Shared Resources' folder in the Resource Browser.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.
Opens the 'Insert Question' Wizard.
Opens the 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box.
Opens the 'Select File' Dialog Box.
Opens the 'Insert Website' Dialog Box.
Enables the
Text
Tool.
Opens the Shapes Menu. Lets you select a shape and draw it.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal Edition.
Enables the
Connectors
Tool.
Adds a timestamp to the current page.
Description
Lets you:
Write annotations on your computer's live desktop with the
Pen or Highlighter
Interact with other applications on your desktop with Select
Minimizes ActivInspire and displays Desktop Tools.
Enables collaborative working with two ActivPens on an
ActivBoard version 3, or an upgraded ActivBoard version 2.
Launches the voting 'Wonderwheel' with which you can select a question style and options to ask your class.
Lets you write and draw annotations on the board.
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Camera
Magic Ink
Handwriting
Recognition
Shape
Recognition
Revealer
Spotlight
Math Tools
Menubar
Highlighter
Eraser
Fill
Lets you highlight areas of the flipchart in translucent color.
Lets you permanently erase or break up annotations made with the Pen, Highlighter, or Magic Ink.
Lets you fill:
Shapes with single or gradient colors (you can set gradient colors in the Property Browser)
Intersecting partial shapes with different colored fill shapes
Pages
Lets you make areas of your flipchart invisible and reveal them when the class is ready.
Lets you write on the board, then turns your annotations into print.
Lets you draw on the board, then turns your drawings into shapes.
Circular Spotlight
Square Spotlight
Solid Circular
Spotlight
Solid Square
Spotlight
Area Snapshot
Point to Point
Snapshot
Freehand
Snapshot
Window Snapshot
Fullscreen
Snapshot
Ruler
Protractor
Compass
Lets you selectively reveal parts of the flipchart page.
Lets you move different shaped light or opaque spotlights to show or hide areas of your flipchart.
Lets you take a snapshot from the screen – this may be a picture on a website or flipchart, for example.
Lets you draw and measure lines on the board.
Lets you draw arcs, segments and circles and measure angles.
Lets you draw circles and arcs of any size, color or line thickness with the Pen, Highlighter or Eraser.
Dice Roller
Lets you roll up to five dice, set the speed of the roll and print the result to the flipchart.
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Menubar
More Tools...
Calculator
Sound Recorder
Screen Recorder
Lets you perform maths calculations at the board.
Lets you record sounds and incorporate them in your flipchart.
Lets you record actions on a flipchart, desktop flipchart, the desktop, or another application, then play them back as an animation.
Lets you add typed text to your flipchart while at the board.
On-screen
Keyboard
Clock
Tickertape...
Web Browser
Spellcheck
Flipchart
Teacher Lock...
Device
Registration...
Edit User Defined
Buttons...
Displays a clock which you can use in
timed activities and competitions.
Runs a tickertape with the text of your choice across the board until you stop the tape.
Launches your computer's web browser.
Lets you check the spelling of your flipchart.
Restricts access to the current activity.
Begins the process of telling the ActivHub how many devices and device groups there are in the classroom. You need to register devices before you begin a voting session.
Lets you define your own shortcut buttons which will appear in the Shortcut Bar of the Main Toolbox.
Help
The Help Menu includes:
Menu item
Contents
Promethean
Website
Promethean
Planet
Check for updates...
Description
Opens this help file.
Opens the Promethean website or Promethean Planet website in your internet browser.
Checks if an updated version of ActivInspire is available. Either confirms that you have the latest version installed, or opens the 'ActivInspire Update' Dialog Box. Follow the instructions on the screen to download and install software updates.
About
Opens the 'About ActivInspire' Dialog Box. This contains details of the software release version and license agreement.
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Menubar
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Show
>
> Toolboxes and Toolbars
Toolboxes and Toolbars
This section gives an overview of the tools and functions available in ActivInspire's toolboxes and toolbars:
Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Dual Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Dual Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
For full details of the tools and functions provided in ActivInspire, see
.
For a summary of the tools and functions available in each menu and popup menu in ActivInspire, see
Reference > Menus and Popup Menus .
You can customize the Main Toolbox and Object Edit Toolbar to contain any combination of tools to suit your needs. For details, see
Main Toolbox
The Main Toolbox contains the following tools and menu items by default.
Tool/Menu item
Studio Primary Description
Main Menu
Switch
Profile
Desktop
Annotate
Desktop
Tools
Previous
Page
Opens the Main Menu. This gives you access to the same menus as the Menubar.
Opens a popup box showing the available profiles, to quickly switch from one profile to another.
Makes your computer's live desktop the background of your flipchart page. Lets you annotate the desktop and interact with other applications.
Minimizes ActivInspire and launches the Desktop Tools.
Displays the previous flipchart page.
More info...
Edit , View ,
Insert , Tools , Help
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Next Page
Start/Stop
Flipchart
Vote
Express Poll
Color
Palette
Width
Selectors
see
see
Displays the next flipchart page.
Adds a new flipchart page, if you click it on the last page of a flipchart.
Opens the 'Voting Summary' Box.
Only enabled if the current page contains a prepared voting question.
Lets you ask your students a quick question and display voting results instantly.
In ActivInspire Studio, lets you select the color of text, highlighter, lines and shapes, filling objects, etc.
To select a color not included in the Color Palette, right-click on the color you want to change and select a color, or create your own custom color.
In ActivInspire Studio, lets you select a different size for your
Eraser, Highlight or Pen. To change the size, ensure the tool is selected, then do one of the following:
Click on one of the circular settings in the Width
Selector.
For the Eraser and
Highlighter you can choose from 20 or 50 pixels.
For the Pen you can choose from 2, 4, 6 or 8 pixels.
Click and drag the slider to change the width from 0 to
100 pixels in increments of
1.
Setting the width to 0 will result in a fixed width of 1 pixel. That means the width will always be 1 pixel, even if you use Page Zoom to change the magnification.
You can change the outline width
> Prepared questions -Using the Question
> Quick question and ExpressPoll
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Select
Tools
Pen
Highlighter
Eraser
Fill
Shape
Connector
Insert Media
From File
Text
see
see
of annotations, lines and shapes just by selecting the object and clicking on a pen width.
Lets you select and interact with objects on the flipchart page.
Opens the Tools Menu.
Writes or draws on your flipchart.
In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the
of the ActivInspire window.
Emphasizes areas of your flipchart with translucent color.
Reference > Menus and Popup Menus
Permanently erases Pen, Highlight and Magic Ink annotations from your flipchart.
Fills a selected object or page with color.
In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the
the ActivInspire window.
Adding and manipulating shapes
Opens the Shapes Menu, to let you select a shape, then draw it.
Connects objects or shapes with a
Connector line.
Opens a dialog box from which you can browse to, select and insert graphics, videos or other files into the flipchart page.
Adds text you type at your computer keyboard.
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Resource
Browser
Page
Browser
Clear
Reset Page
Undo
Redo
Edit-user defined buttons
not applicable not applicable
Opens the Resource Browser.
Opens the Page Browser.
Deletes items from the current page:
Annotations
Objects
Grid
Background
Page
Deletes anything drawn with the Pen,
Highlight or
Magic Ink.
Deletes all images, shapes and text.
Deletes any grid.
Deletes any background.
Deletes all objects from the current page.
Resets the current page to the state it was in when it was last saved.
For new, unsaved flipcharts, clears the current page.
Undoes or redoes your last action, for example, Fill. Click repeatedly to undo or redo as many actions as required.
Visible when the Main Toolbox is not rolled in or rolled up.
Opens the 'User defined buttons'
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Tab in the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog
Box. You can assign properties to a button, for example to open a file or run a program. You can also add a tooltip to identify the button.
Creating and switching profiles >
Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
In ActivInspire Primary, some tools that are available in the Main Toolbox in ActivInspire Studio, are instead provided in the Pen
Tray, for easy access by smaller learners.
The Pen Tray opens, when you on click the Pen
Tool
Highlighters
Pens
. The Pen Tray contains the following tools:
Description
Three highlighters of different thicknesses.
More info...
Six pens of different thicknesses.
Erasers
Three erasers of different thicknesses.
Color
Along the bottom edge of the tray:
A range of colors from which you can select the color for the Pen and Highlighter Tools.
Some blank color slots on which you can right-click to pick or mix your own color.
Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
The Fill Tray opens, when you on click the Fill Tool. It contains
A range of colors from which you can select the color for the Fill Tool.
Some blank color slots on which you can right-click to pick or mix your own color.
Dual Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
The Dual Fill Tray is identical to the Fill Tray, except for the tray color.
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Dual Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
The Dual Pen Tray contains the same tools as the Pen Tray, except for the Erasers.
Desktop Tools
Desktop Tools are available in the form of a 'Wonderwheel' when you minimize ActivInspire. It contains tools that can be used over the desktop. Desktop Tools close automatically when you restore the ActivInspire window.
To move Desktop Tools, click in the center of the Wonderwheel and drag the tools to their new location.
Tool Studio Primary
Description
More info...
Restore
ActivInspire
ExpressPoll
Maximizes ActivInspire and closes the
Desktop Tools.
Reference > Tools > ExpressPoll
Lets you ask your students a quick question and display voting results instantly.
Promethean
Planet
Opens the Promethean Planet website in your web browser.
On-Screen
Keyboard
Lets you add typed text to your flipchart while at the board.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the On-screen
Camera
Lets you take a snapshot from the screen, for example, a picture on a website or flipchart.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Camera
Tickertape
Lets you create messages that scroll continuously across the screen.
Reference > Tools > Tickertape
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Tickertapes
Clock
Lets you choose an analog or digital clock. You can set the display, choose count down or count up as desired.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Clock
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Screen
Recorder
Sound
Recorder
Calculator
Dice Roller
Lets you record the actions on a flipchart, desktop flipchart, the desktop, or another application, saving them to a file and play them back as an animation.
Reference > Tools > Screen Recorder
Reference > Tools > Sound Recorder
Lets you record sounds if you have the required hardware.
Lets you do math calculations at the board.
Lets you roll up to five dice.
Reference > Tools > Calculator
More about ActivInspire > Number tools for all occasions > Using the
Reference > Tools > Dice Roller
More about ActivInspire > Number tools for all occasions > Using the
Format Toolbar
The Format Toolbar opens by default, whenever you work with the Text Tool. You can also open the Format Toolbar from the
Notes Browser.
For details, see
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text
.
You can access the following functions from the Format Toolbar:
Function Studio Primary
Description
Fonts
Lets you select a font from the dropdown menu.
Font Size
Lets you select a font size from the drop-down menu.
Increase Font
Size
Decrease
Font Size
Bold
Increases or decreases the font size by two points at a time.
Italic
Lets you add bold or italic text, or changes the selected text to bold or italic.
Underline
Superscript
Subscript
Lets you underline text, or underlines the selected text.
Lets you add text in superscript or subscript, or changes the selected text to subscript or superscript.
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Text Color
Background
Color
Align Left
Center
Align Right
Increase Line
Spacing
Decrease
Line Spacing
Increase
Indent
Decrease
Indent
Bullets
On-Screen
Keyboard
Select All
Text Symbols
Lets you select a text color or background color from the olor
Palette, or mix and match your own color.
Aligns text left, centered, or right.
Increases or decreases the space between selected lines of text.
Increases or decreases the indentation of the selected text.
Lets you turn text into a bulleted list.
Displays the On-Screen Keyboard that lets you create typed text at he board.
Selects all the text in the currently selected text object.
Lets you select symbols from a dropdown list.
Voting Wonderwheel
Tool Studio
Click To List Likert
Scale
Number Question
Text Question
Primary
Description
Displays 'Likert Scale' answering options in the 'Voting
Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.
Displays 'Number entry' answering options in the 'Voting
Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.
Displays 'Text entry' answering options in the 'Voting
Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Multiple Choice
Sort in Order
Yes/No - True/False
Actions
Device
Registration
Assign Students
To Devices
Close
Target
ActivExpression
Devices
Target ActiVote
Devices
Displays 'Multiple choice' answering options in the 'Voting
Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.
Displays 'Sort in Order' answering options in the 'Voting
Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.
Displays 'Yes/No or True/Falser' answering options in the
'Voting Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.
Opens the 'Device Registration' Dialog Box to let you begin registering ActiVote or ActivExpression devices.
Opens the 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box to let you import student names from a database.
Closes the voting Wonderwheel.
Sets the type of device from which votes will be accepted in the current voting session.
Dual Toolbox
The Dual Toolbox appears in the bottom left of the ActivInspire window by default. You can pin or drag and drop the Dual Toolbox.
You cannot add or remove tools from this toolbox.
The Dual Toolbox contains the following tools:
Tool/Menu item
Studio Primary Description
Color
Palette
see
Click a colour to select the olor for the Pen, Highlighter, or Shape Tools.
Right click to access the Extended Color Palette, or create a custom olor.
Width selectors
see
Use presets or slider to set pen width.
Select
Lets you select and interact with objects on the flipchart page.
Fill
Fills a selected object or page with olor.
In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the
Dual Fill Tray at the bottom of the
ActivInspire window.
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Toolboxes and Toolbars
Pen
Highlighter
Shape
Connector
Handwriting
Recognition
Shape
Recognition
see
Writes or draws on your flipchart.
In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the
Dual Pen Tray at the bottom of
the ActivInspire window.
Emphasizes areas of your flipchart with translucent olor.
In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the Dual Fill Tray at the bottom of the
ActivInspire window.
Opens the Shapes Menu, to let you select a shape, then draw it.
Connects objects or shapes with a Connector line.
Turns annotations into text.
Turns free-hand drawings into shapes.
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Actions
Show
>
Actions
You can associate an action with any object in your flipchart in the Action Browser.
If you are used to working with actions in Activstudio or Activprimary, see Summary of differences
for important information about using actions in existing flipcharts in ActivInspire
For every action, there is a matching tool or command.
For information about the types of actions available in ActivInspire, see:
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Properties
Show
Properties
Use the Property Browser to view, change and apply a range of powerful properties to your flipchart page or objects. The options are displayed in the Browser and depend on whether you have selected a page, single object or multiple objects. Different types of objects have different types of properties.
For details of how to change properties, see
This section briefly describes the available properties by category:
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Settings
Show
>
Settings
You can customize ActivInspire in many different ways to suit your needs. To ensure that selected tools and features always behave in a predefined way, you can set up and save your preferences in one or more profiles.
This section describes the available settings and their options:
For details of how to access and change Settings, see Choosing application settings
.
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Drag and Drop Actions
Show
>
> Drag and Drop Actions
Drag and Drop Actions
The quickest way to associate an action with an object is from the Drag and Drop Tab of the
Action Browser
The following table lists the actions and briefly describes what happens when you click on the action object:
.
Action
Select
Effect More info...
Enables
Select
Pen Tools > Pen
Enables the
Pen
Highlighter
Enables the
Highlighter
Eraser
Enables the
Eraser
Text
Enables the
Text
Tool.
Shape
Enables the
Shape
Tool
Fill
Enables the
Fill
Tool
Notes Browser
Opens the
Notes Browser
ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser
(Studio)
ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser
Next Page
Previous Page
First Page
Last Page
Revealer
Goes to the next/previous flipchart page.
Goes to the first/last flipchart page.
Reset Page
Enables the
Revealer
Resets the current page to the state it was in when it was last saved.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/drag_and_drop_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:05 PM]
Drag and Drop Actions
Ruler
Protractor
Compass
ExpressPoll
Start Flipchart Vote
Snap to Grid
Enables the
Ruler
Enables the
Protractor
Enables the
Compass
Launches the voting Wonderwheel.
Use it as a shortcut instead of the
ExpressPoll button, for example, when the Main Toolbox is unavailable.
Starts a voting session, but only if there is a question on the current page.
Makes the object snap to the grid, even when the grid is invisible.
Using Learner Response Systems > Quick
Prepared questions - Using the Question
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Page Actions
Show
>
Page Actions
Use page actions to quickly navigate around the flipchart, insert or clear a page, or change the background.
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:
Action
Effect
Another Page Goes to the page number you specify in Action Properties in the
Action Browser.
Clear Page Clears the page and clears the action object itself.
Copy Page Copies the current page, including the action object, to the Paste
Buffer, so that you can paste it to a new page.
Cuts the current page from the flipchart.
Cut Page
Duplicate Page After Current Page
Duplicate Page Before Current Page
Duplicate Page at End of Flipchart
First Page
Last Page
New Page After Current Page
New Page Before Current Page
Next Page
Page History Back
Inserts a duplicate of the current page before or after the current page.
Inserts a duplicate of the current page at the end of the flipchart.
Goes to the first page in the flipchart.
Goes to the last page in the flipchart.
Inserts a blank page before or after the current page.
Page History Forward
Previous Page
Reset Page
Set Background
Goes to the next page.
Each time you show a page in the flipchart, this page number is added to an internal Page History List. Use the 'Page History
Back' action to return you back through the Page History. If you have visited a series of pages and each page contains a 'Page
History Back' action object, clicking these objects will take you back through the page history.
This action will take you forward through the pages in the Page
History. This action only works if you have issued at least one
'Page History Back' action on one or more pages.
Goes to the previous page.
Resets the page to the state it was in when it was last saved.
Opens the 'Set Background' Dialog Box, which lets you set a background color or image.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/page_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:07 PM]
Page Actions file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/page_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:07 PM]
Object Actions
Show
> Object Actions
Object Actions
Use object actions to change for example, the size, alignment or position of an object, so that when you click on an action object, either the target object or the action object itself is changed.
The following table lists the actions, and describes what happens when you click on the action object.
Action
Align Angle
Align Bottom
Align Center X
Align Center Y
Align Complete
Align Height
Effect
Aligns all selected objects so that their angles match the first object created within the selected objects.
More info...
For each of these actions, the alignment criteria for the whole group are always based on the first object created in
the group.
Aligns all selected objects so that their bottom edges are the same as the bottommost object in the selection.
Aligns all selected objects so that their centers match horizontally (for X) or vertically
(for Y), with their center points being placed at the center of the initial bounding rectangle.
Aligns all selected objects to match the left, right, bottom, top, width, height and angle properties of the first object created within the selected objects.
Aligns objects at the height of the first object created in the group.
Aligns all selected objects so that their left, right or top edges are the same as the left, right or top-most object in the selection.
Align Left
Align Right
Align Top
Align Width
Angle
Angle Incrementally
Append Text
Stretches a group of objects to the same width as the first object created in the group.
Rotates the objects to the angle specified in
'Action Properties'.
Incrementally rotates objects by the angle you specify in 'Action Properties'. For example, if you specify 10 degrees, the angle of the target object changes by 10 degrees clockwise every time you click on the action object. You can specify a minus value for the angle to rotate the objects counterclockwise.
Appends the text you typed in 'Action
Properties' to the target text object when you
Tip Insert a space at the beginning of file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:08 PM]
Object Actions
Best Fit To Height
Best Fit to Page
Best Fit to Width
Bring Forwards
Bring to Front
Change Text Value
Clear Annotations
Clear Background
Clear Grid
Clear Objects
Copy
Cut
Delete
Duplicate
Edit Text
Extract Text
Flip in X Axis
Flip in Y Axis
Toggle Grouped
Toggle Hidden click on the action object.
Applies the best fit to page for the target objects.
the text.
Sends the object forwards by one position within the stack on its current layer.
Sends the object to the front of the stack on its current layer.
Increments or decrements the value of the target text object by the value of the text specified in 'Action Properties'. For example, if the target text object contains ‘5’ and the
Action property text is ‘-2’, the target object will reduce to ‘3’ when the action is applied.
Clears all annotations on the page.
Clears the background.
Clears the grid.
Clears all objects on the page.
Copies/Cuts/Deletes/Duplicates any of the following objects: text, image, annotation objects, shape, action and mixed groups of objects.
Selects the target text object and enables the
Text Tool.
Creates a new text object from each word you click on in the target text object.
Flips the target object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.
Flips the target object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.
Lets you group or ungroup the currently selected objects.
Lets you show or hide the currently selected objects.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:08 PM]
Object Actions
Invert
Less Translucent
Toggle Locked
Mirror in X Axis
Mirror in Y Axis
More Translucent
New Text Object
Original Size
Paste
Position Bottom
Position Bottom Left
Position Bottom Right
Position Central
Position Incrementally
Position Left
Position Right
Position Top
Turns the object upside down.
Makes the target object incrementally less translucent, the more often you click on the action object.
Lets you lock or unlock the currently selected objects.
Creates a mirror image of the object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.
Creates a mirror image of the object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.
Makes the target object incrementally more translucent, the more often you click on the action object.
Inserts a new text object containing the text you typed in 'Action Properties'.
Resets the size of the object to its originally authored size. For shapes, this is the size of the shape, when it was originally added to the page.
Pastes the contents of the Paste buffer.
Moves the bottom of the target object to the position Y, as specified in 'Action Properties'.
Moves the bottom left of the target object to position X, Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.
Moves the bottom right of the target object to position X, Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.
Moves the target object to position X, Y, as specified in 'Action Properties'.
Moves the target object incrementally from its original position by the number of pixels specified in 'Action Properties'.
Moves the left edge of the target object to position X, as specified in 'Action Properties'.
Moves the right edge of the target object to position X, as specified in 'Action Properties'.
Moves the top edge of the target object to position Y, as specified in 'Action Properties'.
Can be moved with the
Freely Move
Object
Handle.
Useful when you want to use text icons, then display text at the appropriate time.
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Object Actions
Position Top Left
Position Top Right
Reflect
Select All
Send Backwards
Send to Back
Size Bottom
Size Bottom Incrementally
Size Bottom Left
Size Bottom Left
Incrementally
Size Bottom Right
Size Bottom Right
Incrementally
Size Central
Size Central Incrementally
Size Left
Size Left Incrementally
Size Right
Size Right Incrementally
Size Top
Size Top Incrementally
Size Top Left
Size Top Left Incrementally
Size Top Right
Moves the top left edge of the target object to position X,Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.
Moves the top right edge of the target object to position X,Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.
Flips the object over about its own central Y axis.
Selects everything on the page.
Sends the target object backwards by one position within the stack on its current layer.
Sends the target object to the back of the stack on its current layer.
Size actions set the overall size of the target object to the value specified in the 'Action
Properties'. The final position of the object is dictated by the chosen size action. For example if you choose 'Size Bottom 100', the object will be sized such that it is 100 pixels in width and height, whilst maintaining the position of the top edge of the object.
Size incrementally actions behave like size actions with the exception that the target object is increased or decreased by the number of pixels specified in 'Action
Properties', while maintaining the original position, for example bottom right.
Size actions maintain the aspect ratio of the target object.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:08 PM]
Object Actions
Size Top Right
Incrementally
Stretch Bottom
Stretch Bottom
Incrementally
Stretch Bottom Left
Stretch Bottom Left
Incrementally
Stretch Bottom Right
Stretch Bottom Right
Incrementally
Stretch Central
Stretch Central
Incrementally
Stretch Left
Stretch Left Incrementally
Stretch Right
Stretch Right Incrementally
Stretch Top
Stretch Top Incrementally
Stretch Top Left
Stretch Top Left
Incrementally
Stretch Top Right
Stretch Top Right
Incrementally
To Bottom Layer
To Middle Layer
To Top Layer
Translucency
Stretch actions set the overall width or height of the target object to the value specified in
'Action Properties'. The final position of the object is dictated by the chosen width action.
For example if you choose 'Stretch Bottom
100', the object will be sized so that it is 100 pixels in height, while maintaining the position of the top edge of the object.
Stretch incrementally actions behave like stretch actions with the exception that the target object is increased or decreased by the number of pixels specified in Action
Properties, while maintaining the original position, for example bottom right.
Stretch actions distort the aspect ratio of the target object.
Sends the object to the bottom, middle or top layer.
Changes the translucency of the target object to a fixed value, where:
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:08 PM]
Object Actions
0 = solid
255 = clear file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/object_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:08 PM]
Document/Media Actions
Show
>
> Document/Media Actions
Document/Media Actions
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:
Action
Open Document, File or
Sound
Open Website
Effect
Opens the document or file, or plays the sound, you assigned to the object in 'Action Properties'.
Opens the URL you assigned to the object in
'Action Properties'.
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Making flipcharts interactive > Working with actions
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding multimedia
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/document_media_actions.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:10 PM]
Voting Actions
Show
>
Voting Actions
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:
Action
Assign students to devices
Device Registration
Export Results To Excel®
ExpressPoll
Insert Question
Pause Vote
Start/Stop Flipchart Vote
Student Database
Effect
Opens the 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box.
More info...
Using Learner Response Systems >
Starts
Device Registration
Using Learner Response Systems >
Opens the 'Export Results To Excel®' Dialog Box, if there are voting results on the current page.
Choose a folder and enter a file name – voting results are saved as a .xls file and automatically opened in Excel, provided it is installed on your computer.
You can choose to export current or any previous results displayed in the Results Browser.
Launches the voting Wonderwheel.
Use it as a shortcut instead of the ExpressPoll button, for example, when the Main Toolbox is unavailable.
Launches the
Insert Question Wizard. When you complete the wizard, the question is displayed on the current (or new) page.
Using Learner Response Systems
Using Learner Response Systems >
Quick questions and ExpressPoll
Toggle switch. Pauses voting, when a timeout has been set. Press again to restart.
Use as a shortcut instead of the
Start Flipchart
Vote button, for example, when the Main Toolbox is unavailable.
Starts or stops a voting session, but only if there is a question on the current page.
Opens the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box. Use this as a shortcut, if you often assign voting devices to student names and your class changes frequently.
Whenever you navigate to a question page, the
Start/Stop Flipchart
Vote
button is highlighted green, ready to start a vote.
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Creating your first flipchart
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Creating your first flipchart
Creating your first flipchart
Congratulations! When you run ActivInspire, you have already created your first flipchart!
The blank canvas behind the Dashboard in your ActivInspire window is in fact the first page of a brand new flipchart. You could start working on it right away, then save it later.
Here we show you two other ways to create a flipchart.
Create a flipchart from the Dashboard
On the Dashboard, click on
Create a new Flipchart
ActivInspire creates a new 'Untitled' flipchart.
Create a flipchart at any time
1. Click on the
Main Menu
icon.
2. From the menu, select:
New Flipchart
or
New and then select one of the following options:
Option Description
Screen Size Flipchart Creates a flipchart that is the same size as your current screen resolution. This is the default setting and is useful if you don't know what size your screen is.
1024 x 768 Flipchart
Creates a new flipchart of the specified height and width in pixels.
1152 x 864 Flipchart
1280 x 1024 Flipchart
Custom Size Flipchart Create your own flipchart size using the 'Custom Page
Size' box. This is useful when you want to create a flipchart for an extra-wide board or screen, for example.
ActivInspire creates a new 'Untitled' flipchart.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_your_first_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:14 PM]
Calculator
Show
Calculator
What?
Where?
How?
What can I customize?
Where can I customize it?
More info...
>
Perform mathematical calculations at the board.
Tools > Math Tools > Calculator
Desktop Tools
Click or tap on the calculator keys to perform calculations.
Choice of calculator:
Calculator supplied with ActivInspire (default)
Calculator supplied with your operating system
Another calculator installed on your computer
Edit Profiles > Settings > Tools
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/calculator.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:15 PM]
Spotlight
Show
>
Spotlight
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
What can I customize?
Provides a masking layer over the flipchart (or desktop) containing a movable, sizable area known as the Spotlight, through which you can see the underlying material.
The chosen Spotlight can be:
Moved by dragging any part of the masked area
Sized by dragging any part of the perimeter of the spotlight
While the Spotlight is showing you can continue to interact with any visible areas of the flipchart.
Main Menu > Tools > Spotlight
Circular Spotlight (see description below):
CTRL+Shift+O (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+O (Mac®)
Choose the type of Spotlight from the drop-down menu:
Circular Spotlight
Square Spotlight
Solid Circular Spotlight
Solid Square Spotlight
Border width
Border color
Background color
Provides a movable, sizable circular/oval or square/rectangular spotlight through a full page masking layer.
Provides a movable, sizable circular/oval or square/rectangular mask.
Increase or decrease the width of the border around the spotlight area.
The range is from 0 to 20 pixels.
Color of the border around the spotlight.
Color of the nonspotlighted area when using the
Spotlight.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/spotlight.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:17 PM]
Spotlight
Translucent border
Translucent screen
Where can I customize it?
Settings > Effects
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Spotlight
Reference > Settings > Effects
Make the spotlight border translucent or a solid color.
Make the spotlight screen (the darkened area that covers the
Flipchart or Desktop window) translucent or opaque.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/spotlight.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:17 PM]
Compass
Show
Compass
What?
Where?
How?
More info...
>
Drawing circles and arcs of any size, colour or line thickness with the
Pen Highlighter
or
Eraser
Tools > Math Tools > Compass
Drag the compass to the area of the page where you want to draw a circle or arc, extend it to the desired radius, select the Pen or Highlighter
Tool, adjust the line thickness and color if necessary, drag the pen arm until you have created the desired shape. Then click on the cross between the two arms to remove the tool, or drag it into the Trashcan.
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/compass.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:18 PM]
Connector
Show
Connector
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
More info...
Drawing connections between objects, for example, while creating concept maps. The connecting line adapts automatically when either of the connected objects is moved.
Tools > Connector
Main Toolbox
Dual Toolbox
CTRL+Shift+C (WindowsTM & LinuxTM)
Cmd+Shift+C (Mac®)
Click and drag to create links between objects.
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/connector.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:20 PM]
Dice Roller
Show
>
Dice Roller
What?
Where?
How?
What can I customize?
Where can I customize it?
More info...
Roll up to five dice.
Tools > Math Tools > Dice Roller
Desktop Tools
Select the number of dice, rolling speed and whether or not to put the result in the flipchart.
Number of dice
1 - 5
Speed
Roll
Output to
Flipchart
3 - 11 seconds
Click to roll the dice.
Click to put the result in the flipchart.
'Dice Roller' Box
Edit Profiles > Settings > Tools
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/dice_roller.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:22 PM]
Eraser
Show
>
Eraser
What?
Permanently erase or break up annotations made with the Pen, Highlighter, or
Magic Ink.
Where?
Tools > Eraser
Main Toolbox
Dual Toolbox
Shortcut?
CTRL+E (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+E (Mac®)
How?
What can I customize?
Select the width, then rub gently over the annotation.
Width
Where can I customize it?
Main Toolbox
Increase or decrease the Eraser's width with the slider.
More info...
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/eraser.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:23 PM]
Deleting stuff
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Deleting stuff
Deleting stuff
Here we show you several easy ways to delete different things from the page:
You can also select objects and delete them with the
Delete key on your keyboard.
Most of the tools we describe in this section are in the
Trashcan
Rub out with the Eraser
The
Eraser
works on any annotations as long as they are on the top layer.
You can use the
Eraser in two ways:
To rub an annotation out completely.
To break an annotation into separate objects. This has the advantage that you can then select and manipulate the remaining parts of the annotation as separate objects.
To rub something out with the
Eraser:
1. Click on the
Eraser. The cursor changes to a little eraser with a circle.
2. Position the cursor where you want to begin.
3. Click and drag to rub out all or part of the annotation.
You can change the width of the
Eraser in the same way you change the width of the
Pen or
Highlighter.
Clear the page
To delete everything on the current page, click
Clear
and select
Clear Page.
You can use
Clear
for a number of different purposes, for example, to delete all annotations, or delete all objects and leave everything else in place.
Clear is also available from the Edit Menu.
Reset the page
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Deleting stuff
This is a quick way to undo all the changes you made to the current page since the last time the flipchart was saved.
Reset Page
is also available from the Edit Menu.
Undo and Redo
Undo and Redo are powerful tools that can quickly get you out of all kinds of trouble!
For example, if you've used any of the above tools too freely and you need to restore some or all of what you've deleted.
Use the Trashcan
If the
Trashcan is visible you can delete objects in the following ways:
Drag an object or objects to the Trashcan and drop them when a red arrow appears in the Trashcan.
Select an object or objects, then click on the Trashcan to delete them.
You can always recover your objects with
Undo
.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/deleting_stuff.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:25 PM]
Fill
Show
>
Fill
What?
Filling:
Shapes with single or gradient colors (you can set gradient colors in the Property Browser)
Intersecting shapes with different colors
Pages
Changing the color of object outlines.
Where?
Main Toolbox
Tools > Fill
Dual Toolbox
Shortcut?
CTRL+F (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+F (Mac®)
How?
Select Fill, change the color if desired, click on the object, page or outline.
Where can I customize it?
In Property Browser Fill properties
More info...
Adding and manipulating shapes > Fill a shape
Reference > Properties > Fill properties
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/fill.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:27 PM]
Adding and manipulating shapes
Show
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes
Adding and manipulating shapes
You can add many different types of objects to your flipchart. These range from simple shapes you create with the
Shape
Tool, and annotations you create with the
Pen
Files from the Resource Library
Imported images
Videos and sound files.
or
Highlighter
You can manipulate most of these object types in the same way.
Here we show you how to create and manipulate simple shapes with the
Shape Tool:
Finally, we also give you a taste of a
power tool for creating shapes at the board.
, to such objects as:
Create a shape
To add a shape to your flipchart:
1. Click on
Shape of the ActivInspire window.
The Shapes Menu opens. Depending on your preference, it is aligned along the side or bottom
2. Select the shape you want to draw, for example Triangle. The cursor changes to an arrow and a small version of the shape you have selected.
3. Move the cursor to the place on the page where you want to draw your shape, then click or press.
4. Continue to press and draw gently until the shape has the desired size.
Select a shape
To make changes to the shape you have just created:
ActivInspire Studio
1. Click on
Select
.
2. Move the cursor over the shape. The cursor changes to a small arrow head with a cross. Click or tap on the shape. In the example on the right, we have selected the black triangle. A box appears around the object.
Note:
The row of icons above the shape object, these are
Marquee Handles. Each of these handles lets you change the object in a different way.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_manipulating_shapes.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:29 PM]
Adding and manipulating shapes
The square outline around the object. It has grey or yellow (ActivInspire Primary) circles at the corners and in the centers of each of the four sides. These are
Sizing Handles. You can click and drag them to extend and distort the object. There is also a special handle
for resizing the object proportionally, without distortion.
For details of all the handles, see Reference > Menus and
Popup Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles .
ActivInspire Primary
Here we briefly describe the Marquee Handles we are going to use in this section:
1
Freely Move Object, allows you to move the object anywhere on the flipchart page. This tool overrides all object restrictions and blockers.
2
3
Rotate Object
Toggle Grouped, a switch that allows you to group and ungroup objects, so that you can change or move them as one.
4
Increase Object Size
Decrease Object Size
5
Edit Shape Points, allows you to change the shape of an object by moving and dragging its corners.
Fill a shape
To fill a shape with colour:
1. In the Main Toolbox, click on
Fill file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_manipulating_shapes.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:29 PM]
Adding and manipulating shapes
2. From the Color Palette, select a fill color.
3. Click on the shape.
Move or rotate a shape
Move a shape
Here are two ways to move a shape.
1. Select the shape.
2. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag and drop the shape where you want it on the current page.
Or
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on
Freely Move Object
3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed on the icon and drag and drop the shape where you want it on the current page.
Rotate a shape
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on
Rotate Object
3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the cursor around to change the shape's rotational angle
Increase or decrease its size
Here are two ways to increase and decrease the size of a shape or other object without distorting it.
Make a small change
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on I
ncrease Object Size increments.
3. Repeat until the shape has the correct size.
Make a big change
1. Select the shape.
or
Decrease Object Size
to change the size in small
2. Click on
Size Object (maintain aspect ratio)
3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the handle until the shape has the desired size.
Change its shape
Here are two ways to change the shape of an object.
Lengthen or shorten an object
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on one of the
Size Object
handles.
3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the handle until the object has the desired length or height.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_manipulating_shapes.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:29 PM]
Adding and manipulating shapes
Edit Shape Points
To make more complex or subtle changes to a shape, use
Edit Shape
Points
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on
Edit Shape Points
The object outline changes to a series of squares. Each one of these is a shape point. The example on the right shows the eight shape points of a square.
3. Click and drag any of the shape points to alter the shape of the square.
Group and ungroup shapes
To move several objects at the same time, you can select all the objects and group them together with the
Toggle Grouped
Marquee Handle.
1. Click on
Select
2. Click and drag the cursor diagonally across all the objects to select them.
3. Click on
Toggle Grouped
. The
Toggle Grouped
Marquee Handle changes color to indicate that the objects have been grouped together.
4. Click on the grouped objects and drag them to their new position.
To ungroup objects, so that you can manipulate each one individually:
1. Click on any part of the group to select it.
2. Click on the
Toggle Grouped Marquee Handle.
For details of all the Marquee Handles, see
Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles .
Power tool
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_manipulating_shapes.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:29 PM]
Adding and manipulating shapes
ActivInspire also offers the
Shape Recognition
Tool for creating shapes at the board. You draw a shape by hand and let ActivInspire turn it into a shape object. For details, see
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_manipulating_shapes.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:29 PM]
Creating and editing grids
Show
>
>
Working with objects > Creating and editing grids
Creating and editing grids
The grid is a patterned background. You can have backgrounds with different colors and images.
To select a background:
From the Main Menu select
File > Edit > Page Background.
To create a grid:
Right-click on a blank area of a flipchart page and from the Popup Menu select
Grid Designer.
About the Grid
Designer
The
Grid Designer has three sections:
Grid Snap and scale settings.
Grid (Level) Add /delete levels and reset the grid.
Current Level Set options including pattern and color for one level at a time.
You can change the grid settings and preview the results instantly.
Select
Close to continue with your flipchart.
Select the checkbox
Visible. The default grid is displayed.
The default grid has one level, a box pattern of
Solid lines, horizontal and vertical
(
X-Y Direction).
Select the checkbox
Allow snap
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_and_editing_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:32 PM]
Creating and editing grids to enable object snapping to grid points.
Select the checkbox
On top to display the grid above all flipchart objects. This does not interfere with using the flipchart.
For larger or smaller boxes in the grid pattern, click
+
or
-
.
For a mesh pattern, change the
Grid style to 45 Degrees.
For a diamond grid pattern, change the
Grid style to Angle and enter a number for the angle of the lines. You can enter a decimal value to six significant figures.
If you have the Page Browser open and the grid cannot be seen clearly, change the
Thumbnail
scale. This also applies to grids in the Resource Library.
If you want lines in just one direction, select
X only or Y only from the
Direction Drop-down
Menu.
For
Line style, instead of Solid
Lines you can choose Dashed
Lines or Dotted Lines,
Crosses or Dots from the Line
style Drop-down Menu.
You can have a grid with several different pattern styles and colors.
Click
Add Level to create a further level. The number of levels is shown in the heading
Grid (x
Level) where x is the total number of levels.
Each new level has the default grid properties. You can change the
Color to identify new levels.
Click on the
Color... box to open the Color Palette. When you have selected a color, click
OK.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_and_editing_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:32 PM]
Creating and editing grids
Reversed Grids
A reversed grid has a pale-colored grid on a dark background. Use white / black to represent a chalkboard.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_and_editing_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:32 PM]
Creating and editing grids file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_and_editing_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:32 PM]
Handwriting Recognition
Show
>
Tools > Handwriting Recognition
Handwriting Recognition
What?
Writing on the board and letting ActivInspire turn your freehand annotations into text.
As well as recognizing handwriting and shapes within ActivInspire, the Handwriting
Recognition Tool can also recognise handwriting in other applications, for example
Microsoft Word®.
Where?
Shortcut?
Tools > Handwriting Recognition
Dual Toolbox
CTRL+Shift+H (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+H (Mac®)
How?
Use Handwriting Recognition while your write:
Take your time to write slowly and clearly. If ActivInspire interprets your writing correctly, carry on writing, otherwise select the correct spelling from the dropdown list.
Use it at a later time:
With the Select Tool, select the annotations to be turned into text, then select
Convert to Text
from the Object Edit Menu.
What can I customize?
In the Main Toolbox:
Pen width
Color
Default = Fine line
Change the Pen width with the slider, or select a preset width, to create thicker lines.
Default = Black
Change the olor by selecting another one from the Color Palette.
In the User Input section of Settings:
Recognition
Timeout
Default = 5
Time interval in seconds before ActivInspire starts to turn your handwriting into text.
Move the slider to change the timeout to between 0 and 5 seconds.
Handwriting recognition language
Default = Language used by your computer's operating system
The language in which you are writing your annotations. Select from the following languages:
Danish, German, Greek, English (Canada), English (United file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/handwriting_recognition.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:34 PM]
Handwriting Recognition
Where can I customize it?
More info...
States), Spanish, Spanish (Mexico), Finnish, French, French
(Canada), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Norwegian,
Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Swedish, Chinese
(PRC), Chinese (Taiwan).
Main Toolbox
Settings > User Input
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Handwriting Recognition
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/handwriting_recognition.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:34 PM]
Magic Ink
Show
Magic Ink
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
More info...
>
Making any 'top layer' object (or part of an object) invisible, so that you can see the objects on the layers beneath.
Tools > Magic Ink
CTRL+Shift+M (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+M (Mac®)
Magic Ink acts like a pen that can draw a 'see through' annotation on the top layer, letting you punch holes through the objects on the top layer.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Magic Ink
Making flipcharts interactive > Working with actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/magic_ink.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:35 PM]
Creating page notes
Show
First steps with ActivInspire > Creating page notes
Creating page notes
You can create, view and edit page notes about your flipchart with the Notes Browser .
1. Click on the
Notes Browser
The Browser opens.
2. With your computer keyboard, type your notes. These can be as detailed or brief as you like. By default, your notes appear as plain text.
3. To format your text, use the Format Toolbar.
4. When you have completed your notes, click on another tool to close the Browser and the toolbar.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_page_notes.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:37 PM]
On-Screen Keyboard
Show
>
> On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard
What?
Where?
Adding typed text to your flipchart while at the board.
Tools > More Tools > On-Screen Keyboard
Desktop Tools
Shortcut?
CTRL+K (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+K (Mac®)
How?
What can I customize?
Tap the on-screen keys to create the text.
Change the formatting, text olor and font with the Format Toolbar.
Where can I customize it?
On the keyboard itself there are options to display a standard or extended keyboard and choose the number of keys.
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the On-Screen Keyboard
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/on-screen_keyboard.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:39 PM]
Opening a flipchart
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Opening a flipchart
Opening a flipchart
Here we show you several ways to open a flipchart
Open from the Dashboard
When you run ActivInspire, the Dashboard opens, unless you have unchecked the 'Show the dashboard window on startup' Box.
Two ways to open an existing flipchart from the Dashboard.
Browse
1. Click on
Open a flipchart. A dialog box opens, showing any flipcharts in the My Flipcharts folder.
2. Select a flipchart from the list in the folder, or navigate to another folder that contains flipcharts and click on
Open. The selected flipchart opens in the ActivInspire window.
Dashboard List
To save you time, ActivInspire lists your most recent flipcharts on the Dashboard. Click on one of the flipcharts.
Two other ways to open a flipchart
1. From the File Menu, select
Open, or type CTRL+O (Windows
TM
and Linux
TM
) or
Cmd+O (Mac®). A dialog box opens, showing any flipcharts in the My Flipcharts folder.
2. Select a flipchart from the list in the folder, or navigate to another folder that contains flipcharts and click on
Open. The selected flipchart opens in the ActivInspire window.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/opening_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:40 PM]
Printing a flipchart
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Printing a flipchart
Printing a flipchart
You can print your flipchart and use all or part of it as handouts, or print any page notes you have added with the Notes Browser.
1. From the File Menu, select
Print, or press CTRL+Shift+P (Windows
TM
and Linux
TM
), or
Cmd+Shift+P (Mac®). The 'Flipchart Print' Dialog
Box opens (shown below). You can select from a range of print options, including Export to PDF.
2. Make your choices, then click on
Print.
ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/printing_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:42 PM]
Protractor
Show
>
> Protractor
Protractor
What?
Where?
How?
Drawing arcs, segments and circles, measuring angles.
Tools > Maths Tools > Protractor
Position the Protractor, drag it to the required size, select the type of protractor you want to use and select the type of arc to create. Then select the Pen and change the color or width as necessary, align the cursor on the edge of the protractor and begin drawing.
Close the Protractor from the Popup Menu, or drag it to the Trashcan.
What can I customize?
Full
Protractor
Half
Protractor
Arc
Closed Arc
Displays a 360 degree circular protractor.
Displays a 180 degree protractor.
Lets you draw an open arc.
Lets you draw a closed arc
Filled Arc
Lets you draw a filled arc.
Where can I customize it?
In the Protractor Context Menu.
More info...
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/protractor.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:43 PM]
Undo and Redo
Show
>
Undo and Redo
What?
Undoing or redoing your last action, for example,
Fill
Where?
Edit > Undo
Edit > Redo
Main Toolbox
Shortcut?
Undo:
CTRL+Z (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Z (Mac®)
Redo:
CTRL+Y (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Y (Mac®)
How?
.
Click repeatedly to undo or redo as many actions as required.
First steps with ActivInspire > Deleting Stuff
More info...
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/undo_and_redo.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:45 PM]
Ruler
Show
Ruler
What?
Where?
How?
Drawing and measuring lines on the board.
Tools > Maths Tools > Ruler
Drag the ruler to lengthen or shorten it, position it on the page where you want to draw or measure, select the ruler's units of measurement.
Use the Pen or Highlighter to draw lines.
What can I customize?
Length of the ruler.
Select the units of measurement for the top and bottom edges.
Where can I customize it?
In the Ruler Popup Menu.
More info...
Using the Ruler
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/ruler.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:46 PM]
Saving a flipchart
Show
First steps with ActivInspire > Saving a flipchart
Saving a flipchart
When you have completed your flipchart, you need to save it.
Here we show you two ways to do this.
Save a flipchart with its current name
Press
CTRL+S (Windows
TM
and Linux
TM
), or
Cmd+S (Mac®).
If you are saving an already named flipchart, that's all you need to do.
If you are saving a new flipchart, a standard save dialog box opens, allowing you to name and save your flipchart. When saved, the flipchart's Document Tab shows the new name of the flipchart.
Save a flipchart with a new name
You may wish to use one flipchart as a starting point, then make changes and save different versions of it for different purposes.
1. From the File Menu, select
Save As...
2. Type the name of your flipchart.
3. Click on
Save. The Document Tab now shows the new name.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/saving_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:48 PM]
Select
Show
Select
What?
Where?
How?
More info...
>
> Select
Selecting and manipulating one or more items on your flipchart.
Tools > Select
Main Toolbox
Select the tool, then click on the item or drag the cursor across one or more items to select them as a group.
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes > Select a shape
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/select.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:49 PM]
Shape
Show
>
Shape
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
What can I customize?
Where can I customize it?
More info...
The Shape Tool provides access to the Shape Toolbox, containing a range of predefined shape and line objects that can be added to the flipchart page.
Main Toolbox
Main Menu > Insert > Shapes
CTRL+Shift+S (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+Shift+S (Mac®)
Click on the Shape Tool to display the Shape Toolbox. From the Shape Toolbox, click on the specific shape (or line) you wish to add to the page. Move the cursor onto the page at the place you wish to draw the shape. Then click and drag the cursor across the flipchart to add your new shape object at the required size on the page.
Outline
Select the outline color from the Color Palette, or change the outline color and other properties in the 'Outline' section of the Object Browser.
Fill
Select the Fill colour from the Shape Toolbox, or change the fill colour and other properties in the 'Fill' section of the Object Browser.
Main Toolbox
Property Browser > Fill section
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes
Reference > Properties Outline properties
Reference Properties > Fill properties
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/shape.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:51 PM]
Shape Recognition
Show
>
Shape Recognition
What?
Where?
Drawing on the board and letting ActivInspire turn your drawings into shapes.
Tools > Shape Recognition
Dual Toolbox
How?
Take your time to draw slowly and clearly. Works for all kinds of shapes, but is particularly useful for things like triangles, squares and circles.
What can I customize?
In the Main Toolbox:
Pen width
Default = Fine line
Change the Pen width with the slider, or select a preset width, to create thicker lines.
Color
Default = Black
Change the color by selecting another one from the olor
Palette.
In the 'User Input' section of Settings:
Recognition
Timeout
Default = 5
Time interval in seconds before ActivInspire starts to turn your drawing into a shape.
Move the slider to change the timeout to between 0 and 5 seconds.
Fill recognized shapes
Default. RRecognized shapes are automatically filled with another color, or with the same color as the outline (see
Fill
mode below).
RRecognized shapes are drawn in the outline color but not filled.
Only enabled if
Fill recognized shapes is selected.
Fill mode
Another color
Same as the outline
Another color
Default. Fills the shape with a different color than the outline.
Fills the shape with the same color as the outline.
Click to select a Fill color from the olor Palette.
Where can I customize it?
Main Toolbox
Settings > User Input file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/shape_recognition.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:52 PM]
Shape Recognition
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Shape Recognition
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/shape_recognition.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:52 PM]
Snap to Grid
Show
Snap to Grid
What?
Where?
How?
More info...
>
This is a toggle option which when turned on, forces objects that are moved on the page to automatically align to the nearest part of the grid.
Flipchart Page > Popup Menu > Snap To Grid
This function only applies if the page has a grid that has been designed to allow snapping to occur. When set, objects will align themselves to the grid after you complete the movement of the object. In most cases the bottom left corner of the object will align to the nearest intersection on the grid. With text objects, the text baseline will snap to the grid.
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Creating and editing grids
Reference > Tools > Grid Designer
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/snap_to_grid.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:54 PM]
Flipchart Spellchecker
Show
>
Tools > Flipchart Spellchecker
Flipchart Spellchecker
What?
Where?
How?
Check the spelling.
Tools > More Tools
Like the spell checker in your word processing software, it allows you to select a language and suggests changes which you can accept, reject, ignore, apply singly or throughout the flipchart. When you have finished, click on
Done.
Where can I customize it?
'Spell Checker' Dialog Box
File > Settings > Spell checker
What can I customize?
You can choose which types of words to ignore, which language to use and whether or not to highlight misspelled words.
More info...
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text > Spellcheck
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/flipchart_spellchecker.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:55 PM]
Teacher Lock
Show
Teacher Lock
What?
Where?
How?
This is a toggle tool that when turned on allows you to prevent certain aspects of the program from running.
Main Menu > Tools > More Tools… > Teacher Lock
Click on the Teacher Lock Tool and enter your password (defaults to 1234). The
Teacher Lock is then active.
Click on the Teacher Lock Tool a second time and enter your password again to turn off the Teacher Lock feature.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Teacher Lock
More info...
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/teacher_lock.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:57 PM]
Text
Show
Text
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
How?
More info...
>
> Text
Allows you to add or edit rich text objects on your flipchart pages.
Main Menu > Tools > Text
Main Toolbox
CTRL+T (Windows
TM
& Linux
TM
)
Cmd+T (Mac®)
Select the Text Tool, then click on the flipchart page to start a new text object or click on an existing text object to re-edit that object.
When in text edit mode, the Format Toolbar opens at the top of the screen, offering a range of text edit features, including font selection, size, attributes and symbols. To commit text in the text edit box to the page, click outside the box or select another tool.
First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/text.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:59 PM]
XY Origin
Show
XY Origin
What?
Where?
How?
More info...
>
Defining a page's rotation point, so that you can rotate objects around the origin point.
Tools > Maths Tools
Select
XY Origin, use Select to mover the point to the desired position and click or tap. Rotate objects around the point with the Rotate Object Handle.
More about ActivInspire > Number tools for all occasions > Setting the XY Origin
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/xy_origin.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:00 PM]
First steps with ActivInspire
Show
First steps with ActivInspire
This section contains the information you need to quickly get you started with ActivInspire:
Adding and manipulating shapes
Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
> First steps with ActivInspire file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/first_steps_with_activinspire.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:01 PM]
About resources
Show
>
>
Working with resources > About resources
About resources
ActivInspire includes a set of useful resources, contained within the Resource Library.
The Resource Library contains many types of resources, for example, activities, shapes, objects, backgrounds, grids, graphic files, video files, sounds and templates.
There are two main sections in the Resource Library:
Use My Resources you create yourself .
to store any resources
Use Shared Resources to access the resources that were installed with ActivInspire.
Use the Resource Browser to organize your
Resource Library folders and resource content within the folders.
You can customize the Resource Library, by adding your own folders and resources and removing any you don't need.
You can also store your resources in other folders on your computer.
You can retrieve resources from anywhere on your computer and if you have internet access, you can also download resources from Promethean Planet.
You need to register as a member and sign in, to download resources from Promethean
Planet .
Go and explore!
If you haven't explored the Resource Library yet, do so now.
1. Open the Resource Browser.
In ActivInspire Primary, click on the
Resource Locations
button on the film reel.
2. Browse the Shared Resources folders. Click on the
+
and
-
symbols to expand or collapse the folders displayed.
3. Look for categories that are of particular interest to you and explore them.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/about_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:03 PM]
Adding resources to a flipchart
Show
Working with resources > Adding resources to a flipchart
Adding resources to a flipchart
The process of adding resources from the Resource Library to a flipchart is always the same, regardless of the type of resource.
Here we concentrate on templates, one type of resource that can be used in many different ways:
About templates
Some templates are designed to be used as provided, while you can use others as the starting point for your own work. Templates can be life savers, when you quickly need to put a lesson together.
Some templates contain Page Notes with suggestions for how to use the template. How you use templates is entirely up to you.
You can always visit Promethean Planet for more templates
Insert a template
Here we show you some quick ways to insert a template into your flipchart.
Drag and drop
1. In the
Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page after which you want to insert a page template.
2. Open the
Resource Browser and browse to the Templates folder.
3. Select a category and view its contents in the Browser. For example,
Templates >
Dual mode. This category contains templates for collaborative working with two
ActivPens.
4. Click on the template of your choice and drag and drop it onto the flipchart page.
The example on the right shows a template for working with numbers in Dual User mode.
For ideas on how to use this template, click on the
Notes
icon.
After you add a template activity page, save the flipchart.
Then after performing the activity, you can use the
Reset Page state.
icon to restore the activity page to its original saved
Use the Insert Menu
1. In the
Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page after which you want to insert a page template.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_resources_to_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:05 PM]
Adding resources to a flipchart
2. From the
Insert Menu, select Page > and one of the available categories, for example, Templates > Dual mode.
or
From the
Insert Menu, select Page > More Page Templates. The Shared Resources folder opens in the
Resource Browser.
3. Click on the Shared Page Templates folder and look at the thumbnails of the available templates.
4. Drag the template of your choice onto the flipchart page, or double-click the thumbnail to add it to the page.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_resources_to_a_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:05 PM]
Importing and exporting resource packs
Show
>
>
Working with resources > Importing and exporting resource packs
Importing and exporting resource packs
Here we show you how to import and export resource packs
Import resource packs
You can import resource packs to My Resources or Shared Resources.
1. From the
File Menu, select Import > Resource Pack To My Resources or Resource Pack To Shared
Resources. A dialog box opens.
2. Browse to where the resource pack is located.
3. Select the resource pack and click on
Open.
Export resource packs
Any folder of resources can become a resource pack.
1. In the Resource Browser select the folder of resources you want to export.
2. Right-click and select
Export to Resource Pack, or
From the Popup Menu, select
Export to Resource Pack. A dialog box opens.
3. Browse to where you want to export the folder.
4. Type in a name for the resource pack.
5. Click on
Save. If a resource pack of the same name already exists in your chosen location, ActivInspire prompts you to:
Overwrite the existing resource pack
Extend the resource pack
Abort.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/importing_and_exporting_resource_packs.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:07 PM]
Working with your own materials
Show
Working with resources > Working with your own materials
Working with your own materials
We recognize that teaching materials come in many different formats. Everyone has their own ways of creating and presenting information and ActivInspire supports many common formats.
You can:
Drag and drop images and text onto flipcharts from other applications running on the same computer.
Import files from other applications, for example SMART Notebook and Microsoft PowerPoint. For details, see
Importing and exporting files .
Browse to your existing resources with the Resource Browser.
Open flipcharts (.flp) created with earlier versions of Promethean software (Activstudio or Activprimary versions 2 and 3).
Remember that while ActivInspire can open flipcharts created in earlier versions of Promethean software, it saves flipcharts in a format (.flipchart) that is incompatible with earlier versions of the software. Once you save these flipcharts in ActivInspire, you cannot open them in Activprimary or Activstudio.
If your flipcharts contain actions, check that they are working as expected.
actions created in ActivInspire and earlier versions of Promethean software.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/working_with_your_own_materials.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:08 PM]
Publishing flipcharts
Show
>
>
Working with resources > Publishing flipcharts
Publishing flipcharts
Use the Flipchart Publisher to create a protected version of your flipchart, prohibiting certain edit and output functions. You can then distribute the protected flipchart that prevents the user from copying, printing or using the Camera .
Save a copy of your flipchart in a known place before you publish it. When published, any restrictions you have set for your users will also apply to you.
Give your flipchart Publisher Information and limit what people can do with your flipchart.
Two ways to open the Flipchart Publisher
From the Main Toolbox
1. Click on the
Main Menu
icon
2. Select
Publish...
From the File Menu
1. From the
File Menu select Publish... The 'Flipchart Publisher...' Dialog Box opens.
2. Enter publisher Information as appropriate. This information is for your own use and will not be visible to users.
3. Select or deselect restrictions as appropriate, then do one of the following:
Click
Cancel to close the dialog box without saving.
Click
Save Details to save your choices without publishing.
Click
Publish... to implement your choices and publish the flipchart to another location.
For more information, see Flipchart Publisher options file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/publishing_flipcharts.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:10 PM]
Adding images
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Working with objects > Adding images
Adding images
Here we list the types of image you can use and show you how to add them:
Which graphics files can you use?
Add an image from the Resource Library
Which graphics files can you use?
You can add images with these file extensions to your flipcharts, .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .tif, .png and .wmf (Windows computers only).
Any other formats are not supported.
Add an image from the Resource Library
1. Open the
Resource Browser
2. In the top pane of the Browser, browse Shared Resources until you find the desired category.
3. Open the folder and browse its contents in the bottom pane of the Resource Browser.
4. Double-click on the image, or drag and drop it onto the flipchart page.
Add an image from elsewhere
1. From the Insert Menu, select
Media. The 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box opens.
2. Browse to the folder that contains the file. This can be on your computer, or on the network.
3. Double-click on the file, or click on the file, then click on
Open.
You can also create your own snapshots at the board with the Camera
For more information, see
.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_images.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:11 PM]
Transforming objects
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>
Working with objects > Transforming objects
Transforming objects
Selecting Objects
Click to select objects when the
Object cursor
shows that the object is within range.
Click and drag diagonally - a grey rectangle indicates the selection area. Any object touched by the selection area is selected.
Click in the Property Browser.
Moving Objects
Click and drag the object, or drag it with the
Freely Move Object front of the board.
Resizing Objects
Click and drag the Marquee Handles to resize objects.
Marquee Handle so you are not standing directly in
Use the bottom-right handle to transform objects with uniform scaling. That is, retaining the original proportions. Resizing with the other handles will change the proportions and produce a distorted object.
If you should distort an object by mistake, then right-click the object and display the Property Browser. Scale Factor X and Y show the precise scaling. Set these the same for proportional scaling. Set both to 1 to revert to the original sizes.
The Object Edit Popup Menu has convenient transforming tools (below) which can be added as part of a profile.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/transforming_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:13 PM]
Transforming objects
Increase / Decrease Object Size: The object size is increased or decreased by 10%.
Original Size: The object is restored to its original size.
Best Fit to Width: If the width of an object is distorted the height is increased proportionally.
Best Fit to Height: If the height of an object is distorted the width is increased proportionally.
Best Fit to Page: Object size is increased proportionally to the maximum for the page.
Mirror in X / Y Axis: The object is reflected along the X or Y axis.
Flip in X / Y Axis: The object is reflected and duplicated along the X or Y axis.
The alignment options are shown graphically in the menu.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/transforming_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:13 PM]
Importing files
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>
>
> Importing files
Importing files
In this section, we show you how to import files that were created with other software.
You can import the following types of files:
PowerPoint® files as objects or as images
ExamView® XML files
IMS® QTI XML files
SMART® Notebook files
SMART® Gallery items
For details of how to import resource packs, see
Importing and exporting resource packs .
Import PowerPoint® files
You can choose to import your PowerPoint files:
As objects, which means items in your PowerPoint presentation become individual objects on each page of the flipchart, so that you can edit them, for example, with the
Text
Tool.
As images, which means each slide of your PowerPoint presentation is imported as one image that fills a whole flipchart page.
Import PowerPoint files as objects
1. On the Dashboard, click on
Import
from Powerpoint..., or from the
File Menu, select Import >
as objects. The
'Select a Powerpoint
File' Dialog Box opens.
2. Navigate to the folder that contains the file you want to import and select it.
3. Click on
Open. A progress bar indicates how the import is progressing and closes on completion.
ActivInspire imports the selected file to a new 'Untitled' flipchart.
When import is complete, you can select and manipulate the imported objects like any other objects.
Import PowerPoint files as images
From the File Menu, select
Import > Powerpoint
The import process is exactly the same as for objects above, only the result is different. Each PowerPoint slide is imported as a single image on each flipchart page.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/importing_files.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:15 PM]
Importing files
Import other types of files
1. From the
File Menu, select one of the following:
Import > ExamView
file or
Import > IMS
or
Import > SMART
File v8, v9, v9.5, v10 or
Import > SMART
File.
2. A Dialog Box for your chosen import operation opens.
3. Navigate to the folder that contains the file you want to import and select it.
4. Click on
Open. A progress bar indicates how the import is progressing and closes on completion.
ActivInspire imports the selected file to a flipchart of the same name as the original file. For example, 'Question
Types Test', as shown on the right.
When import is complete, you can select and manipulate the imported objects like any other objects.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/importing_files.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:15 PM]
Exporting files
Show
>
>
> Exporting files
Exporting files
In ActivInspire you can export:
Your flipcharts to PDF. For details, see
A flipchart page to a graphics file.
Voting results to Microsoft Excel®.
Export a page to a graphics file
1. Right-click on a blank part of the page you want to export.
2. From the menu select
Export Page. The 'Export Page' Dialog Box opens.
3. Browse to the folder where you want to save the file.
4. Select a file type (Bitmap, JPEG, PNG, or TIF).
5. Type a file name.
6. Click on
Save.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/exporting_files.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:16 PM]
Clock Tool
Show
>
> Clock Tool
Clock Tool
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Analog
Clock numbers
Default = View numbers around the clock face.
Display colored blocks around the clock face.
Second hand
Default = Display the second hand.
Display the hour and minute hands only.
Digital
24 Hour
View a 24 hour clock.
Default = View a 12 hour clock.
Seconds
Default = Display the seconds counting.
View the hours and minutes only.
Show AM/PM
View a 12 hour clock with AM or PM displayed.
Default = Do not show AM/PM.
Show date
Default = Display today's date below the time.
View the time only.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_clock_tool.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:18 PM]
Design Mode
Show
>
Design Mode
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Allow locked objects to be edited
Default = Remove any locking properties, to allow free movement and editing of all objects.
Do not allow.
Show hidden objects
Default = Make all objects visible.
Do not show hidden objects.
Highlight actions
Disable Actions and Drag a Copy
Default = Highlight actions with a red square in Design
Mode.
Do not highlight actions.
Default = Switch off any actions and disable 'Drag a Copy' in Design Mode.
Keep actions and 'Drag a Copy' enabled.
Disable object restrictions
Default = Switch off any object restrictions in Design
Mode, so that you can freely move objects.
Keep object restrictions enabled.
Disable blocker objects
Default = Switch off the restrictors' 'Can block' settings.
Do not disable blocker objects.
Disable grid snapping
Disable desktop interaction
Default = Remove any 'Snap to Grid' properties set on objects to allow free movement of objects.
Keep any 'Snap to Grid' properties.
Default = Disable Desktop Annotate and Desktop Tools.
Do not disable desktop interaction.
Show Design Mode Tooltip Hints
Default = Show tooltips.
Do not show tooltips.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/design_mode.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:19 PM]
Effects
Show
>
Effects
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Spotlight Tool
Border width Increase or decrease the width of the border around the spotlight area. The range is from 0 to 20 pixels.
Default = 15
Border color
Background color
Color of the border around the spotlight.
Default = blue
Color of the non-spotlighted area when using the Spotlight.
Default = black
Translucent border
Default = Make the spotlight border translucent.
Give the spotlight border a solid color.
Translucent screen
Make the spotlight screen (the darkened area that covers the Flipchart or Desktop window) translucent.
Default = Make the spotlight screen opaque.
Right click captures image
Reveal Tool
Color
Animation Speed
Default = Paste an image of the spotlight area on your current flipchart page, when you right click while the spotlight is activated.
Right click does not capture the spotlight area.
Color of the Revealer blind.
Default = black
Speed with which the hidden object will be revealed when you are using an ActivRemote device. The range is from 1 to
20 seconds.
Default = 15 file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_effects.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:21 PM]
Flipchart
Show
>
> Flipchart
Flipchart
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Create desktop flipchart on launch
Create a desktop flipchart when you launch ActivInspire.
Default = Do not create a desktop flipchart on launch.
World color
Default page scale
Default page size
Default Page color
Background color of the flipchart window, behind the flipchart page.
Default = Blue
Default page scale for when you create a new flipchart or open an existing flipchart:
Default = Best Fit
Width Fit
Height Fit
25%
50%
100%
150%
200%
400%
800%
Original Scale
You need to restart ActivInspire to activate this setting after changing it.
Default page size for when you create a new flipchart or open an existing flipchart:
Screen Size
Default = 1024 * 768
1152 * 864
1280 * 1024
Custom
Only enabled if you set the default background to be a color.
Default = white
Show flipchart summary when saving
Open a window to insert information describing the flipchart when saving.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_desktop_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:22 PM]
Flipchart
Default = Close without showing flipchart summary.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_desktop_flipchart.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:22 PM]
Flipchart Objects
Show
>
> Flipchart Objects
Flipchart Objects
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
High-quality rendering
Default = Improve the resolution of objects. Could make older computers run more slowly.
Draw objects with lower resolution. May make edges look uneven.
High-quality rendering when annotating
Container center tolerance
Show pickup handles when dragging objects from Library
Improve the look of all line and shape edges, including freehand annotations. Could make older computers run more slowly.
Default = Draw annotations with lower resolution.
If you are using containers with the Match Centers option, you can specify how precisely the centers of objects must line up to be contained. The lower the number of pixels, the greater the accuracy required in lining up the centers of objects.
Default = 10
Default = Enable the Select Tool and display pickup boxes on items dragged from the Resource Library.
Do not enable the Select Tool.
Show pickup rectangle
Default = Display a rectangle around selected objects.
Do not show a rectangle.
Add Timestamp to all new pages created
Automatic annotation grouping
Resource Library
Default resource library
Resource items retain transparency
Stamp the date and time on all new flipchart pages.
Default = Do not add a timestamp.
Group annotations together automatically as one object.
Treat annotations as individual objects.
Location of the resource library that is displayed in the
Resource Browser:
Default = Shared Resources
My Resources
Other
Default = Transparent objects retain their original transparency when dragged onto a flipchart page from the file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_flipchart_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:24 PM]
Flipchart Objects
View Mode
Thumbnail Size resource library.
Transparent objects do not retain their original transparency.
Layout of the contents of the resource library in the Resource
Browser:
Default = List
Grid
Size of the thumbnails displayed in the Resource Browser:
Default = Large
Small file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_flipchart_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:24 PM]
Language
Show
>
> Language
Language
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Setting Options
Application language Displays ActivInspire in your computer's default language.
You can choose another language from the drop-down menu, if your computer supports more than one locale.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_language.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:26 PM]
Learner Response System
Show
>
Settings > Learner Response System
Learner Response System
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings
ExpressPoll
Question timeout
Options
Apply timeout to prepared questions
Append question to current flipchart
The time allowed to respond to a question. Setting a default timeout restricts the time available to vote.
If you do not set a default timeout, voting will continue until all users have responded, or until you click on
Stop Vote
.
Default = 0
Apply the above timeout to prepared questions.
Default = Do not apply the timeout.
Append the question to the end of the current flipchart on a new page.
Default = Do not append the question.
ActiVote
Allow users to modify their response
Allow users to change their response during the timeout period.
When the timeout period has ended, further responses are ignored.
Default = Do not allow users to change their responses.
Answers
Show results after vote
Automatic page advance
Anonymous mode
Default = Display results on the board after the vote has ended.
Do not display results.
Turn the page automatically after receiving votes.
Default = Do not turn the page automatically.
Display the results of the vote anonymously.
Default = Display the results by device or name.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_learner_response.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:27 PM]
Learner Response System file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_learner_response.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:27 PM]
Multimedia
Show
>
> Multimedia
Multimedia
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Show sound controller
Default = Show the Sound Controller when playing a sound file; overrides other dynamic settings.
Hide the Sound Controller during play.
Show controls for flash
Default = Show controls when Flash® files are playing.
Overrides dynamic settings.
Do not show controls for flash files.
Show frame capture button
Force overlay mode for flash
Default = Show Frame Capture button for still images from videos and Flash files.
Does not show Frame Capture button.
Lets you annotate over a Flash file.
Default = Does not let you annotate over a Flash file.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_multimedia.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:29 PM]
Online Settings
Show
Online Settings
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Web Links
Home URL The website that is displayed when you open your web browser from ActivInspire.
Web update
URL
Proxy settings
Proxy server name
The website that ActivInspire contacts when you click
Check
for Updates on the Dashboard.
HTTP port number
Name and HTTP port number of your proxy server.
Default HTTP port number = 0
Your system administrator or service provider will supply you with these details.
Username
Password
The login name and password required to access your server, not to access the Online Resource Library.
Your system administrator or service provider will supply you with these details.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_online.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:30 PM]
Profile and Resources
Show
>
> Profile and Resources
Profile and Resources
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
ActivInspire stores profiles, templates and other files in the default folders shown in the following table. You can copy or move the files to other folders if you wish and change the appropriate setting so that ActivInspire can access the files in their new location.
When you change the default locations in 'Profile and Resources', you are simply pointing ActivInspire to look for files in a new location. The files themselves do not move. Copy your files to the new location before you change the location in ActivInspire. For information about copying or moving files, see your operating system documentation.
Settings
Use default profile path
Default locations
Default = Access profiles at the location shown below.
Access profiles at another location.
My Resources\My Profiles
Profile stored in
Windows
Mac
Linux
Use default 'My Resources' path
My Resources/My Profiles
My resources files in
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Mac
Linux
Use default 'Shared Resources' path
Shared resources files in
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Default = Access 'My Resources' at the location shown below.
Access 'My Resources' at another location.
Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\Activ Software\ActivInspire\My
Resources
Users\username\Document\ Activ Software\ActivInspire\My Resources
/Users/username/Documents/Activ Software/ActivInspire
/home/username/Documents/Activ Software/ActivInspire
Default = Access 'Shared Resources' at the location shown below.
Access 'Shared Resources' at another location.
Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Activ Software\ActivInspire
\Users\Public\Documents\ Activ Software\ActivInspire file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_profile_and_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:32 PM]
Profile and Resources
Mac
Linux
Use default page template path
/Users/shared/Promethean/Activ Software/ActivInspire
/var/Promethean/Inspire/Shared Resources
Page template files in
Windows
Mac
Linux
Use default question page path
Default = Access page templates at the location shown below.
Access page templates at another location.
Shared Resources\Activities and templates
Shared Resources/ Activities and templates
Question page files in
Windows
Default = Access question pages at the location shown below.
Browse to access question pages at another location.
Shared Resources\FlipchartPages\Activities and templates\Templates (learner response)\
Mac
Linux
Shared Resources/FlipchartPages/Templates (learner response)/ file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_profile_and_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:32 PM]
Spell Checker
Show
>
> Spell Checker
Spell Checker
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Highlight misspelled words
Highlight misspelled words as soon as they have been added to the flipchart.
Default = Do not highlight.
Ignore capitalized words
Ignore words with leading uppercase letters while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.
Ignore words in UPPERCASE
Ignore words that contain numbers
Ignore words in uppercase letters while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.
Ignore words that contain numbers while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.
Ignore words in mixed case
Ignore words that contain both uppercase and lowercase letters while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.
Ignore internet addresses
Ignore internet addresses while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.
Report repeated words
Edit user dictionary
Dictionary language
Default = Be notified of repeated words while spell checking.
Do not report repeated words.
Open the user dictionary for the currently selected language
(see below) in a text editor.
Language to be used for spell checking, select from the dropdown menu.
Default = Your computer's operating system language.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_spell_checker.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:33 PM]
User Input
Show
> User Input
User Input
For details of how to access Settings, see
Choosing application settings .
Settings Options
Keyboard
Use keyboard supplied with operating system
Use the keyboard supplied with your operating system.
Default = Use the Floating Keyboard supplied with
ActivInspire.
Use keyboard specified by user Allows you to select another keyboard.
Automatically show keyboard with text objects
Show the floating keyboard when editing text objects.
Default = Do not show the keyboard.
Automatically show keyboard when saving files
Recognition Tools
Recognition Timeout (seconds)
Fill recognized shapes
Fill mode
Another color
Handwriting Recognition Language
Display the keyboard when saving a flipchart. This is useful when you are working at the board and want to quickly type a filename without returning to your computer.
Default = Do not show the keyboard.
Timeout for handwriting and shape recognition.
Range = 1 - 5 seconds.
Default = 5
Fill your shapes with color when your they are rrecognized.
Default = Do not fill recognized shapes.
Only enabled if 'Fill recognized shapes' is selected. Select from the drop-down menu:
Same as the outline
Another color (see below)
Only enabled if 'Another color' is selected above. Click on the box to choose a color.
Language to use for handwriting recognition, select from the drop-down menu.
Default = Your computer's operating system language.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_user_input.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:35 PM]
User Input file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/settings_user_input.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:35 PM]
Identification properties
Show
>
Properties > Identification properties
Identification properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties
.
Property
Option Description
Name ActivInspire allocates default names to flipchart objects, for example, Shape1, Shape2.
You can select and change the default name.
Keywords One or more words that identify the object.
Two ways to enter keywords:
Click on the Keywords box and begin typing. Separate individual keywords by a space.
Click on the Keywords Editor icon
[...], click on Add and begin typing. Use the
Keywords Editor to add, move and remove keywords.
Description
Question
Tag
None
Question
Option 1
Option 2
Use keywords with containers. If you set a container so that it can contain an object with a particular keyword, for example, 'animal', any object with the keyword 'animal' can be contained by that container.
Only applies to pages.
Allows you to include instructions or comments about a specific page in the description area. This can be used to describe how the page has been set up, for example, if you share pages with fellow teachers and you have created some complex object properties or actions.
A multi-answer question produced by the Question Wizard or ExpressPoll has three types of text objects:
With Question
Option
Label tags
The tag numbers let you see the answer / option pairings – this can be useful when you edit and reformat the text, or move answers around.
If you nominated a correct answer with the Question Wizard, this information is contained within the 'Label' tag. When the corresponding answer is returned by voters, it is highlighted green in the results display. Nominate a new correct answer by placing it next to the object with the appropriate 'Label' number.
You cannot generate a question and start a vote by applying tags to text entered outside of the Question Wizard or ExpressPoll.
Default
Allocated to your Question text.
Associated with text tagged Label 1 (displayed as answer A or 1).
Associated with text tagged Label 2 (displayed as answer B or 2).
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/identification_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:36 PM]
Identification properties
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5
Option 6
Label 1
Label 2
Label 3
Label 4
Label 5
Label 6
Associated with text tagged Label 3 (displayed as answer C or 3).
Associated with text tagged Label 4 (displayed as answer D or 4).
Associated with text tagged Label 5 (displayed as answer E or 5).
Associated with text tagged Label 6 (displayed as answer F or 6).
Option numbers and labels must match, for answers to be correctly interpreted.
If you move any options or labels, make a note of the change.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/identification_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:36 PM]
Container properties
Show
>
Properties > Container properties
Container properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option
Can Contain Nothing
Contain
Object
Contain
Words
Contain Rule
Reward
Sound
Reward
Sound
Location
Return if not
Contained
Anything
Specific Object
Keywords
Centers Must Match
Completely Contained
False
False
Description
Default
No container setting is applied.
Any object placed on top is recognized.
Choose one specific object for the container to recognize.
The container recognizes any resource which has the keywords you specify.
Only enabled if 'Can Contain' is set to 'Specific
Object' (see above).
Select the object from the 'Select Object' Dialog
Box.
Only enabled if 'Can Contain' is set to 'Keywords'
(see above).
Type the keywords the container can recognize.
The content's center must be placed on the container's center for the contents to be recognized.
Useful when the 'contents' are bigger than their containers.
The contents must fit inside the container.
Default
Set to 'True' to play a sound when an object is correctly contained.
Only enabled if 'Reward Sound' is set to 'True' (see above).
Opens the 'Select a sound' Dialog Box to let you browse to and select a sound file.
Default
Returns the object to its original position on the flipchart page if set to 'True'.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/container_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:38 PM]
Container properties file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/container_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:38 PM]
Restrictors properties
Show
>
> Restrictors properties
Restrictors properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Can Block False Default
True Object can block.
Can Snap
Snap Point x
Snap Point y
Snap To
Can Move
False
True
Center
Other Place
Other Object
First Text Line
Specific Point
Top Left
Top
Top Right
Left
Right
Bottom Left
Bottom
Bottom Right
Freely
Vertically
Horizontally
Default
Object can snap to.
Point on the x axis to which the object can snap.
Point on the y axis to which the object can snap.
Default. Object snaps to the center.
Object snaps to another place which you can define.
Object can snap to another object.
Object can snap to the first line of text.
Object can snap to a specific point.
Object can snap to the top left.
Object can snap to the top.
Object can snap to the top right.
Object can snap to the left.
Object can snap to the right.
Object can snap to the bottom left.
Object can snap to the bottom.
Object can snap to the bottom right.
Default. Object can move anywhere on the flipchart page.
Object can only move vertically.
Object can only move horizontally.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/restrictors_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:39 PM]
Restrictors properties
Move Path
Can Size
Along path
No
Freely
None
Object can only move along the defined path.
Object cannot move.
Only enabled if 'Can Move' is set to 'Along path' (see above).
Select the path from the 'Select Object' Dialog Box.
Default
Object cannot be resized.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/restrictors_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:39 PM]
Menus and Popup Menus
Show
Reference > Menus and Popup Menus
Menus and Popup Menus
This section lists and briefly describes the tools and functions available in each Menu and Popup Menu in ActivInspire:
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/menus_and_popup_menus.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:41 PM]
ExpressPoll
Show
>
> ExpressPoll
ExpressPoll
What?
Where?
Ask your students a quick question and display voting results instantly.
Tools > ExpressPoll
Main Toolbox
Desktop Tools
Shortcut?
How?
What can I customize?
F3
Select a question style and options from the voting 'Wonderwheel'
Question timeout
Apply timeout to prepared questions
Append question to current flipchart
Where can I customize it?
Settings > Learner Response System
Specifies the time available to respond.
Toggle switch.
Toggle switch.
More info...
Using Learner Response Systems
Settings > Learner Response System
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/expresspoll.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:43 PM]
Summary of differences
Show
>
> Summary of differences
Important information for users of Activstudio and
Activprimary
Summary of differences
ActivInspire has been streamlined to work on Windows
TM
, Mac® and Linux
TM
computers. Flipcharts produced with Activstudio and
Activprimary 3.n should open in ActivInspire, on any of these platforms. Furthermore, ActivInspire is integrated to support devices which previously needed separate software.
However, as a result of the streamlining, some flipchart objects with previously associated actions may lose their action when you open the flipchart in ActivInspire.
If this happens, you can assign another appropriate action or delete the object.
The following sections list the differences between actions in Activstudio and Activprimary 3.n and ActivInspire:
Not supported
These actions do not work in ActivInspire:
Export Page
Power Tools
Fraction Creator
Export to ppt
Powerpoint Convertor
Export to ppt obj
Link Library
Export to doc
Export to pdf
Export Wizard
Export to html
Activity Wizard
Open My Notes and Pointers Open Shared Notes and
Pointers
Export to picture slides
(Mac)
Export to Applescript (Mac)
Open My Tickertapes Open Shared Tickertapes
Resource Library Large
Thumbnails
Page Select Small
Export to swf
Activcataloger
Open Other Notes and
Pointers
Activmarker
Open Other Tickertapes
Page Select Medium
Export Results to Text
Annotation Upgrader
Export to QuickTime (Mac)
Clipboard Tickertape
Resource Library Small
Thumbnails
Page Select Large
Superseded
These actions do not work in ActivInspire, because they have been superseded by other actions. We recommend that you read the notes and save your flipcharts to the new .flipchart format with
File > Save as... Then consider mapping other actions and try them out, before you use the flipcharts in the classroom. See the
Notes column for suggestions.
Action Notes
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/summary_of_differences.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:44 PM]
Summary of differences
Recognition Toolbox
Flipchart Recorder
Update Thumbnails
Embed File Actions
Resource Manager
Keyword Editor
Flipchart Builder
Launch/Quit Application (Mac)
Choose between
Handwriting Recognition
and
Shape Recognition
Consider using the
Screen Recorder
Thumbnails are automatically updated in the Browser
Choose between
Insert Link to File and Insert Media from File
In ActivInspire, you manage resources with the Resource Browser
In ActivInspire, you access the Keywords Editor from the Property Browser
In ActivInspire, you build flipcharts with the Page Browser and Resource Browser
Consider using
Insert Link to File. You can launch an application, but you cannot quit.
Supported with differences
These actions work, but they may behave differently in ActivInspire. We recommend that you read the notes, save your flipcharts to the new .flipchart format, then try the actions out before you use them in the classroom. See the
Notes column for a brief description of the differences.
Activstudio &
Activprimary Action
ActivInspire Action Notes
Deconstruct Text Extract Text New name, same functionality.
Start/Stop ActiVote
Start Flipchart Vote Enables
Start Flipchart Vote
if there is a question on the current flipchart page.
ActiVote Results Voting Browser
Shows voting results in the
Voting Browser
ActiVote Session Voting Browser
Opens the
Voting Browser
and displays information about the current session.
Various Show Clock actions Clock
ActiVote Question Settings Question on Current Page
Displays the
Clock
according to the settings in the 'Edit Profiles Settings' Tab.
Launches the
Insert Question Wizard. When you complete the wizard, the question is displayed on the current page.
Recorder Menu
Area Screen Recorder
Straight Line
Horizontal Line
Vertical Line
Screen Recorder
Shape
Displays the
Screen Recorder
There is no Area Screen Recorder in ActivInspire.
Enables the
Shape
Tool.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/summary_of_differences.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:44 PM]
Summary of differences
Square Tool
Circle Tool
Semi Arc
Rectangle
Ellipse
Corner Arc
Callout
Arrow
Point to Point
Slate Control
Device Register
ActiVote Users
Individual Resource Folder
Actions
Question Master
Cut Page
Copy Annotation
Paste Annotation
Show Page Selector
Edit Text
Set Grid (Mac)
Set Page rColor (Mac)
Slate XR (Mac)
Slate IR (Mac)
Print to pdf (Mac)
Device Registration
Resource Library
Question Wizard
Cut Page
Copy
Paste
Page Browser
Text
Grid Designer
Set Background
Device Registration
Print Dialogue Box
Starts
Device Registration
Opens
Shared Resources.
Launches the
Insert Question Wizard. When you complete the wizard, the question is displayed on the current page.
Cuts, copies or pastes the designated target object.
If there is no designated target object, applies the action to the currently selected object. If no object is selected, applies the action to the action object itself.
Opens the
Page Browser
Starts the
Text
tool.
Opens the
Grid Designer
Opens the 'Set Background' Dialog Box, where you can set a background color or image.
Starts
Device Registration
Opens the 'Print' Dialog Box, where you can select options to print to PDF
In ActivInspire, all the following actions open the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box. See the
Notes column for details of what to do next.
Activstudio &
Activprimary Action
Notes
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/summary_of_differences.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:44 PM]
Summary of differences
Vote Settings
Toolstore
Open Toolbox Layout
Small Toolbox
Medium Toolbox
Large Toolbox
Vertical Orientation
Right Orientation
Left Orientation
8, 16, 24 Toolbox Colors
Dock Resource Library Left
Dock Resource Library Right
Dock Resource Library Bottom
Left
Dock Resource Library Bottom
Right
Save Toolbox Layout
Clock Settings
Click on the 'Settings' Tab and select
Learner Response Systems.
Click on the 'Commands' Tab and add or remove tools to/from the Main Toolbox or
Marquee Handles
Click on the 'Layout' Tab.
Click on the 'Layout' Tab and select the desired layout.
In ActivInspire Studio, the Resource Library opens in the Resource Browser. Click on the
'Layout' Tab and select the desired Browser behavior.
Click on the 'Layout' Tab. Save the layout to the default profile, or
to another profile.
Click on the 'Settings' Tab, then click on
Clock Settings.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/summary_of_differences.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:44 PM]
Appearance properties
Show
>
> Appearance properties
Appearance properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Layer Top
Middle
Bottom
Background
Default
Specify on which layer the object is placed.
Depth not applicable Read only indicator. Shows the position of the object in the stacking order.
Translucency
Visible
Ink Type
True
False
Pen
Highlighter
Magic Ink
Grids and objects, if placed in front, have a higher number in the stacking order.
This value can range from fully translucent (visible) to no translucency (solid).
Use the slider to change the translucency.
Default
Set to 'False' to make the object invisible.
Default
Annotations can be one of three types:
Pen annotations are solid.
Highlighter annotations are partially translucent.
Magic Ink annotations allow you to see through objects on the top layer.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/appearance_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:46 PM]
Outline properties
Show
Properties > Outline properties
Outline properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Style
Solid
None
Dashed
Dot
Dash-Dot
Dash-Dot-Dot
Outline style
Default
Color
Black
Outline color
Default
Width
Cap Style
Join Style
4
Round
Flat
Square
Round
Mitre
Bevel
Outline width in pixels. Range = Finest possible, 1 - 100.
Default
Applies caps of the selected type to the beginnings and ends of annotations or lines, when 'Style' is set to one of the dashed options.
Default
Applies to the outside corners of shape objects.
Default file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/outline_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:48 PM]
Fill properties
Show
>
Fill properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option
Style None
Description
Default
Set to another option to apply the style of your choice.
Apply a solid fill effect.
Select from matrix patterns of different densities.
Gradient
Color
Color 2
Gradient
None
Vertical
Horizontal
Diagonal1
Diagonal2
Radial
Black
Black
Solid
Dense1
Dense2
Dense3
Dense4
Dense5
Dense6
Dense7
Horizontal
Vertical
Cross
Backward Diagonal
Forward Diagonal
Cross Diagonal
Select from a range of hatched fill patterns.
Select to enable a two-rcolor graduated fill.
Default
Set to another option to apply the graduated coloring of your choice.
Default
Set to another rcolor to apply the shading of your choice.
Only enabled when the fill 'Style' is set to
'Gradient' (see above).
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/fill_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:49 PM]
Fill properties file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/fill_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:49 PM]
Background properties
Show
Properties > Background properties
Background properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
rColor Black Default
Set to another rcolor to change the background.
Mode Transparent
Opaque
Default
Set to 'Opaque' to make the background rcolor appear solid.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/background_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:51 PM]
Position properties
Show
>
> Position properties
Position properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Left Distance of object to left margin in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.
Top Distance of object to top margin in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.
Width
Height
Scale Factor x 1
Scale Factor y
Inverted
Angle
Reflected
Locked
1
False
0
False
False
Width of object in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.
Height of object in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.
Default
Change the number to scale the object by the new factor along the x axis. For example, set the scale factor to 2 to double the size.
Default
Change the number to scale the object by the new factor along the y axis.
Default
Change to 'True' to flip the object by 180 degrees along the vertical.
Default
Change this to any value between 1 and 360 to pivot the object by the specified number of degrees around the top right Marquee Handle.
Default
Change to 'True' to flip the object by 180 degrees along the horizontal
Default
Change to 'True' to lock the object in place, so that it cannot be selected and moved, except with the
Freely Move Object Handle.
To unlock it again, set back to' False', or double-click the lock icon on the Object
Browser.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/position_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:52 PM]
Label properties
Outline Style
Background
Mode
Background
Color
Behavior
Show
>
Label properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Caption Lets you add a one-line caption to an object.
Font Name Arial Default
Click the drop-down box to change the font.
Font Size 12
Font Color Black
Default
Click the up or down arrow to increase or decrease the font size, or select the size digits and type in the new size.
Default
Click on the color box to select another font color.
Default
Click the drop-down arrow to select an outline style for your label.
None
Solid
Dashed
Dot
Dash-Dot
Dash-Dot-Dot
Opaque
Transparent
Always On
Tooltip
Default
Select to make the label background transparent.
Click the box to select a background color.
Default
Select to make the label visible only when the cursor moves across the object.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/label_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:54 PM]
Rotate properties
Show
Rotate properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
>
> Rotate properties
Can Rotate Freely Default
Object can rotate without any restrictions
Clockwise Object can only rotate in a clockwise direction.
Rotate Step
Rotate About
Rotate Object
Rotate Point x
Rotate Point y
Anticlockwise
No
Center
Other Place
Other Object
First Text Line
Specific Point
Top Left
Top
Top Right
Left
Right
Bottom Left
Object can only rotate in an anticlockwise direction.
Object cannot rotate.
Object rotates a step at a time.
Default
Object can only rotate around its own center.
Object can rotate around another place which you can define.
Object can rotate around another object.
Object can rotate around the first line of text.
Object can rotate around a specific point.
Object can rotate around the top left.
Object can rotate around the top.
Object can rotate around the top right.
Object can rotate around the left.
Object can rotate around the right.
Object can rotate around the bottom left.
Only enabled if 'Rotate About' is set to 'Other Object' (see above).
Select the object from the 'Select Object' Dialog Box.
Object can rotate around the x coordinate.
Object can rotate around the y coordinate.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/rotate_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:55 PM]
Multimedia properties
Show
>
> Multimedia properties
Multimedia properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Multimedia properties are dependent on the type of file, operating system and multimedia player.
Property
Option Description
Force Overlay
(swf and flv objects only)
False
True
Multimedia object is not forced on top of annotations.
Multimedia object is forced on top of annotations.
Autoplay False Playback starts automatically when page is displayed
Loop
Hide Controls
Force Aspect
Transparent
Background
(swf objects only)
True
False
True
False
True
True
False
True
False
Playback does not start automatically when page is displayed.
Single autoplay or controlled playback of multimedia file.
Playback is repeated until stopped.
Controller is displayed.
Controller is hidden.
Resizing will keep the aspect ratio.
Resizing distortions are possible.
When embedded objects are not set to forced overlay, they will be transparent.
When embedded objects are not set to 'Force Overlay', they will be transparent.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/multimedia_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:57 PM]
Page properties
Show
Page properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Options Description
>
> Page properties
Width Page width in pixels.
Height Page height in pixels.
Frames Across
Frames Down
Background Fill
Image
Desktop Snapshot
Desktop Overlay
Default = 0
Allows you divide the page into frames and specify the number of horizontal frames.
Default = 0
Allows you divide the page into frames and specify the number of vertical frames.
Default = White
Allows you to use an image, Desktop Snapshot or Desktop Overlay as the background of your flipchart page.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/page_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:11:58 PM]
Tools properties
Show
>
Tools properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Page Tools As before Default for all pages.
Maintains the current state of the Spotlight or Revealer when you go to the selected page. For example, if the Revealer is switched on for page 1 of your flipchart, it will automatically be switched on when you turn to page 2, if page 2 contains the 'As before' tool state. However, if the Revealer is switched off on page 1, it will also be switched off on page 2.
Revealer Tool
Switches the Revealer or Spotlight on when you go to this page.
Spotlight Tool
Tools off Switches the Revealer or Spotlight off when you go to this page.
Revealer Mode Full Allows you to reveal the page by moving the cursor inward from any side of the page.
Spotlight Mode
Top
Bottom
Left
Right
Circular Spotlight
Square Spotlight
Solid Circular Spotlight
Solid Square Spotlight
Allows you to reveal the page by moving the cursor inward from either the top, bottom, left or right of the page.
Provides a movable, sizable circular/oval or square/rectangular spotlight through a full page masking layer.
Provides a movable, sizable circular/oval or square/rectangular mask.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/tools_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:00 PM]
Revealer properties
Show
Revealer properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option Description
Mode Off Default.
Switches the Revealer off.
>
Properties > Revealer properties
Top Switches the Revealer on and lets you reveal the display from the top, bottom, left or right; or sets the Revealer to 'Full', so that you can reveal the flipchart page from any side.
Bottom
Left
Distance
Right
Full
0 Default.
Only enabled if 'Mode' is set to something other than 'Off'. Sets the starting distance in pixels of the Revealer from the top, bottom, left or right edge of the flipchart edge.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/revealer_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:01 PM]
Spotlight properties
Left
Top
Width
Height
Show
>
Properties > Spotlight properties
Spotlight properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Options Description
Mode Off Switches the Spotlight off.
Circular Spotlight Hides the screen, but for a circular or square spotlight.
Square Spotlight
Solid Circular Spotlight
Solid Square Spotlight
All the screen is visible, except for a solid circle or solid square.
Aligns the Spotlight at the specified number of pixels distance from the left or top of the display.
Sets the width or height of the Spotlight.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/spotlight_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:02 PM]
Grid properties
Show
>
Grid properties
For details of how to change properties, see
Property
Option
Visible False
Thumbnail
Scale
Default Scale
Scale Step
True
Description
Default: False
Hides the grid.
Shows grid.
Defines the scale at which the thumbnail representation of the grid will be drawn in the
Resource Library, when browsing for resources.
Defines a scale factor which is applied to the grid's defined start and step values. For example, if the grid has an X Step of 50 pixels and a Default Scale property of 2.0, the grid will be drawn every 100 pixels across the display.
Defines the amount by which the Grid Default Scale will alter each time you click on the
+
or
-
buttons to enlarge or reduce the grid on the page. The value is added or subtracted from the Default Scale depending on the button clicked.
Default: False.
Enables or disables Snap to Grid.
Allow Snap
On Top
Grid Designer
False
True
False
True
Default: False
Places grid in front of or behind objects.
Opens the Grid Designer.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/grid_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:04 PM]
Marquee and Sizing Handles
Show
>
> Marquee and Sizing Handles
Marquee and Sizing Handles
By default, the following handles are available when an object is selected:
Marquee
Handle
Studio Primary Description
More info...
Freely Move
Object
Lets you drag the object anywhere on the page or into the Trashcan, even if the object is locked.
> Adding and manipulating shapes
Rotate Object
Lets you rotate the object.
Object Edit Menu
Opens the Object Edit Menu.
Translucency
Slider
Toggle Grouped
Lets you increase or decrease the object's translucency.
Toggle switch. Groups selected objects so that you can work on them as a single object.
Bring Forward
Send Backward
Brings the object forwards or sends it backwards by one position within the stack.
Duplicate
Increase Object
Size
Decrease Object
Size
Edit Shape Points
Duplicates or the currently selected object.
Increases or decreases the size of the object in increments according to the Scale Factor set in the
Object Browser. The default factor is 1.
> Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
Activates an object's shape points so that you can drag them to change the shape of the object.
> Adding and manipulating shapes
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/marquee_and_sizing_handles.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:06 PM]
Marquee and Sizing Handles
Sizing Handle
Size Object
Click and drag to extend and distort the object
Size Object
(Maintain Aspect)
Click and drag to extend the object proportionately.
For details of how to add or remove Marquee Handles, see
> Adding and manipulating shapes
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/marquee_and_sizing_handles.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:06 PM]
Grid Designer
Show
>
> Grid Designer
Grid Designer
What?
Where?
Shortcut?
Designing your own custom, grids, or adapt grids in the Resource Library.
Page Browser Popup Menu
CTRL+Shift+G (WindowsTM & LinuxTM)
Cmd+Shift+G (Mac®)
How?
The Grid Designer gives you many options. Amongst other things, it lets you select grid colors and line styles, stack several levels of grid on top of each other, show or hide the grid, allow or disallow snap, so that objects align themselves automatically with the grid, show it on top of or behind objects, set X and Y origins and direction, as well as the size of X and Y steps.
Where can I customize it?
'Grid Designer' Dialog Box
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Creating and editing grids
Reference > Actions > Command Actions
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/grid_designer.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:08 PM]
Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
You can save a lot of time by re-using objects.
Here we show you how to:
Copy and duplicate objects
Copying and duplicating an object sounds similar, but is not quite the same.
Copy and paste an object
When you copy an object, ActivInspire stores it in the Paste buffer, until you decide where you want to put it.
Here are two ways to copy an object.
With the object selected:
From the Edit Menu, select
Copy.
Click on the Object Edit Menu and select
Copy.
Here are three ways to paste an object.
Navigate to where you want to put the copy of the object. This can be on the same page, another page, or even another open flipchart:
Click where you want to insert the object and from the Edit Menu select
Paste.
Right-click where you want to insert the object and from the Popup Menu select
Paste.
To stack one object on top of another:
1. Select the other object.
2. Click on the Object Edit Menu and select
Paste. The copied object is stacked on top of the selected object. Both objects are on the same layer.
Duplicate an object
When you duplicate an object, ActivInspire places the duplicate so that it partly overlaps the original object.
Here are three ways to duplicate an object.
With the object selected:
Click on the
Duplicate
Marquee Handle.
From the Edit Menu, select
Duplicate.
In the example on the right, note that the second object overlaps the first one.
Alternatively...
You can duplicate the whole page, then delete any unwanted objects from the copy:
Right-click anywhere on the page and from the Popup Menu, select
Duplicate.
ActivInspire inserts a duplicate of the current page after the current page.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/copying_pasting_and_duplicating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:09 PM]
Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
Cut and paste objects
Cutting and pasting an object means removing it and inserting it elsewhere.
Here are two ways to cut and paste an object.
With the object selected:
From the Object Edit Menu, select
Cut.
From the File Menu, select
Cut.
To paste the object:
From the Object Edit Menu, select
Paste.
From the File Menu, select
Paste.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/copying_pasting_and_duplicating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:09 PM]
Inserting pages
Show
First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting pages
Inserting pages
Here we show you how to insert different kinds of pages into your flipchart:
Insert a snapshot of your desktop
Insert a blank page
1. In the Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page before or after which you want to insert a blank page.
2. From the Insert Menu, select
Page > Blank Page After Current, or Blank Page Before Current.
Or
From the Page Browser's Popup Menu, select
Insert Page > Blank Page After Current, or Blank Page Before
Current.
A blank page is inserted.
Insert a snapshot of your desktop
1. In the Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page after which you want to insert a snapshot.
2. From the Insert Menu, select
Page > Desktop Snapshot. The 'Insert Page' Popup Box opens.
3. Click on the
Camera
A snapshot of your computer's desktop appears in a new page after the current one.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/inserting_pages.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:11 PM]
Inserting resources
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting resources
Inserting resources
You can add your own resources, use those provided with ActivInspire, or use resource packs that have been imported into the
Resource Library. Use resources as the building blocks for your lessons.
Here we show you how to find a resource and add it to a flipchart. Then we show you how to add a resource to the Resource
Library. Finally, we also show you how to add your own resources to the Resource Library.
First find the resource (ActivInspire Studio)
1. Click on the
Resource Browser
The Shared Resources folder opens in the Browser. This folder contains resources to share with your colleagues. The Browser also contains buttons to open other folders:
My Resources
opens your personal resources folder.
Other Resource Folder
displays some of your frequently used folders.
Browse to locate another folder your computer, or to create another folder.
opens a dialogue box to allow you to look for files elsewhere on
Search Resources on Promethean Planet
opens the Resources page of Promethean Planet in your web browser.
2. In the Browser, explore the categories in Shared Resources until you find the one you are looking for, and click on it. The top half of the Browser now shows the subfolders in that category.
3. Browse to and click on the folder that contains the type of resource you want to insert, for example, maths > tangrams in the
Shared Annotations folder. The bottom half of the Browser shows thumbnails of the resources in this folder.
4. Use the slider to see all the resources in this subfolder.
First find the resource (ActivInspire Primary)
1. In the Main Toolbox, click on the
Resource
Browser
The
Resource Browser opens like a film strip along the bottom edge of the
ActivInspire window. In the example on the right, you can see four resources.
The one with the musical note icon includes a sound action.
2. Click on
Resource
Locations
The
Here we briefly describe the parts of the Resource Browser in the picture above.
1
Resources
Shared Resources folder opens in a popup file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/inserting_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:13 PM]
Inserting resources window This folder contains resources to share with your colleagues.
The window also contains buttons to open other folders:
2
Forward and Backward buttons let you scroll through the resources.
3
The Tool Pod contains the following tools:
Resource Locations
Rubberstamp On/Off
My Resources opens your personal resources folder.
Other Resource
Folder
displays some of your frequently used folders.
Toggle Transparency
Browse to locate another folder
opens a dialog box to allow you to look for files elsewhere on your computer, or to create another folder.
Search Resources on Promethean Planet in your web browser.
opens the Resources page of Promethean Planet
3. In the popup window, explore the categories in Shared Resources, until you find the one you are looking for and click on it.
The pop-up window now shows the subfolders in that category.
4. Browse to and click on the folder that contains the type of resource you want to insert, for example, maths > tangrams in the Shared Annotations folder. The film strip shows thumbnails of the resources in this folder.
5. Use the
Backward and Forward buttons on the film reel
to see all the resources in this subfolder.
Insert a resource into the flipchart
Here are several quick ways to insert a resource:
Click on the thumbnail of the resource in the Browser and drag and drop it onto the flipchart page.
Right-click on the thumbnail and select
Insert Resource into Flipchart from the Popup Menu.
Click on the Popup Menu and select
Insert Resource into Flipchart.
Once you have inserted a resource, you can manipulate it like other objects to suit your needs.
Insert a resource into the Resource Library
You can also add your own resources to the Resource Library from a flipchart page. For example, if you want to file and reuse some images, action objects or containers.
To add a resource to an existing folder in the Resource Library:
1. Open the folder in the Resource Browser.
2. Click and drag the object into the folder in which you want to insert it, then release it. The newly-added resource now appears in the items section of the Browser. It has the default name of 'ResourceN' where 'Resource' identifies the type of resource, for example, Image, and 'N' is a number.
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Inserting resources
To rename the resource:
1. Select the resource in the Resource Browser.
2. Select
Rename Resource File from the Popup Menu. The 'Rename Resource File' Dialog Box opens.
3. Enter a name and click on
OK.
To create a new folder, then add the resource to it:
1. In the Resource Browser, browse to and select the folder where you want to create a new folder.
2. Click on the Resource Browser Folders Menu and select
Create New Folder. The 'Create New Folder' Dialog Box opens.
3. Enter a folder name and click on
OK.
4. In the Resource Browser, browse to the new folder, then drag and drop the resource as described above.
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Using grids
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Using grids
Using grids
Here we introduce grids and show you how to use them:
Insert a grid from the Resource Library
About grids
A grid is one of the components which can make up the background layer of a flipchart. When you apply a grid to a page, you can still change the color of the background and apply a background image to the page. Any objects, such as annotations and images, are placed on top of the grid because they exist on a different layer. However, you can move the grid so that it displays on top of all other objects.
When to use grids
You can use grids in a wide range of activities, here are some ideas:
Position objects accurately when designing a presentation and ensure objects are lined up in the correct place during drag and drop activities.
Create your own graph paper, which you can use to represent numerical data in a visual form.
Create guidelines to assist with drawing threedimensional objects.
Create specialized paper to represent complex mathematical functions.
Add scale to your demonstrations, such as object transformations.
Insert a grid from the Resource Library
The Resource Library contains a number of sample grids, which are ready for you to use.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:15 PM]
Using grids
Here we show you how to insert one of these grids into a flipchart:
1. Navigate to the page where you want to insert a grid.
2. Click on the
Resource Browser
3. In the Shared Resources folder, click on
Grids.
4. Select the category of your choice, for example,
Graph Paper > Green. The thumbnails in the Browser show the available grids.
5. Here are three quick ways to add the grid to the page. Click on the thumbnail of your chosen grid, then:
Drag and drop the grid onto the page.
From the Popup Menu, select
Insert into Flipchart.
Right-click on the thumbnail and select
Insert into Flipchart.
Snap to Grid
Use Snap to Grid so that items on the flipchart automatically line up with a grid on the page when you move them.
Make items line up with a grid
1. Drag a grid onto the page from the Resource Library.
2. Right-click on the page and select
Snap to Grid.
3. Move or create an object, note how it lines up with the grid.
Switch off Snap to Grid
Snap to Grid remains active until you deselect Snap to Grid, or until you delete the grid.
When Snap to Grid is enabled, you may find that objects continue not to snap to the grid. This may be because the
Grid has not been designed to allow snapping to take place.
For details, see
Reference > Tools > Grid Designer .
Show or hide grids
Grids are useful when you are constructing a flipchart, or when you want to align or measure objects precisely. You may want to show or hide a grid when you are presenting at the board. You can still use the snap to grid feature without showing the grid itself.
We assume that you have already added a grid to the page.
Here we show you two ways to show and hide grids.
Property Browser
1. Click on the page to select it.
2. Open the
Property Browser
3. Scroll down to Grid. Set
Visible to True to show the grid, or to False to hide it.
Right-click
1. Right-click on the page.
2. Select
Hide Grid. This is a toggle switch, you can use it to show or hide the grid.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:15 PM]
Using grids
For details of how to create your own grids with the
Grid Designer
, see Creating and editing grids
.
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:15 PM]
Creating objects
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Creating objects
Creating objects
Here we show you how to:
Create a shape
1. Click on
Shape
Shapes Menu opens:
The cursor changes to give you a preview of the default shape
In ActivInspire Studio, it opens vertically on the right of the ActivInspire window by default.
, a straight line. The
In ActivInspire Primary, it opens in a horizontal film strip along the bottom edge of the ActivInspire window. Click on the buttons on the film reel to reveal more shapes.
2. Click on another shape, for example, the triangle. Note that the cursor changes to a triangle .
3. Position the cursor where you want to start drawing the triangle, then click and drag until you are satisfied with the shape.
Change its color
Here are two ways to change the color of a shape:
Change the outline color
1. Click on
Fill
2. Select a colour from the Color Palette.
In ActivInspire Studio, this is in the Main Toolbox.
In ActivInspire Primary, this is in a pod at the bottom of the ActivInspire window.
3. Position the cursor over the outline of the shape and click. The outline color changes to the one you chose.
If you click near, but not on the outline, the whole page will be filled with the color you selected. Just click on
Undo
and try again.
Change the fill color
New shapes are filled by default. Changing the fill color is even easier than changing the outline color:
1. Click on
Fill
2. Select a color from the Color Palette.
3. Position the cursor over the centre of the shape and click. The shape fills with the color you chose.
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Creating objects
file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:18 PM]
Easy teacher tricks
Show
>
First steps with ActivInspire > Easy teacher tricks
Easy teacher tricks
ActivInspire helps you include images, color and interactivity in your lessons. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of the software:
1. Use color and fonts
Interactive whiteboards give you the opportunity to use many colors in your classes. It’s easy to get into the habit of using only one or two fonts. Explore the full range of fonts available, but remember to choose strong colors that work well on the board, keep your layout uncluttered, so that the aims and objectives of the lesson don't get lost in the detail.
2. Raid the Resource Library
In the Resource Library you’ll find a wide range of images, backgrounds and other resources.
3. Use many pages
Spread exercises over a number of pages to help you control the pace of lessons.
4. Re-save your flipcharts
When you teach with your flipcharts you will customize them for each class. Re-save the flipchart with a different name when you have finished teaching the lesson and distribute the flipchart to your students.
5. Print your flipcharts
Use the pages as handouts.
6. Explore the presentation tools
Take advantage of ActivInspire’s presentation features to make lessons more creative and engaging. What do the
Revealer the
Spotlight
the
Tickertape
and
Magic Ink
do?
7. Get your students involved
Encourage students to do presentations at the board; let them create their own pages; let them take control of tools; let them work together in Dual User mode; ask them ad-hoc questions to stimulate discussion.
8. Share your flipcharts
And make sure your colleagues share their flipcharts with you!
9. Incorporate your current resources into the flipchart
If you already use CD-ROMs, DVDs and USB storage devices, use them with your flipcharts. Use scanners to copy handouts you’ve already created – but remember to take advantage of ActivInspire's opportunities for interactivity.
10. Keep the focus on what is being learned
ActivInspire offers excellent opportunities for flexible teaching, making it look like you’re being spontaneous whilst sticking strictly to the lesson plan laid down in the flipchart.
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Popup Menus
Show
>
> Popup Menus
Popup Menus
Popup Menus are context specific, for example, the Object Edit Menu is only available when you are working with objects.
You can display Popup Menus by clicking on this icon , or by right-clicking on a flipchart page or object.
For full details of the tools provided in ActivInspire, see
Here we give you an overview of the tools and functions available in the Popup Menus in ActivInspire:
Object Edit Menu
When you have selected an object, you can also display the Object Edit Menu from this Marquee Handle
You can access the following functions from the Object Edit Menu:
Tool Studio Primary
Description
More info...
Property
Browser
Opens the Property Browser.
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire's Browsers > Property
Action Browser
Opens the Action Browser.
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire's Browsers > Action
Edit Shape
Points
Activates an object's shape points so that you can drag them to change the shape of the object.
First steps with ActivInspire >
Adding and manipulating shapes
Insert link to file...
Opens the Insert Link to File
Dialog Box.
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding and removing links
Cut
Copy
First steps with ActivInspire >
Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
First steps with ActivInspire >
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Popup Menus
Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or deletes the selected object.
Paste
Delete
Transform
Reorder
Toggle Locked
Toggle Grouped
Toggle Hidden
Toggle Drag a
Copy
Displays tools for changing the position, size and alignment of the selected object.
Displays tools for moving selected objects to a different place in the stacking order, or to another layer
Toggle switch. Locks or unlocks selected object(s) so that they can or cannot be moved or grouped with other objects.
Toggle switch. Groups selected objects so that you can work on them as a single object.
Toggle switch. Shows or hides the selected object(s).
Toggle switch. Enables or disables the ability to click on an object and create another copy by dragging it away from the original.
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Transforming objects
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire's Browsers > Object
Page Menu
This menu is available from the Page Browser and by right-clicking on a flipchart page.
Tool Description
Insert Page
More info...
First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting pages
Blank Page Before Current
Blank Page After Current
Inserts a blank page before or after the current one.
Desktop Snapshot
Minimizes ActivInspire and opens the
'Insert Page' Popup Box with the
Camera set to 'Take a Snapshot'.
More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Camera
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Popup Menus
More Page Templates
Insert Question
Export Page
Set Background
Opens a 'User Selected' folder.
Has the same effect as clicking on the
Other Resource Folder icon in the
Resource Browser.
Launches the 'Insert Question' Wizard.
More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > Adding resources to a flipchart
Opens the 'Export Page' Dialog Box.
Using Learner Response Systems >
Prepared questions - Using the
More about ActivInspire > Importing and exporting files
Opens the 'Set Background' Dialog Box.
Select from:
Fill
Image
Desktop Snapshot
Desktop Overlay
Opens the Grid Designer.
Hides the grid.
Makes moving objects snap to the grid.
More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Creating and editing grids
Adds the selected item to the 'My
Resources' folder.
More about ActivInspire > Working with resources
Grid Designer
Hide Grid
Snap to Grid
Add to Resource Library
Add Page
Add Background
Add Grid
Cut
Copy
Paste
Duplicate
Delete
Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or deletes the current flipchart page.
Resource Browser Folders Menu
This menu is available in the Folders section of the Resource Browser.
Tool Description
Export to Resource Pack...
Opens the 'Save as...' Dialog Box.
More info...
More about ActivInspire > Working with file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/popup_menus.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:22 PM]
Popup Menus
Import Resource Pack Here...
Rename Folder
Delete Folder
Create New Folder
Only available for top-level folder in 'My
Resources' and 'Shared Resources'.
Only available for lower-level folders in
'My Resources', 'Shared Resources' and 'User Selected' folders.
Opens a dialog box to let you rename, delete or create a folder.
resources > Importing and exporting resource packs
Resource Browser Items Menu
This menu is available in the Resources section of the Resource Browser.
Description Tool
View Mode
View as list
View as grid
Thumbnail Size
Small
Large
Insert into Flipchart
Displays resources in the folder as a list or grid.
Displays small or large thumbnails of resources.
Inserts selected resource into the current flipchart page.
More info...
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Primary >ActivInspire's
Rename Resource File
First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting resources
More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > Adding resources to a flipchart
Delete from Library
Opens the 'Rename Resource File'
Dialog Box. Lets you enter a new filename and save the resource.
Deletes the selected resource from the
Resource Library.
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