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Getting Started

 

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Thanks for giving WinFlash a try! You've chosen the most capable and effective flashcard-based learning system available. While you're evaluating WinFlash keep in mind that you don't have to use all of the program's capabilities right away. A good learning system should be able to grow with you, past the immediate needs that may have prompted its purchase. Most of the competing products run out of steam when you want to expand your horizons.  Perhaps you don't have an interest in exporting your files to an .mp3 player for audio study at the moment - but what if you start studying a foreign language later? Perhaps easy access to sub and superscript characters isn't necessary for your child's spelling lists - but what about later when she's studying algebra and you'd like to include equations in her study files?  We encourage you to take the long view when choosing your learning system - it's an investment in your future. The information below will help you quickly begin using WinFlash. If you have any problems, we're always ready to help! Just send us a note at support@openwindow.com

Dick Bryant
Open Window Software

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After installing WinFlash Basic, Scholar or Educator you'll want to experiment a bit to see what it can do for you.  You can revisit this topic at any time by clicking on the Help menu and selecting the Getting Started menu item.

WinFlash's main window is designed to remain in this 'toolbar'-like configuration.  Its only purpose is to provide access to the menus and buttons displayed above.  No other information is displayed by this window that would require it to be any larger. You can reposition it wherever you wish on the screen to keep it out of the way while working with the program's other windows.

Click on the Demos item on the main menu bar.  Start with the Quick Tour and click your way through the file (it's designed to point out some of WinFlash's features as you step through the questions and answers).  As time permits, try out the other example files on the Demo menu and take the Capitals test to see how WinFlash operates in the test mode.

If you're running WinFlash Educator open the Educator menu after completing the Capitals test and click on View Test Result (.FLR) File to see how you did!

You're on your way!  To begin creating your OWN study files see Quickly create a text-based study file. If you'd like more hands-on instruction, select the Tutorial... entry in the Help menu on the main menu bar or click on Step-by-step Tutorial and try out the five projects described there.

We really recommend the tutorial! Completing the first segment, Your First WinFlash Study File, is a matter of only a few minutes - but it will teach you all of the steps you need to know to create useful text-based study files.

If you're working with Educator, continue with the five additional lessons that show how to use its powerful features.  After that,  experiment with the various menu and option settings using the tutorial file as a starting point.

Before undertaking the creation of a new file for your own use, you may wish to check Open Window's Web site to see if there is already one available that will suit your needs or, at least, provide a good starting point for further expansion.  Point your Web browser to:

 http://www.openwindow.com/pages/wfusers.htm

to visit the WinFlash Users' Group.

 

 

Page url: http://www.openwindow.com/helpfile/getting_started_first_time.htm