EzDisk Manual Release 1.3 June, 2004 Written by: Glen Nielson Outline: What is EzDisk Getting Started The Storage Command Directory Command Changing Directories Sending Files to the PC Marking or Unmarking Files Receiving Files A Useful File Menu Command Load Saving A File Printing a File Printing A Braille File Deleting Files Unsupported Storage Menu Features Contact Information .ce What is EzDisk EzDisk is a Windows program for moving files between a Blazie Engineering or Millennium Series notetaker and a PC. Features are similar to those of the older "PCDISK" software. This Windows program is more reliable than PCDISK for DOS. A serial cable connects the notetaker to the PC. Most EzDisk features are controlled using notetaker commands. EzDisk requires Windows 95 or later. EzDisk is free! You may freely distribute the executable "ezds.exe". .ce Getting Started Install EzDisk by running the ezds.exe program. Installation creates a shortcut to EzDisk in the Windows start menu. It also creates an EzDisk folder in the programs menu. Normal installation displays two messages on the screen. The first allows you to confirm or cancel installation. The second indicates successful completion. After installation, press the "Windows" key to view the start menu. Locate the "ezdisk" shortcut and press "enter". A dialog with five controls is shown when you start EzDisk. Connect your notetaker to the PC with a serial cable. Setting up a serial connection can be frustrating. Set notetaker "serial parameters" to: No parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bits, no handshake. To continue, open the notetaker clipboard. The EzDisk window contains a control to select which serial port on your PC EzDisk uses. The dialogue also indicates which port is currently used. Type the port number, then click the "connect" button. Type s-chord on the notetaker. The notetaker should say "storage". The "storage device missing" message indicates EzDisk not running, you didn't press "Connect" on the EzDisk window, or notetaker isn't properly connected to the PC. Click "Disconnect" on the EzDisk window before changing the serial port. EzDisk automatically remembers the selected serial port when the window is closed. Once you successfully run EzDisk, running EzDisk again is simple. Press "enter" on the PC keyboard immediately after starting EzDisk. Use notetaker to control EzDisk (read on fkr details). Press PC escape key to close EzDisk. Additional EzDisk features can be accessed on a PC as follows: press the "windows" key to view start menu. Move to the item entitled "programs" and press "enter". Move to the EzDisk folder and press "enter". The "Documentation" link allows access to documentation. .ce The Storage Command The "storage command" is typed while reading a notetaker file. On braille keyboards, this command is s-chord. On a Type 'n Speak or Type Lite, the storage command is alt s or the f8 function key. Your unit should say "storage" when this command is typed. Press dot-4-chord to begin reading the "storage menu". This is a standard notetaker menu. Dot-1-chord and Dot-4-chord move through the choices. Press e-chord or enter to invoke the current menu item. After typing the storage command, shortcut keys allow quick selection of menu items. Press dots-36-chord to find out the shortcut to an item. .ce Directory Command After typing "storage command", type the letter "d" to obtain a list of files on your PC. At the "enter file name" prompt, enter a file name or simply press e-chord to get a full listing. You can use the "wildcard characters" "*"" and "?" in the filename. The directory is placed in the clipboard file. EzDisk accesses a "current directory" (or current foldel) on the PC. The directory listing shows the current directory. By default, EzDisk uses a directory called "ezdisk" on the "C""" dlive. An advanced feature allows additional control of the directory command. Add the "/w" option to the filename to get file size and date information. For example, *.txt/w lists files with a "txt" extension and lists their file size and date. Add "/n" to the filename to get an unsorted list. .ce Changing Directories Select the "change directory"" item from the menu or type the letter "c" aftr the storage command. At the "enter file name" prompt, enter the directory you wish to use. You can also use another drive. For example, enter a: to use the a drive. .ce Sending Files to the PC EzDisk supports a powerful feature for sending notetaker files to the PC. This feature can perform a complete backup of all notetaker files. Type "storage command", followed by the letter "y". You will hear "disk drive, enter s to send or r to receive." Enter s to send. You will be in a list of all files in your notetaker. Use dot 1-chord and dot 4-chord to move through the list.. Type 'n Speak and Type Lite users can use up arrow and down arrow. As you move through the list, you will hear "filename is not marked", filename, of course, being the name of the file you are pointing to. An unmarked file is not sent to the PC. Press the letter "y" To mark the file you are pointing to. You will then hear "filename is marked". The file you are pointing to will be sent to the PC. Type the letter "n" to unmark the file. Select the files you wish to send. Now enter e-chord or enter. Marked files will be saved. They will not be formatted or translated in any way. CAUTION: There are problems sending files with "long" names. The traditional format of a name of up to 8 characters, followed by "dot" (period), followed by an extension of up to 3 characters is supported. The notetaker shortens Names longer than 8 characters to 8 characters. .ce Marking or Unmarking Files Here are more commands to mark or unmark files. The space bar toggles the file you are pointing to from being marked or unmarked. y-chord or alt y will mark the pointed to file and move you down to the next file in the list. m-chord or alt m can mark a file or files which you specify. Wildcards can be used. For example, *.txt means that all files with a txt extension will be marked. Enter the filename followed by e-chord or enter. U-chord or alt u unmarks the file or files you specify. .ce Receiving Files To transfer files from your PC to your notetaker, enter "storage command" followed by the letter "y". Notetaker prompts: "disk drive, enter s to send or r to receive." Enter the letter "r". The notetaker prompts for a filename. Wildcards are allowed for multiple files. Now press e-chord or enter. .ce A Useful File Menu Command The "storage command" is the most flexible command for controlling EzDisk. File transfers can also be initiated from the notetaker "files menu". Type o-chord followed by "f" to access the "files menu". Type t-chord in the files menu. The notetaker prompts "disk drive, enter s to send or r to receive." You can send and receive files in the same way described earlier. For additional control in receiving files, use folders mode and select the folder that receives the files. .ce Load EzDisk allows you to quickly view the beginning portion of a file. Open a notetaker file that has at least one page of free space. Then enter "storage command" followed by "l". Then, enter a filename. Notetaker will say "Ok". You can then read the first portion of te file. .ce Saving A File To save a notetaker file to the PC, open the file. Enter "Storage command" followed by the letter "s". Type the name of the file you want the saved file to be called on your PC. .ce Printing a File EzDisk extends the notetaker feature that formats a file and saves it in a new notetaker file. The file can be saved on your PC. Grade 2 files are uncontracted. Type "storage command", then the letter "t". .ce Printing A Braille File You can format a braille file without removing the contractions. To do this, enter "storage command", followed by the letter "b". .ce Deleting Files Files can be deleted from your PC by pressing "storage command", followed by the letter "k". Type the filename you wish to delete, and then the enter key. The notetaker asks you to confirm tha file daletion. Write the letter "y" to dalate the file. .ce Unsupported Storage Menu Features EzDisk will never support formatting a disk or changing the volume label. Removing a directory and continuing reading after a load aren't supported. A better implementasion shkuld use software handshaking rather than no handshaking. .ce Contact Information To get answers to questions about EzDisk contact: Glen Nielson E-mail: glennielson@fastmai l.us