Introduction

Using application

ArtSKeyboard is very easy in use. Selecting appropriate layout from list box you can change the keyboard. At the first time when new keyboard is selected it takes a couple of seconds to load the keyboard data into memory. Next start time this layout will be invoked as the initial.

To type a character simply tap inside to appropriate button square.
To quickly enter space, drag the stylus to the right away from the button square where stylus was dropped down.
Tip: to add space immediately after a character make double tap where last tap continue with the dragging to the right.

To backspace a character, drag the stylus to the left away from a button square.

To quickly add the carriage return, drag the stylus down and to the left away from the button square where stylus was dropped down.

To quickly enter an uppercase letter, drag the stylus up.

If you want enter a lowercase character when keyboard is in ‘Caps Lock’ mode, simply tap stylus and then drag down it away from the button square.

You can increase or decrease keyboard size by continuously pressing appropriate scale button.
You can hide Control Area (area where scale buttons, layouts list and registration/activation button are placed) to reduce space that keyboard occupies on the device screen.
To hide keyboard - tap "Minimize Button". To make keyboard visible - tap to the ArtSKeyboard icon placed on the taskbar.

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Designing a new keyboard

Use the desktop Notepade application to create a new keyboard and save output file in unicode format.
In single file a several keyboards may be described. It is useful when mutually linked keyboards are described. See a keyboard file that included in the package.
Any keyboard layout begins with Header tag.
[Keyboard Name, Abbreviation, SubName,Version]
there:

• Keyboard Name – a text that will be shown in the keyboard list;
• Abbreviation – a two letter string, that will be shown in the special SWITCH button intended to switch to a next keyboard;
• SubName – a special name that is used to link one keyboard with another. For example see base_english.kbi file. Four mutually linked keyboards are placed in one file and have the same Keyboard Name - English, and different SubName strings: "Main", "Caps", "Shift", "ShiftedCaps";
• Version – a number that defines keyboard version. When more than one keyboard with the same header is present in the file, a keyboard with newest version will be loaded.

• X0 -x coordinate of left top corner of button rectangle. May be -1 if equal to a value of previous button;
• Y0 - y coordinate of left top corner of button rectangle. May be -1 if equal to a value of previous button;
• Width - button's width;
• Height - button's height;
• Unicode - character that will be entered into a document when you press the button. Unicode may be a special constant in case of unprintable or ambiguous character. The following constants are allowed: ESCAPE, BACK (code of Backspace), SPACE, TAB, RETURN, COMMA (code of “,” character), DOUBLEQUOTA (code of " character), SHIFT, CAPITAL, HOME, END, LEFT, RIGHT, UP, DOWN, MENU (code of Alt), CONTROL.
  Note: When a constant used to define a unicode, the VIRTUAL flag must be specified;
• Flags -one or more special constant that delimited with the symbol "|"
  The following constants are allowed:
  1. VIRTUAL - any key that defined by a special constant in the Unicode field (SPACE, TAB, RETURN etc.) must be supplied with this flag;
  2. TOGGLE -key with this flag stay pressed until you tap it again;
  3. STICK or DEAD - key with this flag stay pressed until you tap any other key that has not the NORELEASESTICK flag. DEAD flag differ from STICK. Key with DEAD flag releases other pressed keys that have DEAD or STICK flags, whereas key with STICK flag - not releases. For example, Ctrl key having STICK flag is pressed and when you press next key Alt that also having STICK flag, Ctrl key will not be released. DEAD flag in most cases is used together with NEWKEYBD flag;
  4. NORELEASESTICK - key with this flag do not release pressed STICK button;
  5. NEWKEYBD - a key that intended to switch to another keyboard. A new keyboard you want to switch to must be defined in the Content field;
  6. SWITCH -special key that has this flag intended to cyclically switch to available keyboards. Key with this flag must be only once in a keyboard layout;
  7. MACRO -when key with this flag is pressed then a text string instead of one character will be sent into a document. The text string must be defined in the Content field;
  8. LAUNCH -key with this flag start an assigned application. String with the application name must be defined in the Content field;
  9. IMAGEINTERNAL -a key with this flag is displayed as a built in ArtSkeyboard image. Number of associated image must be defined in the Image field;
  10. IMAGEFILE -key with this flag uses image from a bitmap file. String with the image file must be defined in the Image field. The file must be placed in the ArtSKeyboard folder and has the 2BP format;
• Content -in most cases is zero. When MACRO, LAUNCH, NEWKEYBD flags are defined - Content field mast be defined as appropriate text string enclosed in quotation marks;
• Image -in most cases is zero. If IMAGEINTERNAL flag is defined - Image field is the number of ArtSKeyboard internal image. The following images are available:

  Number	Image	Description	Number	Image	Description	Number	Image	Description
  112		Windows key	102		UP ARROW key	108		TAB key
  107		SHIFT key	103		RIGHT ARROW key	109		ALT key
  129		Launch key	105		LEFT ARROW key	131		HOME key
  110		ESC key	104		DOWN ARROW key	130		END key
  106		ENTER key	128		DEL key	113		CTRL key
  114		CAPS LOCK key	127		BACKSPACE key	121..126	..	1..6 dead keys

Using “transread.exe” Utility

The “transread.exe” utility (included in the ArtSKeyboard pack) is intended for automatic designing of a national keyboard from the English as a basic. Input data for the utility is a text file with mapping information in ‘ArtSKey.ini’ format where national characters should be associated with the appropriate English keyboard characters. The ‘ArtSKey.ini’ format in detail is described in the “Customization” section of ArtSKey’s help (http://www.artsoft.ru/ak20we.hlp/ArtSKey.htm).
You need to edit the following sections:
<map>
<capsmap>
<Dead keys>
<deadkey1 map>
<deadkey2 map>
<deadkey.. map>
An example of mapping file for the “transread.exe” with a Swedish keyboard is also included in the ArtSKeyboard pack.
To create a new keyboard you need to do the following:

• Put in a separate folder the “transread.exe”, kbinidll.dll, artsini.xxx (the mapping file), english.kbi (basic template of English keyboard);
• Run the “transread.exe” utility.

Note that the “transread.exe” is non-interactive utility and finish their work with "Translation was completed!" message.
• Put the result keyboard file (a name with “.kbi” extension) in the ArtSkeyboard’s home (where installed) directory and restart the ArtSKeyboard.

Registration

If you already have registered and activated ArtSKey in your device you do not need to register and activate ArtSKeyboard. Last one will work without any restriction anytime while ArtSKey runs. If ArtSkeyboard detected running ArtSKey you will not see the (Reg../Act..) button. Otherwise initially installed ArtSKeyboard works in demo mode. The aim of this mode is the introduction to ArtSKeyboard’s basic functions. So you can test it and decide if to register ArtSKeyboard or not...

The demo mode has the following important restrictions:

• Expiration period is 2 weeks from the first startup. After expiration ArtSKeyboard will not work and will display a dialog box with the message "ArtSKeyboard demo period has expired". To continue using of ArtSKeyboard you should buy a license, register and activate your copy/installation;

If for some reason you are not satisfied with the product so after expiration you should uninstall ArtSKeyboard.

If you have paid for ArtSKeyboard you should register the copy installed on your device. Fill in the Registration form and send it to ArtSoft (sales@artsoft.ru) or to your local dealer. You can invoke this form by pressing the Reg..(istration) button:

Open the Registration form and fill in the mandatory fields. The "PIN" field is for a code you have got from your dealer.

Here nnn stands for three digits.

Please keep your PIN code safely since any future technical support requires a PIN. Besides, if you change the owner's name of your device or reinstall ArtSKeyboard you have to re-register (re-activate) it with your PIN code.

After a form is completed push "Create form" button. The "ArtSKeyboard registration form.txt" file will be saved to My Documents folder on your device and should be sent by e-mail to ArtSoft or your local dealer.

In ArtSoft your PIN code will be verified and if OK an Activation code send to the e-mail address you specified in your Registration form. After that you should fill in the Activation form, that you could invoke by pressing Act..(ivation) button.

Open Activation dialog and enter Activation code. If Activation code is entered correctly, ArtSKeyboard starts work in normal (Activated) mode.

On this step ArtSKeyboard works in full mode without any limitations. Note: if you change the owner's name of your device then ArtSKeyboard returns to demo mode. In this case you have to re-register and re-activate your ArtSKeyboard copy within two weeks. At the end of this period the ArtSKeyboard will stop working without activation. However, in such state Activation can still be performed.

Technical Support

1. ArtSoft provides technical support, including any questions regarding ArtSKeyboard usage and customizing, Activation procedure and upgrade information.
2. Technical support is guaranteed only to the registered users having a legal PIN code.
3. For technical support contact us via e-mail: tech@artsoft.ru
4. ArtSoft guarantees sending of Activation code no later than two days after Activation request has been received.
5. ArtSoft has all rights to discard without notification all the e-mails including Activation request (Registration form) with absent or wrong PIN code.
6. ArtSoft has all rights to decline multiple Activation requests with the same PIN code (if piracy activity is detected).