Not Shipping: MegaDots 2.4

Shipping of MegaDots 2.4 has been temporarily suspended because the supplier of a licensed component has been unresponsive to our offer to renew the license under the same terms as previously applied. That component enables direct import of Word 2003 and some other legacy file formats. We will resume shipping if the license is renewed or if we determine that it is feasible to reconfigure the product without that licensed component. In the latter event, which seems likely, we expect that it will remain possible to bring text from Word into MegaDots by some, possibly indirect, means.

The MS-DOS braille translator that keeps working for the volume transcriber and producer

• Product Overview
• Product Features
• Does MegaDots Do Windows?
• How Do People Use MegaDots
• Why Upgrade?
• Documentation
• Support

MegaDots is a mature DOS braille translator with powerful features for the volume transcriber and producer. Its straightforward, style-based system and automated features let you create great braille with only a few keystrokes. Yet it is sophisticated enough to please the fussiest braille producers -- you can control each step MegaDots follows to format, translate and produce braille documents. MegaDots 2.4 now has a Windows installation program that automatically installs your desktop icons and shortcuts. The headaches of installation are now gone!

News Flash: Introducing MegaDots 2.4

All the advantages of MegaDots 2.3, with so much more:

• MegaDots 2.4 supports the 2007 BANA Braille Codes Update 2007.
• MegaDots 2.4 has improved support for running on 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• The MegaDots installer now gives you a chance to say that your machine does not support using MegaDots in full screen. MegaDots 2.4 also works on a number of non-standard platforms where the MS-DOS full screen is not available, such as remote desktop and emulated Windows.
• MegaDots 2.4 has been developed to import NIMAS files through NimPro.
• MegaDots 2.4 contains Embossit 3.0, which offers more choices of embossing through Windows, and handles interpoint/single sided output.
• MegaDots 2.4 contains a revised MegaPrn to drive print or braille output through Windows. The revised program remembers your default choices for both inkprint and braille printing.
• MegaDots 2.4 has an improved Nemeth Code translator (see below).
• Click here for a fuller list of improvements in MegaDots 2.4.

Nemeth Code Improvements in MegaDots 2.4

As an example of the improvements in MegaDots 2.4, here is a list of changes that relate to Nemeth Code (mathematics braille)

• It is now possible to transfer math files from Duxbury DBT to MegaDots. From DBT export the file as a SGML/HTML file. Import the SGML file into MegaDots, make sure you switch the style sheet to Nemeth. Since Duxbury DBT can import Latex files and other types of math files, this gives a good route to obtain this material into MegaDots.
• We have fixed a problem which caused an intermittent failure by MegaDots to search for math notation to highlight in blue. This search does not occur for new math that you enter in the bottom paragraph of your document. But adding a paragraph, even an empty one, below the cursor allows the search. If desired, you can disable this searching by pressing Alt-Q to toggle off Quick math entry.
• There is no longer a problem with translating an isolated capital letter S in Nemeth.
• For a phrase with bold emphasis markup in the Nemeth style sheet, when the translator inserts the special bold phrase indicators, it no longer inserts the italic indicator before each word.
• For a phrase with italic emphasis markup in the Nemeth style sheet, the translator inserts the Nemeth italic phrase indicators when the first word or the last word of the phrase consists of mathematical notation (is colored blue).
• In Nemeth, the translator no longer deletes the word "with" after the word "and."
• In the Math items list, there is a new item called "suppress space." Use this to keep the translation from inserting a space, for example if a greater than sign is followed by a period. This is often useful within a key cap shape indicator.
• We have eliminated a problem which caused MegaDots to freeze sometimes when translating Nemeth material into uncontracted braille. This problem occurred when words like "but," "and," and "in" were adjacent to a grouping sign within a section or document marked for grade one translation.
• We have eliminated a situation which caused insertion of items from the Math items list to make Megadots crash after repeated use.
• We have changed the replacement entry for >= in the fastmath.meg shortcuts file, to make it similar to the replacement entry for <=. Now using >= produces the Nemeth Code for greater than with bar under (dots 4-6, 2, 1-5-6).
• We have added some tools for creating stem and leaf plots.

Important Note to British Users: the braille font supplied with MegaDots 2.4 uses an American association between high-bit ASCII and Unicode characters. To use this font, non-American (i.e. British) users need to go to the Control Panel. Click on Regional and Language Options and select the Advanced tab. Change the Language for non-Unicode programs from English (United Kingdom) to English (United States). Resetting that option calls for restarting your computer. This does not change keyboard or screen modes, so all other aspects of your computer should stay "non-American".

Running MegaDots 2.4 in the Windows XP Mode in Windows 7
One new computing environment is the Windows XP Mode that is available with the higher end of Windows 7 (Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate). This is a path to running MegaDots 2.4 on a 64 bit machine without having to purchase an additional license for Windows XP. Here is a description of using this mode.

MegaDots 2.4 runs in this environment. Install MegaDots within Virtual XP. Answer No to the MegaDots installation question about running in a full screen. Once you run MegaDots, set the font to "MegaDots window braille" as described in the installation instructions for dealing with an XP that cannot run MegaDots in full screen.

You can locate the MegaDots icon from the Windows 7 "all programs" list. Once you locate it, right click, and send to the Windows 7 desktop.

MegaDots Product Overview

• New version MegaDots 2.4 is shipped on CD-ROM for easy installation. All the documentation is available from a simple menu on your browser.
• MegaDots 2.4 runs under 32 bits Windows versions: 98, ME, 2000, NT, XP, Vista, or Windows 7. MegaDots 2.4 will not run on 64 bit systems without the use of Virtual PC. MegaDots 2.4 automatically installs your Windows icons.
• MegaDots 2.4 includes improved script files for JAWS for Windows
• MegaDots 2.4 includes improved ability to import publisher (SGML) files
• Since MegaDots recognizes many file formats, you can bring in virtually any document and set it up for braille. MegaDots supports all commercial braille embossers and all modern inkprint printers (except for a small group of inkprint printers that are Windows-only).
• Whenever you want to see how the braille looks, press the Translate key. Suddenly you're looking at the same words, but in braille! You can jump around, edit or enter more braille. Braille entry can be done using a six-key technique, or as "Inkprint in braille", where the words you type become braille as you type them. When you are done in braille, press the Translate key once more and you return to print.
• Users of voice and refreshable braille displays will appreciate interacting with software tailored for blind access. Screens are simple and free of clutter, and you don't have to fuss around to know where you are in the software. When you move into a new area, the name of the screen is spoken, such as "Editor", "Main menu" or "Save file help".
• For large print users, MegaDots supports popular screen enlargement programs, as well as a built-in large text mode. You'll never have to scroll around looking for text or information that's off the screen. All you need to see is right there in front of you.
• For sighted users, MegaDots has a familiar look and feel. Pull-down menus, point and click mouse interaction and colorful screens make working fun. The braille itself can be viewed in a variety of forms, depending on what is most readable for you.
• MegaDots gives you the features you expect from a modern word processor, such as macros, bookmarks, and find and replace.

Features in MegaDots 2.4

1. File Importer works hard so you won't have to.
   
   • The File Importer is smarter than ever: it identifies what kind of document you're importing (i.e., a letter, poetry, etc.) and automatically applies the appropriate styles to the imported document. This important and intuitive step minimizes the time and effort it used to take to make great braille.
   • For users who want total control, automatic features of the importer can be temporarily and selectively disabled.
2. Optically scanned documents are automatically recognized and cleaned up - before you even edit your document!
   • MegaDots knows that optical scanners make visual mistakes and has a system for changing nonsense back into the right words. And now, optically scanned documents are automatically recognized and cleaned up - before you even edit your document! Just import your optically scanned document, and obviously misspelled text is corrected, i.e., "farnily" is changed to "family". Other common format errors are also fixed, such as split paragraphs and misnumbered list items.
   • Here's how it works. First, the scanned document's format is cleaned up. For example, optical scanners often break up paragraphs inappropriately or misnumber lists of items. MegaDots correctly formats these areas. It can even remove the garble that results from scanning pictures or graphics within the text. The text itself is then cleaned up, one word at a time. MegaDots will find and correct any obviously misspelled words before you even view your imported document. Running headers, footers and page numbers that occur on each page are removed and used for print page indicators in the document.
3. Improved Spell Checker
   • We've added over 20,000 words to the dictionary. The Spell Checker now recognizes over 110,000 words.
4. Large Print Features!
   • Create beautiful large print up to five times as tall and wide as standard fonts (up to 64 point).
   • MegaDots supports your printer's scalable fonts for the most attractive possible large print.
   • With new large print page indicators, you'll be able to follow page numbers from the original text.
5. Advanced Inkprint Printing Capabilities
   We're proud to present these useful features designed specifically to make learning and proofreading braille easier. And while we were at it, we threw in quite a bit for users who need high quality, customizable inkprint, too.
   • MegaDots now supports all modern inkprint printers, except for a small group that are Windows-only).
   • Choose from ten different kinds of inkprint braille.
   • Make inkprint braille and text on the same page in three different formats: side by side, word by word, and line by line.
   • Side by Side displays the braille page next to the print page on one sheet.
   • Word by Word puts the print word directly over each braille word.
   • Line by Line mode puts the print line above each braille line.
   • Adjustable vertical and horizontal spacing makes inkprint layout to your most exacting specifications.
6. Get a detailed document overview with the Interpret Format feature.
   • New Interpret Format screen shows you what's in your document: how many and which styles it uses; whether there are tabs, running headers, or print page indicators; and other useful information. This overview helps you check the "big picture" of your document.
   • Make global changes to your document. For example, change all Poetry paragraphs to Body text.
   • Within the overview, you can ask for greater detail. For example, you can view just the poetry in your document, or all of the print page indicators.
   • Within one of these views, you can jump straight to that place in the text. Or, stay within the view, and make changes there.
   • Use Interpret Format to adjust the importation of a document. When used right after import, you can adjust MegaDots' document cleanup, how MegaDots selects styles and what import features or styles to use while importing.
7. Easy Table Formatting!
   We have worked with the pickiest braille transcribers to revamp our table formatting.
   • MegaDots follows all of the new BANA and British table rules.
   • MegaDots will automatically squeeze the table to fit on the braille page.
   • If you braille table is too wide for the braille page, MegaDots can put it on two facing pages.
   • Column Blocking lets you cut and paste entire columns.
   • Format your word list in columns with Make Clipboard Columns. This feature now lets you choose the number of columns you want to generate.
8. MegaDots now handles diacritics.
   MegaDots now supports all of the diacritical marks shown in the textbook format codebook. This speeds up another laborious aspect of making braille.

Does MegaDots Do Windows?

Yes, even though MegaDots 2.4 is still an MS-DOS application. MegaDots works with 32 bit Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT, XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

• Can MegaDots bring in files from Microsoft Word? Yes. However, until recently MegaDots did not bring in files from recent versions of Word, specifically files from Word 97 and Word 8. Beginning with version 2.02, MegaDots imports these files very well, as long as you are working on a Windows 98 or higher system (and you are not running in MS-DOS mode).
• If a blind person uses mainly Windows applications on their computer, can they use MegaDots with voice or refreshable Braille access? Yes. JAWS works in DOS applications. We have included a set of MegaDots script files, for use with JFW 3.0 or higher.
• Can MegaDots print through Windows? We have greatly simplified the process of printing braille from MegaDots through Windows.

Please check out our support page for questions and concerns about MegaDots

How Do People Use MegaDots?

• Large braille production services use MegaDots to produce braille textbooks efficiently for blind students. The program's speed lets them move through a great amount of material in a short time.
• Elementary school students as young as third grade are using MegaDots to make braille and to learn about computers.
• Teachers find MegaDots helpful in quickly getting braille to their blind students. There are exercise and directions styles for making exams and worksheets in MegaDots.
• MegaDots is used by several deaf-blind persons as their main reading and writing tool.
• Blind computer programmers use MegaDots to make computer program listings in braille.
• Volunteer transcriber groups use MegaDots in a variety of ways--both for translation and for 6-key direct entry of braille.
• Schools and transcribers use MegaDots to make grade one braille in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.

Why Upgrade?

• If you are a braille transcriber, and want the new table rules, diacritics, and all the new features and bug fixes in MegaDots designed for transcribers.
• If you want better braille when you send a file through MegaDots without any checking or any fixing up.
• If you want to reduce your workload when you take scanned material into MegaDots.
• If you want large print from MegaDots.
• If you want a greater variety of inkprint layout and control with MegaDots.