Setting up a new embosser for your computer consists of, first, hardware connections and configuration, and second, software configuration. If you do not have a braille embosser on-site you can skip this (hardware) section for now, but you should still visit the "Global: Embosser Setup" section to learn about setting the desired page size for your documents.
Usually DBT will interface smoothly with recent embosser models that are set to their factory default settings. The following instructions will help you work with embossers that are older, or that have been in use for a time and may no longer be set to factory defaults.
However, please resist the urge to simply connect an embosser, turn it on, and see what happens. Instead, please, follow the manufacturer's instructions for connecting and configuring your braille embosser.
As you proceed, we recommend you make a note of all the embosser's settings, and we suggest you favor the following choices when available:
1) Select "USA" or "North American" code (perhaps called "language") for braille equivalence.
2) Turn off any "grade 1" or other translation options that do not preserve a strict one-for-one equivalence. On some set-up menus, you might do this by selecting "computer braille."
3) Turn off any "word wrap" or "auto wrap-around" option.
4) Turn off any "auto carriage return" option.
5) Turn off any "auto line feed" option.
6) Set the page depth (in lines per page) and width (in cells per line) at their maximum available values, or at least as great as the size of the pages you wish to generate.
7) Select 6 dots per cell.
8) On Windows systems, it is recommended that you set up your embosser as a normal "Windows printer". This is usually done through the "Add a Printer" facility within "Devices & Printers" in the Control Panel. Generally, unless specifically instructed otherwise by the embosser manufacturer or dealer, you should choose the "Generic - Text only" driver.
Note: When adding a Windows printer, you will be prompted for a name. To avoid confusion with normal ink printers, we suggest you use a descriptive name such as "Braille Embosser".
Please note that you should contact your supplier or manufacturer if you require a manual, or specific technical assistance, for your braille embosser. Click here for a list of embosser manufacturers.