 













                               PracType

                       Typing Practice Program


                             Version 3.0



                    Copyright 1991, 1995, and 1996





















                                EMENGIE
                         13032 Ambaum Blvd. SW
                      Seattle, Washington   98146

                       70413.571@compuserve.com



                                NOTICE

PracType is Copyrighted 1991, 1995, and 1996 by G. R. Anderson.  All
rights to the program and documentation are reserved.  

This product is distributed as SHAREWARE.  It is provided on a single
diskette.  You may copy this diskette for trial use by others under the
following conditions:

     The diskette must be copied in unmodified form except as described
     herein, and must contain all files.  

     No fee or other compensation may be charged except for disk
     reproduction and distribution costs.  

Unregistered holders of PracType are granted the privilege of use on a
trial basis.  Should you find the program useful, register your copy by
filling out the registration form and submitting it with the appropriate
registration fee.  The registration form is in file REGISTER.

Upgrade and technical assistance privileges described in this manual are
granted to Registered owners of PracType.  

SHAREWARE is an exceptional marketing process that depends on the
integrity of SHAREWARE users.   It allows you to try programs before
buying them and to share them with others if you like them, in exchange
for an obligation to buy them if you use them.  The success of the
SHAREWARE concept depends on you.  

                * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.

Quick Windows Advanced User Interface Library is Copyright 1992 by
Software Interphase, Inc.

                * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

                        DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

THIS PROGRAM AND DOCUMENT ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  ANY LIABILITY OF
THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO REPLACEMENT OF A PURCHASED DISK
OR REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE.  NO OTHER WARRANTY, WHETHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, IS OFFERED.  

GOOD DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY
TESTED WITH NONCRITICAL DATA BY THE USER BEFORE RELYING ON IT.  THE USER
MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM AND DOCUMENTATION,
INCLUDING INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE TO HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, OR
DATA.  


                                  ii
                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

GETTING STARTED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

TYPING BASICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

KEYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
     KEYBOARD ROWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
     PROBLEM KEYS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
     MULTIPLE KEYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

SPEED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

PRACTICE SCREEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
     SCORING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
     PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

LOG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
     NEW LOG FILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
     OPEN A LOG FILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
     VIEW A LOG FILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
     CLOSE A LOG FILE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
     DELETE A LOG FILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

CONFIGURATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10


                            LIST OF FILES 


                             PracType.EXE

                             HELP_TXT    

                             MANUAL      

                             REGISTER    

                             EXAMPLE.LOG 

                              README    

                             INSTALL.BAT 



                                  iii
                             INTRODUCTION


Using a digital computer is much easier if you know how to type.  Imagine
being able to copy text into your computer with nearly 100% accuracy
without looking at your keyboard or monitor.  Wouldn't that make data
entry easier, even if you typed slowly?  
 
This is not a capability that you learn.  Your fingers learn it, while
you suffer the indignities of the learning process.  They learn it with
practice.  PracType will make that easy for you.  
 
There are some things that you can do to make it easy for your fingers to
learn typing, as well as to make your typing tasks easy.  The Typing
Basics section below describes what you can do.  

The Installation section below describes options in setting up PracType
on your computer.  Then, before starting the program, review the Getting
Started section to learn how to use the program.  

To run PracType change to the disk or directory containing the program
and enter PRACTYPE.  Messages at the bottom of the screen will then
describe the currently operating portion of the program and provide
directions for proceeding.  Watch these messages carefully until you are
thoroughly familiar with the program.  
 
When you want to quit practicing and return to your operating system,
select the Exit entry in the Menu pulldown menu.  


                             INSTALLATION


Practype requires an IBM PC compatible computer with a DOS 3.0 compatible
operating system installed.  It consists of an executable program, an
installation program,  several data files, and a document.  The program
is written for IBM and IBM-compatible computers using the C programming
language.  PracType uses the Quick Windows Advanced User Interface
Library which is Copyrighted 1992 by Software Interphase, Inc.  

It is recommended that, before doing anything, you make a copy of the
PracType disk, as protection against damaging the original.  Then install
PracType  on your hard disk, or on another floppy disk, as described
below.  Retain the original floppy disk, and the copy, as-is, so you can
make trial-use copies for your friends or for someone you want to get
even with.  Do not alter the original disk in any way or use it in day-
to-day work, except as noted in the DISTRIBUTION section below.  Use your
copy as your working disk, and make all of your changes on it. 

You may install PracType either manually or with the LOAD program
supplied with PracType.  To use LOAD, enter LOAD at the DOS prompt. 



                                   1
The screen will describe how to implement your installation options and
how to print various PracType documents.  

You may install PracType manually on your hard disk with the following
commands, which are based on your floppy being installed in drive A: and
on your hard disk being drive C: 
                    C:
                    MD \PracType
                    CD \PracType
                    COPY A:\*.*

Adjust these commands as required to accommodate different floppy or hard
disk drives or to use a different directory.  

After installing PracType, you may want to print a copy of the document. 
To do this from DOS, move to the directory where PracType is installed,
using the CD command above or your equivalent of it.  Then enter:

                TYPE MANUAL > PRN   

or use a word processor.  (The description of the appearance of the space
character on the practice screen, given in the Typing Basics section
below, will not be correct if you use the TYPE command above.  See the 
Typing Help entry in the program for the correct description.)  The
manual provides typing tips, offers practice suggestions, and explains
the program features.  Most of this material is available in the help
menus in the program.  


                             DISTRIBUTION


If you use PracType, please register your copy, unless, of course, it is
already registered to you.  (The registration file on your floppy disk
shows the name of the registered user.)  You may register your copy by
filling out the form in the registration file and submitting it with the
appropriate registration fee.  From DOS you may produce a copy of the
registration form by changing to your PracType directory and entering:

               TYPE REGISTER > PRN

or by using a word processor.  After receiving your notification of
registration, place your name and your new registration number in the
registration file on your original PracType disk and on all copies, using
an ASCII text editor.  If you use a word processor, be sure to save the
file on the disk in an ASCII format.  Entering your name in this file
shows that it is yours.  No other changes to your original disk are
allowed.  

Registered owners of PracType are entitled to discounts on future
versions of PracType.  In addition, they are entitled to a free upgrade 



                                  2
to a future version under either of the following conditions:

     Three or more people, who received their copy of PracType from you,
     register their copy.

     We use your suggestion in updating PracType.  We reserve the right
     to select the winning submitter of each suggestion.  (Please
     remember to include your registration number with your suggestion!)


Registered owners are encouraged to request help in using PracType. 
Submit your request in writing with as much detail as possible.  Be sure
to include your registration number.  Responses will be provided as time
permits.  Telephone support will be provided only if a technical support
person is here when you call.  That does not always happen.

You may sell your registered copy, along with all back up copies and your
printed document, at any agreeable price.  Be sure to transfer the
registration using the transfer option in the registration file.  From
DOS you can produce a copy of this file by changing to your PracType
directory and entering:

                 TYPE REGISTER > PRN.  

Be sure to get signatures of both buyer and seller.  Be aware that you
sell all of your accumulated and future upgrade privileges when you sell
your registered copy.  


                            GETTING STARTED


PracType allows you to practice on any of several portions of the
keyboard and over a wide range of speeds.  Beginning typists should start
with the Home Keys and the Beginning Speed.  PracType will suggest speed
changes to improve your accuracy and rhythm, and will recommend trying
new keys when appropriate.  
 
More advanced typists may start with whatever keys and speed that they
can handle accurately with a constant rhythm.  PracType will suggest
changes as warranted.  
 
Practice sessions are specified by making key and speed selections 
from pulldown menus.  The Key and Speed sections, below, describe how to
make these selections.  It is good practice to select these entries
without using the mouse or looking at the keyboard.  Highlight the
options with the cursor keys, place your hands in the Home position, and
then press the Enter key by reaching with your right-hand little finger. 
 
Practice begins by selecting Practice from the Menu pulldown menu.  
Place your hands in the Home position and, when you are ready, press 



                                   3
any key to start the practice session.  The Practice Screen section 
below describes this screen and how to use it. 

After you become familiar with the program, you may want to alter the way
the program works.  The Configuration section below describes the options
available to you.  Furthermore, you should consider maintaining a log
file so that you may review your learning progress.  See the Log section,
below, for details.  


                             TYPING BASICS


There are only a few typing basics.  The first is posture.  Sit erect,
near the front of your chair, with your feet flat on the floor.  Your
forearms should be nearly horizontal, with your elbows bent 90 degrees,
when your fingers are on the keyboard. 
 
The second is hand position.  Curve your fingers so that you type on
their tips.  Place your left index finger above the "f" key and your
right index finger above the "j" key.  This is the "home" typing
position.  Many keyboards have bumps on these keys so you can find "home"
without looking.  Type, moving your hands from "home" as little as
possible, by reaching with your fingers.  (You don't want to have to
search for "home" by feeling for the bumps or looking.)  
 
From the Home position your left fingers can type "a", "s", "d", and "f"
by simply pressing down.  Similarly, your right fingers can type "j",
"k", "l", and ";".  Also, either thumb can type a space by simply
pressing down.  A space appears as a  on the practice screen.  The Keys
section describes how to type other keys.  
 
Finally, your typing should occur at a very constant rhythm, as if you
were typing to music.  See the Speed entry in the Help pulldown menu for
tips on controlling rhythm.
 
We suggest that you learn how to find the cursor and page positioning
keys and the tab, enter, backspace, home, end, insert, and delete keys,
without looking at the keyboard.  Knowing these keys  will greatly
increase your data entry speed.  All of the discussion, in the Help menus
and in the document, concerning program usage refer to the use of these
keys, rather than the use of the mouse.  If a mouse is available,
however, it can perform most of the program operations.  If you want to
practice these with the mouse deactivated, you may do so by selecting the
mouse entry in the configuration section.  It may be reactivated in the
same manner.  







                                   4 
                                 KEYS


The Keys pulldown menu allows you to select the section of the keyboard
you want to practice.  The sections in the top portion of the menu are
individual keyboard rows: Home, Upper, Lower, and Numbers.  They are
described below.  Beginners should start with the Home row.  
 
The bottom portion of the menu selects practice on multiple keyboard rows
and on the use of the shift keys.  These sections should not be attempted
until the items in the top section have been mastered.  
 
The middle section of the menu allows you to identify two keys that need
extra practice.  For instance, you might have trouble reaching the y key. 
Identifying the y key as a problem key would then provide extra practice
on that key, regardless of the portion of the keyboard you are
practicing.  The Problem Key subsection, below, describes how to select
keys for extra practice.  
 
All practice sessions include practice on the uncapitalized home keys. 
This prevents your hands from drifting to the row being learned.
 

KEYBOARD ROWS

 
The "home" hand position is reached by placing your hands with the 
fingers curved and the tips of the index fingers above the "f" and 
"j" keys.  From this position your left fingers can type "a", "s", 
"d", and "f" by simply pressing down.  Similarly, your right fingers 
can type "j", "k", "l", and ";".  Also, either thumb can type a 
space by simply pressing down.  A space is shown as  on the practice
screen.  Do not confuse the grave accent, "`", in the Number Row with the
apostrophe, "'", in the Home Row or the comma, ",", in the Lower Row.  
 
To type any other key, reach with your fingers, moving your hands as
little as possible (you don't want to forget where "home" is).  The keys
reached by each hand are shown below.  Keys reached by the little fingers
on many keyboards are shown in red in the PracType Help screens, and
those reached by the index fingers are shown in magenta.
 
     Your left fingers type:       Your right fingers type:

          1 2 3 4 5                     6 7 8 9 0 - =
          q w e r t                     y u i o p [ ]
          a s d f g                     h j k l ; '
          z x c v b                     n m , . /







                                  5
PROBLEM KEYS

 
Selecting the Problem Keys entry in the Keys pulldown menu opens a dialog
box so that you may identify keys that you feel need extra practice. 
Pressing Tab, or Shift-Tab moves the cursor around in this box.  
 
To identify the first key, move the cursor to the First Problem Key entry
point and press the key.  The cursor then moves to the Second Problem Key
entry point where you may identify a second key.  If there is only one
problem key, simply move the cursor.  
 
When you are satisfied that you have entered the correct keys, move the
cursor to the Accept button and press Enter.  To remove all previously
identified problem keys, move the cursor to the Clear button and press
Enter.  If you want the problem keys identified as they were before you
entered the dialog box, move the cursor to the Cancel button and press
Enter.


MULTIPLE KEYS

 
Start practicing the entries shown at the bottom of the Keys pulldown
menu after you have mastered the individual rows.  Begin with a much
lower speed, until you get familiar with the added complexity of using
the shift key, and of using the whole keyboard.  
 

                                SPEED


You may control typing speed in your practice sessions in two ways.  The
simpler is by selecting the character speed.  You do this by choosing the
desired entry in the Speed pulldown menu.  Beginners should choose the
Beginning speed.  
 
The more difficult speed control requires practice.  Higher speed occurs
when you press the keys soon after the character enters the Character
Display Line.  Slower speed occurs when you allow the character to move
further to the left along the line.
 
In each practice session it is important that you try to press the keys
when the characters are at the same place on the Character Display Line. 
This produces a constant typing rhythm that, in turn, allows you to focus
on typing problems, rather than speed, and thus gradually improve both
accuracy and speed. 
 
It is important, too, that you keep your speed low enough that your
accuracy is high.  Don't work on speed - work on accuracy and rhythm!
Speed will develop naturally.   



                                  6
                            PRACTICE SCREEN


The Practice Screen appears when you select Practice from the Menu
pulldown menu.  Initially the screen contains three important areas: a
Character Display Line, a Message Window, and a results window called
"Hits and Misses.  A Scoring Window and a Recommendations Window appear
at the end of the practice session.  The Scoring section below describes
the Scoring Window and the Performance section describes the
Recommendations Window.
  
The Character Display Line shows which keys to type.  It is at the 
top of the practice screen.  The character to be typed moves from 
right to left along the line.  Type this character before it reaches 
the end of the line as described in the Speed section above.  
 
The Hits and Misses Window is immediately below the Character Display
Line.  It displays your typing accuracy and timing.  At the bottom of
this area is a line containing the names of the keys used in this
session.  Above each key name is a display of your performance in typing
that key.  A smiley face appears when you type that key correctly.  If
you mistyped that key, the character you typed is displayed.  
 
The height of the key above the key name line is a measure of the time it
took you to type the key after it first appeared.  If your typing rhythm
is very good, all of the characters appear in one or two horizontal rows. 

The Message Window is at the bottom of the screen.  It provides
directions for controlling the practice session and for finding
information about PracType.  It also shows how the space character
appears on the Character Display Line.
 
Fast typists may want to use the Lookahead feature.  Selecting Lookahead
in the Configuration pulldown menu activates it.  This feature causes
each character to appear in yellow to the right of the Character Display
line before it enters the line.  This allows shortening your reaction
time, thereby increasing your typing speed.  Use this feature cautiously. 
Refer to the Configuration section below.
 
 
SCORING


Your performance in each practice session is shown in a variety of ways
at the end of each session/  Typing accuracy, speed, and rhythm error
appear in the Scoring Window.  A graphic display of your performance on
each key is shown in the Hits and Misses window.  Keys for which there
was no response appear at the very top of the Hits and Misses window. 
The Hits and Misses Windows is discussed in detail above.
 
Values shown in the Scoring Window are calculated from timing
measurements, Character Display Line position data, and error counts.  


                                  7
The calculations are as follows:

     Accuracy is the percentage of the characters seen on the Character
     Display Line that were typed correctly.

     Speed is the number of characters that appeared on the Character
     Display Line divided by the total number of minutes that characters
     were displayed.

     Rhythm error is a statistical measure of the deviation of the final
     positions on the Character Display line from an approximate mean 
     final position on the line.  A zero rhythm error indicates that all
     characters appeared on one or, maybe two, lines.  


PERFORMANCE

 
The Recommendations window, which appears at the end of the practice
session, suggests ways to improve your keyboarding performance.  Scoring
results are compared with predefined limits to develop the suggestions in
this window.  These limits vary with the number of characters shown on
the bottom line of the Hits and Misses Window.  
 
You can improve accuracy and rhythm by selecting problem keys and by
carefully adjusting typing speed.  Select problem keys by using the
Problem Keys entry in the Keys pulldown menu.  The Speed section above
describes techniques for adjusting typing speed.  Base speed changes and
problem key selections on the performance you usually achieve, rather
than on the results of a single session, because performance values
usually vary significantly from session to session.  The log capability,
if enabled, allows review of your progress for this purpose.  See the LOG
section for details.  


                                 LOG


This feature allows you to keep a running record of your keyboarding
performance so that you can review your progress or look for chronic 
problems.  To record your performance you must have an open log file.
 
 
NEW LOG FILES

 
The first step in developing your log facility is to name a new log file. 
Name new files by using the New entry in the Log menu.  The name must 


                                  8
contain one through eight characters, which may be any of the following:
 
          a through z
          A through Z
          0 through 9
          ~#$&_-{}
 
Do not include a DOS file-name extension (a period followed by one, two,
or three of the above characters).  The log name capitalization displayed
by PracType will depend on your system.  
 
After entering the name, move the cursor using the Tab or Shift-Tab key
to the Accept button and press Enter.  A newly named log file is open and
ready for use.  If you decide against naming a new file, move to the
Cancel button, instead, and press Enter.
 
A PracType log file can hold the results of 64 practice sessions.  If
your file is full you must start a new file or remove some entries from
your existing file using an ASCII text editor.  
 
 
OPEN A LOG FILE

 
To open a previously named log file, choose the Open entry in the Log
menu, and select the file by highlighting its name and pressing Enter. 
Then move the cursor to the Open button and press Enter.  The name of the
currently open log will appear later in the upper right-hand corner of
the Practice Screen.  If you decide against opening a file, move the
cursor to the Cancel button, instead, and press Enter.
 
Only one file may be open at any time.  To change files or to stop
recording performance data, close the currently open file using the Close
entry in the Log menu.  


VIEW A LOG FILE

 
You may examine the currently open file by using the View entry in the
Log menu.  
 
 
CLOSE A LOG FILE

 
You may close a currently open file by using the Close entry in the Log
menu.  






                                  9
DELETE A LOG FILE


You may delete any existing log file unless you have a log file open. 
Choose the Delete entry in the Log menu, and select the file by
highlighting its name and pressing Enter.  Then move the cursor using the
Tab or Shift-Tab key to the Delete button and press enter.  If you decide
against deleting the file, move, instead, to the Cancel button and press
Enter.
 
PracType can find up to 32 log files.  If you have more than 32 in your
practype directory only the first 32 will be displayed.  To use other
files you have several choices: delete some displayed files using
PracType's Delete option, or use DOS to either rename them with a
different extension, or move them to another directory.  New log 
file names will then take the places of these files in the listing. 


                            CONFIGURATION


Entries in this menu activate or deactivate portions of the program.
Pressing Enter on a menu item changes the activation of that item.  A
check mark before the entry indicates that it is activated.
 
The default activation is suitable for most beginners.  Your preferences
will depend on your experience in using the program.  

The Celebrate feature is just for fun.  Deactivate it when you get tired
of it.

Lookahead is for fast typists.  It allows a preview of what key will be
next so you will be ready for it.  Do not watch the "next" key directly,
because that will confuse you, causing you to type it rather than the
moving character.  View it instead with peripheral vision.  If that
doesn't work, disable it.

PracType checks to see that a suitable mouse has been installed.  A mouse
that is compatible with Microsoft (version 6 or higher) or a Logitech
(version 3.42 or higher) is required.  If no suitable mouse is found the
Mouse Entry in the Configuration menu is grey.  Otherwise, this entry has
a normal appearance with a check mark preceding it.  When the mouse is
installed, selecting this entry enables or disables it.  





                                 10