Sharada-Braille-Writer (SBW) is a text editor that allows one to type in multiple languages using just six keys on a computer keyboard.
One can use either the ordinary keyboard or the six keys in it, for using his Braille knowledge while typing. The keys f,d,s,j,k and l represent the Braille dots 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 respectively.
A letter appears on the screen when the keys representing it's dots are pressed and released together.
For example in English Braille, letters a,b and c are represented by dot 1, dot 1and 2 , dot 1and 4 respectively. In sharada-Braille-Writer key f is used for letter a, key f and d is used for letter b key f and j is used for letter c ; and these keys must be pressed and released together.
This text editor is unique since the user can create abbreviations in any language in addition to all the contractions and abbreviations available in Braille.
Go to the application menu using alt F1, there in the sub menu of universal access menu sharada Braille writer appears, open it by pressing enter.
Apart from the writing field the writer can open new pages using control N. The user can use different settings in each page. To cycle between different pages the user can use alt 1, alt 2,alt 3 et
Press control S use tab to move to the name field here one can use the Braille mode if he/she wants, pressing F1 will bring the English grade 1 language then press the shift tab to get the save button.
Use control O, file list appears, press enter in the desired file , Control + end key will move the cursor to the end of the document.
SBW provides the special features- Undo and redo.
To cancel the immediate previous action one can use the Undo feature using control z.
To cancel the undo result again, one can use the redo feature using control Y.
Pressing control i will announce the current line. Here the user can use up and down Arrow or type the number of a particular line to move to that line, finally press the enter in the go push button.
The user can find a letter or a world in the file using control F, there appears the search window, here the user can type the character or word he wants to find then tab to move to previous or next option , the user can move through the list using numpad 7, to read the entire line of the search result use numpad 9
To replace word or character with another, press shift + control+F, type the word to find in the search menu, then use the tab to type the replacing word in the replace menu. Then go through the list in the previous or next option to select the word to be replace, use tab and press the replace push button finally press close button.
171 languages are included in the Liblouis engine in SBW. The user can go through the list of languages and select the ones he wants in the Liblouis language list in the language menu.
38 languages are included in the built in engine in SBW. The user can go through the list of languages and select the ones he wants in the Liblouis language list in the language menu.
Abbreviation editor allows the user to create his or her own abbreviations in any language.
To create abbreviations press alt shift m, press enter in the add push button, there appears the new entry window,now type the abbreviation in the language of his choice, press tab to the expansion menu and type the expansion, again tab to press the Add button.
Finally close the window to go to the edit field.
While typing, after writing the abbreviation press key a in the normal keyboard and the abbreviation will be expanded.
Press Control l to know the number of the current line.
SBW provides spell checker in English language. Shift+plus+7 opens a window,there moving tabs the user can see change,change all and delete options.The next tab provides the suggetion list.
Using arrow keys user can go through the list.and select the correct word. Once the word is decided, move tab and press the change push button.To use spell checker in Malayalam, The application 'add spell dict' must be installed.
Any text can be converted in to audio format.
After selecting text go to the tools menu , press enter in the audio converter frame, here the user can use the tab followed by arrow keys to set the speed , pitch, split of time , volume and the language which must be written in the field provided and finally press the convert push button. Here the user can give the file name and save it , it will be kept in the home folder.
Press control + right square bracket (Ctrl +] )
Press control+ left square bracket ( Ctrl + [ )
To open preference press Control + p. Here the user the right arrow or left arrow to navigate through the 4 pages called , General Page, Liblouis language page, Built-in language page and keybindings
In the general page the user can use the tab to set the Liblouis or built in as the default engine.
Using the tab user can check the check boxes of auto capitalisation of the first character of sentence and line.
Using the tabs the user can check the auto new line check box in the line limiting panal. He can also set the number of characters in a line by typing it or using the arrow keys. The number of characters in a line by default is 100.
The user can make changes in the view panal using tab, go through the list using arrow keys, set the selection by pressing enter. The default font is rachana regular.
The user can go to the themes by using tab , where 13 different combinations of themes are provided for low vision. One can navigate through the list using arrow keys.
Two engines called Liblouis and built-in engine are included in SBW.
The user can move to the Liblouis page by pressing right arrow twice in preferences.
Using tabs here, the user can see the languages assigned to the keys f1 to f11. He can assign the language of his choice by using arrow keys in each tab . Ones the selection is completed he can press the apply push button. By default, key F1, F2 and f11 are assigned to English grade 1, English grade 2 and English grade 3 respectively.
By default built in engine is prepared to write exactly like the way in normal scrip. When Combination of consonants comes as a syllable , the required (chandrakkala) symbol comes between the consonants in normal scrip.
To make it effective in Braille mode,
go to the bulit in page in preference pressing right arrow thrice, and tab to check the conventional mode.
To avoid contractions in built in engine check the simple mode in built in page in preferences.
Braille pattern is available in SBW. Braille pattern can be activated by pressing control f11. There after, Braille dotes will appear on screne instead of letters.
F12 can be used to switch between normal keyboard and braille keyboard In Sbw.
Keys F, D, S, J, K and L are used for braille dotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively in SBW. The key binding page, Which is 4th in the preferences, allows the user to make his own choice of keys to represent the 6 braille dotes. Moving tabs in keybinding page, The user can see the dote and The key assigned to it. There one can press the key he wants to use and press the apply button to bring it into effect. For example, One can press key z for dote 1, When 'braille dote 1 f' is read and press apply button.
The changes we make in preferences will come in to effect only after the apply push button is pressed.
To cancel all the changes we made in preferences, Press the restore button.
Let Us see the default keys in SBW. The braille dotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are represented by the keys F, D, S, J, K and L respectively. To support the 8 braille in future, key Z and fullstop are considered as Dote 7 and dote 8 respectively. Semy colen in normal keyboard must be pressed before writing punctuations in built in engine. Key A is used for expanding the abriviations, Key G for caps lock and Key H for deleting the previous character.
In order to get Malayalam half Consonants In built in engine, Press full stop after That consonants. Previous character can be deleted by pressing the key H. Key I is used as the list switcher in both Engines. . When the occasions of ambiguity Arises due to the use of The same dotes for letter and punctuation, the list switcher key I can be used To indicate the other. For example, In Malayalam, Dote 235 is used for the letter ഫ And exclamation Mark. Likewise, Dote 345 is used for the vowel sound ആ and the simbol ar. There the list switcher key will be useful To Type the one we want. Again, To write the Hindi word हुा after writing हु dote 345 must be pressed. This key is also used as the disjoined key.
By default, The following keys are assigned for These functions.
Space in normal keyboard for spacing.
Enter key or the key N for adding new line.
Key G for caps lock.
Key H for deleting the previous character.
Keys G and H together for deleting the previous word.
F12 for switching between normal keyboard and braille keyboard.
keys F1 to F11 are assigned for different languages.
The user can assign any key To the above functions by choosing the key He wants in the key binding page in preferences and pressing the apply push button. To assign the default keys again, He can use the restore button.