You should have received the following files when you decompressed the Presentation Prompter file. If any one of these files is missing, there is a chance that you have received an illegally modified copy of Presentation Prompter. If this is the case, head to http://members.xoom.com/nickman995/home.html, and re-download it in it's original form. Also notify me, and the source that you obtained Presentation Prompter from.
*Presentation Prompter 1.4.0 application
*Demo Presentation
*Documentation Folder (4 items) - Presentation Prompter Read Me , Product Evaluation, Present Prompter Version Info., Problem? Report
*URL Folder (6 items + 1 folder) - 1 URL to my site, 1 URL for ordering Online, 1 folder for pre OS 8.5 users, 1 NS URL to my site for pre OS 8.5 users, 1 NS URL for ordering Online for pre OS 8.5 users, 1 IE URL to my site for pre OS 8.5 users, and 1 IE URL for ordering Online for pre OS 8.5 users
*Registration Folder (5 items+3 folders) - Register application and register application info, 1 URL for ordering Online, 1 folder for pre OS 8.5 users, 1 NS URL for pre OS 8.5 users, and 1 IE URL for pre OS 8.5 users.
Presentation Prompter is a prompting utility. It can take any bit of text, allow you to set it up best for the environment you plan to present it in, and scroll it smoothly at the speed you desire. It has just about all features other programs of it's kind has, and a little more. If you are part of a small studio, classroom speech and debate teacher, or even professional newscaster and don't have a lot of money to spend, Presentation Prompter is the perfect tool for you!
What are some uses for Presentation Prompter?
There are many uses for a text prompting utility. It can be used by news anchors, public speakers, choir singers, and just about anyone else who needs to read styllable and custom text at a pace they desire. You can quickly and easily copy and paste text into the field, modify it to your liking, and begin the scrolling process within moments, unlike a lot of the other prompting software out there which takes a while to set up.
What makes Presentation Prompter better than the competition?
Presentation Prompter was designed to be easy to use and feature filled from the get go. Most text prompters cost quite a bit as well. However, Presentation Prompter is different because it is also meant for those who don't have a whole lot to spend for a prompting tool. The cost is $22, which is well below most competitors.
Specifically, this is what makes it better:
Full selection of fonts, sizes, and styles
Colored text, and backgrounds
Functions that can make text lower, upper, or title case within a click
The ability to scroll images with text
The ability to set keypoints to get to specific areas, or key points of a presentation quickly
200 different rates of speed control
Professional control for scrolling, with the industry standard key commands to adjust speeds and start/pause scrolling
Smooth scrolling
Handy edit toolbar when editing text, to speed up the process
Easy to learn and use interface
Responsive controls
Exporting text as Simpletext or Rich Text documents for scripts that need reviewing or printing
Importing text as Simpletext or Rich Text documents to continue a script quickly
How do I begin scrolling?
Under the modes menu, switch from Edit to Presentation Mode, and press the space bar, or click on the start button. Pressing the button again will pause it, as will pressing the spacebar again.
Can I speed up the scrolling Presentation Prompter?
Simply change the speed slider, and the text will scroll faster or slower. The greater the speed number, the faster it will scroll.
While scrolling, you can also just press the left and right arrows, and it will slow it down, or speed it up. "t" will also toggle turbo mode, but all of this can only be done while it is in Presentation Mode.
Can I setup custom speeds to scroll by while in Presentation Mode?
Presentation Prompter has it setup where you can, instead of adjusting the speed by 1 with the arrows (or with the mouse), while in Presentation Mode, you can specify a specific amount to increase and decrease by, by using the + and - keys. In the preferences, look for this option, and type in the number you would like for it to increase/decrease by, each time when this is changed.
When using it in Presentation Mode, remember that it is + and -. (Some people who don't use the keypad for this may consider the "=" key to really be a plus key.)
I have an older Mac, and Presentation Prompter still scrolls too slow! What do I do?
You can turn on turbo mode, which will make each scrolling speed twice as fast. It should help a lot, especially for people on older machines.
How do I edit the text in Presentation Prompter?
Open up the Editing window under the file menu, then highlight text you wish to modify, and begin. You can close it at any time by using Command-W, and re-open it by pressing Command E.
Changing into Edit Mode will also do the same task. You cannot edit the text while in Presentation Mode as well.
Are there any other ways to get out of Presentation Mode?
Yes. Pressing the escape key will also bring you back into edit mode.
I want to hide the menu bar. How do I do this?
The latest version of Presentation Prompter now has the option to hide the menubar, if you desire for it to be hidden. This will only work, if full screen is selected. To get this working, open the preferences window, and click on the hide menu bar checkbox preference as to mark it, and then click on the save preferences button. When you switch to full screen mode, the menu bar will be hidden, and when you switch back to normal, it will reveal itself again.
I want to hide the control strip. How do I do this?
The control strip is also something that gets in the way while using Presentation Prompter full screen. To hide it, open up the preferences window, and click on the hide control strip checkbox, so it is marked. When you switch to full screen mode, the control strip will be hidden, and when you switch back to normal, it will reveal itself again.
I have some text in a word processor. How do I get it into Presentation Prompter?
Simply copy and paste it. Since there are so many different file formats out there, you may need to adjust some of the spacing and indenting after the copy and paste, to conform to Presentation Prompter's own file format standard for scrolling.
Presentation Prompter also can scroll Simpletext and Rich Text documents. Simply use the import menu to search for the document type you desire to import, and Presentation Prompter can do it. And if you decide to save, Presentation Prompter is even smart enough to save a copy, leaving the original untouched!
I want to print out what I am scrolling. How can I do this?
Aha! Simply use the export feature under the file menu to export to the format you want, and print from there. Simple and spiffy.
What does >< near the text and background under the Colors on the toolbar mean?
>< stands for invert. So >< Text will invert the selected text, and >< Background will invert the background color.
How do I set Keypoints?
From the Scrolling menu, select set keypoints, and have the cursor set exactly where you want the keypoint to be at. Once you select which keypoint you want to go there, pressing the command key and the number will take you there. (Be sure not to delete or modify any of the "•#•" text, as it will not function correctly.) I recommend using the keypad for this, as you may accidentally quit Presentation Prompter if your fingers are in the wrong places.
Also, I would recommend setting Keypoints slightly above where the text you will read is going to be, since activating them makes sure they are at the bottom of the document (except on the first page of the document). I also recommend spacing around it to make text to read a little easier to find.
How do I get to Keypoints?
Simply press Command-Keypoint#, and it will take you there. Or if you are in Presentation Mode, just hitting the number itself will set you directly to the keypoint as well.
The scrolling is jerky, and you say Presentation Prompter scrolls smooth!?! What is the problem?
Presentation Prompter is not the problem here, it is background operations happening on your computer. Quit all applications before using Presentation Prompter for the best performance, and if you are a more advanced user, get a process killer to kill all unnecessary processes occurring on your computer before running. Also, it as will all other apps run better if Virtual Memory is off. (If you are scrolling a REALLY large document, you may want to play it safe and allocate more RAM to Presentation Prompter.)
And if you are doing a presentation remember to quit all apps, and kill background processes if possible.
Any tips for using Presentation Prompter?
When doing a presentation, I recommend that you use colors that contrast so you can read easier. Black and white, blue and red, green and purple, etc. Don't use yellow and light gray, or red and orange, as it is harder to see the text. Also, be aware of the location you will be reading from, and don't make the text color the same as the background of the monitor or environment. (i.e. If you are reading in a dark room, black text may be a little harder to read than white text.) This is why the inverting of colors features were added.
Be sure to put in a few returns at the top of your document before you begin to scroll it. Why? Because this will help eliminate some problems with your presentation... some people normally read the first page a little faster, because there will be more words to start off on, and they won't want to get behind. A few returns at the end of your document will also help if you have a keypoint close to the end.
Also, use the styles to help you remember where to emphasize certain parts of your presentation. Bolding places where you should raise your tone of voice, and underlining steps is a good idea. And if you want, you can change the spacing of the document, and insertion place for returns, that way returned text will be in paragraph form.
How can I pay for Presentation Prompter?
You can use the register application enclosed, or visit http://order.kagi.com/cgi bin/r1.cgi?CXR& and register online. It is a mere $22 for a single user license (one computer of your choice may use Presentation Prompter legally), $200 for a site license (all of your organization's computers within a 10 mile radius may use Presentation Prompter legally), and $500 for the worldwide license (all of your organization's computers anywhere in the world may use Presentation Prompter legally).
*IMPORTANT*
When registering, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that you provide your e-mail address which you want registration information to be sent to, and your real living address. Your unique registration code should reach you via e-mail within 1-7 days after you register.
What is Presentation Prompter made with?
Presentation Prompter was developed using REALbasic from REALsoftware. (http://www.realsoftware.com for more info)
Graphics Design: The IconFactory for some terrific icon design (http://www.iconfactory.com)
Documentation: Nicholas Buratovich
Assistance: Doug Holton
Special Thanks to: Doug Holton, Thomas Tempelmann, Dave Knode, David Newberry, Hugo W. van Rhijn, Shawn King, all Beta Testers, and registered users of Presentation Prompter
Simply Put: Nicholas Buratovich or anyone working for him is not responsible in any possible way if Presentation Prompter (or any of Nicholas Buratovich's software, or files enclosed with any of Nicholas Buratovich's software) does anything bad to you, or anyone/anything you know or use. You (the user), and you alone are the single person responsible.
If you want to distribute Presentation Prompter online, you can do so as long as only the latest version is distributed (the version of it located at my web site), as long as Presentation Prompter and/or it's contents are not modified, excluded or anything else is included, and that it is distributed without profit. If you want to distribute it on a CD or other storage medium, the same rules as above apply, and you must contact me ahead of time, and obtain my permission first (unless I contact you first :-) ).
