Open Window Software News Winter 2004 A Free E-mail Newsletter From Open Window Software Featuring Tips On Using The WinFlash Suite, HandyCards And ProUpdater Contents: 1) Version 8.0 Updates 2) New Freeware Roman Numerals Flashcards 3) Using The Default Graphic Feature 4) Free Upgrades For Referring Your Friends 5) Study Tip - Minimize Extraneous Information In Pairs --------------------------------------------------- 1) Version 8.0 Updates Since Version 8.0 was shipped on October 12 there have been four 'slipstream' releases to fix various bugs that have surfaced since the initial release. If you are experiencing any problems with your WinFlash program, first be sure that you are using the latest version (currently v8.00.04). Here are the releases to date and a compilation of the bugs that were fixed in each: The 8.00.04 update to WinFlash Basic, Scholar, and Educator addresses the following issues: 1. Corrected error in Insert/Copy/Delete pair functions that failed to make adjustment for direct-record audio files. This caused the recorded sounds to 'move' to another pair under certain circumstances. 2. Fixed problem with Subject Outline that caused program to hang when files that used Multi-user mode were added to the outline. 3. Added display of direct-record audio files to the Editor|Table View. The 8.00.03 update to WinFlash Scholar and Educator addresses the following issue: 1. Corrected error in Copy Pair function that caused pair statistics data to be incorrectly written to the .FLD file. When running in Leitner Box System Mode this caused a 'Invalid Integer' error when restarting the deck after having closed it. If you have a deck displaying this error, just delete its companion .FLD file and the program will write a 'clean' .FLD file from scratch. The 8.00.02 update to all WinFlash versions addresses the following issue: 1. Corrected coding error that caused '%' and '<' characters to be incorrectly displayed in Q&A dialogs and the editor. The 8.00.01 update to all WinFlash versions addresses the following issues: 1. Fixed bug in Leitner Box System Mode that caused deck to hang if it had been created or modified between the hours of midnight and 1 a.m. Not a good feature for students :-). 2. Corrected omission that failed to generate independent unique identifiers for each pair during the import operation. The unique identifiers are not yet used, but may be needed in future releases. --------------------------------------------------- 2) New Freeware Roman Numerals Flashcards This deck contains the first 100 Roman numerals. Question is the standard decimal number representation, answer is correct Roman numeral for that number. Each card is categorized by the group of 10 that it is in (e.g. Twenty's) so smaller groups of numerals can be studied as desired. Under the category "Extended" there are 25 pairs that test the user on the understanding of the rules for numbers larger than 100. This is a good deck to try with Educator's Automatic Fill In The Blank From Standard feature. This lets you study standard mode pairs in FIB mode - automatically checking the entered answer against the text in the main Answer dialog box. Also try the Answer First Followed By Question mode to check recognition of the number in Roman numeral form. You can download this file (~221Kb) by clicking on the link below: http://www.openwindow.com/ftp/roman.flz --------------------------------------------------- 3) Using The Default Graphic Feature One of the more obscure features of WinFlash Scholar and Educator is the ability to display a default graphic file for any Question or Answer that doesn't have a specific graphic file associated with it. If your deck has no real need of graphic support, why not use this feature anyway - even if just to provide some color to your study time. Maybe a picture of a favorite recreation spot - to remind you where you can be if you just finish the studying you need to do. Or perhaps a picture of that special girlfriend or boyfriend to inspire you to greater efforts. Since the Q's can be assigned a different default graphic than the A's, you could do one of each :-) Here's how: 1. With the deck open, select Options|View and check the box next to the Show Graphic Below For Text-only Questions (and the similar one for Answers if you want a graphic for both). 2. Using the browse button, browse to the graphic file that you wish to use and either double-click on the file or highlight the file and click the Open button on the Browse dialog. Again, you can use a different graphic file for Q's and A's. 3. Click OK on the main Options dialog. That's all there is to it. Now while you're studying that list of French vocabulary words you can also be enjoying a scenic shot of the Riviera. --------------------------------------------------- 4) Free Upgrades For Referring Your Friends Have a friend that could use WinFlash? We'll give you a free upgrade to the next release of your version of the program (v8.0 if you haven't upgraded yet or v9.0 when it comes out if you're already at v8.0) if your friend buys the program and mentions your name in the Comments section when they place their order. A great way to help out your friend and get the next major release gratis! --------------------------------------------------- 5) Study Tip - Minimize Extraneous Information In Pairs Our memories operate best on 'nuggets' of information - as opposed to long, flowery descriptions peppered with extraneous adjectives and adverbs. Take advantage of this when you construct your study decks - especially when you're using imported material. As an example let's use state capital memorization and suppose that you are importing the information from a source that has first a paragraph about the state and then a paragraph about the state's capital. Like this: New Hampshire, the Granite State, is a lovely member of the New England family with many streams, lakes and rivers sprinkled among its green forests and signature rugged mountains. New Hampshire's capital, Concord, is located in the southern part of the state and is the home of the Franklin Pierce Law Center and the St. Paul's School, a famous preparatory school. Concord has also been known historically by the names Rumford and Penacook. If you simply leave this pair as is after the import, you'll be confusing the task of memorizing the New Hampshire <-> Concord linking with the other facts about rivers, law centers and prep schools as well as taking the chance of mis-remembering something like New Hampshire <-> Penacook. Best to take the time to go back into the deck and edit imports like this to read: New Hampshire Concord Apply this technique to pairs that you create yourself as well. Include only the information that you are trying to remember - don't clutter up the pair with 'fluff'. --------------------------------------------------- Need Help? Have A problem? Check out our online listings of the latest releases and the problems that they've solved. For WinFlash programs see: http://www.openwindow.com/pages/wfprobs.htm For ProUpdater see: http://www.openwindow.com/pages/puprobs.htm If your issue isn't covered there, please send e-mail to support@openwindow.com and we'll do our best to resolve your problem. --------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE: Send e-mail to service@openwindow.com with SUBSCRIBE as the Subject. UNSUBSCRIBE: Simply send an email to service@openwindow.com with REMOVE as the Subject. 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