Software Tips

Inspiration

The Graph Club

Neighborhood Map Machine

Timeliner

Open Inspiration:

To resize a symbol:

Click on the symbol to select it.

Click and drag on the bottom right handle bar.

To link a related idea to the Main Idea:

Click on the main idea symbol to select it.

Press CTRL and hold down as you click the location where you want the linked symbol to appear.

To use Rapid Fire:

Click on the symbol.

Click on the Rapid Fire icon on the Diagram Tool Bar.

Type related idea. Press Enter. Repeat this procedure until you have completed all linked symbols.

Click the Rapid Fire icon to turn it off.

To zoom in or out:

Click on the "big" or "little mountains" on the bottom scroll bar.

To correct a typo or change the wording in a symbol:

Double click the text in the symbol.

Retype the text. (Or click where you want to make the correction.)

To move a symbol:

Click and drag the symbol.

To select all symbols:

Click on Edit/Select All.

To change a symbol shape or appearance:

Click the symbol you want to change.

Click on a new shape or picture in the Symbol Palette.

To add text to a link:

Click the link and type in the text.

To flip through the Symbol Library:

Click on the left (previous) and right (next) arrows at the top of the symbol palette.

To go directly to a specific Symbol Library:

Click on the down arrow in the center top of the symbol palette.

This procedure will bring up a menu list of all libraries. Select one.

To turn the grid off or on:

Click on the Utility Menu.

Click on Grid Snap.

To go to Outline View:

Click on the Outline symbol on the Diagram Tool Bar.

To go to Diagram View:

Click on the Diagram symbol on the Diagram Tool Bar.

To change the font of the symbol text:

Click on the symbol that contains the font you wish to change.

Click on Format/ Font.

Click on the font of your choice.

To change the Fill Color:

Click on the symbol you want to change.

From the Effect menu, click on Fill Color; then click on the color you want to use.

To change the Line Color:

Click on the symbol you want to change.

From the Effect menu, click on Line Color; then click on the color you want to use.

To delete a symbol:

Click on the symbol you wish to delete.

Press the Delete key on the keyboard.

To change the color of the text:

Click on the symbol that contains the text.

Click on the Effect menu.

Click on Text Color.

Click on the color of your choice.

To change the background color of the document:

Click on the Effect menu.

Click on Text Color.

Click on the color of your choice.

To print an Inspiration document:

Click on File/Print Options.

Select Fit to One Page. (If you want all your diagram on one page.)

Click on OK, File/Print, OK.

To save an Inspiration document:

Click on File/Save.

Type in a name for the document.

Change to the appropriate drive.

Click on Save.

To run Kid Works:

Select Start/Programs/Kid Works Deluxe.

To sign in:

The first time you use the program, select New. Type your name and select Yes. When you use the program again, you’ll find your name in the list.

Highlight your name and select Yes.

To start a new story:

Click the New Book icon.

Type a title to replace My Story.

Click the arrow on the lower right corner of the book to turn the page to a new book.

To write a story:

You can write on a page by clicking the pencil icon. Type your story. Use the tools below the page to add special effects to your story.

You can paint on a page by clicking the paintbrush and bucket icon. Use the tools to paint a picture.

You can change your choice from a text page to a picture page and from picture to text by selecting Change Page from the Edit menu.

You can add stickers, little pictures, to text or picture pages.

To use text tool buttons:

Below the page of text, you will find a shelf of tools. The signs with the word apple and a picture of an apple let you view your story as text with no stickers or as text with stickers.

The alphabet blocks let you choose text styles for your story.

The cassette tapes let you choose voices and bugs to read your story.

The horn lets you choose sounds for your story.

The band-aid is the undo feature.

The vacuum cleaner deletes your story.

The little bug just below your story will read it aloud.

To paint on a page:

Select the paintbrush and bucket icon. Paint tools will appear below the book pages.

On the right side of the screen are colors. Click a color for your work here.

On the left side of the screen are painting tools. There are lines of different sizes, a paint pot for filling areas, a spray can, an eraser, a text tool, and others.

To play your painted page:

Click on the worm on a stage icon below your picture. Animated stickers will move.

To add a sticker to your text page:

Click the book with the apple icon on it.

Scroll through the list of sticker categories. Select one.

Click Yes.

The stickers will appear on the lower right of your screen, below your story.

Click a sticker to see and hear it on the little computer screen below your story.

Click OK on the mouse next to the computer screen to put the sticker in your story.

(The flag with the paint brush or apple allows you to toggle back and forth between stickers and paint tools.)

To edit a sticker:

There are several apple icons on a shelf on the left of your screen. Click on them to move, shrink, enlarge, flip, and rotate a sticker.

To create your own sticker:

Click on the sticker book with the apple icon.

Use the left scroll bar and locate My Words.

Click on My Words.

Click on New (pencil and paper) on the right menu.

Draw your own sticker.

Type in the name of the sticker.

From the File menu select Save Sticker.

Click on Stop.

To insert your own sticker:

Place the cursor in your story where you want to insert your sticker.

Click on the sticker book with the apple icon.

Double click on My Words.

Your sticker should appear on the lower right side of the screen below your story.

Click on your sticker.

It will appear on the computer screen.

Click OK on the mouse beside the computer screen.

To have your page read:

Click on the bug below the text you have typed.

To hear your whole story:

Click on the storyteller bug, the one at the top beside the telephone icon.

To teach the speech editor how to pronounce words:

Select Speech Editor from the Tools menu.

To get help:

Click on the telephone at the top of the screen.

Your cursor becomes a ? and you see a telephone display. Click the ? cursor on the area about which you have a question, and you’ll get help from a talking animated character.

Select Hang Up when you’re done.

To exit and save your story:

Select Save Story from the File menu, or

Click on the large pencil, top right of the screen to exit.

To create a new map:

Choose the new stamp icon.

Choose the size of map by clicking on the circle next to the size you would like.

Click OK.

To add an object to the map:

Click on the purple arrow next to the button corresponding to the object type you would like to add.

Choose the specific object.

Place the cursor on the map grid where you would like to place the object and click. To place a road, body of water, park or parking lot, click and drag the cursor.

To add typed text:

Click on the painter’s palette.

Click on the A.

Put the cursor on the grid where you would like to type.

To write text using the mouse:

Click on the painter’s palette.

Chose either the green or pink marker or the pencil by clicking.

Put the cursor on the grid where you would like to write.

To erase:

Click on the painter’s palette.

Chose the eraser by clicking on it.

** The eraser will erase only items created with tools from the painter’s palette.**

To move an object created with tools in the painter’s palette:

Click on the painter’s palette.

Choose the dotted line box.

Click and drag a box around the object.

To draw a line:

Click on the painter’s palette.

Choose the line tool.

Place the cursor on the grid where you would like the line.

To change the map scale:

Click on 1 inch =

Click the down arrow to change the number of inches.

Click the circle next to feet, yard, miles.

Type the number in the highlighted area.

Click OK.

To measure distances on the map:

Click on the ruler.

Place the cursor at the place from where you would like to measure and drag to where you would like to measure.

A box appears in the upper right corner telling you the measurement.

To create a new graph:

Click Create, then OK.

To add a title:

Click the word Title. Type your title. Click OK.

To change the graph categories:

Click the word What. Type your label. Click How Many. Type your label.

To change the number of graph categories:

Select the number of items you wish to graph under the Graph menu.

To change the pictures:

Select Graph/Choose Symbols. Locate the icons you wish to use; scroll to see more. Click and drag the icon to the graph bins at the top of the symbol box: for example, drag the horse over the dog.

Change colors and patterns by clicking and dragging them to the bins in the same way.

To use Kid Pix stamps as Graph Club symbols:

Open Graph Club. Minimize it.

Open Kid Pix from Kid Pix Studio.

Select the stamp pad. Stamp the symbols you wish to use.

Select the moving van from the tool palette. Click on the magnet and draw a box around the stamp to select it.

Choose Edit/Copy.

Press the Control and Esc keys to make the Taskbar appear.

On the Taskbar click on Graph Club.

Select Choose Symbols from the Graph menu.

Click on Paste from Clipboard. Click to put the stamp in the bin.

To change the pictures to words:

Click the picture. Type the word. Click OK.

To add numbers to the graph:

Click the 0 to enter a number. The default scale maximum is 10.

To change the scale maximum:

Select Choose Scale Maximum from the Graph menu. Select a new maximum for the scale.

To view another graph:

After completing the table, select Make Another Graph from the Graph menu.

To view different graphs (bar, line pie):

Select Make Another Graph from the Graph menu. Click the graph icons at the bottom of the page to view a picture graph, bar graph, line graph, or pie graph.

To change circle graph labels:

Create a circle graph. Select Circle Graph Labels from the Options menu. You may choose no label, icons, numbers, fractions, or percentages.

To change the direction of a graph:

Select Graph Vertically or Horizontally from the Options menu.

To print:

Select File/Print Graphs. Choose graphs to print. Your graphs will be displayed in the preview box.

You may rearrange them by clicking and dragging them to a new location. Title your graph by clicking the Title box and typing there. You may type a Description. Other printing options include printing a big book (four pages) or a poster (nine pages).

To create a time line:

Open TimeLiner and click New.

Choose the type of time line you want. The four types are

Standard—Chronological Time Lines: i.e., historical events, Civil War
Floating—Not anchored to a particular year: i.e., a school year, week, or day
Geologic—Range from 100 billion years ago to the present: i.e., Dinosaurs
Custom—Non-time based time lines: i.e., distances, percents, temperatures

After choosing the type of time line, you are taken to Data View Mode to enter your information.

Under When, type the date. Press Tab.

Under What, type the event. Press Enter.

Continue typing until you have all dates and events you want in your time line.

To see four different views of your time line:

Click on the List View icon. You’ll see a vertical list of events in the time line.

Click on the Compact View icon. You’ll see a single page time line.

Click on the Banner View icon. This view is a typical time line with flags, dates, events, title, colors, and so on.

Click on the Data View icon to return to the screen where you entered the information for your time line.

You may edit and enter data from any of the four views.

To change the view size of a banner:

View Size icons are located in the bottom left corner of the screen.

You are in Full Size View. Click on Half Size. Click on Quarter Size.

To use the toolbox (the green filing cabinet on the left):

Click on the Clock to find out the time of day.

To add a new event, click on the New drawer.

To delete an event, select the event and click on the Delete drawer.

To edit an event, click on the event, click on the Edit drawer, make changes, and click OK.

To hide an event without deleting it, click on the event, and click on the Hide drawer.

To include a hidden event, click on the Include drawer, select the event, and click OK.

Clicking on the Expand Drawer will increase the width of the time line.

Clicking on the Compress Drawer will decrease the width of the time line.

To customize an event font, color and style:

Select the event. Click on the Format menu, drag to Set Event Font, and click.

Choose Font, Color, Size, and so on.

Click on OK.

To change the font, color and style of all events:

Click on the Edit menu, drag to Select All Events, and click.

Click on the Format menu, drag to Set Event Font, and click.

Choose Font, Color, Size, and so on.

Click on OK.

To change the style of an Event Flag:

Click on the Event Flag you wish to change.

Notice to the left of the selected flag, there is a striped bar.

Click the striped bar and hold the mouse down.

There will be a pop-up box with nine different flag styles.

Drag down to one of the flag styles and click.

To change the size of an Event Flag:

Click on the Event Flag you wish to change.

Click the black box on the right side of the selected flag and drag the black box left or right.

To add a title to the time line:

Click on the Edit menu, drag to New Title, and click.

Type in a title. Click OK.

Drag your title to the desired location on your time line.

To change the title font, color size, and style:

Click on the title to select it.

Click on the Format menu, drag to Set Title Font, and click.

Select the font, color, size, and style.

Click OK.

To add a graphic to the time line:

A graphic may be added to the time line simply by copying it from the clipboard and pasting it into the time line.

If the graphic is "stuck" or hidden behind an Event Flag, hold down the ALT key as you click on the graphic. This procedure is the best way to select graphics or other items that are hidden behind the text.

To customize the Time Scale:

Click the Time Scale at the bottom of the Banner to highlight it.

Click on the Format menu, select Set Time Scale Font, and click.

Make changes. Click OK.

To change the orientation of the time line:

Select File/Print Setup/Landscape or Portrait.

Click OK.

To save a time line:

Select File/Save.

Type a name for the time line.

Change to the appropriate drive and folder. Click OK.

To print a time line:

Select File/Print. Click OK.