Copyright: Typing® 1994 David B. Hughes


Contents

Shareware

The Typing program is Copyright © 1994 By David B. Hughes. This program is being distributed using the "Shareware" concept. That is, you may try the program before you buy it. If you find that this program is useful and wish to keep using it, please register the program. The price of this program is 2 (two) dollars (US).

To register, send the 2 (two) dollars (US) to:
David B. Hughes
993 North Vulcan #5
Encinitas, CA
92024

Thank you for supporting the Shareware concept!

What Is The Typing Program?

The Typing program was created for those new (and perhaps not so new) users of computers to practice typing.  The Typing program is simple to use and will not intimidate new computer users. The program will track errors you have made, but it does not keep track of "words per minute". This is because most new users have problems finding ALL the keys. Thus, finding the any desired key is the object.

In addition to the wide variety of keys, the program also offers a wide variety of words and phrases to practice on.  A more experienced user can add new words and phrases to customize the program.

Where To Install

Practice

Errors

Adding New Words

Adding New Phrases

Tips


Where To Install

You must install the program and data files in the Windows directory.  This is necessary because the program needs to maintain the .BIN files when the .FIL files are modified.

The files you need to install are:

1 	TYPING.EXE	The program

2 	TYPING.HLP	This help file

3 	WORDS.FIL	The file of words to practice on

4 	WORDS.BIN	The indices into the WORDS.FIL file

5 	PHRASE.FIL	The file of phrases to practice on

6 	PHRASE.BIN	The indices into the PHRASE.FIL file


Practice

This dialog box allows you to choose what kind of typing practice you wish to have. You can choose:

1 	random lowercase letters

The program will display keys located on the "unshifted" portion of the keyboard.

2 	RANDOM UPPERCASE LETTERS

The program will display keys located on the "shifted" portion of the keyboard.

3 	RaNdOm MiXeD CaSe LeTtErS

The program will display a mixture of uppercase (shifted)  and lower (unshifted) letters.

4 	Random Words

The program will search the WORDS.FIL file for a word for you to type. Note that the program will occasionally make the first letter of the word uppercase (shifted).

5 	Random Phrases

The program will search the PHRASE.FIL file for a phrase for you to type.

After you have made your choice of one of the above, press the keyboard key "Enter" (on some keyboards "Return")  to get your next letter, word or phrase to practice with.

You also have a choice of the following buttons on the screen:

Will display this help file

Will display the error summary screen

Will make the program an Icon on your desktop

Will exit the program

Is like pressing the "Enter" button. That is, you will get your next letter, word or phrase to practice on.


Errors

This dialog box will display the accumulated errors per letter since the program was started.  There is also the following buttons:

This button will clear the accumulated errors.

This button will return you to the Practice screen. Note that you may also press the "ESC" (escape) button on your keyboard.


Adding New Words

The file WORDS.FIL is a file containing the words that TYPING.EXE will use. You can add new words to this file by using any standard text editor (such as NOTEPAD or EDIT).  It is not important if you have the file sorted (a..z) before the TYPING.EXE program uses it.  You may add new words anyplace in the file that you choose. The file may contain upto 2000 (but not more) words. The words that you add can be upto 256 characters in length (thats a big word...).

When you start the TYPING.EXE program it will create a new WORDS.BIN file which is a file of indices into the WORDS.FIL.  So don't worry about the WORDS.BIN file, the program will maintain it for you.  You may also note that the program will take a few more moments to start when it creates this file.  Also note that this delay will only occur when words are added to the WORDS.FIL.  After the WORDS.BIN file has been updated, the program will start much quicker!


Adding New Phrases

The file PHRASE.FIL contains simple phrases that you will practice with. As with the WORDS.FIL file, you can use any standard text editor (such as NOTEPAD.EXE) to add new phrases to practice with. You can add new practice phrases anywhere in the file. The new phrase you add should not exceed 256 characters in length.  Also, you can not exceed 2000 phrases.

When you start the TYPING.EXE program it will create a new PHRASE.BIN file which is a file of indices into the PHRASE.FIL.  So don't worry about the PHRASE.BIN file, the program will maintain it for you.  You may also note that the program will take a few more moments to start when it creates this file.  Also note that this delay will only occur when words are added to the PHRASE.FIL.  After the PHRASE.BIN file has been updated, the program will start much quicker!


Tips

Remember that the more you type, the easier it gets (really).  While these words of wisdom mean very little when you can't find any key, it is important that you keep practicing.

Also, keep your finger on the "home key" positions.  Note that most keyboards have the two home keys (the "F" and "J") marked with a dimple (bump). These little bumps allow you to know EXACTLY where the home key is without looking at the keyboard.

Starting with your left hand, place your little finger on the "A" key. The next finger over gets the "S", next gets the "D" and finally your left index finger is on the "F" (feel the bump?).  Now with you right hand little finger on the ";" key, next gets the "L" key, next gets the "K" key and finally your right index finger is on the "J" key (feel the bump?). If you've done this, your hands are now on the "home keys"!

I know, great what about the other keys!  From the home key postions you can reach UP or down a COLUMN to get all the keys. For example, your left little finger should be able to reach the following column of keys: 1,q,a,z.  In addition, these keys are within reach: TAB,CTRL,SHIFT.  Now your index fingers will also have their column of keys plus the next inner one: For example, your left index finger will reach this column of keys: 4,r,f,v  AND reach across to get: 5,t,g,b. This same formula works with the right hand. With the exception that your right little finger will also press the "Enter" key and all those to the right (- = [ ] ').

So to sum it up, your little fingers (especially your right one) can get busy!  Also, your index fingers do double duty also!  Your thumbs, what about your thumbs?  They will handle the space bar (the big long one). Yep, that's about it unless you want to add a new twist to touch typing.  Here is a tough one, with your left hand in the home position (asdf), press your little finger on the shift button and your right index on the 5. What should have come out was the % key. The point I'm trying to make is there are some long reaches that get easier with practice. Get used to feeling the bumps under your index fingers. They will inform you that your hands are in the home position (left on: ASDF, right on: JKL:).

What about the F1 to F10 buttons?  Well, lift your hand up to reach for it then RETURN to the home position.

As you practice, don't wory about speed. That will come with practice. For awhile when you need to find a key you'll think, is that my left hand or my right, this finger or that finger.  That's ok, just look down, find the key and remember the finger to use for it.

Remember, Touch Typing is one way to use the keyboard. There are others that work for other people. But one thing they all have in common is: practice!


Left Hand
Left Hand Finger Placement


Right Hand
Right Hand Finger Placement


customize

See the Adding New Words or Adding New Phrases section of this help file


left hand

<Left Hand>


maintain

See the Adding New Words or Adding New Phrases section of this help file


PHRASE.FIL

See the Adding New Phrases section of this help file


practice

See the tips section of this help file for finger placement on the keyboard.


right hand

<Right Hand>


shifted

An example of a shifted character is "A". If you do not press the shift key you get "a", however if you press shift and a together you get "A" .


unshifted

Some keys on the keyboard serve dual purposes. For example, look at the "." key. It has the ">" on it also. The "." will be used in the unshifted position while the ">" will be used when you press on this key AND the shift key.


WORDS.FIL

See the Adding New Words section of this help file