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Activinspire User Guide

ActivInspire is the new teaching and learning software from Promethean. It is designed for computers and interactive whiteboards. It contains some introductory topics for new users and current users of Activstudio and Activprimary software.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

1K views

Activinspire User Guide

Uploaded by

figuerm3

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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An Introduction to ActivInspire (Studio)

Exploring ActivInspire Studio

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio

Exploring ActivInspire Studio

What you see when you first run ActivInspire Studio depends on whether you have ActivInspire Professional or Personal.
Where appropriate, we show you both in this illustrated tour:
Dashboard
ActivInspire window
Main Toolbox
ActivInspire's Browsers
Viewing a flipchart
Managing multiple flipcharts
Authoring at your computer
Presenting at the board
Collaborating at the board
Exploring tools
Most often used tools

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Welcome to ActivInspire

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Home > Welcome to ActivInspire

Welcome to ActivInspire
ActivInspire is the new teaching and learning software from Promethean for computers
and interactive whiteboards

With ActivInspire you can:

Teach as with a
traditional chalkboard,
vary the pace of your
presentations and deliver
practical training
sessions.
Write and draw, then
erase, just as you
normally would.
Save your pages as a
flipchart file, then
retrieve them for use
with a different class, or
in another classroom.
Add pictures, movies
and sounds to your
lesson’s flipchart pages.
Quickly structure your
lesson content and
timing to match your
lesson plan.
Add text, for example
from Microsoft Word ® ,
or directly from the
Internet. ActivInspire can
even recognize your
writing and convert it to
text.
Use Learner Response
Systems - ask your
students questions, or
display prepared
questions in your
flipcharts. Students can
vote or text answers on
ActiVote and
ActivExpression devices
and the results can be
displayed in different
formats.
Quickly adapt your
flipcharts in response to
results from your class,
or in line with syllabus

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Welcome to ActivInspire

requirements.
Use simple but effective
tools to stimulate
thought, engage your
students and focus their
attention.

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A tour of ActivInspire

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire

A tour of ActivInspire
This section is for new users and current users of Activstudio and Activprimary software. It contains some introductory topics, and
takes you on a tour of ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire Primary:
One application, two products
About flipcharts
Exploring ActivInspire Studio
Exploring ActivInspire Primary

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Dashboard

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Dashboard

Dashboard
When you run ActivInspire, after
choosing your initial preferences,
the first thing you see is the
Dashboard.
The Dashboard contains shortcuts
to flipcharts and useful tools to
save you time.
The Dashboard will remain open
until you close it.

If you uncheck the 'Show the dashboard window on startup' box, the Dashboard will not open next time you run
ActivInspire.

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ActivInspire window

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire window

ActivInspire window
When you run ActivInspire, the ActivInspire window opens behind the Dashboard.
What this window looks like depends on several things:
Your preferences at startup.
Whether you are using ActivInspire Professional or Personal.
Whether you have customized any of its components.

Here we introduce the main components of the ActivInspire window for ActivInspire Professional and ActivInspire Personal.

ActivInspire Professional
The following picture shows a thumbnail of the ActivInspire Professional window. The list on the left identifies each numbered
component:

1 Main Toolbox

2 Browser

3 Menubar

4 Flipchart name

5 Sizing details

6 Flipchart page

7 Trashcan

ActivInspire Personal
The following picture shows a thumbnail of the ActivInspire Personal window.

ActivInspire Personal does not

give you the same range of
tools and Browsers as
ActivInspire Professional. For
example, it does not include the

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ActivInspire window

Shape Tool and the

Action Browser .

Tip
Look for these small icons at the top of Browsers, Menus and Toolboxes. They allow you to quickly customize an item's behavior:

Toolbox Select from a drop-down menu where the item should be located and how much of it should be
Options visible.

Roll Up A toggle switch to roll the item up so it takes up less space, or to unroll it again.

Pin Toolbox A toggle switch to pin the item in place. This prevents it from automatically hiding, or from being
moved accidentally.

To move an item, click in the dark blue area along its top edge and drag and drop it where you want it.
Next time you run ActivInspire, it will remember your preferences.

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Show Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Main Toolbox

Main Toolbox
The Main Toolbox opens on your display when you start ActivInspire. When you start ActivInspire for the
very first time, the toolbox contains a set of the most popular tools.

The items in the Main Toolbox are just a selection of the many tools available. You can access a large
range of additional tools from the Tools Menu. Next time you start ActivInspire, it will remember where
you left the toolbox last time and which tools it contained.

Preferences
You can keep the default toolset, remove tools, or replace some or all of them with other tools. You can
define your preferences in a profile and save them when you are satisfied.
You can create as many profiles as you need and quickly switch between them with the

Switch Profile icon.

For details of how to customize profiles, see Making Profiles work for you.

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers

ActivInspire's Browsers
This section introduces ActivInspire's Browsers.

What is a Browser?
A flipchart can have many pages and elements, each with a range of characteristics and properties.
ActivInspire makes working with these characteristics and properties simple, by providing a Browser for each major area.
The Browsers allow you to see at a glance:
What's already included in your flipchart.
What else you could add or customize.
How to do this.
Use the Browsers to quickly build, refine and enhance your own and other people's flipcharts.
Each Browser:
Is structured to give you clear and detailed information about the area you are browsing.

Has its own Popup Menu and/or set of icons to help you work effectively with your flipchart.
In addition, you can make the Browser wider or narrower and adjust the level of detail you can see to suit your needs.

What Browsers are there?

There are seven Browsers in ActivInspire:

Page Browser

Resource Browser

Object Browser

Notes Browser

Property Browser

Action Browser

Voting Browser

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Viewing a flipchart

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Viewing a flipchart
When you open a flipchart, the Page Browser shows thumbnails of the pages in the flipchart and the work area in the ActivInspire
window shows the first page of the flipchart.
Here we describe five easy ways to view a flipchart:
View one page at a time
Preview several pages at a time
Increase and decrease the page size
Zoom in and out
Pan around the flipchart

View one page at a time

Two ways to view one page at a time:

Click on the Next Page and Previous Page icons.

From the View Menu, select Next Page or Previous Page.

You automatically insert a new flipchart page when you click on the Next Page icon on the last
page of a flipchart.
To prevent unwanted pages at the end of your flipcharts, always add an indicator to the last page. This
could be a shape, a picture, or a simple "The End".

Preview several pages at a time

You can increase or decrease the size of the thumbnails you see in the Page Browser. The smaller the thumbnails, the more
pages you can preview at a time.
Two ways to preview several pages:
Click and drag the edge of the Page Browser, or use the slider at the bottom right-hand side of the Page Browser to change
the size of the thumbnails.
Move the slider at the top right-hand edge of the Page Browser pane down or up to scroll past thumbnails of the pages in
your flipchart. Then click on the thumbnail of the page you want to see.
Example

The picture on the right shows

all the pages in the currently
open flipchart as thumbnails in
the Page Browser. You can see,
in both the Browser and the work
area, that the last page is the
current page.

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Viewing a flipchart

[add

Increase and decrease the page size

By default, ActivInspire is set to scale the complete flipchart

page into the ActivInspire window. This is termed 'Best Fit'.
You can easily change this with the drop-down menu at the
top right-hand corner of the window.
Click the down icon, then select a setting to suit your needs.
If you cannot see the down icon, click the >> icon.

Welcome to the World!

If you select a setting that is smaller than 100%, the size of
the flipchart page will be proportionally reduced in the
ActivInspire window.
This opens up an area around the flipchart page called the
World. You can use the World like a blotter, to position
objects temporarily outside the boundary of the flipchart page,
for later use. These objects can then remain hidden when the
page is scaled to fit the ActivInspire window. For example

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Viewing a flipchart

things you don't want to make visible to your students, or

items you want to reveal at a certain point in a lesson.

Zoom in and out

You can use Page Zoom to magnify or shrink what you see on the flipchart. Page Zoom does not change your flipchart, it
only affects how the flipchart is viewed.
Zoom in

1. From the View Menu, select Page Zoom

2. Click on the page and wait for a moment. The zoom begins and continues until you release the ActivPen or mouse button.

Page Zoom is now in the Quick Access Toolbar.

Zoom out
With Page Zoom selected:
1. Right-click on the page.
2. Hold the right-click button down.

If you double-click on the page while Page Zoom is selected, the Page Scale returns to Best Fit.

Pan around the flipchart

When you have zoomed in on a flipchart to the point where the flipchart page is larger than the ActivInspire window, you can no
longer see the whole flipchart page at once.
In this situation you can pan around the page in one of two ways:

Use the vertical and horizontal slide bars that appear

around the page

Use Page Zoom. Notice that when this tool is

selected, as you move the cursor over the page, a
small hand icon is displayed. If you now click on the
page and drag, you can pan around the page to bring
other areas into view. Note that this behavior also
applies when you are zoomed out of the page.

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Managing multiple flipcharts

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Managing multiple flipcharts

Every time you open or create another flipchart, a new Document Tab appears in the Document Bar. You can work with an
unlimited number of flipcharts at the same time.

To move from one flipchart to another, click the Document Tab of the flipchart
you want to work on. This becomes the current flipchart.
The name of the flipchart appears in bold in its Document Tab. To close the
flipchart, click on .

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Authoring at your computer

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Authoring at your computer

When you are working at your computer, you need easy access to a range of tools for lesson preparation.
The quickest way to achieve this is to switch to the 'Authoring' profile provided with ActivInspire:

Click on Switch Profile and select the Authoring profile from the drop-down list.
Alternatively, you could experiment with your favourite combinations of tools and settings, then save them to a profile.
For more information about creating and working with profiles, see Making profiles work for you.

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Presenting at the board

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Presenting at the board

Presenting at the board

When you are presenting at the board, you need easy access to a range of presentation tools. You want to maximize the available
space and minimize distractions.
Here are some ways to achieve this:
Set the display to Fullscreen Mode (F5).
Hide menus.
Pin or dock the Main Toolbox.
Add tools you intend to use, such as the Math Tools, Spotlight, Dual User, or Tickertape to the Main Toolbox before the
lesson.
Remove any tools that you know you don't need from the Main Toolbox.
Enable interactive elements, such as actions or links.
Hide action objects.
Open the Page or Resource Browser.
Show the Trashcan.
Experiment with your favorite combinations of tools and settings, then save them to a profile.

Alternatively, click on Switch Profile and select the At The Board profile from the drop-down list.

For more information about:

Presenting at the board, see Working at the board.
Creating and working with profiles, see Making profiles work for you.

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Collaborating at the board

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Collaborating at the board

There are many ways in which you can encourage your students to work together at the board. Usually this means they have to
take turns with the ActivPen.

ActivInspire takes collaborative working a step further by allowing two people to work
interactively with the same flipchart. We call this way of working 'Dual User' mode,
because each collaborator uses their own ActivPen and ActivInspire toolbox to work
on the ActivBoard.
Only the teacher can enable Dual User mode.
Starting Dual User mode enables the Dual Toolbox, which contains a subset of
the tools available in the Main Toolbox.
The person using the Dual Toolbox can only work on the current flipchart page.
Only the user of the Main Toolbox has full access to all ActivInspire's functions.
The Dual Toolbox remains under the control of the person who is using the
Main Toolbox.
Access to the Dual Toolbox can be revoked from the Main Toolbox at any time.

You need ActivInspire Professional to use Dual User mode.

Tips for working in Dual User mode

Here we have compiled some quick tips to spark your creativity when working in Dual User mode.
Two ActivPens are better than one
Encourage students to work towards one goal. Make sure students are constantly communicating and sharing with each other. This
could involve working out a puzzle or pooling knowledge to answer questions on the ActivBoard.
Swap roles
Swap roles half way through the activity so one student doesn’t get trapped in an area they do not know well.
Teacher back up
The teacher can keep control of the Main Toolbox, annotating students’ work as they come out to the ActivBoard, to help boost
students' confidence.
A new workspace
Dual User mode opens up a space where two students can work, together or individually, at the ActivBoard, making the ActivBoard
a workspace in itself.
Constructive pairwork
Pair a stronger student with a weaker student. The stronger student teaches the weaker student. The weaker student strengthens
the stronger student’s knowledge.
Joint presentations
Encourage students to create presentations in pairs, so they can discuss which role to perform and how they can work together at
the ActivBoard.
Encouraging creativity
Two groups can now write their ideas on the ActivBoard at the same time. By seeing the other group’s ideas, students can inspire
each other, helping their creativity.

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Collaborating at the board

Taking roles
Give students different roles to perform at the ActivBoard, so they can see the results of effective teamwork. For example, one
person could be in charge of text whilst the other is in charge of images.
Appreciating another point of view
Two points of view can be displayed and discussed, simultaneously at the ActivBoard. Students can then identify where ideas
overlap and diverge.
Encourage clear thinking
The class reads instructions to two students working back to back, to see whether both students understand the instructions in the
same way.

For more details, see Working in Dual User mode.

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Exploring tools

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Exploring tools
ActivInspire includes many tools to help you create engaging lessons to captivate your audience and to add interest while working
at the board.
The Main Toolbox contains the most popular tools and more tools are available from the Tools Menu.
Here, we describe just a few of the fun tools for you to explore:

Sound Recorder This tool allows you to capture sound to a file for inclusion in your flipchart. For example, you can
create sound clips and link them to words, to help your students pronunciation, or capture sound

while making a screen recording with the Screen Recorder .

Screen Recorder This tool allows you to capture whatever happens on screen to a video file (.AVI), which you can
keep in your flipchart, or save to a resources folder and replay as often as required.

Tickertape A presentation tool that allows you to create a message that scrolls like a tickertape across the
top of the board. You can stop, start and change it at any time.

Clock A clock for use during a lesson, for example, to teach your learners the time, or to use as a stop
watch or count down for timed activities.

Camera This tool allows you to take an instant snapshot of what's on the screen and place it in your
flipchart, the clipboard, or into the My Resources or Shared Resources folder. A range of options

allow you to tailor the size and shape of the snapshot to your needs.

Open Flipchart A shortcut to the 'Open flipchart' Dialog Box, which you can use to navigate to and open
flipcharts.

Revealer A fun tool for hiding and revealing areas of the flipchart page! Great for guessing games and for
rekindling flagging interest.

Dual User A tool for collaborative working at the board. It enables a second toolbox which can be used by a
learner to write, draw, select, fill and connect objects on the board.

Tools remember their settings. When you switch tools, each one remembers your last choice. For example, the
Pen and Highlighter remember their color and width settings.

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Most often used tools

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Most often used tools

While you are working with ActivInspire, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar on the right of the Main Toolbox gradually fills up with icons.
ActivInspire automatically places your Most often used tools there, so that they are easily accessible.

In the picture on the right, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar includes some of the tools
you explored in the previous topic.
To see a description of a tool, click on the link:

Annotate Over Desktop

Screen Recorder

Sound Recorder

Revealer

Page Zoom

Camera

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One application, two products

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > One application, two products

One application, two products

Previous generations of Promethean software made you choose between Activstudio and Activprimary software. The good news is,
this is no longer the case in ActivInspire.
To quickly get you started with ActivInspire, you choose your preferred look and feel when you first run the application. ActivInspire
tailors your tools and screen layout according to your choice. Whichever one you choose, you get the benefit of ActivInspire's
powerful features.
Your choices are:
Promethean Activstudio
Promethean Activprimary

Other Applications, such as Powerpoint ®

Once you are up and running, you can customize ActivInspire even further, then save all your preferences as a profile for future
use. For more information, see Making profiles work for you.

In this help file, we concentrate on showing you how to work with ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire
Primary.

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About flipcharts

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About flipcharts
A flipchart is the large rectangular work space in your ActivInspire window, where you create lessons.
A few facts about flipcharts:
When you launch ActivInspire, a blank flipchart opens, ready for your input.
Flipcharts can include a vast range of objects, shapes and interactive features, including sounds, animations and actions.
You can work with as many flipcharts at the same time as you wish.
Each flipchart opens within its own tab in the ActivInspire window.
You can quickly move back and forth between flipcharts using the document tabs.
A flipchart can contain as many pages as you like.
You can also create desktop flipcharts, where you annotate either the live desktop, or a snapshot of the desktop.
Flipcharts created with ActivInspire have the file extension .flipchart.
You can convert any flipcharts created with earlier versions of Promethean software (version 2.0 and later) to the new file
format.

You can open flipcharts created with Activprimary and Activstudio in ActivInspire. Once you save these flipcharts in
ActivInspire, you cannot open them in Activprimary or Activstudio.

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Exploring ActivInspire Primary

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary

Exploring ActivInspire Primary

What you see when you first run ActivInspire Primary depends on whether you have ActivInspire Personal or Professional. Where
appropriate, we show you both in this illustrated tour:
Dashboard
ActivInspire window
Main Toolbox
Pen Tray
ActivInspire's Browsers
Viewing a flipchart
Managing multiple flipcharts
Authoring at your computer
Presenting at the board
Collaborating at the board
Exploring tools
Most often used tools

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Making profiles work for you

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Making profiles work for you

ActivInspire has a carefully thought-out range of default menus, settings and behaviors that give you consistent results every time
you work with flipcharts.
However, what you get may still not be exactly what you want. If you have used creative software before, you may be familiar with
changing settings and options to suit your needs. In ActivInspire we call this creating a profile.

See for yourself in:
About profiles
Creating and switching profiles

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Page Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers > Page Browser

Page Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly put together the foundations of your flipchart.
Use the Page Browser to:
View the entire flipchart as page thumbnails.
Navigate flipchart pages.
Set the backgrounds and grids for pages.
Organize your flipchart pages using drag and drop reordering, in addition to Cut, Copy, Delete and Duplicate commands.

Example

The picture on the right shows a flipchart that contains

multiple pages.
The Page Browser is open and shows thumbnails of the
first two pages in your flipchart. The Popup Menu icon
in the thumbnail indicates that this is the current
page. This means you can select an item or area on
that page and work with it.
To display another page, click on its thumbnail.

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Resource Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers > Resource Browser

Resource Browser
This browser helps you to quickly view, navigate and use the resources provided with ActivInspire to enrich your flipcharts. The
Resource Library contains a huge range of games and activities, annotations, assessments, backgrounds, concept maps, images,
shapes, sounds and other items too numerous to list.
You can easily extend the library with your own and other people's resources and add resource packs from the Promethean Planet
website on www.prometheanplanet.com, or from our partners.
Use the Resource Browser to:
Quickly navigate to and view all the resources in a particular folder, for example My Resources, Shared Resources or other
locations on disk or on the network.
Display thumbnails and filenames of selected resources in the browser.
Drag and drop resources such as page templates, activity pages and question pages from the browser into your flipchart.
Drag and drop your own creations from a flipchart page into a folder in the Resource Library.
Change the transparency of a resource in your flipchart.
Use the Rubberstamp to quickly create multiple copies of a resource in your flipchart.

Example

By default, the Resource Browser opens the Shared Resources

folder. All resources provided with ActivInspire are organized by
category and stored in clearly named folders.
The picture on the right shows some of the resources in the Shared
Resources folder.
Click on the icons at the top to browse the following for resources:
My Resources
Shared Resources
Another resource folder
Another folder on your computer
Promethean Planet
The pane at the top of the Browser shows the folders. Its Popup
Menu allows you to import and export Resource Packs.

The 'Import' function is only available from the Popup Menu

for the top level folder.
The pane at the bottom shows thumbnails of the resources in that
folder and their filenames.
From there you can:
Change the size and layout of the thumbnails of the
resources
Insert resources from the Resource Library into your flipchart
Delete resources from the Resource Library.
The area between the two panes shows the number of items in the
currently selected folder.

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Resource Browser

It also contains two useful tools for copying and changing

resources:

Toggle Transparency lets you make the background

color of an image resource transparent at the time you drag it onto
the page.

Rubberstamp lets you quickly insert multiple copies of a

resource into your flipchart.

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Object Browser

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Object Browser
Here we introduce objects and the Object Browser:
About objects
About layers and stacking
View objects
Work with objects
Example

About objects
In ActivInspire, everything you add to a flipchart is an object of one kind or another. For example, if you write something with the

Pen , draw a shape, add a picture, or add a link to a sound file, each of these items is an object. You can add many different
types of objects to a flipchart. The Object Browser helps you to keep track of the number and types of objects in your flipchart and
to quickly get to grips with objects in a flipchart created by somebody else.

About layers and stacking

The Object Browser shows details of the objects on the current page. Although a page is flat, a flipchart page actually has four
layers! These are like transparent sheets which only contain certain object types unless you move objects from one layer to
another. Within a layer, you can stack objects on top of each other.
By default:

This layer... Contains...

Top
Annotations: anything you draw with the Pen , Highlight , or Magic Ink , a secret
weapon which we introduce later.

Middle Images, shapes and text objects.

Bottom
Anything you draw with the Connector , but you can also drag and drop other objects onto this
layer.

Background Backgrounds, grids and page color.

By selecting objects listed in the Object Browser you can drag and drop them between the first three layers in the Browser, but not
the background layer. This directly alters their layering on the flipchart page. Layers are completely separate from each other. In
other words, you can replace the background without affecting your images or annotations. Or you can annotate over your
photographs and background without affecting other layers.
For more details, see Using layers and stacking.

View objects
Use the Object Browser to see at a glance:
The display order of objects and which objects are on the top, middle and bottom layers of a page.
Which objects are grouped together. This allows you to work on all of them at the same time.
If a page contains any hidden objects.

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Object Browser

If a page contains any objects that are locked so that they cannot be moved.

Work with objects

Use the Object Browser to:
Drag and drop objects from one layer to another.
Group, stack and reorder objects.
Show or hide objects.
Lock or unlock selected objects, for example, if you are planning a student activity where only certain objects can be
dragged and dropped and others must stay in place.

Example

The picture on the right shows details of

the objects on the current flipchart page.
You can see in the Browser, that all the
objects are identified by:
The icon of the tool that created
them
Their name.
The Browser shows clearly which objects
are on which layer:
There are eight objects in the top layer.
These are the annotations written with
the Pen
There are four objects in the middle
layer:
The printed text created with the Text
Tool.

Note the lock next to the Text object in the Browser. This indicates that the object has been locked in place. The lock is a
toggle switch that allows you to quickly lock and unlock objects.

The triangle and squares created with the Shape Tool are in the middle layer by default. Note the crossed-out eye
next to the object in the Browser. This indicates that the triangle is a hidden object. As you can see on the flipchart page, the
triangle is not visible. The eye is a toggle switch that allows you to quickly show and hide objects.
There is only one object in the bottom layer, a square created with the Shape Tool. In the Object Browser, we dragged this
object down from the middle layer, where it was created.
The yellow page background is on its own layer. We inserted this background with the Page Browser.

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Object Browser

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Notes Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser

Notes Browser
This Browser helps you to make your flipchart even easier to use, by allowing you to create, view and edit notes about your
flipchart. You can use these notes in any way you choose. As you will know from experience, lesson notes can make the difference
between an uninspiring lesson and one that flies. We therefore encourage you to make full use of the Notes Browser to enrich your
own and other people's experience of teaching with ActivInspire.
Use the Notes Browser to:
Add your own notes and comments to a flipchart, helping to make it easier to share and reuse.
If you are using a flipchart created by someone else:
View other teachers' notes and comments about their flipchart and add your own notes where appropriate.
View notes from publishers about how to best use their flipcharts and add your own notes if appropriate.

Example

The picture on the right shows the Notes Browser. You can
type your notes as plain text, or open the Format Toolbar and
format the text.

ActivInspire displays the Page Notes icon in the

Menubar if the current flipchart page contains notes.

You can add notes to each page of a flipchart and print

them, either with the flipchart pages, or separately.

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Property Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers > Property Browser

Property Browser
This Browser helps you to see all of the properties of an object at a glance. It's a powerful tool for quickly adding interactivity to
your lessons.
Use the Property Browser to:
Display all the properties of an object. Slide the vertical scrollbar of the Browser up and down to see the complete range of
properties available.
View and manipulate the position and appearance of an object by changing its settings in the Property Browser. Of course,
you can still control the position of an object by dragging and dropping it and edit it to change its color.
Add interactive features to your flipchart and control how they can be used.
Add permanently visible labels to objects, or add interactive fun by making a label appear only when the mouse cursor runs
over the object.
Control the behavior of an object by defining rules, called restrictors, that constrain its movement. This is a very useful
feature if you want, for example, to create your own on-screen game.
All properties are clearly categorized so that you can select properties by type.

Example

The picture on the right shows some of

the properties of the red square, the
currently selected object, in the
Property Browser. You can see the
name of the object and some details of
its position on the page. You can also
see that the square is on the middle
layer.
On the flipchart page, you can also see
the round Sizing Handles that surround
the selected object. These indicate that
you can move or resize the object. The
row of square icons alongside the object
are the Object Edit Menu and other
Marquee Handles for working on the
object.

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Property Browser

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Action Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers > Action Browser

Action Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly associate an action with an object. This means that, when you or someone else selects the
object, the action that you have associated with the object will happen. For example, a tickertape will run, displaying your message,
or a sound will play, or a flipchart vote will begin, to name just a few possibilities. All actions are clearly categorized, so that you
can select actions by type. You can set up any number of actions in your flipchart to make your lesson as varied and interactive as
you like.
Use the Action Browser to:

Apply a command action to an object, for example, the Dice Roller , so that up to five dice will roll when someone
selects the object on the board.
Apply a page action to an object, for example, to go to the next page.
Apply an object action to an object, for example, to change the size, position or translucency of an object.
Apply a document or media action to an object, for example, to insert a link to a file or website.
Apply a voting action to an object, for example to Start/Stop a Flipchart Vote.
Remove an action that is no longer required.
Preview an action to check that it does exactly what you want.

Example

The picture on the right shows the Action

Browser. We have associated the Dice

Roller with the blue square. You

can tell that an action is associated with
this object, because the cursor over the
blue square has changed to a blue

Preview icon.
When you click on the square, the 'Dice
Roller' Popup window opens and the dice
roll.
You can:
Choose the number of dice to roll.
Increase or decrease the speed.
Roll the dice as many times as you
wish.
Send the total of all the numbers
thrown to the current flipchart.

Roll the dice!

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Action Browser

You need ActivInspire Professional to use the Action Browser.

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Voting Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers > Voting Browser

Voting Browser
This Browser helps you manage all aspects of registering your ActivSlate, ActiVote and ActivExpression devices, running your
voting sessions, as well as recording, storing and browsing the results of such sessions.
Use the Voting Browser to:
Register ActivSlate, ActiVote and ActivExpression devices.
Assign students to devices.
Toggle between anonymous and named voting.
Select either ActiVote or ActivExpression devices for a voting session.
Set, suspend or change the time allowed for responses.
Start and stop voting.
Show or hide the 'Vote Now' prompt.
Browse voting results and export results to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
For details of how to register devices and use them in voting sessions, see Using Learner Response Systems.

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Working at the board

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board

Working at the board

In this section, we describe how to take advantage of using ActivInspire's powerful Presentation Tools while working at the board:
Pre-flight checklist
Annotating the desktop
Using Desktop Tools
Using the Camera
Using the Clock
Using Handwriting Recognition
Using Shape Recognition
Using Magic Ink
Using Tickertape
Using the Revealer
Working in Dual User mode
Using the On-screen Keyboard
Using the Spotlight
Using Teacher Lock
Using Math tools

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Working in Dual User mode

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Working in Dual User mode

Working in Dual User mode

This section explains Dual User mode and also the interactivity offered by this feature:
The concept
The pedagogy
What you require
How it works
Additional ActivInspire Primary trays
Rules of engagement
Deactivating Dual User mode
Content for Dual User mode

The concept
Promethean Technology supports true multiple user interaction and multiple operations happening at the same time. This takes the
idea of multi-user to a new level. Individual users are differentiated in the Promethean system and while emulating any other multi-
touch surface - it also “knows” who the teacher is and who the learners are.

The pedagogy
Promethean’s approach offers a completely new Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) paradigm – that opens a new world of easy to
manage, but pedagogically advanced teaching and learning opportunities.
Benefits when used by two or more users include:
It's non-technical - As easy as two people drawing on a big sheet of paper!
Allows people to work at the same time on screen and in the same application (specially developed) – all other systems
require users to take turns.
Users can collaborate to solve problems or puzzles.
Users can compete in real time.
Enables team or role-based use of the board/display.
Greatly increases productivity at the board.
Teacher can work with a child providing close support and advice, exploring ideas with no pen or role swapping.

What you require

To enable Dual User mode you must ensure you have the following hardware and software:
An ActivBoard v3 OR an upgraded ActivBoard v2 (containing ActivBoard firmware v2.3 or later).
Dual User ActivPens (Teacher Pen and Student Pen).
The Dual User enabled ActivDriver.
ActivInspire.
For further information regarding Dual User hardware and software requirements please contact Promethean Ltd.

How it works

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Working in Dual User mode

The Dual User functionality of ActivInspire is available whenever the software detects a Dual User enabled ActivBoard connected to
your computer. If this is not the case, the Dual User functionality will be unavailable within ActivInspire.

This section is written with the assumption that Dual User is enabled.

Dual User is designed around the concept of a Teacher Pen and a Student Pen:

Teacher Pen

Student Pen

By default, when Dual User mode is not enabled, both the Teacher and the Student pens behave as standard single input
ActivPens, in that you can use either of the pens, but only one at a time.
With either of the pens you can enable Dual User functionality as follows:

From the Main Menu, select Tools > Dual User

When Dual User is enabled, a second, floating Student Toolbox is displayed within ActivInspire:

Student Toolbox (ActivInspire Student Toolbox (ActivInspire

Studio) Primary)

When Dual User mode is enabled:
The Student Pen is restricted to the following areas of the program:
Positioning the Student Toolbox.
Selecting and using tools from the Student Toolbox on the flipchart page.
Interacting with the contents of the flipchart page.

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Working in Dual User mode

The Teacher Pen will continue to control the full functionality of ActivInspire, with the exception that it cannot be used to
interact with the Student Toolbox.
The computer mouse cannot interact with the flipchart material or the Student Toolbox, but will continue to control all other
aspects of ActivInspire.

The Student Toolbox These allow the student to...

offers the following
tools...

Move and size page objects.

Select

Annotate on the page.

Pen

Highlight areas of the page.

Highlight

Fill page objects.

Fill

Add shapes to the page.

Shape

Connect page objects.

Connector

Add recognized text objects to the page.

Handwriting Recognition

Add recognized shapes to the page.

Shape Recognition

These tools behave in much the same way as the standard tools for single pen input.

For details, see the individual sections on these tools in this Help file.

It is important to rrealize that any Student Pen activity can occur on the page independently from and simultaneously
to the Teacher Pen activity.
This therefore provides for many types of collaborative activity, including:
Teacher and student both writing together.
Teacher writing and student highlighting words.
Teacher writing and student selecting and moving objects.
Teacher and student both moving, sizing, rotating, dragging and dropping objects.
All the actions and properties of page objects such as containers and restrictors apply to both Teacher and Student
Pens.

Additional ActivInspire Primary Trays

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Working in Dual User mode

Dual User Mode within the ActivInspire Primary interface offers some additional tool trays.

When the Student Pen selects the Pen , the Student Pen Tray is displayed in the Tray area, allowing the Student to select
pens, highlighters and colors:

When the Student Pen selects the Fill Tool, the Student Fill Tray is displayed in the Tray area, allowing the Student to select the

Fill color:

These trays will appear alongside any trays currently in use by the Teacher Pen.

Rules of Engagement
When working in Dual User mode, ActivInspire imposes the following rules of engagement:
The Teacher Pen cannot select Student Tools. The Student Pen cannot select Teacher Tools.
Any Inspire windows and dialogs (for example, those for the Clock, or Dice Roller) are inaccessible to the Student Pen.
When you select a page object (or objects) with one of the pens, so that the Marquee Handles are showing, these objects
will be inaccessible to the other pen. This rule stays in force until the Marquee Handles are removed by whatever means. In
other words, each pen can define its own independent selection of Marquee Handles which are inaccessible to the other
pen.
If one pen is interacting with an object on the page, for example, the first pen is in the ‘pen nib down’ state over an object,
the second pen cannot interact with this object until the first pen releases its hold on the object.

The Student Shape Tool does not display the Shape Toolbox. The Shape Toolbox must be shown by the Teacher
Shape Tool, whereupon both the Student and Teacher pens can select shapes from the common Shape Toolbox. Both pens
will always use the most recent shape as selected by each pen.

When the Student Pen uses the Handwriting Recognition Tool, no word alternatives are provided once the
word is recognized (unlike the Teacher Pen).
If both pens are writing, the stacking order of the annotations are defined by the relative pen down events of both pens.
Therefore if Pen 2 is in the process of drawing an annotation, Pen 1 can always draw over the top of this annotation (and
vice versa).
If two Maths tools are showing on the page (for example, rulers, compasses, protractors), each pen can interact with its own
maths tool.
When using the ActivInspire Primary look and feel, the position of any Teacher and Student trays will depend upon the
position of the Teacher and Student Toolboxes. If the Teacher Toolbox is to the right of the Student Toolbox, then the
related trays will appear in the same order.

Deactivating Dual User mode

When Dual User mode is enabled, you can use the Teacher Pen or the computer mouse to ‘turn off’ Dual User mode as follows:
From the Main Menu, select Tools > Dual User. Once Dual User is turned off, both pens revert to standard, single pen use (the
default condition).

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Working in Dual User mode

Content for Dual User mode

All pages support dual user input, single user input and sequential use. Multiple users will not be a prerequisite for use of pages,
yet pages used in this way will be most effective due to the very nature of collaborative learning and its benefits.
The criteria for multi-user templates are as follows:
Activity templates which students can use as a focus for information collation, ideas exchange and discussion.
Activity templates in which students can work together to manipulate or engage with page elements to co-construct and
consolidate knowledge.
Activity templates that promote higher order thinking skills encouraging students to think of concepts in more advanced or
complex ways (from basic levels of thought to more complex levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation).
Activity templates allowing synchronous completion of the identical or similar activities - with or without a competitive element
according to teachers’ preference.
Activity templates enabling joint creative exercises.
Activity templates which serve to enhance understanding when used as a core part of learning – to encourage student
engagement and interaction with concepts and each other, and not necessarily lower order ‘interaction’ with the IWB/IWB
tools alone (technical versus conceptual interaction).
Activities employing the ‘Back-to-back’ technique in collaborative or competitive tasks.

There are plenty of multi-user page templates and multi-user activities to be found within the Shared Resources
Library sub-folders in:
Shared Resources > ActivInspire

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Sound Recorder

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Home > Reference > Tools > Sound Recorder

Sound Recorder
What? Allows you to capture an audio recording (speech and/or music) to a file using the
audio capture capabilities of your computer.

Where? Main Menu > Tools > More Tools… > Sound Recorder
Desktop Tools

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+R (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+R (Mac® )

How? In the Sound Recorder Toolbox, click on the red Record icon to start capturing
your audio. You may then use the Pause or Stop icons at any time.

To record speech, you should ensure that you have a suitable microphone
connected to your system. For more information, see your Operating System Help
files.

What can I customize? Add To Flipchart Adds a sound icon to your flipchart page when you finish
recording. Click on the icon, with Enable Actions
activated, to play your recording.

Save To Disk When you click on the Record icon, ActivInspire

prompts you to specify a file name and location for your
sound file before the recording begins.

Both Both of the above.

Where can I customize it? Settings > Recordings > Sound Recordings

More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding multimedia
More info... Reference > Settings > Recordings

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Screen Recorder

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Home > Reference > Tools > Screen Recorder

Screen Recorder
What? Recording the actions on a flipchart, desktop flipchart, the desktop, or another
application, saving them as a .avi file, then playing them back as an animation.

Where? Tools > More Tools > Screen Recorder

Desktop Tools

How? Click on the red Record button and type a filename. Alternatively select the video
format and audio compression first, then begin the recording. Click on the black
Stop button to end the recording.

What can I customize? In the Screen Recorder Menu:

Video To save disk space, choose from the supported video

Compression compressors installed on your computer.

Audio Format Choose mono or stereo and the quality of recording. The
greater the number of kilobits per second, the better the
sound quality and the larger the file.

In the Recordings section of Settings:

Capture frame Default = 5

rate
The number of frames to be captured per second (1-10).
The greater the number of frames, the better the video
quality and the larger the file.

Record audio Default. If you have suitable sound equipment,

records sounds as well as video.
Records only video.

Quick capture Select when recording activities with lots of cursor

movement over large, static areas. For example, a
software demo.
Default.

Capture mouse Default. Records cursor movements in the video.

pointer
Does not record cursor movements.

Capture layered Layered windows are used by applications to create

windows translucent windows. For example, the translucent image
that appears when you drag and drop an icon onto your
desktop.
Select when recording applications that use layered
windows.

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Screen Recorder

The cursor may flash while recording, but this

effect will not appear in the video.
Default.

Disable hardware Default.

acceleration
during recording Hardware acceleration improves the performance of
3D graphics on your computer but can adversely affect
the performance of the Screen Recorder.
Select to switch off hardware acceleration at the start of
the recording and restore it upon completion of the
recording.

Hide screen Hides the Screen Recorder toolbox at the start of

recorder toolbox each new recording.
whilst recording

When the toolbox is hidden, stop the recording

by clicking on the Screen Recorder icon.
Default. Screen Recorder is displayed during
recording so that you can stop, pause or restart the
recording.

Where can I customize it? Screen Recorder Menu

Edit Profiles > Settings > Recordings

More info... More about ActivInspire > working with objects > Adding multimedia

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Tickertape

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Home > Reference > Tools > Tickertape

Tickertape
What? Allows you to create and show text messages that scroll across your display over
your presentation. Tickertapes can be created, edited, saved as files and reused.

Where? Tools Menu > More Tools > Tickertape

Desktop Tools

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+T (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+T (Mac® )

How? When you select this tool, a new, default Tickertape message scrolls across the
display. You can use the 'Tickertape Edit' window to enter your message and
change its properties. Use the Tickertape File Menu to save and load your
tickertapes.

What can I customize? Tickertape properties like color and speed.

Where can I customize it? 'Tickertape Edit' window

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Tickertapes
More info...

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Clock

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Home > Reference > Tools > Clock

Clock
What? Classroom clock, timed activities and competitions.

Where? Tools > More Tools > Clock

Desktop Tools

Shortcut? Circular Spotlight (see description below):

CTRL+Shift+U (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+U (Mac® )

How? Set the display, choose count down or count up as desired:

What can I customize? Displays analog clock

Displays digital clock

Displays both an analog and a digital clock

Toggle switch. Pauses or restarts the clock

Opens 'Clock Counter' Dialog Box.

Use to set:
Countdown/Countup interval
Repeat countdown/countup
Reset
Play sound after timeout
Perform an action after timeout

Where can I customize it? Clock Box

Edit Profiles > Settings > Clock Tool

Using the Clock

More info... Settings > Tools
Working with actions
Actions > Command Actions

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Clock

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Camera

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Home > Reference > Tools > Camera

Camera
What? Taking a snapshot from the screen – this may be a picture on a website or flipchart, for
example.

Where? Tools > Camera

Desktop Tools

Shortcut? Area Snapshot (see description below):

CTRL+Shift+K (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+K (Mac® )

How? Choose the type of snapshot from the dropdown menu, then choose the destination for
your snapshot from the Camera Snapshot Box.

Area Snapshot A highlighted box is displayed. Click inside the box and
drag to move it – change the measurements with the
handles. For fine adjustment, use the Position controls in
the 'Camera Snapshot' Box.

Point to Point Click and drag, drawing straight lines to enclose a

Snapshot highlighted outline area on the greyed-out screen. The
snapshot area cannot be moved or modified – if you get
it wrong, just close the 'Camera Snapshot Box' and try
again. The Camera is enabled when the outline is
complete.

Freehand Snapshot Click and drag, drawing freehand to enclose a highlighted

outline area on the greyed-out screen. The snapshot area
cannot be moved or modified – if you get it wrong, just
close the 'Camera Snapshot Box' and try again.

Window Snapshot Capture dialog boxes, or the ActivInspire window.

Fullscreen Snapshot Capture the full screen.

Choose the destination:

Current Page

New Page A new page, which is inserted after the current page.

Clipboard

My Resources
My Resources or Shared Resources.
Shared Resources

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Camera

Using the Camera

More info... Working with actions
Actions > Command Actions

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Revealer

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Home > Reference > Tools > Revealer

Revealer
What? Selectively revealing parts of the flipchart page.

Where? Tools > Revealer

Shortcut? CTRL+R (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+R (Mac® )

How? The Revealer is a toggle switch. Reveal hidden object(s) by clicking and dragging
the blind from the top, bottom, right or left.

What can I customize? rColor of the Revealer blind

Animation speed (1 to 20 seconds) - for use with ActivRemote.

Where can I customize it? Edit Profiles > Effects > Reveal Tool

More about ActivInspire> Working at the board > Using the Revealer
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Dual User

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Home > Reference > Tools > Dual User

Dual User
What? Collaborative working with two ActivPens on your ActivBoard version 3, or upgraded
ActivBoard version 2..

Where? Tools > Dual User

How? Start Dual User mode, then two collaborators can simultaneously write and work on the
board, using a Student Pen and Teacher Pen.

Working in Dual User mode

More info...

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Pen

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Home > Reference > Tools > Pen

Pen
What? Drawing or writing annotations on the board.

Where? Tools > Pen

Main Toolbox
Dual Toolbox

Shortcut? CTRL+P (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+P (Mac® )

How? Draw or write slowly, try to keep the "ink" flowing to avoid creating many small
annotations.

Where can I customize it? Set the color and width in the Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio), or in the Pen
Tray (ActivInspire Primary).

First steps with ActivInspire > Writing on a flipchart

More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Highlighter

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Home > Reference > Tools > Highlighter

Highlighter
What? Emphasising areas of your flipchart with translucent olor.

Where? Tools > Highlight

Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio)
Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Dual Toolbox
Dual Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)

Shortcut? CTRL+H (Windows TM and Linux TM )

Cmd+H (Mac® )

How? Drag the cursor across the area to be highlighted.

Where can I customize it? Select the olor and width in the Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio) or in the Pen
Tray (ActivInspire Primary).

First steps with ActivInspire > Writing on a flipchart

More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Desktop Annotate

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Home > Reference > Tools > Desktop Annotate

Desktop Annotate
What?
Writing annotations on your computer's live desktop with the Pen or

Highlighter

Interacting with other applications on your desktop with Select

Where? Tools > Desktop Annotate

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+A (WindowsTM & LinuxTM)

Cmd+Shift+A (Mac® )

How? Your computer's desktop becomes the background of your flipchart page. The Main
Toolbox remains open, so you can select tools and save or discard your desktop
flipchart.
You can browse your computer, launch applications and use ActivInspire's tools to
create and manipulate annotations and other objects. The objects you create in
your flipchart are an overlay of the desktop, they will not remain on your desktop
when you close the desktop flipchart.

If you save the flipchart, it will not include a picture of your desktop.

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Annotating the desktop
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Page Zoom

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Home > Reference > Tools > Page Zoom

Page Zoom
What? Magnifying or miniaturizing the current page.

Where? View > Page Zoom

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+Z (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+Z (Mac® )

How? Click on the page, press and hold to zoom in, right-click on the page, press and
hold to zoom out.
Click and drag with Page Zoom enabled to pan across a flipchart page.

A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > Viewing a flipchart

More info... A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Viewing a flipchart
Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Dashboard

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Dashboard

Dashboard
When you run
ActivInspire, after
choosing your initial
preferences, the
first thing you see
is the Dashboard.
The Dashboard
contains shortcuts
to flipcharts and
useful tools to save
you time.
The Dashboard will
remain open until
you close it.

If you uncheck the 'Show the dashboard window on startup' box, the Dashboard will not open next time you run
ActivInspire.

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ActivInspire window

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire window

Here we introduce the main components of the ActivInspire window for ActivInspire Professional.

ActivInspire Professional
The following picture shows a thumbnail of the ActivInspire Professional window. The list on the left identifies each numbered
component:

1 Main Toolbox

2 Trashcan

3 Pen Tray

4 Page Browser

5 Object, Notes,
Property, Action and
Voting Browser

6 Menubar

7 Flipchart name

8 Context Menu

9 Page Indicator

10 Sizing Indicator

11 Flipchart page

ActivInspire Personal
ActivInspire Personal does not give you the same range of tools and Browsers as ActivInspire Professional. For example, it does

not include the Shape Tool and the Action Browser .

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ActivInspire window

Tip
Look for these small icons at the top of Browsers, Menus and Toolboxes. They allow you to quickly customize an item's behavior:

Toolbox Options Select from a drop-down menu where the item should be located and how much of it should
be visible.

Roll Up A toggle switch to roll the item up so it takes up less space, or to unroll it again.

Pin Toolbox A toggle switch to pin the item in place. This prevents it from automatically hiding, or from
being moved accidentally.

To move an item, click in the yellow area along its top edge and drag and drop it where you want it.
Next time you run ActivInspire, it will remember your preferences.

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Main Toolbox

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Main Toolbox

Main Toolbox
The Main Toolbox opens on your display when you start ActivInspire. When you start ActivInspire for the very first time, the toolbox contains a set of the most popular tools.
The items in the Main Toolbox are just a selection of the many tools available. You can access a large range of additional tools from the Tools Menu. Next time you start ActivInspire, it
will remember where you left the toolbox last time, and which tools it contained.

ActivInspire ActivInspire Tools

Professional Personal

Main Menu Switch Profile Clear

Previous Page Next Page Reset Page

Start/Stop Flipchart Express Poll Undo

Vote

Select Tools Redo

Pen Fill Edit user-defined buttons

Shape Connector

Insert media from file Text

You need ActivInspire Professional if you want to create your own shapes with the Shape Tool.

Preferences
You can keep the default toolset, remove tools, or replace some or all of them with other tools. You can define your preferences in a profile and save them when you are satisfied. You
can create as many profiles as you need and quickly switch between them with the Switch Profile . icon. For details of how to customize profiles, see Making Profiles work for
you.

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Pen Tray

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Pen Tray

Pen Tray

The Pen Tray opens along the bottom edge of the display when you click on the Pen It contains the basic tools you need for
writing on the board and making quick changes and corrections. The following picture shows the Pen Tray. The list on the left
identifies each numbered component:

1 Highlighters

2 Pens

3 Erasers

4 Color Palette

5 Spaces for custom colors

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ActivInspire's Browsers

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers

ActivInspire's Browsers
This section introduces ActivInspire's Browsers.

What Browsers are there?

There are seven Browsers:

Page Browser

Resource Browser

Object Browser

Notes Browser

Property Browser

Action Browser

Voting Browser

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Viewing a flipchart

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Viewing a flipchart

Viewing a flipchart
We describe five easy ways to view a flipchart:
View one page at a time
Preview several pages at a time
Increase and decrease the page size
Zoom in and out
Pan around the flipchart

View one page at a time

Two ways to view one page at a time:

Click on the Next Page and Previous Page buttons.

From the View Menu, select Next Page or Previous Page.

Preview several pages at a time

From the Main Toolbox, open the Page Browser

.
Preview the thumbnails of the flipchart and click
on the black triangles on the film reel to see
other thumbnails. To display a page in the
ActivInspire window, click on its thumbnail.

Increase and decrease the page size

By default, ActivInspire is set to scale the complete flipchart page into the
ActivInspire window. This is termed 'Best Fit'. You can easily change this with the
drop-down menu at the top right-hand corner of the window.

Click on the small white triangles then select a setting to suit

your needs.

Welcome to the World!

If you select a setting that is smaller than 100%, the size of the flipchart page will
be proportionally reduced in the ActivInspire window.
This opens up an area around the flipchart page called the World. You can use the
World like a blotter, to position objects temporarily outside the boundary of the
flipchart page, for later use. These objects can then remain hidden when the page

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Viewing a flipchart

is scaled to fit the ActivInspire window. For example, things you don't want to make
visible to your students, or items you want to reveal at a certain point in a lesson.

Zoom in and out

You can use Page Zoom to magnify or shrink what you see on the flipchart. Page Zoom does not change your flipchart, it
only affects how the flipchart is viewed.
Zoom in

1. From the View Menu, select Page Zoom .

2. Click on the page and wait for a moment. The zoom begins and continues until you release the ActivPen or mouse button.

Page Zoom is now in the Quick Access Toolbar.

Zoom out
With Page Zoom selected:
1. Right-click on the page.
2. Hold the right-click button down.

If you double-click on the page while Page Zoom is selected, the Page Scale returns to Best Fit.

Pan around the flipchart

Use the vertical and horizontal slide bars that appear

around the page

Use Page Zoom. Notice that when this tool is

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Viewing a flipchart

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Managing multiple flipcharts

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Managing multiple flipcharts

Managing multiple flipcharts

Every time you open or create another flipchart, a new Document Tab appears in the Document Bar. You can work with an
unlimited number of flipcharts at the same time.

To move from one flipchart to another, click the Document Tab of the flipchart
you want to work on. This becomes the current flipchart.
The current flipchart is highlighted in yellow in its Document Tab. To close the
flipchart, click on .

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Authoring at your computer

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Authoring at your computer

Authoring at your computer

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Most often used tools

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > Most often used tools

Most often used tools

In the picture on the right, the Toolbox Shortcut Bar includes

some of the tools you explored in the previous topic.
To see a description of a tool, click on the link:

Clock

Camera

Open Flipchart

Revealer

Dual Mode

Sound Recorder

Tickertape

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More about ActivInspire

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Home > More about ActivInspire

More about ActivInspire

This section contains more detailed information about how to work with ActivInspire:
Working with resources
Working with objects
Making flipcharts interactive
Making profiles work for you
Working at the board
Importing and exporting files

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About profiles

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > About profiles

About profiles
Here we look at profiles in more detail:
What is a profile?
What can you customize in a profile?
Which profiles are included in ActivInspire?

What is a profile?
ActivInspire can be adapted to suit different teaching techniques.
Whether you need lots of tools on your board, or just plenty of space – ActivInspire suits all teaching styles. When you start
ActivInspire, it displays items such as tools according to a profile file.
If you have used other computer applications, you may be familiar with options and preferences. ActivInspire creates a profile
based on your use of tools.
For example, when you dock or roll in the Browser, ActivInspire makes a note in the profile. Next time you launch ActivInspire,
things like menus, tools and other items will look and behave just like you left them.
You can continue to work with this profile, or select Edit > Profiles to create and save one or more profiles of your own. You can
create different profiles for different circumstances and save your preferences in as many profiles as you wish. You can then use
your profiles on another computer. Other teachers can use their profiles on your computer, then you can change back to your own
profile when they have finished.
Your personal profiles are stored in the My Profiles folder.

What can you customize in a profile?

Profiles are a great way to personalize ActivInspire and make it truly yours. You can customize almost everything in ActivInspire
and save your preferences in one or more profiles. To make this easy for you, we have grouped things into four major categories.
Each category is represented by its own tab in the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.

This category Allows you to...

Layout Choose the position, visibility and behavior of items like the Main Toolbox, Menubars and
Document Tabs.

Commands Personalize the Main Toolbox and Marquee and Sizing Handles, by adding or remove items to
suit your circumstances.

User Defined Buttons Create your own shortcuts, so that when you press one of your own buttons, ActivInspire
performs one of the following:
Inserts a special keystroke.
Displays the text you have previously associated with that button.
Opens a file or launches a program.

Settings Customize the way on which you work with your Learner Response System, math tools,
multimedia and many others.

Which profiles are included in ActivInspire?

ActivInspire includes five profiles. Their names indicate their intended purpose. You can use them as provided, or customize them
further to suit your needs:

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About profiles

At The Board Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is
hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes
some presentation tools for use at the board, as well as the Page Browser and Resource Browser
buttons.

Authoring Puts authoring tools at your fingertips for quick lesson development. Opens with the Page Browser
open and pinned and includes the extended Color Palette in the Main Toolbox, as well as the Quick
Access Toolbar.

Languages Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is
hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes
additional tools for language teaching, like the On-screen Keyboard, Text Recognition, Tickertape and
Spell Checker.

Mathematics Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is
hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes
additional math tools, like the Ruler, Protractor, and XY Origin.

Media Presents an uncluttered display, where the ActivInspire window is set to Best Fit, the Browser is
hidden, the Flipchart Bin is visible, the Quick Access Toolbar is hidden and the Main Toolbox includes
additional media tools, like the Sound Recorder, Screen Recorder, Camera and Insert Media from File.

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Creating and switching profiles

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles

Creating and switching profiles

Here we show you how to create, customise and switch profiles:
Creating a profile
Choosing the layout
Choosing your tools
Defining your own buttons
Choosing application settings
Switching profiles

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Using layers and stacking

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Using layers and stacking

Using layers and stacking

Here we show you how to use layers and stack objects:
More about layers
Move an object to another layer
Stack objects

More about layers

You may remember that all objects are placed on layers by default and that you can move objects from one layer to another.

Top layer By default this layer contains all annotation objects that are made using the Pen, Highlighter and
Magic Ink tools. Such objects display on top of any other objects placed on the lower layers.

Middle layer By default, this layer contains images, shapes and text objects.
Recognised annotations are automatically converted to text objects and placed on the middle
layer..
These objects are displayed below (or underneath) any object placed on the top layer but are
displayed above (or over) the top of any object placed on the bottom layer.

Bottom layer Initially empty, the bottom layer can contain connectors and any object which is physically placed
on it. For details, see Move an object to another layer below.

Background layer The background layer consists of three elements:

Background page color
Background image (optional)
Grid (optional)
In addition, you can place any other objects on the background layer, whereupon they will become
locked on the background and will appear below all objects on the other layers.
If the background layer contains a background image, the way the image fills the page is dictated
by its Background Fit property. For details, see Reference > Properties > Miscellaneous
properties.

The layers are completely separate from each other. In other words, you can replace the background without affecting images or
annotations on other layers. Or you can annotate over your photographs and background without affecting other layers.

Move an object to another layer

1. Right-click on the object.

2. From the Popup Menu select Reorder > To Top Layer To Middle Layer or To Bottom Layer This
allows you to cover, for example, an annotation object with an image object.

Magic Ink annotations will hide any 'top layer' objects (or parts of objects) that the Magic Ink crosses over ( including
annotations and images), allowing you to see through to the layers beneath.

Use the appropriate Clear Tool to delete objects from each layer.

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Using layers and stacking

Stack objects
All objects are allocated a position in the stack according to the order in which they are added to the page. Each successive object
is placed on top of the preceding one within its own layer. Think of it as a pack of playing cards, where you must take a card out of
the pack and place it on top in order to fully view it. The most recently placed object on a page is on top of the stack.

The cards in the example on the right were added in the following order:
Blue 1
Yellow 2
Red 3
The following rules apply:
The blue card will display under the yellow and red cards.
The yellow card will display on top of the blue card, but will be under
the red card.
The red card will display on top of the yellow and blue cards.
These rules apply in each layer. Not only is there a stacking order in terms
of the layers, you also need to consider the stacking order within each layer.

Change the stacking order

You can change the stacking order by sending an object to another place in
the stack.
The order of the cards in the example on the right has changed. The Red 3
is now at the bottom of the stack.
Here we show you two ways to change the stacking order.
Change one step
1. Select the object.

2. From the Context Menu select Send Backwards or

Bring Forwards The object moves one step up or down

in the stacking order.
3. Repeat as necessary.
Go all the way
1. Select the object.
2. From the Edit Menu, select Reorder > Bring to Front or Send to
Back. This will move the object to the front or back of the stack
accordingly.

You can also select multiple objects to send the selection to the front or back. Each object will retain its stacking position in relation
to the other objects.

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Using Learner Response Systems

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Home > Using Learner Response Systems

Using Learner Response Systems

This section contains information about Learner Response Systems (LRS):
Overview
Registering devices
Assigning students to devices
Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard
Quick questions and ExpressPoll

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Pre-flight checklist

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Pre-flight checklist

Pre-flight checklist
Working with a flipchart at the board is different from working with it on your computer. Fonts, objects and colors that look great on your computer
screen may not work so well on the board.
We recommend that you try your flipchart out on a board before you teach with it in front of an audience. Now is the time to make final changes:

Ask yourself... Suggestions

More info...
Using Tickertape
Are the learning State the learning goals at the beginning and
goals clear? revisit them for a vote at the end of the session. Making flipcharts interactive > Creating
containers
Incorporate learning goals into every page:
Making flipcharts interactive > Creating
Make them into a tickertape and keep it
restrictors
running throughout the lesson.
Working with objects > Using layers and
Place them at the top of each page,
stacking
perhaps on the bottom layer, or make
them restricted, so they can't be moved or
deleted accidentally.

Is each flipchart page If a page looks too cluttered, consider spreading its
clearly structured? contents over two pages.

Is all text clearly Ensure that text has a point size of at least 16. First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting
legible? text
If necessary, change the font, font size or text colors for
greater clarity.

Is there enough color Consider changing text and object colors for greater Working with objects > Changing object properties
contrast? contrast and impact.

If you are using Check that actions are enabled and that the correct Making flipcharts interactive > Working with actions
actions, do they action has been associated with each object.
work correctly?

Do all images display You may need to resize them for best effect. Working with objects > Changing object properties
correctly on the
board?

Do all links work? If you have added links, make sure that you can access Working with objects > Adding and removing links
the required areas from the classroom. If you need
internet access, make sure you are connected to the
network.

Are all objects and To enable you and your students to work at the board,
buttons accessible? ensure that anything you or they need to access during
the lesson is in the bottom third of the flipchart.

Have you chosen a You may want to use one of the profiles provided with Making profiles work for you
profile for teaching ActivInspire, or you may want to tailor a profile to your
with this flipchart? particular lesson or group of learners.

Do you intend to use If the answer is "Yes", make sure that the tasks you set Working in Dual User mode
this flipchart for your students can be completed with the tools available
collaborative in the Dual Toolbox.
working in Dual User
mode?

Do you need to limit Consider using Teacher Lock to keep students focussed Using Teacher Lock

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Pre-flight checklist

access to any of on current activity.

ActivInspire's
functions when
students are working
at the board?

For expert advice on best teaching practice in the ActivClassroom, check out the Professional Development section on Promethean
Planet.

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Annotating the desktop

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Annotating the desktop

Annotating the desktop

Use the Desktop Annotate button when you want to use ActivInspire tools, such as the Pen, Highlighter and Eraser, on your
desktop or any application you have open on your desktop. When you annotate your desktop, you will create a Desktop Flipchart,
which can be saved for future use.
Use this feature in lessons about:
Websites
Software applications

Annotate the desktop

1. From the Tools Menu, select Desktop Annotate

. The desktop is displayed in between

ActivInspire’s Browser and the Main Toolbox, as shown
on the right.
2. Click on the Desktop Annotate button in the
toolbox to restore the previously hidden items. The
Menubar shows a new flipchart has been created, with
the name ‘desktop flipchart’. The desktop flipchart is
transparent.
You can annotate the desktop and deliver a lesson based on
the content, such as a website or a software application.
When you select the pointer and click on the desktop, you
can:
Start and use desktop applications.
Select objects from applications or websites and copy
them. From the clipboard you can paste into flipcharts.

Display the layered structure

Open the Object Browser to see the layer structure of
annotation objects.
The default structuring is as follows:
Pen annotations, including Highlighter go onto the top
layer.
Text and shapes go onto the middle layer.
Connectors go onto the bottom layer.
When you save a desktop flipchart, the objects are saved
onto an invisible background. The desktop does not form part
of the flipchart and will not be saved.

Options
You can have the desktop as part of your flipchart in the
following ways:

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Annotating the desktop

As the background of your flipchart.

Using Desktop Overlay and Desktop Snapshot.
From the File Menu, select Edit > Page Background. The
Set Background Dialog Box opens.
Click the Desktop Snapshot radio button. To look at the
desktop before taking the snapshot, click the Show
Desktop icon.
When you are ready to take the snapshot, click on the Take
Snapshot icon.
After the snapshot has been taken, click on Done.
If you want your current page to have no background:
Click on the Desktop Overlay radio button, then click on
Done.
The desktop does not form part of the flipchart and will not be
saved.

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Using Desktop Tools

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Desktop Tools

Using Desktop Tools

Desktop Tools are a collection of commonly used ActivInspire tools which you may find useful when working in other applications,

on occasions where you might not necessarily require the full facilities offered by Desktop Annotate .

When you click on the Desktop Tools icon, ActivInspire is

minimised and the floating Desktop Tools toolbox is displayed:

This toolbox can be moved around the desktop by dragging

the icon to the required position, where it remains showing
over other applications.
You can click on the icon to expand the Desktop Tools.
The toolbox contains the following tools (moving clockwise
from the top):

Closes the Desktop Tools Toolbox and returns you to the

Restore Inspire main ActivInspire application.

Shows or hides the voting Wonderwheel.

ExpressPoll

Starts the ActivInspire Screen Recorder.

Screen Recorder

See below.
More Tools

See below.
Camera

Loads your chosen on-screen keyboard program.

On-screen keyboard

Opens the Promethean Planet web site in your web browser.

Promethean Planet

More Tools

When you move the cursor over the More Tools

icon a further level of the Desktop Tools Toolbox
open.
You can select the following tools:

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Using Desktop Tools

Starts the ActivInspire Tickertape feature.

Tickertape

Displays the ActivInspire Clock.

Clock

Starts the ActivInspire Sound Recorder.

Sound Recorder

Opens your chosen Calculator program.

Calculator

Displays the Dice Roll feature.

Dice Roller

Camera

When you move the cursor over the Camera icon

a further level of the Desktop Tools Toolbox opens.
You can select the following snapshot types:

Fullscreen Snapshot

Window Snapshot

Freehand Snapshot

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Using Desktop Tools

Point to Point Snapshot

Area Snapshot

For details of all the tools available on the Desktop Tools Toolbox, see the relevant sections of this Help file.

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Using the Camera

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Camera

Using the Camera

Use the Camera tool to capture an image of
your Desktop, Flipchart and paused video
frames or animations. You can take a
photograph of the complete display screen or
you can define a specific area on the screen to
capture only part of it.
The photograph will capture all types of objects
displayed on screen including backgrounds,
annotations, grids, lines, shapes, text and other
images.

1. From the Tools Menu, select Camera.
Choose the type of snapshot from the
drop-down menu:
Area Snapshot – A highlighted
box is displayed. Click inside the
box and drag to move it – change
the measurements with the
handles. For fine adjustment, use
the Position controls in the
Camera Snapshot box.
Point to Point Snapshot –
Click and drag, drawing straight
lines to enclose a highlighted
outline area on the greyed-out
screen. The snapshot area cannot
be moved or modified – if you get
it wrong, just close the Camera
Snapshot box and try again.
Freehand Snapshot – Click
and drag, drawing freehand to
enclose a highlighted outline area
on the greyed-out screen. The
snapshot area cannot be moved
or modified – if you get it wrong,
just close the Camera Snapshot
box and try again.
Window Snapshot – Capture
dialog boxes, or the ActivInspire
window.
Fullscreen Snapshot –
Capture the full screen.

2. Choose the destination for your snapshot

from the Camera Snapshot box:
Current Page – Capture the
image to the current flipchart
page.

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Using the Camera

New Page – Capture the image

to a new page at the end of the
flipchart.
Clipboard – Capture the image
to the clipboard.
My Resources – Capture the
image to the My Resources
folder.
Shared Resources – Capture
the image to the Shared
Resources folder.

The resultant image of all of these objects, which can be added to your Flipchart page, Resource Library, Shortcut bar or
clipboard as an object that you can manipulate. The photograph is simply an image of the screen, so any objects within your
photograph will not be editable. You can resize or rotate the photograph like any other image object.
Make sure that the screen is displaying the image you wish to capture. Choose from one of the following snapshot types, which
are discussed in order as they appear on the Camera tool menu:

Area
A dotted line in a rectangle shape will appear
on your screen. The rectangle can be
positioned anywhere on your screen by a click
inside the rectangle shape and drag it to
another part of the screen. It can also be
resized using the Sizing Handles that surround
the border. Move these around until the shape
contains the image you want to photograph,
then choose from one of the paste options
available from the Photograph toolbox.

Point to Point
Allows you to capture an irregular shape made
up from straight lines. The first click starts the
shape. Every time you click, you add another
node to the shape so you can move the line in
another direction. To end the shape, click close
to the first point and ActivInspire will
automatically close the shape for you. A
preview of your photograph will appear on
screen surrounded by a pink background.
Choose from one of the paste options available
from the Photograph toolbox.

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Using the Camera

Freehand
Allows you to capture an irregular shape using
freehand lines. Click and drag the cursor to
start the capture. As you move the cursor, a
dotted line follows it to define the capture area.
To end the shape, just release the click and
ActivInspire will close the shape by placing a
straight line between the first and last point. A
preview of your photograph will appear on
screen surrounded by a pink background.
Choose from one of the paste options available
from the Photograph toolbox.

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Using the Camera

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Using the Clock

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Using the Clock

Use the clock to show the time on the board.
You can also do a countdown and have
automated flipcharting actions.
From the Tools Menu, select More Tools >
Clock.
The clock is displayed in a box.
Click on the icons in the box to toggle
between clock displays – analog, digital
and both.

Click and drag the sides or the corners

of the box to change the size of the box
and the clock.

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Using the Clock

Click on the button with the pause

symbol to pause the clock.
Click on the down arrow to count down
from a time.
Click on the up arrow to count up from a
time.

Click on x to close the clock.

Clicking on either arrow opens the 'Clock
Counter' Dialog Box.

Set the time in the format 00:00:00 (hr:min:s).

Check the Repeat box to repeat the counting action until the clock is closed.
Drop-down menus let you:
Choose a sound to play after the timeout.

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Using the Clock

Choose a page turn or page reset action after the timeout.

If you choose Turn to Next Page and you have checked the Repeat box, blank pages will be added to the flipchart until the
clock is closed.
Click Reset to return to the default settings for the Clock Counter.

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Using Handwriting Recognition

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Handwriting Recognition

Using Handwriting Recognition

The Handwriting Recognition Tool is in the Tools Menu.
Use this to convert freehand annotations into text, if you prefer the display appearance of formatted text in your flipchart. ActivInspire can do this in real time as you
write at the board. As well as recognizing handwriting and shapes within ActivInspire, the Handwriting Recognition Tool can also recognize handwriting in other
applications, for example Microsoft Word ® .

1. Select Handwriting Recognition

2. Write a word on the page. Wait for it to be converted to text.

3. If the word has not been converted correctly, click on the Alternatives icon for more options. Click on
the correct option.
4. Write another word or click on a different tool.

The new text object takes on the most recent text settings.
When the annotation becomes a text object, it moves to the middle layer,
and you will not be able to use the Eraser Tool.

Select the (converted) annotation, then click on the Text Tool

to display the Format Toolbar.
Highlight the text and format it.
You can finish a section of writing and convert it to text later:

From the Object Edit Menu , select Convert to text.

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Using Handwriting Recognition

Options and Settings

Recognition Tools options and settings are in the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles'
Dialog Box:
Recognition Timeout – The slider adjusts the timeout between 1 and 5
seconds.
Fill recognized shapes – Check the box to fill enclosed shapes produced
by conversion. Fill color options become available – you can fill the shape with
the outline color, or check the Another color box and select accordingly.
Handwriting recognition language – For details of the available
languages, see Reference > Settings > Language.

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Using Shape Recognition

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Shape Recognition

Using Shape Recognition

Freehand drawing annotations can be converted into shape objects as you draw at the board with the ActivPen.
The Shape Recognition Tool is in the Tools Menu.
As the annotation becomes a shape object, it moves to the middle layer.
When you select the new shape, you can transform it using:
The Marquee and Sizing Handles.
The Main Toolbox.
The Property Browser.

While the object is in the middle layer, you will not be able to use the Eraser . If you move the object to the top

layer, you will be able to use Magic Ink .

Settings and Options

Select File > Settings > Edit Profiles > Settings > User Input
If you prefer to work without enabling Shape Recognition, you can convert a freehand annotation to a shape object at any time.
Right-click on the annotation and select Convert to shape.

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Using Magic Ink

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Magic Ink

Using Magic Ink

Here we introduce Magic Ink and show you how to use it.
You can use Magic Ink to make any 'top layer' object (or part of an object) invisible. Think of Magic Ink as a pen that can draw a
'see through' annotation on the top layer. Magic Ink allows you to punch holes through the objects on the top layer, so that you can
see the objects on the layers beneath.

Example 1
Add an image from the Resource Library. The image
will be on the middle layer of the page. Then select
the Pen Tool and set the width to wide, color over the
image until it is completely obscured. This pen
annotation will be on the top layer. Finally use Magic
Ink to remove the pen annotation to reveal the image
beneath.

Example 2
Add two photographs of the same landscape scene, one taken in winter, one in summer. Place the winter photo on the top
layer so that it is positioned exactly over the summer photo. Then use Magic Ink to gradually erase the winter image to reveal
the summer image beneath.

Why does Magic Ink only work on some items?

The annotations you create with Magic Ink are themselves objects. So you can use Magic Ink to conceal objects you want to reveal
later.

Layers and stacking are important when using Magic Ink:

Magic Ink works only on the top layer.
On the top layer, Magic Ink only works on items lower in the stacking order.
Any item placed on the top layer can, therefore, be made invisible with Magic Ink.
For more information, see Using layers and stacking.

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Using Magic Ink

Change the size of the Magic Ink nib

In the Main Toolbox:
Click on one of the preset widths, or
Use the Pen width slider to choose any size between 1 and 100 pixels.

Before and after...

See through an annotation
To see through an annotation:
1. From the Tools Menu, select Magic Ink.
2. Click and drag the cursor over the annotation you want to see
through.

Find a Magic Ink annotation
To find out if a flipchart contains any items created with Magic Ink:
1. Open the Object Browser and look for objects with the Magic
Ink icon, like the one indicated in the example on the right.
2. When you click on the item in the Object Browser, it is
selected on the flipchart page:

Now you can move the Magic Ink annotation, delete it, or
change it in some other way.

Alternatively:
Move the cursor over the Magic Ink annotation (you can tell that you

are in the right place when the cursor looks like this ).

Delete Magic Ink

You can delete Magic Ink annotations like any other objects:
Select the Magic Ink annotation on the flipchart page, or in the Object Browser and press Delete, or
Drag and drop the annotation into the Trashcan.

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Using Tickertape

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Tickertape

Using Tickertape
From the Tools Menu, select More Tools >
Tickertape. Three items are displayed in the
'Tickertape' Dialog Box:
The default scrolling tickertape message.
Continuous preview responds instantly to
changes.
The tickertape controller.
You can:
Adjust the speed with the slider.
Pause or resume playback.

To enter the tickertape message:

Type a tickertape message into the textbox.
Lengthy messages combined with large font sizes, require large amounts of memory. In extreme cases, you may find the
tickertape message will not display.
Shadow
Enter a number into the Drop textbox to add or change the size of the shadow. A zero indicates no shadow is required. Any
changes to the shadow are displayed immediately on the scrolling message, allowing you to review your tickertape. Click on the
Color box to view the Color Palette and select a different color for the shadow.
Background
Select the Screen radio button to select the current screen as the background for your tickertape.
Select the Color radio button if you would prefer the tickertape to scroll across a plain color background strip. Click on the Color
box to view the Color Palette and select a different color for the tickertape background.
Font...
Allows you to alter the font, size, style and script attributes for the current tickertape.
Test
Click on this button to test your tickertape.
Loop
Select the checkbox to ensure the tickertape will scroll continuously until interrupted by a right-click on the message itself
Position
Click on the drop-down arrow and select Top, Middle or Bottom from the list to specify the scroll position of the tickertape.
Make Default
Click on this button to remember the current tickertape settings for the next time you define a tickertape.

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Using Tickertape

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Using the Revealer

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Revealer

Using the Revealer

The Revealer simulates a roller shade or blind. The flipchart page is covered and the cursor becomes a shade pull. You reveal the
page gradually, moving the cursor inward from any side of the page. While the Revealer is enabled it will cover all flipchart pages
by default.

To use the Revealer, select Tools > Revealer.

To disable the Revealer:
In the Property Browser, select Page Tools > Tools Off from the Drop-down Menu.

To change Revealer settings:
1. From the File Menu, select Settings. The 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box opens.
2. Select Effects.
3. To change the color, double-click the box next to Color. The Color Palette opens.
4. Select a color.
5. To save your changes, click Done.

If you have an ActivRemote presenter device, you can activate the Revealer from anywhere in the
classroom.
To adjust the animation speed:
1. Select Effects as described above.
2. Move the slider from 1 (slow) to 20 (fast).
3. To save your changes, click Done.

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Using the On-Screen Keyboard

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the On-screen Keyboard

Using the On-Screen Keyboard

The On-Screen Keyboard is in the Format Toolbar and in the Tools Menu under More Tools.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard to add text into your flipchart (or other applications) while presenting at the board.
With the Text Tool selected, and a text box open:

1. Click on On-screen Keyboard

The keyboard opens. It contains the standard keyboard layout and keys. What it looks like depends on your computer's
operating system.

2. To move the keyboard, click anywhere in the Titlebar of the On-Screen Keyboard, and drag and drop it elsewhere on your
display.
3. To add text, with a text box open, click on any of the keys.

4. To close the keyboard when you have finished adding text, click on the x key.

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Using the Spotlight

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Spotlight

Using the Spotlight

The Spotlight is a presentation tool. It masks

part of the flipchart, so only a portion is visible.
The default settings of a black background and
circular white spotlight simulate an actual
spotlight and help to focus attention.
From the Tools Menu, select Spotlight.

You can define options for displaying the
Spotlight Tool in the 'Spotlight Settings' Dialog
Box:
Border width
Move the slider to increase or decrease the
width of the border, which surrounds the
spotlight area. The range is between 0 and 20
pixels.
Border color
To change the color of the spotlight border,
click on the Color Box and select a color from
the CColor Palette.
Background colour
Click here to select the color of the non-
spotlighted area when using the Spotlight Tool.
Translucent border
Select the checkbox if you would like to see
through the spotlight border. Clear the
checkbox if you prefer to have the spotlight
border as a solid color.
Translucent screen
Select the checkbox if you would like to see
through the spotlight screen (the darkened area
that covers the Flipchart or Desktop window).
Clear the checkbox if you prefer to have the
spotlight screen as a solid color.
Right-click captures image
With one of the spotlights activated, right-click
on the page and an image of the spotlight area
will be pasted on your current flipchart page.

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Using the Spotlight

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Using Teacher Lock

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Teacher Lock

Using Teacher Lock

You can lock ActivInspire to prevent changes if you are away

from the board.
From the Tools Menu, select More Tools > Teacher
Lock.
The 'Teacher Lock' Dialog Box opens, certain features of
ActivInspire are disabled.

To resume working with ActivInspire you have to enter the

'Teacher Lock' password from the computer keyboard. The
default password is 1234.
To change the password, select Change Password and
complete the fields in the 'Change Teacher Lock' Dialog Box.

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Using Maths tools

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Maths tools

Using Math tools

This section describes:
Using the Dice Roller
Using the Calculator
Using the Ruler
Using the Protractor
Using the Compass
Setting the XY Origin

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Reference

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Home > Reference

Reference
These reference sections list and briefly describe the purpose of the tools, menus, actions, properties and settings available in
ActivInspire:
Keyboard Shortcuts
Customization Options
Menus and Popup Menus
Toolboxes and Toolbars
Tools
Actions
Properties
Settings

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Tools

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Home > Reference > Tools

Tools
This section describes in detail all the tools available in ActivInspire. For each tool, we describe what it does, how to use it, what
you can customize and where to find it by default.

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Adding multimedia

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding multimedia

Adding multimedia
You can have sound and video in your flipcharts, provided that your hardware supports them.

Sound files
Some sound files are provided in ActivInspire resources.
Display the Resource Browser and navigate to Shared Resources > Sounds > Animals > Bird.wav.
Drag the file to your flipchart. It is inserted as an image object with an applied action to play the file.
When you hover over the image the blue 'action associated' icon is shown.

When you click on the image the sound plays and the ActivInspire Sound Controller is displayed by default.

Select View > Sound Controller to hide the Sound Controller.

You can disable display of the Sound Controller from your profile:
Select File > Settings > Settings Tab > Multimedia and deselect the checkbox Show sound controller.
When you right-click on the image it is selected, as indicated by the Marquee Handles.

The Object Browser (below) shows the image and the Action Browser shows the applied action.

You can play two different types of sound file at one time. Two controllers are displayed, showing Track 1 and Track 2.

Track 1 plays speech or sound audio files, such as: .wma .wav .snd .au .aif .aifc .aiff.

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Adding multimedia

Track 2 plays more complex audio files, such as: .mp3 .cda .mid .rmi .midi.

From the Menubar select Insert > Media.
The 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box opens.

Select Insert > Link.

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Adding multimedia

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Recordings

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Home > Reference > Settings > Recordings

Recordings

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Capture Frame Rate Rate at which frames will be recorded in frames per second.
Range = 1 - 10
Default = 5

Record audio Default = Record sound while you create your video.
Do not record sound.

Quick capture Optimize recording activities with lots of cursor movement

over large, static areas.
Default = Do not optimize.

Capture mouse pointer Default = Record cursor movements in your video.

Do not record cursor movements.

Capture layered windows Layered windows are used by applications to create

translucent windows. For example, the translucent image that
appears when you drag and drop an icon on your desktop.
Record applications that use layered windows. Capturing
layered windows can cause the cursor to flash when
recording. This effect will not, however, appear in the actual
video file.
Default = Do not capture layered windows.

Disable hardware acceleration during recording Hardware acceleration improves the performance of 3D
graphics on your computer but can adversely affect the
performance of the screen recorder.
Default = Allow ActivInspire to switch off hardware
acceleration at the start of the recording and restore it upon
completion of the recording.
Keep hardware acceleration switched on.

Hide screen recorder toolbox whilst recording Hide the Screen Recorder toolbox at the start of each
new recording. When the toolbox is hidden, stop the
recording by clicking the Screen Recorder icon.
Default = Display the toolbox.

Sound Recording Location where your sound recordings will be saved. Select
from the drop-down menu:

Add To Flipchart Default = Add a sound icon to your flipchart when you finish

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Recordings

your recording. To play your recording, click on the icon, with

Enable Actions activated.

Save To Disk When you click on the Record icon, you are prompted to
specify a file name and a location for your sound file before
the recording begins.

Both Be prompted to give your recording a name and to specify

where you want to save it; an icon will also be placed on your
flipchart.

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Tools

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Home > Reference > Settings > Tools

Tools

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Default tool Tool that is enabled when ActivInspire starts. Choose from
the drop-down menu: Pen, Highlighter, Eraser or Select Tool.
Default = Pen

Show pen width indicator Default = Show a small colored outline at the tip of the
pen. The outline will be in the currently selected color.
Do not show color at the tip of the pen.

Camera captures main toolbox ActivInspire's Main Toolbox will be included in your
snapshot when you use the Camera.
Default = The snapshot will not include the Main Toolbox.

Maths Tools

Tool color Default = Grey

Click to change the color of your ruler, protractor or compass.

Tool text color Default = Black

Click to change the colorof the text on your ruler, protractor
or compass

Translucency Make the protractor, ruler or compass more or less

translucent.
Range = 20 - 255
Default = 255

Tool scale Use the slider to increase or decrease the size of the math
tools to suit the size of your display.
Range = 50 - 200
Default = 150

Image fill tolerance Applies to .jpg and .png graphic files. Use the slider to set
how closely the Fill color must match a corresponding color
in the selected file. A low tolerance means only closely
matching areas of the graphic file will be filled, while a higher
tolerance has the opposite effect.
Range = 0 - 100
Default = 5

Highlighter Translucency Use the slider to increase or decrease the translucency of the

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Tools

Highlighter.
Range = 20 - 255
Default = 128

Dice Roller

Dice speed Use the slider to change the speed at which the dice will roll.
Range = 3 - 11
Default = 7 seconds

Number of dice Use the slider to change the number of dice.

Range = 1 - 5
Default = 5

Calculator

Use calculator supplied with operating system Default = Use the calculator supplied with ActivInspire
Use the default calculator supplied with your operating
system.

Use calculator specified by user Click and browse to select another calculator.

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Working with actions

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making flipcharts interactive > Working with actions

Working with actions

In ActivInspire, you can associate an action with an object. This object then becomes an action object. When you click on the action
object, the associated action happens. For example, a sound file or animation plays, or a different flipchart page opens. You can test
actions immediately and they are enabled when you leave Design Mode.
There are several hundred actions available in the Action Browser, where they are presented in five different categories. You can either
access actions by category, select from a list of all actions, or select one of the most popular actions from the 'Drag and Drop' Tab.

For details of all available actions, including the differences between ActivInspire actions and those created with
previous generations of Promethean software, see Reference > Actions.

Here we introduce the action categories, describe how to add actions, show you how to drag and drop an action onto an object, give
one example for each action category, then show you how to remove actions:
Action categories
Add an action
Remove an action
Examples
Drag and drop an action
Add a command action
Add a page action
Add an object action
Add a document/media action
Add a voting action

Action categories

Category Description

Command Actions Actions which run a command or start a

tool.

Page Actions Actions which work with flipchart pages.

Object Actions The widest range of actions: show and

hide items, rotate items, manipulate
images and text, change an item's
alignment or position.

Document/Media Actions which insert media or links, or

Actions open a document, file, or sound.

Voting Actions Actions which start different LRS

activities or tools.

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Working with actions

Add an action
To add an action:
1. Select the object on the page to which you wish to apply an action.
2. Open the Action Browser.
3. Scroll through the action list to select your required action.
4. At the bottom of the Action Browser, click on Apply Changes. This associates the chosen action with the selected object.
Some actions require you to add ‘Action Properties’ and are shown where necessary at the bottom of the Action Browser. For example
the ‘Size Top Incrementally’ action allows you to provide a ‘target object’ to which the sizing action will apply and also to provide a ’Y’
property which allows you to specify the amount of sizing that will occur on the target object (in pixels).

If you select more than one object, you can use the Action Browser to apply the same action to all objects in the
selection.

To add a Drag and Drop action:

1. Select the object.
2. Open the Action Browser.
3. Click on the 'Drag and Drop' Tab.
4. Scroll through the action list to select your required action.
5. Drag and drop the action onto the object.

Remove an action

To remove a Drag and Drop action, click on the action icon (in
our example, the Ruler icon in the red triangle) and drag and
drop it into the Flipchart Bin.

To remove other actions:

1. With the Select Tool, drag around the action object to select it.
2. In the Action Browser, click on Remove Existing.

If you're not sure which flipchart pages contain action objects:

Switch to Design Mode . Actions are disabled and

all action objects are identified by a red square.

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Working with actions

Drag and drop an action

This is the quickest way to add interactive elements to a

flipchart:
1. Select the object.
2. In the Action Browser, open the 'Drag and Drop' Tab.
3. From the list select Ruler.

4. Drag and drop the Ruler action onto the action object, in
our case a red triangle. The Ruler icon on the triangle
and the action cursor indicate that the action has been
added successfully.

5. Test the action. When you click on the red triangle, the
Ruler appears. Use the Ruler as you normally would,
then drag and drop it into the Trashcan.

You can repeat the action as often as you wish. It will

remain associated with the object until you delete either the
object or the action.

For details of all actions in this category, see Reference > Actions > Drag and Drop Actions.

Add a command action

With the object selected and the Action Browser open:

1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select Command

Actions.
2. Click on Circular Spotlight.
3. Click on Apply Changes.
4. Test the action. When you click on the object, the screen
changes and the Circular Spotlight appears. Use the
Spotlight as you normally would, then select Close from
its Popup Menu.
For details of all actions in this category, see Reference >
Actions > Command Actions.

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Working with actions

Add a page action

With the object selected and the Action Browser open:

1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select Page Actions.

2. Click on Set Background.

3. Click on Apply Changes.

4. Test the action. When you click on the object, the 'Set
Background' Dialog Box opens. Choose the
background and layout, then click on OK to close the
dialog.
For details of all actions in this category, see Reference >
Actions > Page Actions.

Add an object action

Some object actions give you a choice: you can make the action object itself the target of the action, or make the action happen to
another object altogether. Here we show you an example of both.
Action object is target object
With the object selected and the Action Browser open:

1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select Object Actions.

2. Scroll down and click on Reflect.

3. In 'Action Properties', click on the Selector button .The 'Select Object' Dialog Box
opens.
4. Select the object, in our example a speech bubble.
5. Click on Apply Changes.

6. Test the action. When you click on the speech bubble, it is reflected. It now points at the
other face.

Action object is not target object

With the action object selected, in our case the red triangle, and the Action Browser open:

1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select Object Actions.

2. Scroll down and click on Original Size.

3. In 'Action Properties', click on the Selector button .The 'Select Object' Dialog Box opens.
4. Select the target object, in our example the blue triangle.
5. Click on Apply Changes.

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Working with actions

6. Test the action. Make the blue triangle larger or smaller. When you click on the red triangle, the
blue triangle returns to its original size.

For details of all actions in this category, see Reference > Actions > Object Actions.

Add a document/media action

With the object selected and the Action Browser open:

1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select Document/Media Actions.

2. Click on Open Website.
3. In 'Action Properties', type in the URL of the website you want to associate with the object, for example,
www.prometheanplanet.com.
4. Click on Apply Changes.

5. Test the action. When you click on the

object, in our example an image of a flame,
the Promethean website opens.

For details of all actions in this category, see Reference > Actions > Document/Media Actions.

Add a voting action

With the object selected and the Action Browser open:

1. In the 'Current Selection' Tab, select Voting Actions.

2. Click on Start/Stop Flipchart Vote.
3. Click on Apply Changes.

4. Test the action. When you click on the object, voting starts. In our example, the object is a
picture of the Start/Stop Flipchart Vote icon for ActivInspire Primary.

For details of all actions in this category, see Reference > Actions > Voting Actions.

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Command Actions

Show

Home > Reference > Actions > Command Actions

Command Actions

Use command actions to enable a tool, for example, the Clock , or to issue a command, for example, Close
Flipchart, when you click on an action object.
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:

Action Effect More info...

1024 x 768 Flipchart

Creates a new 'Untitled' flipchart of the specified

1152 x 864 Flipchart Creating your first flipchart
size.

1280 x 1280 Flipchart

About Opens the 'About ActivInspire' Dialog Box.

Action Browser Opens the Action Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Action
Browser (Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Action
Browser (Primary)
Working with Actions

Area Snapshot Starts an area snapshot. Reference > Tools > Camera
Using the Camera

Calculator Enables the Calculator. Reference > Tools > Calculator

Using the Calculator

Circular Spotlight Places a circular spotlight on the current page. Reference > Tools > Spotlight
Using the Spotlight

Clock Enables the Clock. Reference > Tools > Clock

Using the Clock

Close Flipchart Closes the current flipchart.

Compass Enables the Compass. Using the Compass

Reference > Tools > Compass

Connector Enables the Connector Tool. Reference > Tools > Connector

Custom Size Flipchart Creates a custom new flipchart of the size you
specify.

Dashboard Opens the Dashboard. Dashboard

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Command Actions

Design Mode Enables Design Mode.

Dice Roller Opens the 'Dice Roller' Box. Using the Dice Roller
Reference > Tools > Dice Roller

Dual User Starts Dual User mode and enables the Dual Reference > Tools > Dual Mode
Toolbox.
Working in Dual Mode

Edit Profiles Opens the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box. Reference > Settings
Making profiles work for you

Eraser Enables the Eraser. Reference > Tools > Eraser

Deleting stuff

Exit Exits ActivInspire and prompts you to save

changes if applicable.

Fill Enables the Fill Tool. Reference > Tools > Fill
Adding and manipulating shapes > Fill
a shape

Freehand Snapshot Starts an freehand snapshot. Reference > Tools > Camera
Using the Camera

Fullscreen Snapshot Starts an fullscreen snapshot. Reference > Tools > Camera
Using the Camera

Grid Designer Opens the Grid Designer. Creating and editing grids

Handwriting Recognition Enables Handwriting Recognition. Reference > Tools > Handwriting
Recognition
Using Handwriting Recognition

Help Opens this help file.

Hide Grid Hides the grid.

Highlighter Enables the Highlighter. Reference > Tools > Highlighter

Writing on a flipchart > Add highlights

Magic Ink Enables Magic Ink. Reference > Tools > Magic Ink
Using Magic Ink

New Flipchart Creates a new 'Unnamed' flipchart.

Notes Browser Opens the Notes Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Notes Browser
(Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Notes Browser
(Primary)
Creating page notes

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Command Actions

Object Browser Opens the Object Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Object
Browser (Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Object
Browser (Primary)

On-screen Keyboard Displays the On-screen Keyboard. Reference > Tools > On-screen
Keyboard

Open From My Flipcharts Opens the 'Select a flipchart' Dialog Box, so that First steps with ActivInspire >
you can browse to and select a flipchart. Opening a flipchart

Page Browser Opens the Page Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Page Browser
(Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Page Browser
(Primary)

Page Zoom Enables Page Zoom. Reference > Tools > Page Zoom
Viewing a flipchart > Zoom in and out
(Studio)
Viewing a flipchart > Zoom in and out
(Primary)

Pen Enables the Pen. Reference > Tools > Pen

Writing on a flipchart

Point to Point Snapshot Starts a point to point snapshot. Reference > Tools > Camera
Using the Camera

Print... Opens the 'Flipchart Print' Dialog Box. First steps with ActivInspire > Printing
a flipchart

Property Browser Opens the Property Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Property
Browser (Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Property
Browser (Primary)
Changing object properties
Reference > Properties

Protractor Enables the Protractor. Reference > Tools > Protractor

Using the Protractor

Redo Redoes the previous command. Reference > Tools > Undo and Redo

Resource Browser Opens the Resource Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Resource
Browser (Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Resource
Browser (Primary)
Working with resources

Revealer Enables the Revealer. Reference > Tools > Revealer

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Command Actions

Using the Revealer

Ruler Enables the Ruler. Reference > Tools > Ruler

Using the Ruler

Save to My Flipcharts Opens the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box, so Saving a flipchart
that you can save the flipchart to your chosen
location.

Screen Recorder Enables the Screen Recorder. Reference > Tools > Screen Recorder
Using the Screen Recorder

Screen Size Flipchart Creates a new 'Untitled' screen size flipchart. Creating your first flipchart

Search Resources on Opens the Promethean Planet website in your

Promethean Planet internet browser.

Select Enables the Select Tool. Reference > Tools > Select

Shape Enables the Shape Tool. Reference > Tools > Shape
Adding and manipulating shapes

Shape Recognition Enables Shape Recognition. Reference > Tools > Shape
Recognition
Reference > Settings > Shape
Recognition
Using Shape Recognition

Snap to Grid Makes moved objects snap to the grid, regardless Reference Tools > Snap to Grid
of whether the grid is visible.

Solid Circular Spotlight Reference > Tools > Spotlight

Enables the spotlight of your choice. Using the Spotlight
Solid Square Spotlight

Sound Controller Opens the Sound Controller.

Sound Recorder Opens the 'Sound Recorder' Popup Box. Reference > Tools > Sound Recorder
Using the Sound Recorder

Spellcheck Flipchart Enables the Flipchart Spellchecker. Reference > Tools > Flipchart
Spellchecker
Adding and formatting text >
Spellcheck

Square Spotlight Enables the square spotlight. Reference > Tools > Spotlight
Using the Spotlight

Teacher Lock Opens the 'Enter Teacher Lock password' Dialog Reference > Tools > Teacher Lock
Box.
Using Teacher Lock

Text Reference > Tools > Text

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Command Actions

Enables the Text Tool. Adding and formatting text

Tickertape Opens the 'Tickertape' Dialog Box. Reference > Tools > Tickertape

Timestamp Applies a timestamp to the current flipchart page.

Toolbox Rollup Rolls up the Main Toolbox.

Undo Undoes the previous command or action. Reference > Tools > Undo and Redo

Voting Browser Opens the Voting Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Voting
Browser (Studio)
A tour of ActivInspire > Voting
Browser (Primary)
Using Learner Response Systems

Web Browser Opens your web browser.

Window Snapshot Places the Camera into 'Window snapshot' mode, Reference > Tools > Camera
letting you select one of the currently visible
Using the Camera
windows to capture.

XY Origin Turns on the XY Origin Tool, around which all Reference > Tools > XY Origin
selected objects will be rotated.

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Writing on a flipchart

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Writing on a flipchart

Writing on a flipchart
When you are working at the board and do not want to use your computer keyboard, you can write on your flipchart with the Pen

Here we show you how to:

Write with the Pen
Add highlights
Change the Pen and Highlighter width
Change the color
All the tools we describe in this section are in the Main Toolbox.

Write with the Pen

When you run ActivInspire, the Pen is enabled by default, so that you can start writing immediately. At other times, you may have
to click or tap on it to select it.
With the Pen enabled:

1. Position the cursor where you want to begin.

2. Tap and drag to draw a line or shape, or write a word.
Whatever you draw or write appears in the currently
selected Pen color on the flipchart.

Every time you write on a flipchart, you create an annotation.

The Pen remains enabled until you select another tool.

Add highlights
To make some or all of your text stand out:

1. Click on the Highlighter The cursor

changes to a little highlighter with a circle.
2. Move the cursor to where you want to begin.
3. Click or tap, and drag to highlight an area of the
flipchart.

Just like a real highlighter, you can use the Highlighter on any area of your flipchart, not just on text.

Change the Pen and Highlighter width

ActivInspire Studio
In ActivInspire Studio, the Pen width is set to 4 pixels, and the Highlighter to 20 pixels, by default.

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Writing on a flipchart

To change the width:

1. Click on the Pen or Highlighter

2. Set the line width:

Click on one of the presets: 2, 4, 6 or 8, for the Pen,

and 10, 20,35 or 50 for the Highlighter, or
Click and drag the width slider to choose any size
between 0 and 100 pixels.

ActivInspire Primary
In ActivInspire Primary, you simply select a wider or narrower Pen or Highlighter from the Pen Tray.

Change the color

The Pen color is set to black, and the Highlight to translucent yellow, by default.
Quickest way (ActivInspire Studio)

1. Click on the Pen or Highlighter.

2. Click on another color in the Color Palette.

Quickest way (ActivInspire Primary)

1. Click on the Pen or Highlighter.

2. Click on another color in the Color
Palette.

More choices (ActivInspire Studio)

1. Click on the Pen or Highlighter.

2. Right-click on the Color Palette. The Extended Color
Palette opens.
3. You have three choices:
Click on one of the colors in the palette.

Use the Color Picker to pick a color from

anywhere in the ActivInspire window.

Use the Color Dialog to mix your own

color.

To pick a color from the ActivInspire window:

1. With the Extended Color Palette open, click on the

Color Picker .The Color Picker box opens.

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Writing on a flipchart

2. Move the Color Picker to the window area with the

color of your choice. The Color Picker box shows the
color at and near the Color Picker.
3. When the square at the centre of the box shows the
desired color, click to add it to the Color Palette.

To mix your own color:

With the Extended Color Palette open, click on the Color Dialog icon. A dialog box specific to your operating
system opens.

Example Windows
The picture on the right shows the dialog box for the
Windows operating system.
1. You can use it to:
Choose from 48 basic color.
Click anywhere in the Color Spectrum.
Click anywhere in the Color Spectrum, then
use the slider on the right to make the color
lighter or darker.
Click on the appropriate Up and Down icons
to adjust the red, green, blue color balance,
as well as the hue and saturation.
2. Click on Add to custom color.
3. Create as many custom colors as desired.
4. Click on OK to save the color, or Cancel to discard
them. 1 Basic colors
2 Color Spectrum
3 Slider
4 Up and down buttons
5 Add to Custom Color button
6 OK and Cancel buttons

ActivInspire saves your chosen Pen and Highlighter color and width settings. Next time you use these
tools, they'll be set to use whatever color and width they were set to previously.

1. Click on the Pen or Highlight.

2. Right-click on one of the three blank color slots in the
Pen Tray. The Extended Color Palette opens.

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Writing on a flipchart

3. You have three choices:

Click on one of the color in the palette.

Use the Color Picker to pick a color

from anywhere in the ActivInspire window.

Use the Color Dialog to mix your own

color.

ActivInspire saves your chosen Pen and Highlighter color and width settings.
Next time you use these tools, they'll be set to use whatever color and width they
were set to previously.

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Page Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Page Browser

Page Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly put together the foundations of your flipchart. It displays thumbnails of pages in a film strip along
the bottom edge of the display.
Use the Page Browser to:
View the entire flipchart as page thumbnails.
Navigate flipchart pages.
Set the backgrounds and grids for pages.
Organize your flipchart pages using drag and drop reordering, in addition to Cut, Copy, Delete and Duplicate commands.

Example

The picture on the right shows a flipchart with

multiple pages in the Page Browser. You can
see thumbnails of the first five pages in your

flipchart. The Popup Menu icon in the

thumbnail indicates that this is the current page.
This means you can select an item or area on
that page and work with it.
To display another page, click on its thumbnail.
To see thumbnails of other pages in the
flipchart, click on the black triangles on the film
reel.

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Resource Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Resource Browser

Resource Browser
This browser helps you to quickly view, navigate and use the resources provided with ActivInspire to enrich your flipcharts. The
Resource Library contains a huge range of games and activities, annotations, assessments, backgrounds, concept maps, images,
shapes, sounds and other items too numerous to list. You can easily extend the library with your own and other people's resources
and add resource packs from the Promethean Planet website on www.prometheanplanet.com, or from our partners.
The Resource Browser displays thumbnails of resources in a film strip along the bottom edge of the display.
Use the Resource Browser to:
Quickly navigate to and view all the resources in a particular folder, for example My Resources, Shared Resources or other
locations on disk or on the network.
Display thumbnails and filenames of selected resources.
Drag and drop resources such as page templates, activity pages and question pages from the browser into your flipchart.
Drag and drop your own creations from a flipchart page into a folder in the Resource Library.
Change the transparency of a resource in your flipchart.
Use the Rubberstamp to quickly create multiple copies of a resource in your flipchart.

Example

By default, the Resource Browser opens the

Shared Resources folder. All resources
provided with ActivInspire are organized by
category and stored in clearly named folders.
The picture on the right shows some of the
resources in the Shared Resources folder.
Click on the icons at the top to browse the
following for resources:
My Resources
Shared Resources
Another resource folder
Another folder on your computer
Promethean Planet
The 'Resource Locations' Popup Box shows
the folders. Its Popup Menu allows you to
import and export Resource Packs.

The 'Import' function is only available

from the Popup Menu for the top level folder.
From there you can:
Insert resources from the Resource
Library into your flipchart
Delete resources from the Resource
Library.
The filmstrip at the bottom of the ActivInspire
window shows thumbnails of the resources in

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Resource Browser

that folder and their filenames.

The picture on the right shows some buttons

and icons in the Resource Browser.
The Tool Pod next to the Browser opens the
Resource Library. There are also two useful
tools for copying and changing resources:

Toggle Transparency lets you make

the background color of an image resource
transparent at the time you drag it onto the
page.

Rubberstamp lets you quickly insert

multiple copies of a resource into your
flipchart.

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Object Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Object Browser

Object Browser
Here we introduce objects and the Object Browser:
About objects
About layers and stacking
View objects
Work with objects
Example

About objects
In ActivInspire, everything you add to a flipchart is an object of one kind or another. For example, if you write something with the

About layers and stacking

This layer... Contains...

Top
Annotations: anything you draw with the Pen , Highlighter , or Magic Ink , a secret
weapon which we introduce later.

Middle Images, shapes and text objects.

Bottom
Anything you draw with the Connector , but you can also drag and drop other objects onto
this layer.

Background Backgrounds, grids and page color.

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Object Browser

If a page contains any objects that are locked so that they cannot be moved.

Work with objects

Example

The first picture on the right shows the objects on the

current flipchart page.
The second picture shows what the details of these objects
look like in the Object Browser.
You can see in the Layered Tab in the Browser, that all the
objects are identified by:
The icon of the tool that created them
Name.
The Browser shows clearly which objects are on which
layer:
There are nine objects in the top layer. These are the

annotations written with the Pen

There are five objects in the middle layer:

The printed text created with the Text Tool and some
shapes.

The triangle and squares created with the Shapes tool

are in the middle layer by default.

The lock next to the Text object in the Browser

indicates that the object has been locked in place. The lock
is a toggle switch that allows you to quickly lock and unlock
objects.

The crossed-out eye next to the triangle in the Browser

indicates that the object is a hidden object. As you can see
on the flipchart page, the triangle is not visible. The eye is a
toggle switch that allows you to quickly show and hide
objects.

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Object Browser

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Notes Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser

Example

The picture on the right shows the Notes Browser. You can
type your notes as plain text, or open the Format Toolbar and
format the text.

ActivInspire displays the Page Notes icon in the

Menubar if the current flipchart page contains notes.

You can add notes to each page of a flipchart and print

them, either with the flipchart pages, or separately.

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Property Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Property Browser

Example

The first picture on the right shows all the objects on the
page, with the red square selected.
On the flipchart page, you can also see the round Sizing
Handles that surround the selected object. These indicate that
you can move or resize the object. The row of square icons
alongside the object are the Object Edit Menu and other
Marquee Handles for working on the object.

The second picture shows what some of the properties of the

red square look like in the Property Browser.
You can see the name of the object and some details of its
position on the page. You can also see that the square is on
the middle layer.

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Property Browser

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Action Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Action Browser

Action Browser
This Browser helps you to quickly associate an action with an object. This means that when you or someone else selects the
object, the action that you have associated with the object will happen. For example, a tickertape will run, displaying your message,
or a sound will play, or a flipchart vote will begin, to name just a few possibilities. All actions are clearly categorized, so that you
can select actions by type. You can set up any number of actions in your flipchart to make your lesson as varied and interactive as
you like.
Use the Action Browser to:

Apply a command action to an object, for example, the Dice Roller , so that up to five dice will roll when someone
selects the object on the board.
Apply a page action to an object, for example, to go to the next page.
Apply an object action to an object, for example, to change the size, position or translucency of an object.
Apply a document or media action to an object, for example, to insert a link to a file or website.
Apply a voting action to an object, for example to Start a Flipchart Vote.
Remove an action that is no longer required.
Preview an action to check that it does exactly what you want.

Example

The picture on the

right shows the Action
Browser. We have

associated the
Dice Roller with the
blue square. You can
tell that an action is
associated with this
object, because the
cursor over the object
has changed to a
yellow Preview
icon.
When you click on the
square, the 'Dice
Roller' Popup window
opens and the dice
roll. You can:
Choose the
number of dice
to roll.
Increase or
decrease the
speed.
Roll the dice as
many times as
you wish.

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Action Browser

Send the total

of all the
numbers
thrown to the
current
flipchart.

Roll the dice!

You need ActivInspire Professional to use the Action Browser.

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Voting Browser

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Home > A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers > Voting Browser

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Working with resources

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with resources

Working with resources

This section contains more information about working with resources:
About resources
Adding resources to a flipchart
Importing and exporting resource packs
Working with your own materials
Publishing flipcharts

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Working with objects

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects

Working with objects

This section contains more information about working with objects:
Using layers and stacking
Adding images
Adding and removing links
Adding multimedia
Transforming objects
Creating and editing grids
Changing object properties

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Making flipcharts interactive

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making flipcharts interactive

Making flipcharts interactive

This section contains information about adding interactive elements to your flipcharts:
Creating containers
Creating restrictors
Working with actions

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Importing and exporting files

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Importing and exporting files

Importing and exporting files

Here we show you how to import files from other applications and export a flipchart page to a graphics file.
Importing files
Exporting files

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Creating a profile

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles > Creating a profile

Creating a profile
Your default profile evolves whenever you select or change something in ActivInspire. New tools appear in the Toolbox Shortcut
Bar and perhaps you have opened or closed the Browser, pinned or moved the Main Toolbox, or changed the display so that you
can use the World area. All these preferences are recorded in your default profile.

In the example on the right, you can see that:

The Main Toolbox is docked along the
bottom.
The Flipchart Bin is above it on the left.
The Browser is closed and
The page size has been reduced to give
access to the World area.
To create a profile:
1. From the Edit Menu, select Profiles

. The 'Layout' Tab opens in the

'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
2. Click on options to select or change
them.
3. Click on the 'Commands' Tab and add or
remove tools.
4. Click on the 'User defined buttons' Tab
and define your own buttons.
5. Click on the 'Settings' Tab, select an
area from the left-hand pane and change
its settings.

6. When you are satisfied with your profile, click on Save Profile As The 'Save Profile As' Dialog Box opens.
7. Type the name of your new profile, for example, 'Show world' and click on Save.
8. The new 'Show world' profile is now the current profile.
9. Click on Done.

For detailed information about how to customize each area (Steps 2. to 5.), see:
Choosing the layout
Choosing your tools
Defining your own buttons
Choosing application settings

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Choosing the layout

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles > Choosing the layout

Choosing the layout

Here we introduce the components of the ActivInspire window whose layout you can customize and show you how to do this:
What can you customize?
Open Layout Tab
Save changes

What can you customize?

You can control the default position, visibility and behavior of toolboxes, toolbars, browsers and other areas of ActivInspire.
Here we briefly describe the available layout options.

Option Description

Icon size Set the icon size appropriate to working at the computer or at the board and to the age of your learners.
The range is from16 to 32 pixels. The larger the number, the larger the icons in the ActivInspire window.

Main Toolbox Position the Main Toolbox and control its behavior:

Dock top, bottom, left, right or Attach the Main Toolbox to the inside edge of the ActivInspire window in the
floating chosen position, or leave it floating, so that you can drag and drop it as
required.

Display 8, 16 or 24 colors Set the number of colors to be displayed in the Color Palette.

Pinned, Rolled up, Rolled in Pin the Main Toolbox, so it stays in place when you move the cursor to
another part of the ActivInspire window. Or leave it unpinned, so that it rolls
into the margin when not in use.
Roll up the Main Toolbox, so that only the first row of icons in the toolbox is
visible.
Roll in the Main Toolbox, so that the Toolbox Shortcut Bar is hidden.

Dual Toolbox Position the Dual Toolbox and control its behavior:

Dock left, dock right or floating Attach the Dual Toolbox to the inside edge of the ActivInspire window in the
chosen position, or leave it floating, so that you can drag and drop it as

required.

Display 8, 16 or 24 colors Set the number of colors to be displayed in the Color Palette.

Pinned Pin the Dual Toolbox, so it stays in place when you move the cursor to
another part of the ActivInspire window. Or leave it unpinned, so that it rolls
into the margin when not in use.

Browsers Position the Browsers and control their behavior:

Dock left, dock right or floating Attach the Browsers to the inside edge of the ActivInspire window in the
chosen position, or leave them floating, so that you can drag and drop them

as required.

Pinned Pin the Browsers, so they stay in place when you move the cursor to
another part of the ActivInspire window. Or leave them unpinned, so that
they roll into the margin when not in use.

Visible Show or hide the Browsers.

Menubar Position the Menubar and control its behavior:

Dock top or dock bottom Attach the Menubar to the top or bottom inside edge of the ActivInspire
window.

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Choosing the layout

Visible Show or hide the Menubar.

Document Tabs Position the Document Tabs and control their behavior:

The Document Tabs settings are not available for Mac ®.

Dock top or dock bottom Attach the Document Tabs to the top or bottom inside edge of the
ActivInspire window.

Visible Show or hide the Document Tabs.

Show Trashcan Show or hide the Trashcan.

Show fullscreen Show flipcharts in Fullscreen Mode, or in the size in which they were created.

Open Layout Tab

1. From the Edit Menu, select Profiles. The Layout Tab opens.
2. Select the profile whose settings you want to customize, or accept the default.
3. Select the components whose layout you want to customize.

ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary

Save changes
You can save the changes to the current profile, or to a new profile.
Save changes to the current profile
Click on Done.
Save changes to a new profile

1. Click on Save As The 'Save Profile As' Dialog Box opens.

2. Type the name of your new profile, for example, 'Show World' and click on Save.
3. The new 'Show World' profile is now the current profile.
4. Click on Done.

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Choosing the layout

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Choosing your tools

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles > Choosing your tools

Choosing your tools

ActivInspire lets you add and remove tools to and from the Main Toolbox and customize the Marquee Handles that appear when you select an object.
1. From the File Menu, select Settings. The 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box opens. The current profile is shown at the top-left.
2. From the drop-down menu, select the profile you want to edit, or accept the default.
3. Click on the Commands Tab.
4. From the drop-down menu, select tools to add to or remove from the Main Toolbox or to the Marquee Handles.

To add a tool:
1. Select the tool in the left-hand pane and click on Add. The tool appears in the right-hand pane.
2. To change its position in the toolbox, click on Move Up or Move Down.

To remove a tool:
Select the tool in the right-hand pane and click on Remove.

To save the profile and exit, click on Done.

To save as a new profile, click on the Save as icon.

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Defining your own buttons

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles > Defining your own buttons

Defining your own buttons

From the File Menu,
select Settings. The
'Edit Profiles' Dialog
Box opens.
Select the 'User
defined buttons'
Tab and click
Add....
The User defined
button icon is
displayed.
Select
Program/File
from the menu.
1. Under
Program/File,
enter the path
for the file you
want to open.
2. Under
Command
line
parameters
enter the
command line
to start the
application
which will open
the file above.
You can add a
Tooltip.

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Choosing application settings

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles > Choosing application settings

Choosing application settings

Here we introduce the areas of ActivInspire that you can customize by changing their settings and show you how to do this.
What can you customize?
Open Settings Tab
Change settings
Save changes

What can you customize?

The following table briefly describes each of the areas you can customize. For details about the available settings for each area, click on the links in the table.

Use these settings to...

Clock Tool Customize the look and feel of the Clock

Design Mode Control how objects behave while Design Mode is selected. These settings override individual object properties, which
are set in the Property and Action Browsers.

Effects Specify how you want the Spotlight and Revealer to work.

Flipchart Specify default settings for your flipcharts.

Flipchart Objects Define options to improve the quality of and for displaying objects.

Language Change the language ActivInspire uses.

Learner Response System Customize the way in which you work with ActivExpression and ActiVote devices and how to display responses.

Multimedia Customize the way in which you work with sound, video and Flash files.

Online Settings Enter the details necessary for you to access online resources using ActivInspire.

Profile and Resources Specify where you want to store profiles, My Resource Library and Shared Resource Library folders, as well as template
and question page files.

Recordings Change various video and sound settings. Changing these settings can, particularly, improve the performance of the
Screen Recorder.

Shape Recognition Automatically fill shapes that were created with the Shape Recognition Tool.

Spell Checker Define rules for spell checking.

Tools Change the look of rulers, protractors and the compass. There are also options to change the location of the Resource
Library and the speed of the Dice Roller and Page Zoom.

User Input Change how the Floating Keyboard and Handwriting Recognition work.

Open Settings Tab

1. From the File Menu, select Settings. The 'Settings' Tab opens.
2. Select the profile whose settings you want to customize, or accept the default.
3. In the left-hand pane of the 'Settings' Tab, select the area you want to customize, for example, Learner Response System.

ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary

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Choosing application settings

Change settings
Some settings have a simple check box that acts like a toggle switch, while other settings have different controls:

To choose a setting, check or uncheck the box.

To change the setting, select the default and type over it.

or To change the color, click on the color and select another one from the standard Color Palette for your operating system.

To change the setting, move the slider.

To change the setting, select a different one from the drop-down menu.

To change the setting, click on the icon and browse to another folder.

Save changes
When you have made the changes, click on Done to save them.

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Switching profiles

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you > Creating and switching profiles > Switching profiles

Switching profiles
Switching profiles is useful when you need to quickly change between previously saved application layouts and settings. For
example, you may have a profile that contains all your preferences and settings for preparing flipcharts and another one for your
chosen presentation style, or you may wish to switch to a profile containing all the math tools.
Two ways to switch profiles:

1. In the Main Toolbox, click on Switch Profile A popup box listing the available profiles opens.
2. Click on the desired profile, for example, Multimedia. The box closes and the profile becomes active immediately.
Or
1. From the Edit Menu, select Profiles... The 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box opens.
2. From the drop-down list, select the desired profile. The profile becomes active immediately.
3. Click on Done.

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Miscellaneous properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Miscellaneous properties

Miscellaneous properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

End Cap A None Default

Radius Apply an end cap to the left-hand edge of open shapes, lines and connectors.

Arrow

End Cap B None Default

Radius Apply an end cap to the right-hand edge of open shapes, lines and connectors.

Arrow

Pick Trough True Default

If an object's 'Transparent' property is set to 'True', allows you to click on the
transparent area of an object to select another object beneath it.

False

Transparent Color Blue Default

Only enabled if the object's 'Transparent' property is set to 'True'.
Click the color box to enable the Color Picker and choose a color from anywhere
on the display, then apply it to the object.

Transparent True Default

False Select to make the object opaque.

Tiled

Fill Mode None Default

Drag a Copy False Default

True Set to 'True' to be able to create copies of the object by clicking and dragging it.

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Overview

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Home > Using Learner Response Systems > Overview

Overview
What is it?
The ActivClassroom Learner Response System (LRS) consists of:
ActivBoard
Computer with ActivInspire installed
ActivHub model AH1 or AH2
Voting devices
For details of which devices are compatible, see Registering devices.

How does it work?

1. You connect the ActivHub to a USB slot on your computer.
2. Hand out the voting devices to your students.
3. Start ActivInspire and register the devices.

4. When you have presented your question, click on Start Vote

5. When all the students have voted, or the timeout is reached, the results are displayed on the board.

You also have the option to assign students to devices. This may be useful where the same
students are going to use the same devices over an extended period of time.

Can I use ActiVote and ActivExpression devices in the same voting session?
You can use both ActiVote and ActivExpression devices in your lesson, although not at the same time. You can run two voting
sessions – you don’t have to close your flipchart or the results display before running further voting sessions.

What's the difference between anonymous and named voting?

In Anonymous voting, device numbers are displayed - you don’t see who sent which answer.
In Named voting, device names are displayed, so you can see more easily, which devices have sent which votes.

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Registering devices

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Home > Using Learner Response Systems > Registering devices

Registering devices
Here we show you how to set up your Activclassroom Learner Response System (LRS).
About Device Registration
Register ActivExpression devices
Rename ActivExpression devices
Register ActiVote devices - model AV3
Register ActiVote devices - model AV2

About Device Registration

Device registration is the process of telling the ActivHub how many

devices and device groups there are in the classroom. You need to
register devices before you begin a voting session.
You start device registration from the Voting Browser. The pictures on the
right show the information you can see in the 'Device Registration' Dialog
Box:
How many ActivHubs are connected to your computer.
Device groups.
How many devices are registered with each ActivHub.

The good news is, once you have registered them, you
can take the devices and the ActivHub with you to
another location, plug the ActivHub into another computer
with ActivInspire installed and begin voting immediately.

There are two types of ActivHub:

This ActivHub... Is compatible with...

AH2 ActiVote AV3, ActivExpression

AH1 ActiVote AV2

Register ActivExpression devices

Before you begin registration:
1. Start ActivInspire.
2. Connect an ActivHub model AH2 to your computer.
3. Distribute ActivExpression devices and ensure that they are switched ON.
To register:

1. Open the Voting Browser and click on Device Registration The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens.
2. Select ActivExpressions and click on Register.
3. Enter the number of devices you want to register (or use the arrows) and click on Next.

The next window shows a PIN code which must be entered on each

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Registering devices

ActivExpression device to be registered. The window has clear

instructions, with photos, so your students can finish the registration (you
might like to practise the procedure first!).
If the students are finishing the registration, they have to:
a. Press the MENU / SYM button on the ActivExpression devices.
b. Press the Register option key, indicated on the ActivExpression
screen.
c. Enter the PIN code, by pressing the ActivExpression option keys
corresponding to the PIN code, as indicated on the screen.

The PIN code is not entered with the text keys.

When three letters have been entered, as displayed in the PIN code box on the ActivExpression screen, the letters are transmitted to the ActivHub. The
ActivHub sends the code to ActivInspire.
The PIN code can be edited before transmission, but only if one or two letters have been entered. Option keys for Clear and Abort can be used for
editing and also the Delete key on the keypad.
ActivInspire registers the devices to the ActivHub one by one. You can see the number updated in the window, just below the PIN code.
When this number is equal to the number you entered in Step 3 above, the window closes automatically, because all devices have been registered. If
registration fails for any of the devices, the window has to be closed manually.

If a PIN code is entered incorrectly, steps a . to c . must be repeated, for a successful registration.
This procedure can be repeated any number of times, but it should not be necessary - the system is proven to be extremely reliable. After a couple of
failures for a device you can either:
Click on Finish to close the window and proceed, or
Replace it with another ActivExpression device, registering it if necessary.

Rename ActivExpression devices

There are two places where you can rename devices:
Rename individual device in the 'Device Registration' Window
Rename individual or all devices in the 'ActivExpression Devices Group' Box
Rename individual devices

To rename individual devices in the 'Device Registration' Window:

1. Select any individual device and click on Rename. The existing
device name is displayed in a box which you can edit.
2. Enter the new name and click on OK. The new name is shown in
the 'Device Registration' Dialog Box. This means it is stored on the
ActivHub. The ActivExpression device may be switched OFF, but
the next time it is switched ON, it communicates with the ActivHub
and receives its new name.
To rename individual devices in the 'ActivExpression Devices Group' Box:
1. Click on Rename. The' Device Naming' Box opens.
2. Double click on the name and edit it.
3. Click in the column ‘Committed’. The device is renamed as above.

Rename all devices

You can rename all your devices with sequential numbering and a common prefix.
1. In the ActivExpression Devices Group Box, click on Rename to display the 'Device Naming' Box.
2. Click in the box ‘Rename all of the devices using the prefix’ and enter a prefix.

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Registering devices

3. Click on Apply prefix. All ActivExpression devices in the group are renamed on the ActivHub, as described above, with the prefix and numbers,
starting with 1.

The numbers can be edited separately.

Register ActiVote devices - model AV3

Before you begin registration:
1. Distribute the ActiVote devices and ensure that they are switched ON.
2. Connect an ActivHub model AH2 to your computer.
3. Start ActivInspire.
To register:

1. Open the Voting Browser and click on Device Registration

The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens. It shows:
A picture of an ActivHub AH1.
ActiVote and ActivSlate devices under Device Groups.
2. Select ActiVotes and click on Register.
3. Enter the number of devices you want to register (or use the
arrows) and click on Next.

The next window shows clear instructions, with photos, so your students
can finish the registration (you might like to practise the procedure first!).
A three letter PIN code is displayed, which must be entered on each
device to be registered.
If the students are finishing the registration, they have to:
a. Press and hold the central Registration button on the ActiVote
devices, until both the top lights are illuminated.
b. Enter the PIN code, pressing the ActiVote device keys.

ActivInspire registers the devices to the ActivHub one by one. You can see the number updated in the window, just below the PIN code.
When this number is equal to the number you entered in Step 3. above, the window closes automatically, because all devices have been registered. If
registration fails for any of the devices, the window has to be closed manually.

If a PIN code is entered incorrectly, both steps a. and b. must be repeated, that is, the central button must be pressed and held until both lights are on
and the correct PIN code must be entered, for a successful registration.
This procedure can be repeated any number of times, but it should not be necessary - the system is proven to be extremely reliable. After a couple of
failures for a device you can either:
Click on Finish to close the window and proceed, or
Replace it with another ActiVote device, registering it if necessary.

Register ActiVote devices - model AV2

Before you begin registration:

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Registering devices

1. Start ActivInspire.
2. Connect an ActivHub AH1 to your computer.
3. Distribute the ActiVote devices and ensure that they are switched ON.
To register:

1. Open the Voting Browser and click on Device Registration

The next window shows clear instructions, with photos, so your students
can finish the registration (you might like to practise the procedure first!).
If the students are finishing the registration, they have to:
a. Press and hold the central Registration button on the ActiVote
devices. The top red light flashes, followed by the green light.
b. Release the Registration button.

ActivInspire registers the devices to the ActivHub one by one. You can see the number updated in the window.
When this number is equal to the number you entered in Step 3. above, the window closes automatically, because all devices have been registered. If
registration fails for any of the devices, the window must be closed manually.

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Assigning students to devices

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Home > Using Learner Response Systems > Assigning students to devices

Assigning students to devices

Here we describe the advantages of assigning students to devices and show you how to do so:
Why assign students to devices?
Assign students to devices

Why assign students to devices?

You don't have to assign students to devices, but to do so can reduce the time you need to collate and process results and can
give you an immediate insight into each students' progress.
You can assign student names from database files. You can use existing databases, or you can generate and export a database
using ActivInspire.
When you attach an ActivHub to your computer, registered devices are shown in the 'Device Registration' Dialog Box. Depending
on the Voting Browser selections, the box shows one of the following:
Device Number - Anonymous voting.
Device Name - Named voting (students not assigned to devices).
Student Name - Named voting (students assigned to devices).

Assign students to devices

In the Voting Browser:

1. Click on Assign students to devices.
The 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box
opens.
The student names and id have to be
placed in this Dialog Box from a database
file. Names can be imported from a
database with the file extension .edb or.csv,
or you can generate and export a class
database from within ActivInspire.

2. Click on Edit Student Database. The

'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box opens.

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Assigning students to devices

3. Add a class to box a :

a. Click on Add Class. The 'Add Class'
Dialog Box opens.
b. Enter Class Name and Teacher
Name; Notes are optional.
c. Click on Submit.

4. Add students to box b :

a. Click on Add Student. The
'Student' Dialog Box opens.
b. Enter Name, Forename, and Student
ID.
c. Click on Submit.

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Assigning students to devices

Back in the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box:

5. Highlight the class.
6. Highlight the student names you want to assign to voting devices.

7. Click arrows to add or remove students to or from box c .

8. Click on OK. The 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box closes, and ActivInspire returns to the 'Assign students to devices'
Dialog Box.

Students displayed in this box can be assigned. If the number of students is greater than the number
of registered devices, a warning is displayed.
If you want to register more devices before assigning students to devices, select Top-up
Registration. The 'Device Registration' Dialog Box opens. For details, see Registering devices.

In the 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box:

9. Select Assign Devices - Device PIN numbers appear in the dialog box. On ActivExpression devices, a prompt is also
displayed on the screen.
10. Each students has to enter the correct PIN numbers:
ActiVote devices – press voting buttons
ActivExpression devices – press option buttons
The 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box shows devices assigned, highlighted in green. Now, when you select
Named Voting, the Voting Browser displays student names.

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Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard

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Home > Using Learner Response Systems > Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard

Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard

How it works

The Question Wizard presents you with series of

Dialog Boxes, each with detailed instructions to
help you.
You have to:
1. Choose the type of question.
2. Choose a layout style.
3. Enter text for your question and answers,
where applicable.
4. Click on Finish to close the Question
Wizard.

The Question Wizard places text objects on your

flipchart page, turning it into a Question page. If
you choose one of the layout templates offered,
there are graphic objects too. Use the Browsers to
identify objects. You can edit any of the text or
objects.
Whenever you navigate to that page, the Start
Vote button is highlighted green and you can
click on the button to start a voting session.

Further important options

You can nominate correct answers in all of the

question types. When these answers are returned
in the vote, they are highlighted green in all
optional results displays, apart from the pie chart,

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Prepared questions - Using the Question Wizard

where they are highlighted red

For important information about properties and
tags, see Reference > Properties > Identification
properties.
Text answers which are nominated ‘correct’ are
case sensitive. Numerical answers which are
nominated ‘correct’ allow a level of error which can
be set in the Question Wizard.
All question types are concluded with a prompt for
a follow-on question. This is to encourage further
discussion among your group and generate
feedback.

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Quick questions and ExpressPoll

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Home > Using Learner Response Systems > Quick questions and ExpressPoll

Quick questions and ExpressPoll

At any time during your lesson, you can ask your students a question and click on ExpressPoll . This displays the
voting ‘Wonderwheel’.
Use it a few times and you will realize why it is so-called. The design of the Wonderwheel helps you communicate your question
clearly, so your students quickly understand how they are expected to answer.

How it works

1. You hover with the pen over the Wonderwheel and highlight a question style.
2. Move the pen radially and outward to show the options for the style you just
highlighted.
3. Click to select one of the options.

The picture on the right shows the Wonderwheel for ActiVote devices. The highlighted
question style is 'True/False'. This question style has four answering options. The option
selected allows the possible answers, 'True', 'False' and 'Don’t know'.

These possible answers are shown in the displayed 'Voting Summary' Box.

You can set a timeout now, next to the red Stop Vote button, by entering a number or using the arrows. If your profile already
has a timeout set for ExpressPoll, the countdown starts as soon as the summary box is displayed. When you use a timeout,
you also have a Pause Vote button for extra control.
For details of how to create and customize profiles, see More about ActivInspire > Making profiles work for you.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/quick_questions_and_expresspoll.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:25 PM]

Creating containers

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making flipcharts interactive > Creating containers

Creating containers
As the name implies, containers are objects that can contain other objects. This is useful for creating activities that rely on objects
being recognized and either accepted or rejected by another object. Any object that does not match all the chosen properties is
rejected, whenever someone attempts to put it into the container.
You can select container properties and therefore define the container's behavior, in the 'Container' section of the Property
Browser.

For details of available container properties, see Reference > Properties > Container properties.
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Here we explain container rules, how to create a container and add a reward sound:
Container rules
Create a container
Add a reward sound

Container rules
Any type of object, except annotations, can be a container.
The object to be contained must be in front of the container. Therefore it must be either:
On a higher layer than the container, or
Higher in the stacking order on the same layer as the container.
Containers can contain other containers, allowing you to create nested containers.
Annotations that are drawn directly into a container object are automatically contained.

Create a container
Here we show you how to turn a shape object into a container that can contain one specific object, but will reject any others.

1. Select Shape and create three shapes, one

larger than the others. In the picture on the right, we
have created a yellow square, the container and two
triangles, one red, one blue.

For this example, we changed the 'Name'

property of the object to be contained to 'Red Triangle'
in the 'Identification' section of the Property Browser.
2. Select the largest shape, in our case the yellow
square.

3. Open the Property Browser and scroll

down to the Container section.
4. In the 'Container' section, set the properties. In the
picture on the right we set:
a. Can Contain to Specific Object. This
means only one particular object can be put in
the yellow square container.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_containers.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:27 PM]

Creating containers

b. Contain Object to Red Triangle. The

yellow square can only contain the red triangle.
c. Contain Rule to Completely Contained.
The red triangle must be placed inside the
container.
d. Return if not Contained to True. If the red
triangle is not completely contained, or you try to
put another object into the yellow square, the
object will return to the starting position.

5. Test the container. Only the red triangle, but not the
blue one, can be put in the container.

When an item has been contained, you can move it out of the container in one movement. Any further movements,
when the object is not being contained will return it to the starting position.

Add a reward sound

A reward sound is a sound file that plays when an object is correctly contained.
Here we show you how to add a reward sound to a container:

1. Create the container as shown above.

2. In the 'Container' section of the Property Browser, set
the sound properties:
a. Set Reward Sound to True.
b. Set Reward Sound Location to the location
of the sound file you want to play when an
object is correctly contained. In the picture on
the right, this is the file a.wav.

3. Test the container. When the correct object is put into

the container, the Sound Controller opens and plays
the chosen reward sound.

The Sound Controller remains on the screen until you

close it.

Set the 'Reward Sound' property on the container, not the contents.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_containers.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:27 PM]

Creating containers

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_containers.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:27 PM]

Creating restrictors

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Making flipcharts interactive > Creating restrictors

Creating restrictors
Use restrictors to control how items can move on the page.

For details of available restrictor properties, see Reference > Properties > Restrictors properties.
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

You can use restrictors in many different ways.

Here we show you how to create a restrictor that constrains a circle, so that it can only move along a particular path

1. Select Design Mode .

2. With the Pen , draw a line on the page.

3. Select Shape and create a circle.

4. Select the circle.

5. Open the Property Browser and scroll down to the

'Restrictors' section.
6. In the 'Restrictors' section, select the properties as shown on the right:
a. For Can Move select Along path from the Drop-down list.

b. For Move Path, click on the Selector button . The 'Select

Object' Dialog Box opens.
c. Select the line object, here Pen 4.
7. Click on OK.
8. Leave Design Mode.

9. Test the restrictor. When you click on the red circle, it jumps to the blue
line. Now the circle can only move along the line.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_restrictors.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:29 PM]

Adding and formatting text

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text

Adding and formatting text

Here we show you how to:
Add text
Format text
Spellcheck
Finally, we also give you a taste of two power tools for working with text at the board.

Add text
ActivInspire has several useful tools for adding text, either at the board, or at your computer.

You can also copy and paste, or drag and drop, text from existing documents, for example from a Word file, into your
flipchart.

Text Tool
The Text Tool in the Main Toolbox is a quick way to add text from your computer:

1. Click on the Text icon. The Format Toolbar opens and the cursor
changes to a little bar with some letters.

2. Move the cursor to where you want to create text and click. Two things
happen:
A text box with two handles opens. These allow you to freely move

or extend the text box.

The Format Toolbar opens, either at the top or bottom of the
ActivInspire window, depending on your preferences at startup. You
can use it to format your text. We show you how in the next section.
3. At your computer keyboard, type in the text. The text appears in the text box
in the default font, color and size.
We show you how to change these in Format text.

To correct a mistake:

1. With the Text Tool selected, position the cursor where you want to begin in the text and click.

2. Keep the mouse button pressed and drag the cursor over the letters you
want to change.
3. When they are highlighted, begin typing to replace the selected text, or press
the Backspace key to delete it.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_formatting_text.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:32 PM]

Adding and formatting text

Format text
The Format Toolbar opens when you select the Text Tool. It contains standard tools for text formatting and the On-Screen
Keyboard icon. Use the Format Toolbar to change text properties and alignment. For example, to change the color, size, font, text
box outline and fill characteristics of the selected text.
ActivInspire Studio

Here we briefly describe the tools.

1 Change the font and font size of the selected text 7 Increase or decrease the spacing between lines

2 Increase or decrease the font size 8 Increase or decrease the indent

3 Put text in bold or italic, or underline it 9 Format as bulleted list

4 Add subscript or superscript 10 Open the On-screen Keyboard

5 Alter the text color (defaults to black) and also the 11 Select all the text in the text box
text background color (defaults to transparent)

6 Align left, centered or right 12 Insert a symbol

ActivInspire Primary
In ActivInspire Primary, the layout and look of the Format Toolbar is slightly different, but the tools are the same.

Change all the text in a text box

1. With the Text Tool selected and a text box open, click in the text box.

2. In the Format Toolbar, click on Select All

To change the font or font size, click on the drop-down menus.
To change the color, text alignment and other characteristics, click on the appropriate buttons.
3. To finish editing, click on another tool.
Change part of the text
1. With the Text Tool selected and a text box open, click in the text box.
2. Keep the mouse button pressed and drag the cursor over the words you want to change. When they are highlighted, click
on the appropriate buttons or drop-down menus.
3. To finish editing, click on another tool.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_formatting_text.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:32 PM]

Adding and formatting text

Spellcheck

You can quickly check and correct the spelling in all or part of your flipchart, with the Flipchart Spellchecker
This tool always begins to check the spelling at the beginning of the flipchart, even if you start it on the final page.
You'll find the Flipchart Spellchecker in:
Tools Menu > More Tools
To use the Flipchart Spellchecker:
1. With the Text Tool selected and a text box open, click in the text box.
2. From Tools > More Tools, select Flipchart Spellchecker. The 'Spell Checker' Dialog Box opens. Possible spelling errors

appear in red. You can deselect this option with Edit Profiles in the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
3. You can accept or reject spelling suggestions, apply them to the current, or to all instances of the word, or select text in the
dialog box and type in your own changes.
4. Make choices until the confirmation dialog box indicates that spell checking is complete, or click on Done to stop spell
checking.

Power tools
ActivInspire also offers two power tools for working with text.

Use this tool... To...

Add text at the board, when you don't want to use the Pen. You simply tap on
the letters and symbols on the on-screen keyboard to form words and
On-Screen Keyboard sentences.
For details, see Using the On-Screen Keyboard.

Write on the board and let ActivInspire turn your writing into typed text.
Handwriting Recognition For details, see Using Handwriting Recognition.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_formatting_text.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:32 PM]

Changing object properties

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Changing object properties

Changing object properties

Object properties define an object. You can view and change these properties in the Property Browser.
1. Select the page or object whose properties you want to view or change.
2. Open the Property Browser.
3. In the Browser, select the property category, for example, 'Identification' properties.
4. Change the object's properties. Any changes you make apply immediately.

Each time you change a property, this is added to the Undo History, allowing you to undo each change you make.

Property types
Some properties have numerical values, while other properties can be altered with different controls:

To change the property, select the default and type over it.

or To change the color, click on the color and select another one from the standard Color Palette for
your operating system.

To change the property, move the slider.

To change the property, select a different one from the drop-down menu.

To change the property, click on the icon.

Use these properties to...

Identification Uniquely identify an object or page. This is useful if you are going to reuse the object or
flipchart, or if you are going to add it to your Resource Library, or share it with others.

Appearance Control the appearance of an object on the flipchart page.

Outline Control the characteristics of the outline that surrounds an object.

Fill Add texture to the object with graduated shading from one color to another.

Background Control the characteristics of the background of an object.

Position Control the position and size of an object on the flipchart page. There are three ways to change
these properties:
Drag the object's Marquee and Sizing Handles.
Use the Object Edit Menu.
Edit the properties in the Property Browser.

Label Add a label to an object and define the way the label looks and behaves.

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Changing object properties

Container Create activities where objects are recognized by other objects.

Rotate Control the way in which an object can be rotated on the page.

Restrictors Define rules to restrict the movement of an object.

Miscellaneous Define some miscellaneous characteristics for your object.

Multimedia Define properties for Flash, video and sound files.

Page Control the appearance of a flipchart page.

Tools Set the Spotlight or Revealer to keep the currently selected property, or revert to the tool's
default setting as defined in the currently selected profile.

Revealer Control the behavior of the Revealer.

Spotlight Define the type and size of the Spotlight, as well as its position when selected.

Grid Show or hide the grid and change its properties.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/changing_object_properties.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:34 PM]

Adding and removing links

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding and removing links

Adding and removing links

Use links to files or websites in your flipcharts to enrich the learning experience, change the pace of a lesson, or refocus your
students attention.
To open the file or access the website, simply click on the link at an appropriate moment in the lesson.
Here we show you how to:
Create a link to a file
Create a link to a website
Remove or edit a link

Create a link to a file

When you create a link to a file, you have the following options to control how the link appears on the page and where the file is
stored:

Choose this option... To do this...

Add link as...

Text Add the link as a text string.

Image Icon
Add the link as an image icon on the page.

Action Object Add the link as an action object.

Existing object Associate the link with an existing object on the page.

Placeholder Insert a placeholder (for multimedia files). You can change the placeholder

image if you wish.

Store as

Store file externally Store the file separately from the flipchart.

Store file in flipchart Include the file in the flipchart. Depending on the size and nature of the file,
this may increase the size of the .flipchart file considerably.

Store file in flipchart + Directory Included the file in the flipchart, as well as in a directory of your choice.

Multimedia Applies to multimedia files only:

Autoplay Play file automatically when the flipchart is opened.

Loop Play the file in a continuous loop.

Controller Display the Multimedia Controller so that you can stop and start play.

Placeholder Add the link as a placeholder image. You can either accept the default
image, or browse to and select another image.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]

Adding and removing links

Here we show you how to link an existing object to a file, so that the file opens, when you click on the object.

1. From the Insert Menu, select Link >

File. The 'Select File' Dialog Box opens.
2. Browse to the folder that contains the file
you want to link to.
3. Double click on the file, or select it and
click on Open. The 'Insert File' Dialog
Box opens.
4. Select Existing object, as shown on
the right.

5. Click on the Selector button

The 'Select Object' Dialog

Box opens.
6. Select the object with which you want to
associate the link. In the picture on the
right, this is the black triangle.
7. Click on OK. The 'Select File' Dialog
Box opens again.
8. Select where you wish to store the file,
for example, Store externally.
9. Click on OK.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]

Adding and removing links

Create a link to a website

Creating a link to a website is almost the same as creating a link to a file. You can add the link as:
Text
Image Icon
Action Object
Existing object
For descriptions of the options, see Create a link to a file above.
Here we show you how to add a link as an image icon, so that the internet browser supplied with your operating system opens the
selected URL, when you click on the icon.

1. From the Insert Menu, select Link >

Website. The 'Insert Website' Dialog
Box opens.
2. Type the URL of the website you want to
link to.
3. Select Image Icon.
4. Click on OK.

Remove or edit a link

Websites change and so do your flipcharts. Sometimes you may have to remove or edit a link and here we show you how.
Remove a link
Two quick ways to remove a link, right-click the icon, image, object or text string, then:
Drag and drop it into the Trashcan.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]

Adding and removing links

Select Delete from the Popup Menu.

Alternatively:
1. Right-click on the link.
2. From the Popup Menu, select Action Browser.
3. Click on Remove Existing.
Edit a link
1. Right-click on the link.
2. From the Popup Menu, select Action Browser.
3. In 'Action Properties', select the URL and change it.
4. Click on Apply Changes.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/adding_and_removing_links.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:35 PM]

Using the Dice Roller

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Maths tools > Using the Dice Roller

Using the Dice Roller

Roll some dice

1. Click on the Dice Roller

2. In the 'Dice Roller' Box, click on the Roll
button.

Change the number of dice

1. In the 'Dice Roller' Box, click on the
drop-down arrow.
2. Select the number of dice you want.

Change the speed of the dice

In the 'Dice Roller' Box, use the Speed slider to
increase or decrease the speed of the dice.

Put the dice total on the page

In the 'Dice Roller' Box, click on the Output to
Flipchart button.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_dice_roller.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:37 PM]

Using the Calculator

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Maths tools > Using the Calculator

Using the Calculator

To use the calculator supplied with ActivInspire:
From the Tools Menu select Math Tools > Calculator.

To use the calculator supplied with your operating system, or another one of your choice:
1. From the File Menu, select Settings.
2. Select Tools.
3. Scroll down to Calculator settings
Check Use calculator supplied with operating system, or
Next to Use calculator specified by user, browse to the calculator of your choice.
4. Click on Done.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_calculator.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:39 PM]

Using the Protractor

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Maths tools > Using the Protractor

Using the Protractor

Use the Protractor to measure angles and draw
arcs.
From the Tools Menu, select Math Tools >
Protractor. You can have more than one
protractor.
The default colors are grey / black. To change the
color of rulers and protractors, select File >
Settings > Tools.
The color changes are shown in the next ruler or
protractor you select.
The right-click Popup Menu gives options for the
protractor and arc drawn.

When you are ready to draw, hover with the pen

near the edge of the protractor.
The cursor jumps or snaps to the protractor.
Click and drag along the edge of the protractor,
and a perfect arc will be drawn. The three different
arc styles are shown on the right.

The angle is viewed from the scale on the

protractor (zoom in for greater accuracy).

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Using the Protractor

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_protractor.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:41 PM]

Using the Compass

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Maths tools > Using the Compass

Using the Compass

The compass draws a simple arc with the outline and fill characteristics of the Pen .

From the Tools Menu, select MathTools > Compass. You can have more than
one compass.
To set up the compass, click on its various parts:
Click on the left arm to move the compass around the page.
Place the spike where you want the centre of rotation.
Click on the right arm to rotate the compass without drawing.
Click on the pencil holder to widen the span of the compass.
Click on the hinge to hide the compass.

When you are ready to draw, hover with the pen near the tip of the pencil.

The cursor jumps or snaps to the pencil tip.

Click and drag to draw your arc.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_the_compass.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:42 PM]

Setting the XY Origin

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Maths tools > Setting the XY Origin

Setting the X / Y Origin

You can rotate any object just by selecting it and using the Rotate Object Marquee Handle to spin the object around its center
point. However, you may not want to rotate an object around its center point. Instead, use the XY Origin Tool to add an origin point
anywhere on a page. The object will spin around the page origin point when you click and move the Rotate Object Marquee
Handle.
Ensure the object you want to rotate is located on your page, then click on the XY Origin Tool to display the origin point. Move
the origin point to a new position, this will be the position that you want to be the center of rotation. Select the object with the
Select Tool, notice the XY Origin Tool button remains selected. Then, use the Rotate Object Marquee Handle to spin the
object around the new origin point. When you have finished, click on the XY Origin Tool once more to remove the rotate point.
The origin point will remember its last position on a page. When you switch it on again, it will automatically appear in the same
position when it was last displayed.
A group of objects will rotate about the center point of the selected group, unless the XY Origin Tool is switched on. In this case
the group will rotate around the XY origin point.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/setting_the_xy_origin.htm[1/21/2010 6:09:44 PM]

Keyboard Shortcuts

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Home > Reference > Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts
Function Windows TM Linux TM Mac ®

Help F1 F1 F1

Toggle Design Mode F2 F2 F2

ExpressPoll F3 F3 F3

Dual User F4 F4 F4

Toggle Full Screen F5 F5 F5

Desktop Tools F6 F6 F6

Flipchart Spellchecker F7 F7 F7

Page Browser F8 F8 F8

Property Browser F9 F9 F9

Action Browser F10 F10 F10

Dashboard F11 F11 F11

Promethean Planet F12 F12 F12

Select All CTRL+A CTRL+A Cmd+A

Toggle Browsers CTRL+B CTRL+B Cmd+B

Copy CTRL+C CTRL+C Cmd+C

Duplicate CTRL+D CTRL+D Cmd+D

Eraser CTRL+E CTRL+E Cmd+E

Fill CTRL+F CTRL+F Cmd+F

Toggle Grouped CTRL+G CTRL+G Cmd+G

Highlighter CTRL+H CTRL+H Cmd+H

Insert Blank Page After Current CTRL+I CTRL+I Cmd+I

Edit Profiles CTRL+J CTRL+J Cmd+J

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Keyboard Shortcuts

On-screen Keyboard CTRL+K CTRL+K Cmd+K

Insert Link to File CTRL+L CTRL+L Cmd+L

Insert Media CTRL+M CTRL+M Cmd+M

Open a new flipchart CTRL+N CTRL+N Cmd+N

Open an existing flipchart CTRL+O CTRL+O Cmd+O

Pen CTRL+P CTRL+P Cmd+P

Insert Question CTRL+Q CTRL+Q Cmd+Q

Revealer CTRL+R CTRL+R Cmd+R

Save a flipchart CTRL+S CTRL+S Cmd+S

Text CTRL+T CTRL+T Cmd+T

View Customize CTRL+U CTRL+U Cmd+U

Paste CTRL+V CTRL+V Cmd+V

Close CTRL+W CTRL+W Cmd+W

Cut CTRL+X CTRL+X Cmd+X

Redo your last action CTRL+Y CTRL+Y Cmd+Y

Undo your last action CTRL+Z CTRL+Z Cmd+Z

Increase Object Size CTRL+ + CTRL+ + Cmd+ +

Decrease Object Size CTRL+ - CTRL+ - Cmd+ -

Desktop Annotate CTRL+Shift+A CTRL+Shift+A Cmd+Shift+A

Send to Back CTRL+Shift+B CTRL+Shift+B Cmd+Shift+B

Connectors CTRL+Shift+C CTRL+Shift+C Cmd+Shift+C

Desktop Snapshot CTRL+Shift+D CTRL+Shift+D Cmd+Shift+D

Export Page CTRL+Shift+E CTRL+Shift+E Cmd+Shift+E

Bring to Front CTRL+Shift+F CTRL+Shift+F Cmd+Shift+F

Grid Designer CTRL+Shift+G CTRL+Shift+G Cmd+Shift+G

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Handwriting Recognition CTRL+Shift+H CTRL+Shift+H Cmd+Shift+H

Toggle Hidden CTRL+Shift+I CTRL+Shift+I Cmd+Shift+I

Toggle Drag a Copy CTRL+Shift+J CTRL+Shift+J Cmd+Shift+J

Camera - Area CTRL+Shift+K CTRL+Shift+K Cmd+Shift+K

Toggle Locked CTRL+Shift+L CTRL+Shift+L Cmd+Shift+L

Magic Ink CTRL+Shift+M CTRL+Shift+M Cmd+Shift+M

Notes Browser CTRL+Shift+N CTRL+Shift+N Cmd+Shift+N

Circular Spotlight CTRL+Shift+O CTRL+Shift+O Cmd+Shift+O

Print CTRL+Shift+P CTRL+Shift+P Cmd+Shift+P

Edit Question on Page CTRL+Shift+Q CTRL+Shift+Q Cmd+Shift+Q

Sound Recorder CTRL+Shift+R CTRL+Shift+R Cmd+Shift+R

Shapes CTRL+Shift+S CTRL+Shift+S Cmd+Shift+S

Tickertape CTRL+Shift+T CTRL+Shift+T Cmd+Shift+T

Clock CTRL+Shift+U CTRL+Shift+U Cmd+Shift+U

Bring Forwards CTRL+Shift+V CTRL+Shift+V Cmd+Shift+V

Send Backwards CTRL+Shift+W CTRL+Shift+W Cmd+Shift+W

Flip X CTRL+Shift+X CTRL+Shift+X Cmd+Shift+X

Flip Y CTRL+Shift+Y CTRL+Shift+Y Cmd+Shift+Y

Page Zoom CTRL+Shift+Z CTRL+Shift+Z Cmd+Shift+Z

Select Esc Esc Esc

Go to next page PgDown PgDown Down

Go to previous page PgUp PgUp Up

Delete Del Del Del

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Customisation Options

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Home > Reference > Customisation Options

Customization Options
You can customize the behavior and location of all toolboxes, browsers and menubars in ActivInspire.
All can be pinned and dragged and dropped. Some can float, or be rolled in or out, or docked.

Option Studio Primary Description

Toolbox Dock left Positions the toolbox to the right/left/top/bottom of the ActivInspire
Options window.
Dock
right

Dock top

Dock
bottom

Floating Allows you to click on the Titlebar at any time and drag and drop
the item anywhere in the ActivInspire window.

You can set the toolbox to 'Floating' at any time, by

dragging it from a docked location into the middle of the screen.

Roll Up Toggle switch.

When the toolbox is in its normal (rolled down) state, click this to
'roll up' the toolbox, showing only the Main Menu and Page
Navigation icons.
When the toolbox is rolled up, click this to return the toolbox to its
rolled down state, where all tools are displayed.

Roll In Toggle switch.

Shows or hides the Main Toolbox Shortcut Bar.

Roll Up See "Roll Up" above.

Pin Toolbox Toggle switch.

Pins the toolbox in place to prevent it from automatically sliding
out of view when docked.

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Menubar

Show

Home > Reference > Menus and Popup Menus > Menubar

Menubar
This page lists the default functions in each menu of the ActivInspire Menubar:
File
Edit
View
Insert
Tools
Help
For further details of the tools provided in ActivInspire, see Tools.

File
The File Menu includes:

Menu item Option Description

New Flipchart Opens a new 'Untitled' flipchart

New

Screen Size
Flipchart

1024 x 768
Flipchart

Opens a new flipchart of the specified size.

1152 x 864
Flipchart

1280 x 1280
Flipchart

Custom Size
Flipchart

Open... Opens the 'My Flipcharts' folder.

Open Recent Opens a drop-down list of recent flipcharts.

Clear List Resets your recent flipcharts list.

Close flipchart Closes the current flipchart. If it contains unsaved changes, opens
a dialog box inviting you to confirm if you want to save changes or
cancel.
If you click Yes to save before closing, opens the 'My flipcharts'
folder in the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box.

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Save Saves the current flipchart. If it is 'Untitled', opens the 'Save the
flipchart as...' Dialog Box.

Save As... Opens 'My flipcharts' folder in the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog
Box. You can rename the flipchart, save the flipchart in this folder,
or navigate to anywhere on disk or network.
Click:
Save to save the flipchart
Cancel to exit without saving

Summary... Opens the 'Flipchart Summary' Dialog Box.

This lets you record information about your flipchart.
Click:
OK to save the flipchart summary
Cancel to exit without saving

Title Enter the title of your flipchart.

Description Enter a brief description of its contents.

Grade Note the grade for which this flipchart is designed.

Keywords Add words to classify the flipchart.

Publish... Opens the 'Publish Flipchart' Dialog Box.

This lets you restrict what others can do with this flipchart, once it
has been published.
Click:
Cancel to exit without saving
Save Details to save changes without publishing
Publish... to apply and save your changes and publish the
flipchart

Publisher Enter information in the textbox. This information is hidden from

Information users. The textbox automatically shows any information you entered
previously.

Prevent copying Protects your flipchart pages and objects from being cut or copied.
pages and
Users can still duplicate and mirror objects, as well as deconstruct
objects
text.

Prevent Flipchart Prevents users from saving or exporting your flipchart. This
saving and restriction also prevents exporting of Learner Response System
exporting results.
If saving is allowed, the newly saved flipchart is saved as a normal
flipchart without any restrictions.

Prevent Flipchart Prevents users from printing your flipchart.

printing

Prevent Camera Prevents users from using the Camera in the current session.

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Tool
Will also apply to other flipcharts open at the same time.

Submit Flipcharts Opens the Promethean Planet website in your web browser.
to Promethean
Planet

Import For each of the import operations, you can browse to the file's
location and select it.
Click:
Open to begin the import operation
Cancel to exit without saving

PowerPoint ® As
Images

PowerPoint ® As
Objects

Opens a dialog box that lets you browse to and select the file you
ExamView® XML
wish to import.
file

IMS QTI XML file
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.
SMART Notebook
File v8, v9, v9.5,
v10

SMART Gallery
Item File

Resource Pack
To My
Resources... Opens the 'Open Resource Pack' Dialog Box to let you import
resources into your Resource Library.
Resource Pack
To Shared
Resources...

Print... Sends the current flipchart to the default printer.

Settings... Opens the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box. Here you
can customize features such as the Learner Response System,
Tools and Multimedia.
For details of all available settings, see Reference > Settings.

Exit Exits ActivInspire. Prompts you to save any changes to flipcharts,

before closing.
Click:
Yes to save changes.
No to quit without saving.
Cancel to continue working.

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Edit
The Edit Menu includes:

Menu item Option Description

Design Mode Toggle switch that enables/disables Design Mode. For details of
Design Mode Settings, see Design Mode.

Undo
Undoes/redoes the previous command or action.
Redo

Select
Enables Select .

Select All Select all objects on the current page.

Page Opens the 'Set Background' Popup Box to let you select a
Background... background for the current page.
Choose from:
Fill - select a single color or two colors for a graduated fill
Image - browse for an image and choose its positioning
and fit
Desktop Snapshot
Desktop Overlay

Grid... Opens the Grid Designer to let you create your own colorful multi-
level grids.

Clear All Clear actions apply to the current page.

Clear Annotations Deletes anything created with the Pen, Highlighter or Magic Ink.

Clear Objects Deletes any objects including text created with the Text Tool.

Clear Grid Deletes all grid levels.

Clear Background Deletes the background.

Clear Page Deletes everything on the page.

Reset Page Resets the current page to the state it was in when it was last
saved.

Cut

Copy

Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or deletes the currently selected

Paste
object(s) or page.

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Duplicate

Delete

Transform

Increase Object
Size
Increases or decreases the size of the object by 10% of its
current size.
Decrease Object
Size

Original Size Resets the size of the object back to the original.

Best Fit to Width Sets the selected object(s) to best fit the page width or height,
while preserving the aspect ratio of the object(s).
Best Fit to Height
Only applies to objects whose initial size is larger than the
flipchart page, for example, scanned images.

Best Fit to Page Sets the selected object(s) to best fit the page size (both width
and height), while preserving the aspect ratio of the object(s).

Only applies to objects whose initial size is larger than the

flipchart page, for example, scanned images.

Mirror in X Axis Creates a mirror image of the object in the X axis, towards the
top of the page.

Mirror in Y Axis Creates a mirror image of the object in the Y axis, towards the
left of the page.

Flip in X Axis Flips the object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.

Flip in Y Axis Flips the object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.

Align
Aligns groups of objects.

Align Left Aligns all selected objects so that their left edges are the same
as the left-most object in the selection.

Align Center Aligns all selected objects so that their centers match horizontally,
X with their center points being placed at the centers of the initial
bounding rectangle.

Align Right Aligns all selected objects so that their right edges are the same
as the right-most object in the selection.

Align Top Aligns all selected objects so that their top edges are the same
as the highest object in the selection.

Align Center Aligns all selected objects so that their centers match vertically,
Y their center points being placed at the center of the initial
bounding rectangle.

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Align Bottom Aligns all selected objects so that their bottom edges are the
same as the lowest object in the selection.

Align Width Stretches all selected objects to the same width as the first object
created within the selected objects.

Align Height Aligns objects at the height of the first object created in the
group.

Align Angle Aligns objects at the angle of the first object created.

Align Aligns all selected objects to match the left, right, bottom, top,
Complete width, height and angle properties of the first object created within
the selected objects.

Reorder Moves selected objects to a different place in the stacking order,

or to another layer

Bring to Front Sends the object to the front of the stack.

Bring Forwards Sends the object forwards by one position within the stack.

Send to Back Sends the object to the back of the stack.

Send Backwards Sends the object backwards by one position within the stack.

To Top Layer

To Middle Layer Sends the object to the top, middle or bottom layer.

To Bottom Layer

Question on Opens the 'Insert Question' Wizard, which lets you choose a
Current Page... question type and design.
For details, see Using Learner Response Systems > Prepared
Questions - Using the Question Wizard.

Student Opens the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box.

Database...
For details, see Using Learner Response Systems > Assigning
students to devices.

Profiles... Opens the 'Layout' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.

Design Mode Opens the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.
Settings...

View
The View Menu includes:

Description

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Menubar

Menu item

Switch Profile Displays a drop-down menu of available profiles.

Not available in ActivInspire Personal.

Fullscreen Switches to fullscreen mode.

Click on the Fullscreen icon to exit or switch to fullscreen mode.

Flipcharts Displays a drop-down menu of the currently open flipcharts.

Next Page Goes to the next or previous page.

Page Zoom Begins Page Zoom. Left or right-click to zoom in or out. Click and drag to pan around the
flipchart page.

Browsers Toggle switches that show or hide the Browsers, Menubar, Document Tabs and Trashcan.

Menubar

Document tabs

Flipchart bin

Dashboard Displays the ActivInspire Dashboard.

Sound Controller Displays the Sound Controller when you click on a sound file to play the sound. The Sound
Controller is displayed until you close it, or go to another flipchart page.

Customise... Opens the 'Commands' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.

Insert
The Insert Menu includes:

Menu item Option Description

Page Blank Page Inserts a blank page before or after the current page.
Before Current

Blank Page After

Current

Desktop Displays the desktop and enables Desktop Snapshot. when you
Snapshot click on Take Snapshot, inserts snapshot of the desktop after
the current page.

Other menu options may also be available here. These depend on the resources

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Menubar

you have installed.

More Page Opens 'Shared Resources' folder in the Resource Browser.

Templates
Not available in ActivInspire Personal.

Question... Opens the 'Insert Question' Wizard.

Media... Opens the 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box.

Link

File... Opens the 'Select File' Dialog Box.

Website... Opens the 'Insert Website' Dialog Box.

Text
Enables the Text Tool.

Shapes Opens the Shapes Menu. Lets you select a shape and draw it.
Not available in ActivInspire Personal Edition.

Connectors
Enables the Connectors Tool.

Timestamp Adds a timestamp to the current page.

Tools
The Tools Menu includes:

Menu item Option Description

Desktop Annotate Lets you:

Write annotations on your computer's live desktop with the

Pen or Highlighter

Interact with other applications on your desktop with Select

Desktop Tools Minimizes ActivInspire and displays Desktop Tools.

Dual User Enables collaborative working with two ActivPens on an

ActivBoard version 3, or an upgraded ActivBoard version 2.

ExpressPoll Launches the voting 'Wonderwheel' with which you can select a
question style and options to ask your class.

Pen Lets you write and draw annotations on the board.

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Highlighter Lets you highlight areas of the flipchart in translucent color.

Eraser Lets you permanently erase or break up annotations made with

the Pen, Highlighter, or Magic Ink.

Fill Lets you fill:

Shapes with single or gradient colors (you can set gradient
colors in the Property Browser)
Intersecting partial shapes with different colored fill shapes
Pages

Magic Ink Lets you make areas of your flipchart invisible and reveal them
when the class is ready.

Handwriting Lets you write on the board, then turns your annotations into print.
Recognition

Shape Lets you draw on the board, then turns your drawings into
Recognition shapes.

Revealer Lets you selectively reveal parts of the flipchart page.

Spotlight Circular Spotlight

Square Spotlight
Lets you move different shaped light or opaque spotlights to show
Solid Circular or hide areas of your flipchart.
Spotlight

Solid Square
Spotlight

Camera Area Snapshot

Point to Point
Snapshot

Freehand Lets you take a snapshot from the screen – this may be a picture
Snapshot on a website or flipchart, for example.

Window Snapshot

Fullscreen
Snapshot

Math Tools Ruler Lets you draw and measure lines on the board.

Protractor Lets you draw arcs, segments and circles and measure angles.

Compass Lets you draw circles and arcs of any size, color or line thickness
with the Pen, Highlighter or Eraser.

Dice Roller Lets you roll up to five dice, set the speed of the roll and print the
result to the flipchart.

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Calculator Lets you perform maths calculations at the board.

More Tools...

Sound Recorder Lets you record sounds and incorporate them in your flipchart.

Screen Recorder Lets you record actions on a flipchart, desktop flipchart, the
desktop, or another application, then play them back as an
animation.

On-screen Lets you add typed text to your flipchart while at the board.
Keyboard

Clock Displays a clock which you can use in timed activities and
competitions.

Tickertape... Runs a tickertape with the text of your choice across the board
until you stop the tape.

Web Browser Launches your computer's web browser.

Spellcheck Lets you check the spelling of your flipchart.

Flipchart

Teacher Lock... Restricts access to the current activity.

Device Begins the process of telling the ActivHub how many devices and
Registration... device groups there are in the classroom. You need to register
devices before you begin a voting session.

Edit User Defined Lets you define your own shortcut buttons which will appear in
Buttons... the Shortcut Bar of the Main Toolbox.

Help
The Help Menu includes:

Menu item Description

Contents Opens this help file.

Promethean
Website
Opens the Promethean website or Promethean Planet website in your internet browser.
Promethean
Planet

Check for Checks if an updated version of ActivInspire is available. Either confirms that you have the latest
updates... version installed, or opens the 'ActivInspire Update' Dialog Box. Follow the instructions on the screen
to download and install software updates.

About Opens the 'About ActivInspire' Dialog Box. This contains details of the software release version and
license agreement.

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Show

Home > Reference > Toolboxes and Toolbars > Toolboxes and Toolbars

Toolboxes and Toolbars

This section gives an overview of the tools and functions available in ActivInspire's toolboxes and toolbars:
Main Toolbox
Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Dual Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Dual Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)
Desktop Tools
Format Toolbar
Voting Wonderwheel
Dual Toolbox

For full details of the tools and functions provided in ActivInspire, see Reference > Tools.
For a summary of the tools and functions available in each menu and popup menu in ActivInspire, see
Reference > Menus and Popup Menus.
You can customize the Main Toolbox and Object Edit Toolbar to contain any combination of tools to suit your
needs. For details, see Choosing your tools.

Main Toolbox
The Main Toolbox contains the following tools and menu items by default.

Tool/Menu Studio Primary Description

item More
info...

Main Menu Opens the Main Menu. This gives Reference > Menus
you access to the same menus as > File, Edit, View,
the Menubar. Insert, Tools, Help

Switch Opens a popup box showing the More about

Profile available profiles, to quickly switch ActivInspire >
from one profile to another. Making profiles
work for you

Desktop Makes your computer's live Reference > Tools

Annotate desktop the background of your > Desktop Annotate
flipchart page. Lets you annotate
the desktop and interact with other
applications.

Desktop Minimizes ActivInspire and Desktop Tools

Tools launches the Desktop Tools.

Previous Displays the previous flipchart

Page page.

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Next Page Displays the next flipchart page.

Adds a new flipchart page, if you
click it on the last page of a
flipchart.

Start/Stop Opens the 'Voting Summary' Box. Using Learner

Flipchart Only enabled if the current page Response Systems
Vote contains a prepared voting > Prepared
question. questions -Using
the Question

Wizard

Express Poll Lets you ask your students a quick Using Learner
question and display voting results Response Systems
instantly. > Quick question
and ExpressPoll
Reference > Tools
> ExpressPoll

Color see Pen In ActivInspire Studio, lets you First steps with
Palette Tray select the color of text, highlighter, ActivInspire >
lines and shapes, filling objects, Writing on a
etc. flipchart
To select a color not included in
the Color Palette, right-click on the
color you want to change and
select a color, or create your own
custom color.

Width see Pen In ActivInspire Studio, lets you First steps with
Selectors Tray select a different size for your ActivInspire >
Eraser, Highlight or Pen. To Writing on a
change the size, ensure the tool is flipchart
selected, then do one of the
following:
Click on one of the circular
settings in the Width
Selector.
For the Eraser and
Highlighter you can choose
from 20 or 50 pixels.
For the Pen you can choose
from 2, 4, 6 or 8 pixels.
Click and drag the slider to
change the width from 0 to
100 pixels in increments of
1.
Setting the width to 0 will
result in a fixed width of 1
pixel. That means the width
will always be 1 pixel, even
if you use Page Zoom to
change the magnification.
You can change the outline width

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

of annotations, lines and shapes

just by selecting the object and
clicking on a pen width.

Select Lets you select and interact with Reference > Tools
objects on the flipchart page. > Select

Tools Opens the Tools Menu. Reference > Menus

and Popup Menus
> Tools

Pen Writes or draws on your flipchart. Reference > Tools

> Pen
In ActivInspire Primary, it also
opens the Pen Tray at the bottom First steps with
of the ActivInspire window. ActivInspire >
Writing on a
flipchart

Highlighter see Pen Emphasizes areas of your flipchart Reference > Tools
Tray with translucent color. > Highlight
First steps with
ActivInspire >
Writing on a
flipchart

Eraser see Pen Permanently erases Pen, Highlight Reference > Tools
Tray and Magic Ink annotations from > Eraser
your flipchart.
First steps with
ActivInspire >
Deleting stuff

Fill Fills a selected object or page with Reference > Tools

color. > Fill
In ActivInspire Primary, it also First steps with
opens the Fill Tray at the bottom of ActivInspire >
the ActivInspire window. Adding and
manipulating
shapes

Shape Opens the Shapes Menu, to let you Reference > Tools
select a shape, then draw it. > Shape

Connector Connects objects or shapes with a Reference > Tools

Connector line. > Connector

Insert Media Opens a dialog box from which you

From File can browse to, select and insert
graphics, videos or other files into
the flipchart page.

Text Adds text you type at your Reference > Tools

computer keyboard. > Text
First steps with
ActivInspire >
Adding and

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

formatting text

Resource not applicable Opens the Resource Browser. A tour of

Browser ActivInspire >
Exploring
ActivInspire Primary
> Resource
Browser

Page not applicable Opens the Page Browser. A tour of

Browser ActivInspire >
Exploring
ActivInspire Primary
> Page Browser

Clear Deletes items from the current First steps with

page: ActivInspire >
Deleting stuff
Annotations Deletes
anything

drawn with
the Pen,
Highlight or
Magic Ink.

Objects Deletes all

images,
shapes and
text.

Grid Deletes any

grid.

Background Deletes any

background.

Page Deletes all

objects from
the current
page.

Reset Page Resets the current page to the First steps with
state it was in when it was last ActivInspire >
saved. Deleting stuff
For new, unsaved flipcharts, clears
the current page.

Undo Reference > Tools

Undoes or redoes your last action, > Undo and Redo
for example, Fill. Click repeatedly
to undo or redo as many actions as
Redo required.

Edit-user Visible when the Main Toolbox is More about

defined not rolled in or rolled up. ActivInspire >
buttons Making profiles
Opens the 'User defined buttons'

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

work for you >

Tab in the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog
Creating and
Box. You can assign properties to
switching profiles >
a button, for example to open a file
Defining your own
or run a program. You can also
buttons
add a tooltip to identify the button.

Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)

In ActivInspire Primary, some tools that are available in the Main Toolbox in ActivInspire Studio, are instead provided in the Pen
Tray, for easy access by smaller learners.

The Pen Tray opens, when you on click the Pen . The Pen Tray contains the following tools:

Tool Description
More info...

Highlighters Three highlighters of different A tour of ActivInspire >

thicknesses. Exploring ActivInspire
Primary > Pen Tray

Pens Six pens of different

thicknesses.

Erasers Three erasers of different

thicknesses.

Color Along the bottom edge of the

tray:
A range of colors from
which you can select
the color for the Pen
and Highlighter Tools.
Some blank color
slots on which you
can right-click to pick
or mix your own color.

Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)

The Fill Tray opens, when you on click the Fill Tool. It contains
A range of colors from which you can select the color for the Fill Tool.
Some blank color slots on which you can right-click to pick or mix your own color.

Dual Fill Tray (ActivInspire Primary)

The Dual Fill Tray is identical to the Fill Tray, except for the tray color.

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Dual Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary)

The Dual Pen Tray contains the same tools as the Pen Tray, except for the Erasers.

Desktop Tools
Desktop Tools are available in the form of a 'Wonderwheel' when you minimize ActivInspire. It contains tools that can be used over
the desktop. Desktop Tools close automatically when you restore the ActivInspire window.
To move Desktop Tools, click in the center of the Wonderwheel and drag the tools to their new location.

Tool Studio Primary Description

More info...

Restore Maximizes ActivInspire and closes the

ActivInspire Desktop Tools.

ExpressPoll Lets you ask your students a quick Reference > Tools > ExpressPoll
question and display voting results
instantly.

Promethean Opens the Promethean Planet website

Planet in your web browser.

On-Screen Lets you add typed text to your Reference > Tools > On-screen
Keyboard flipchart while at the board. Keyboard
More about ActivInspire > Working at
the board > Using the On-screen
Keyboard

Camera Lets you take a snapshot from the Reference > Tools > Camera
screen, for example, a picture on a
More about ActivInspire > Working at
website or flipchart.
the board > Using the Camera

Tickertape Lets you create messages that scroll Reference > Tools > Tickertape
continuously across the screen.
More about ActivInspire > Working at
the board > Using Tickertapes

Clock Lets you choose an analog or digital Reference > Tools > Clock
clock. You can set the display, choose
More about ActivInspire > Working at
count down or count up as desired.
the board > Using the Clock

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Screen Lets you record the actions on a Reference > Tools > Screen Recorder
Recorder flipchart, desktop flipchart, the
desktop, or another application, saving
them to a file and play them back as
an animation.

Sound Lets you record sounds if you have Reference > Tools > Sound Recorder
Recorder the required hardware.

Calculator Lets you do math calculations at the Reference > Tools > Calculator
board.
More about ActivInspire > Number
tools for all occasions > Using the
Calculator

Dice Roller Lets you roll up to five dice. Reference > Tools > Dice Roller
More about ActivInspire > Number
tools for all occasions > Using the
Dice Roller

Format Toolbar
The Format Toolbar opens by default, whenever you work with the Text Tool. You can also open the Format Toolbar from the
Notes Browser.
For details, see First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text.
You can access the following functions from the Format Toolbar:

Function Studio Primary Description

Fonts Lets you select a font from the drop-

down menu.

Font Size Lets you select a font size from the

drop-down menu.

Increase Font
Size
Increases or decreases the font size
by two points at a time.
Decrease
Font Size

Bold
Lets you add bold or italic text, or
changes the selected text to bold or
Italic italic.

Underline Lets you underline text, or underlines

the selected text.

Superscript Lets you add text in superscript or

subscript, or changes the selected text
to subscript or superscript.
Subscript

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Text Color
Lets you select a text color or
background color from the olor
Palette, or mix and match your own
Background
color.
Color

Align Left

Center Aligns text left, centered, or right.

Align Right

Increase Line
Spacing
Increases or decreases the space
between selected lines of text.
Decrease
Line Spacing

Increase
Indent
Increases or decreases the indentation
of the selected text.
Decrease
Indent

Bullets Lets you turn text into a bulleted list.

On-Screen Displays the On-Screen Keyboard that

Keyboard lets you create typed text at he board.

Select All Selects all the text in the currently

selected text object.

Text Symbols Lets you select symbols from a drop-

down list.

Voting Wonderwheel

Tool Studio Primary Description

Click To List Likert Displays 'Likert Scale' answering options in the 'Voting
Scale Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.

Number Question Displays 'Number entry' answering options in the 'Voting

Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.

Text Question Displays 'Text entry' answering options in the 'Voting

Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Multiple Choice Displays 'Multiple choice' answering options in the 'Voting

Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.

Sort in Order Displays 'Sort in Order' answering options in the 'Voting

Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression devices.

Yes/No - True/False Displays 'Yes/No or True/Falser' answering options in the

'Voting Summary' Box and sends them to ActivExpression
devices.

Actions

Device Opens the 'Device Registration' Dialog Box to let you begin
Registration registering ActiVote or ActivExpression devices.

Assign Students Opens the 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box to let you
To Devices import student names from a database.

Close Closes the voting Wonderwheel.

Target
ActivExpression
Devices Sets the type of device from which votes will be accepted in
the current voting session.
Target ActiVote
Devices

Dual Toolbox
The Dual Toolbox appears in the bottom left of the ActivInspire window by default. You can pin or drag and drop the Dual Toolbox.
You cannot add or remove tools from this toolbox.
The Dual Toolbox contains the following tools:

Tool/Menu Studio Primary Description

item

Color see Pen Click a colour to select the olor for the Pen, Highlighter, or Shape Tools.
Palette Tray
Right click to access the Extended Color Palette, or create a custom olor.

Width see Pen Use presets or slider to set pen width.

selectors Tray

Select Lets you select and interact with objects on the flipchart page.

Fill Fills a selected object or page with olor.

In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the Dual Fill Tray at the bottom of the
ActivInspire window.

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Toolboxes and Toolbars

Pen Writes or draws on your flipchart.

In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the Dual Pen Tray at the bottom of
the ActivInspire window.

Highlighter see Pen Emphasizes areas of your flipchart with translucent olor.
Tray
In ActivInspire Primary, it also opens the Dual Fill Tray at the bottom of the
ActivInspire window.

Shape Opens the Shapes Menu, to let you select a shape, then draw it.

Connector Connects objects or shapes with a Connector line.

Handwriting Turns annotations into text.

Recognition

Shape Turns free-hand drawings into shapes.

Recognition

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Actions

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Home > Reference > Actions

Actions
You can associate an action with any object in your flipchart in the Action Browser.

If you are used to working with actions in Activstudio or Activprimary, see Summary of differences for important
information about using actions in existing flipcharts in ActivInspire

For every action, there is a matching tool or command.

For information about the types of actions available in ActivInspire, see:
Drag and Drop Actions
Command Actions
Page Actions
Object Actions
Document/Media Actions
Voting Actions

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Properties

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Home > Reference > Properties

Properties
Use the Property Browser to view, change and apply a range of powerful properties to your flipchart page or objects. The options
are displayed in the Browser and depend on whether you have selected a page, single object or multiple objects. Different types of
objects have different types of properties.
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.
This section briefly describes the available properties by category:
Identification properties
Appearance properties
Outline properties
Fill properties
Background properties
Position properties
Label properties
Container properties
Rotate properties
Restrictors properties
Miscellaneous properties
Multimedia properties
Page properties
Tools property
Revealer properties
Spotlight properties
Grid properties

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Settings

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Home > Reference > Settings

Settings
You can customize ActivInspire in many different ways to suit your needs. To ensure that selected tools and features always
behave in a predefined way, you can set up and save your preferences in one or more profiles.
This section describes the available settings and their options:
Learner Response System
Clock Tool
Effects
Flipchart Objects
Language
Online Settings
Spell Checker
Tools
User Input
Recordings
Profile and Resources
Flipchart
Multimedia
Design Mode

For details of how to access and change Settings, see Choosing application settings.

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Drag and Drop Actions

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Home > Reference > Actions > Drag and Drop Actions

Drag and Drop Actions

The quickest way to associate an action with an object is from the Drag and Drop Tab of the Action Browser .
The following table lists the actions and briefly describes what happens when you click on the action object:

Action Effect More info...

Select Tools > Select

Enables Select

Pen Tools > Pen

Enables the Pen

Highlighter Tools > Highlighter

Enables the Highlighter

Eraser Tools > Eraser

Enables the Eraser

Text Tools > Text

Enables the Text Tool.

Shape Tools > Shape

Enables the Shape Tool

Fill Tools > Fill

Enables the Fill Tool

Notes Browser ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser

Opens the Notes Browser (Studio)
ActivInspire's Browsers > Notes Browser
(Primary)

Next Page
Goes to the next/previous flipchart page.
Previous Page

First Page
Goes to the first/last flipchart page.
Last Page

Revealer Tools > Revealer

Enables the Revealer

Reset Page Resets the current page to the state it

was in when it was last saved.

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Drag and Drop Actions

Ruler Tools > Ruler

Enables the Ruler

Protractor Tools > Protractor

Enables the Protractor

Compass Tools > Compass

Enables the Compass

ExpressPoll Launches the voting Wonderwheel. Tools > ExpressPoll

Use it as a shortcut instead of the Using Learner Response Systems > Quick
ExpressPoll button, for example, when Questions and ExpressPoll
the Main Toolbox is unavailable.

Start Flipchart Vote Starts a voting session, but only if there Prepared questions - Using the Question
is a question on the current page. Wizard

Snap to Grid Makes the object snap to the grid, even Tools > Snap to Grid
when the grid is invisible.

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Page Actions

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Home > Reference > Actions > Page Actions

Page Actions
Use page actions to quickly navigate around the flipchart, insert or clear a page, or change the background.
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:

Action Effect

Another Page Goes to the page number you specify in Action Properties in the
Action Browser.

Clear Page Clears the page and clears the action object itself.

Copy Page Copies the current page, including the action object, to the Paste
Buffer, so that you can paste it to a new page.

Cut Page Cuts the current page from the flipchart.

Duplicate Page After Current Page

Inserts a duplicate of the current page before or after the current
page.
Duplicate Page Before Current Page

Duplicate Page at End of Flipchart Inserts a duplicate of the current page at the end of the flipchart.

First Page Goes to the first page in the flipchart.

Last Page Goes to the last page in the flipchart.

New Page After Current Page

Inserts a blank page before or after the current page.
New Page Before Current Page

Next Page Goes to the next page.

Page History Back Each time you show a page in the flipchart, this page number is
added to an internal Page History List. Use the 'Page History
Back' action to return you back through the Page History. If you
have visited a series of pages and each page contains a 'Page
History Back' action object, clicking these objects will take you
back through the page history.

Page History Forward This action will take you forward through the pages in the Page
History. This action only works if you have issued at least one
'Page History Back' action on one or more pages.

Previous Page Goes to the previous page.

Reset Page Resets the page to the state it was in when it was last saved.

Set Background Opens the 'Set Background' Dialog Box, which lets you set a
background color or image.

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Page Actions

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Object Actions

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Home > Reference > Actions > Object Actions

Object Actions
Use object actions to change for example, the size, alignment or position of an object, so that when you click on an action object,
either the target object or the action object itself is changed.
The following table lists the actions, and describes what happens when you click on the action object.

Action Effect More info...

Align Angle Aligns all selected objects so that their angles

match the first object created within the For each of these actions, the
selected objects. alignment criteria for the whole group are
always based on the first object created in
the group.
Align Bottom Aligns all selected objects so that their
bottom edges are the same as the bottom-
most object in the selection.

Align Center X Aligns all selected objects so that their

centers match horizontally (for X) or vertically
Align Center Y (for Y), with their center points being placed
at the center of the initial bounding rectangle.

Align Complete Aligns all selected objects to match the left,

right, bottom, top, width, height and angle
properties of the first object created within the
selected objects.

Align Height Aligns objects at the height of the first object

created in the group.

Align Left Aligns all selected objects so that their left,

right or top edges are the same as the left,
Align Right right or top-most object in the selection.

Align Top

Align Width Stretches a group of objects to the same

width as the first object created in the group.

Angle Rotates the objects to the angle specified in

'Action Properties'.

Angle Incrementally Incrementally rotates objects by the angle you

specify in 'Action Properties'. For example, if
you specify 10 degrees, the angle of the
target object changes by 10 degrees
clockwise every time you click on the action
object. You can specify a minus value for the
angle to rotate the objects counterclockwise.

Append Text Appends the text you typed in 'Action

Properties' to the target text object when you Tip Insert a space at the beginning of

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Object Actions

click on the action object. the text.

Best Fit To Height

Applies the best fit to page for the target

Best Fit to Page
objects.

Best Fit to Width

Bring Forwards Sends the object forwards by one position

within the stack on its current layer.
Using layers and stacking
Bring to Front Sends the object to the front of the stack on
its current layer.

Change Text Value Increments or decrements the value of the

target text object by the value of the text
specified in 'Action Properties'. For example,
if the target text object contains ‘5’ and the
Action property text is ‘-2’, the target object
will reduce to ‘3’ when the action is applied.

Clear Annotations Clears all annotations on the page.

Clear Background Clears the background.

Clear Grid Clears the grid.

Clear Objects Clears all objects on the page.

Copy
Copies/Cuts/Deletes/Duplicates any of the
Cut following objects: text, image, annotation
objects, shape, action and mixed groups of
Delete objects.

Duplicate

Edit Text Selects the target text object and enables the
Text Tool.

Extract Text Creates a new text object from each word

you click on in the target text object.

Flip in X Axis Flips the target object in the X axis, towards

the top of the page.

Flip in Y Axis Flips the target object in the Y axis, towards

the left of the page.

Toggle Grouped Lets you group or ungroup the currently

selected objects.

Toggle Hidden Lets you show or hide the currently selected

objects.

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Object Actions

Invert Turns the object upside down.

Less Translucent Makes the target object incrementally less

translucent, the more often you click on the
action object.

Toggle Locked Lets you lock or unlock the currently selected

objects. Can be moved with the Freely Move

Object Handle.

Mirror in X Axis Creates a mirror image of the object in the X

axis, towards the top of the page.

Mirror in Y Axis Creates a mirror image of the object in the Y

axis, towards the left of the page.

More Translucent Makes the target object incrementally more

translucent, the more often you click on the
action object.

New Text Object Inserts a new text object containing the text Useful when you want to use text icons, then
you typed in 'Action Properties'. display text at the appropriate time.

Original Size Resets the size of the object to its originally

authored size. For shapes, this is the size of
the shape, when it was originally added to
the page.

Paste Pastes the contents of the Paste buffer.

Position Bottom Moves the bottom of the target object to the

position Y, as specified in 'Action Properties'.

Position Bottom Left Moves the bottom left of the target object to
position X, Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.

Position Bottom Right Moves the bottom right of the target object to
position X, Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.

Position Central Moves the target object to position X, Y, as

specified in 'Action Properties'.

Position Incrementally Moves the target object incrementally from its

original position by the number of pixels
specified in 'Action Properties'.

Position Left Moves the left edge of the target object to

position X, as specified in 'Action Properties'.

Position Right Moves the right edge of the target object to

position X, as specified in 'Action Properties'.

Position Top Moves the top edge of the target object to

position Y, as specified in 'Action Properties'.

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Object Actions

Position Top Left Moves the top left edge of the target object to
position X,Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.

Position Top Right Moves the top right edge of the target object
to position X,Y, as specified in 'Action
Properties'.

Reflect Flips the object over about its own central Y

axis.

Select All Selects everything on the page. Reference > Select

Send Backwards Sends the target object backwards by one

position within the stack on its current layer.
Using layers and stacking
Send to Back Sends the target object to the back of the
stack on its current layer.

Size Bottom Size actions set the overall size of the target
object to the value specified in the 'Action Size actions maintain the aspect ratio
Properties'. The final position of the object is of the target object.
Size Bottom Incrementally
dictated by the chosen size action. For
example if you choose 'Size Bottom 100', the
Size Bottom Left
object will be sized such that it is 100 pixels
in width and height, whilst maintaining the
Size Bottom Left position of the top edge of the object.
Incrementally
Size incrementally actions behave like size
actions with the exception that the target
Size Bottom Right
object is increased or decreased by the
number of pixels specified in 'Action
Size Bottom Right Properties', while maintaining the original
Incrementally position, for example bottom right.

Size Central

Size Central Incrementally

Size Left

Size Left Incrementally

Size Right

Size Right Incrementally

Size Top

Size Top Incrementally

Size Top Left

Size Top Left Incrementally

Size Top Right

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Object Actions

Size Top Right

Incrementally

Stretch Bottom Stretch actions set the overall width or height

of the target object to the value specified in Stretch actions distort the aspect ratio
'Action Properties'. The final position of the of the target object.
Stretch Bottom
Incrementally object is dictated by the chosen width action.
For example if you choose 'Stretch Bottom
100', the object will be sized so that it is 100
Stretch Bottom Left
pixels in height, while maintaining the position
of the top edge of the object.
Stretch Bottom Left
Incrementally Stretch incrementally actions behave like
stretch actions with the exception that the
target object is increased or decreased by the
Stretch Bottom Right
number of pixels specified in Action
Properties, while maintaining the original
Stretch Bottom Right position, for example bottom right.
Incrementally

Stretch Central

Stretch Central
Incrementally

Stretch Left

Stretch Left Incrementally

Stretch Right

Stretch Right Incrementally

Stretch Top

Stretch Top Incrementally

Stretch Top Left

Incrementally

Stretch Top Right

Incrementally

To Bottom Layer
Sends the object to the bottom, middle or top
To Middle Layer layer. Using layers and stacking

To Top Layer

Translucency Changes the translucency of the target object

to a fixed value, where:

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Object Actions

0 = solid
255 = clear

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Document/Media Actions

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Home > Reference > Actions > Document/Media Actions

Document/Media Actions
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:

Action Effect More info...

Open Document, File or Opens the document or file, or plays the sound, More about ActivInspire > Making
Sound you assigned to the object in 'Action Properties'. flipcharts interactive > Working with
actions
More about ActivInspire > Working
with objects > Adding multimedia

Open Website Opens the URL you assigned to the object in

'Action Properties'.

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Voting Actions

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Home > Reference > Actions > Voting Actions

Voting Actions
The following table lists the actions and describes what happens when you click on the action object:

Action Effect More info...

Assign students to devices Opens the 'Assign students to devices' Dialog Box. Using Learner Response Systems >
Assigning students to devices

Device Registration Using Learner Response Systems >

Starts Device Registration Registering devices

Export Results To Excel® Opens the 'Export Results To Excel®' Dialog Box, Using Learner Response Systems
if there are voting results on the current page.
Choose a folder and enter a file name – voting
results are saved as a .xls file and automatically
opened in Excel, provided it is installed on your
computer.
You can choose to export current or any previous
results displayed in the Results Browser.

ExpressPoll Launches the voting Wonderwheel. Using Learner Response Systems >
Quick questions and ExpressPoll
Use it as a shortcut instead of the ExpressPoll
button, for example, when the Main Toolbox is
unavailable.

Insert Question Launches the Insert Question Wizard. When Whenever you navigate to a question
you complete the wizard, the question is displayed page, the Start/Stop Flipchart
on the current (or new) page.
Vote button is highlighted green,
ready to start a vote.

Pause Vote Toggle switch. Pauses voting, when a timeout has

been set. Press again to restart.

Start/Stop Flipchart Vote Use as a shortcut instead of the Start Flipchart

Vote button, for example, when the Main Toolbox
is unavailable.
Starts or stops a voting session, but only if there is
a question on the current page.

Student Database Opens the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box. Use
this as a shortcut, if you often assign voting
devices to student names and your class changes
frequently.

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Creating your first flipchart

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Creating your first flipchart

Creating your first flipchart

Congratulations! When you run ActivInspire, you have already created your first flipchart!
The blank canvas behind the Dashboard in your ActivInspire window is in fact the first page of a brand new flipchart. You could
start working on it right away, then save it later.
Here we show you two other ways to create a flipchart.

Create a flipchart from the Dashboard

On the Dashboard, click on Create a new Flipchart

ActivInspire creates a new 'Untitled' flipchart.

Create a flipchart at any time

1. Click on the Main Menu icon.

2. From the menu, select:
New Flipchart
or
New and then select one of the following options:

Option Description

Screen Size Flipchart Creates a flipchart that is the same size as your current
screen resolution. This is the default setting and is useful if

you don't know what size your screen is.

1024 x 768 Flipchart

Creates a new flipchart of the specified height and width in

1152 x 864 Flipchart
pixels.

1280 x 1024 Flipchart

Custom Size Flipchart Create your own flipchart size using the 'Custom Page
Size' box. This is useful when you want to create a

flipchart for an extra-wide board or screen, for example.

ActivInspire creates a new 'Untitled' flipchart.

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Calculator

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Home > Reference > Tools > Calculator

Calculator
What? Perform mathematical calculations at the board.

Where? Tools > Math Tools > Calculator

Desktop Tools

How? Click or tap on the calculator keys to perform calculations.

What can I customize? Choice of calculator:

Calculator supplied with ActivInspire (default)
Calculator supplied with your operating system
Another calculator installed on your computer

Where can I customize it? Edit Profiles > Settings > Tools

Using the Calculator

More info... Choosing application settings
Reference > Settings > Tools
Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Spotlight

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Home > Reference > Tools > Spotlight

Spotlight
What? Provides a masking layer over the flipchart (or desktop) containing a movable, sizable
area known as the Spotlight, through which you can see the underlying material.
The chosen Spotlight can be:
Moved by dragging any part of the masked area
Sized by dragging any part of the perimeter of the spotlight
While the Spotlight is showing you can continue to interact with any visible areas of the
flipchart.

Where? Main Menu > Tools > Spotlight

Shortcut? Circular Spotlight (see description below):

CTRL+Shift+O (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+O (Mac® )

How? Choose the type of Spotlight from the drop-down menu:

Circular Spotlight Provides a

movable, sizable
circular/oval or
Square Spotlight square/rectangular
spotlight through
a full page
masking layer.

Solid Circular Spotlight Provides a

movable, sizable
Solid Square Spotlight circular/oval or
square/rectangular
mask.

What can I customize? Border width Increase or

decrease the width of
the border around
the spotlight area.
The range is from 0
to 20 pixels.

Border color Color of the border

around the spotlight.

Background color Color of the non-

spotlighted area
when using the
Spotlight.

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Spotlight

Translucent border Make the spotlight

border translucent or
a solid color.

Translucent screen Make the spotlight

screen (the darkened
area that covers the
Flipchart or Desktop
window) translucent
or opaque.

Where can I customize Settings > Effects

it?

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the Spotlight
More info... Menubar > Tools
Reference > Settings > Effects

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Compass

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Home > Reference > Tools > Compass

Compass
What? Drawing circles and arcs of any size, colour or line thickness with the

Pen Highlighter or Eraser

Where? Tools > Math Tools > Compass

How? Drag the compass to the area of the page where you want to draw a
circle or arc, extend it to the desired radius, select the Pen or Highlighter
Tool, adjust the line thickness and color if necessary, drag the pen arm
until you have created the desired shape. Then click on the cross
between the two arms to remove the tool, or drag it into the Trashcan.

Using the Compass

More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Connector

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Home > Reference > Tools > Connector

Connector
What? Drawing connections between objects, for example, while creating
concept maps. The connecting line adapts automatically when either of
the connected objects is moved.

Where? Tools > Connector

Main Toolbox
Dual Toolbox

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+C (WindowsTM & LinuxTM)

Cmd+Shift+C (Mac® )

How? Click and drag to create links between objects.

Working in Dual User mode

More info... Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Dice Roller

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Home > Reference > Tools > Dice Roller

Dice Roller
What? Roll up to five dice.

Where? Tools > Math Tools > Dice Roller

Desktop Tools

How? Select the number of dice, rolling speed and whether or not to put the result in the
flipchart.

What can I customize? Number of dice 1-5

Speed 3 - 11 seconds

Roll Click to roll the dice.

Output to Click to put the result in the flipchart.

Flipchart

Where can I customize it? 'Dice Roller' Box

Edit Profiles > Settings > Tools

Using the Dice Roller

More info... Settings > Tools
Working with actions
Actions > Command Actions

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Eraser

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Home > Reference > Tools > Eraser

Eraser
What? Permanently erase or break up annotations made with the Pen, Highlighter, or
Magic Ink.

Where? Tools > Eraser

Main Toolbox
Dual Toolbox

Shortcut? CTRL+E (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+E (Mac® )

How? Select the width, then rub gently over the annotation.

What can I customize? Width Increase or decrease the Eraser's width with the slider.

Where can I customize it? Main Toolbox

Deleting stuff
More info... Working with actions
Actions > Command Actions

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Deleting stuff

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Deleting stuff

Deleting stuff
Here we show you several easy ways to delete different things from the page:
Rub out with the Eraser
Clear the page
Reset the page
Undo and Redo
Use the Trashcan
You can also select objects and delete them with the Delete key on your keyboard.

Most of the tools we describe in this section are in the Main Toolbox, except the Trashcan

Rub out with the Eraser

The Eraser works on any annotations as long as they are on the top layer.

You can use the Eraser in two ways:

To rub an annotation out completely.
To break an annotation into separate objects. This
has the advantage that you can then select and
manipulate the remaining parts of the annotation as
separate objects.
To rub something out with the Eraser:
1. Click on the Eraser. The cursor changes to a little
eraser with a circle.
2. Position the cursor where you want to begin.
3. Click and drag to rub out all or part of the
annotation.

You can change the width of the Eraser in the

same way you change the width of the Pen or
Highlighter.

Clear the page

To delete everything on the current page, click Clear and select Clear Page.

You can use Clear for a number of different purposes, for example, to delete all annotations, or delete all objects and leave
everything else in place.
Clear is also available from the Edit Menu.

Reset the page

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Deleting stuff

This is a quick way to undo all the changes you made to the current page since the last time the flipchart was saved.

Reset Page is also available from the Edit Menu.

Undo and Redo

Undo and Redo are powerful tools that can quickly get you out of all kinds of trouble!
For example, if you've used any of the above tools too freely and you need to restore some or all of what you've deleted.

Use the Trashcan

If the Trashcan is visible you can delete objects in the following ways:
Drag an object or objects to the Trashcan and drop them when a red
arrow appears in the Trashcan.
Select an object or objects, then click on the Trashcan to delete them.

You can always recover your objects with Undo .

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Fill

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Home > Reference > Tools > Fill

Fill
What? Filling:
Shapes with single or gradient colors (you can set gradient colors in
the Property Browser)
Intersecting shapes with different colors
Pages
Changing the color of object outlines.

Where? Main Toolbox

Tools > Fill
Dual Toolbox

Shortcut? CTRL+F (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+F (Mac® )

How? Select Fill, change the color if desired, click on the object, page or outline.

Where can I customize it? In Property Browser Fill properties

Adding and manipulating shapes > Fill a shape

More info... Working with actions
Reference > Properties > Fill properties
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Adding and manipulating shapes

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes

Adding and manipulating shapes

You can add many different types of objects to your flipchart. These range from simple shapes you create with the Shape

Tool, and annotations you create with the Pen or Highlighter , to such objects as:
Files from the Resource Library
Imported images
Videos and sound files.
You can manipulate most of these object types in the same way.
Here we show you how to create and manipulate simple shapes with the Shape Tool:
Create a shape
Select a shape
Fill a shape
Move or rotate a shape
Increase or decrease its size
Change its shape
Group and ungroup shapes
Finally, we also give you a taste of a power tool for creating shapes at the board.

Create a shape
To add a shape to your flipchart:

1. Click on Shape The Shapes Menu opens. Depending on your preference, it is aligned along the side or bottom
of the ActivInspire window.
2. Select the shape you want to draw, for example Triangle. The cursor changes to an arrow and a small version of the shape
you have selected.
3. Move the cursor to the place on the page where you want to draw your shape, then click or press.
4. Continue to press and draw gently until the shape has the desired size.

Select a shape
To make changes to the shape you have just created:

ActivInspire Studio
1. Click on Select .
2. Move the cursor over the shape. The cursor changes
to a small arrow head with a cross. Click or tap on the
shape. In the example on the right, we have selected
the black triangle. A box appears around the object.
Note:
The row of icons above the shape object, these are
Marquee Handles. Each of these handles lets you
change the object in a different way.

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Adding and manipulating shapes

The square outline around the object. It has grey

or yellow (ActivInspire Primary) circles at the corners
and in the centers of each of the four sides. These are
Sizing Handles. You can click and drag them to
extend and distort the object. There is also a special

handle for resizing the object proportionally,

without distortion.
For details of all the handles, see Reference > Menus and ActivInspire Primary
Popup Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles.

Here we briefly describe the Marquee Handles we are going to use in this section:

1 Freely Move Object, allows you to move the object anywhere on the flipchart page. This tool overrides all object
restrictions and blockers.

2 Rotate Object

3 Toggle Grouped, a switch that allows you to group and ungroup objects, so that you can change or move them as
one.

4 Increase Object Size

Decrease Object Size

5 Edit Shape Points, allows you to change the shape of an object by moving and dragging its corners.

Fill a shape
To fill a shape with colour:

1. In the Main Toolbox, click on Fill

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Adding and manipulating shapes

2. From the Color Palette, select a fill color.

3. Click on the shape.

Move or rotate a shape

Move a shape
Here are two ways to move a shape.
1. Select the shape.
2. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag and drop the shape where you want it on the current page.
Or
1. Select the shape.

2. Click on Freely Move Object

3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed on the icon and drag and drop the shape where you want it on the current
page.
Rotate a shape
1. Select the shape.

2. Click on Rotate Object

3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the cursor around to change the shape's rotational angle

Increase or decrease its size

Here are two ways to increase and decrease the size of a shape or other object without distorting it.
Make a small change
1. Select the shape.

2. Click on Increase Object Size or Decrease Object Size to change the size in small
increments.
3. Repeat until the shape has the correct size.
Make a big change
1. Select the shape.

2. Click on Size Object (maintain aspect ratio)

3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the handle until the shape has the desired size.

Change its shape

Here are two ways to change the shape of an object.
Lengthen or shorten an object
1. Select the shape.

2. Click on one of the Size Object handles.

3. Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the handle until the object has the desired length or height.

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Adding and manipulating shapes

Edit Shape Points

To make more complex or subtle changes to a shape, use Edit Shape

Points
1. Select the shape.

2. Click on Edit Shape Points The object outline changes to a
series of squares. Each one of these is a shape point. The example on
the right shows the eight shape points of a square.
3. Click and drag any of the shape points to alter the shape of the
square.

Group and ungroup shapes

To move several objects at the same time, you can select all the objects and group them together with the Toggle Grouped

Marquee Handle.

1. Click on Select
2. Click and drag the cursor diagonally across all the objects to select
them.

3. Click on Toggle Grouped . The Toggle Grouped

Marquee Handle changes color to indicate that the objects have been
grouped together.
4. Click on the grouped objects and drag them to their new position.
To ungroup objects, so that you can manipulate each one individually:
1. Click on any part of the group to select it.
2. Click on the Toggle Grouped Marquee Handle.

For details of all the Marquee Handles, see Reference > Menus and Popup
Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles.

Power tool

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Adding and manipulating shapes

ActivInspire also offers the Shape Recognition Tool for creating shapes at the board. You draw a shape by hand and
let ActivInspire turn it into a shape object. For details, see Using Shape Recognition.

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Creating and editing grids

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Creating and editing grids

Creating and editing grids

The grid is a patterned background. You can have backgrounds with different colors and images.
To select a background:
From the Main Menu select File > Edit > Page Background.
To create a grid:
Right-click on a blank area of a flipchart page and from the Popup Menu select Grid Designer.

About the Grid

Designer

The Grid Designer has three
sections:
Grid Snap and scale settings.
Grid (Level) Add /delete levels
and reset the grid.
Current Level Set options
including pattern and color for one
level at a time.
You can change the grid settings
and preview the results instantly.
Select Close to continue with your
flipchart.

Select the checkbox Visible. The

default grid is displayed.
The default grid has one level, a
box pattern of
Solid lines, horizontal and vertical
(X-Y Direction).
Select the checkbox Allow snap

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Creating and editing grids

to enable object snapping to grid

points.
Select the checkbox On top to
display the grid above all flipchart
objects. This does not interfere
with using the flipchart.
For larger or smaller boxes in the
grid pattern, click + or - .

For a mesh pattern, change the
Grid style to 45 Degrees.
For a diamond grid pattern, change
the Grid style to Angle and
enter a number for the angle of the
lines. You can enter a decimal
value to six significant figures.
If you have the Page Browser open
and the grid cannot be seen
clearly, change the Thumbnail
scale. This also applies to grids in
the Resource Library.

If you want lines in just one
direction, select X only or Y only
from the Direction Drop-down
Menu.
For Line style, instead of Solid
Lines you can choose Dashed
Lines or Dotted Lines,
Crosses or Dots from the Line
style Drop-down Menu.
You can have a grid with several
different pattern styles and colors.
Click Add Level to create a
further level. The number of levels
is shown in the heading Grid (x
Level) where x is the total
number of levels.
Each new level has the default grid
properties. You can change the
Color to identify new levels.
Click on the Color... box to open
the Color Palette. When you have
selected a color, click OK.

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Creating and editing grids

Reversed Grids
A reversed grid has a pale-colored
grid on a dark background. Use
white / black to represent a
chalkboard.

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Creating and editing grids

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Handwriting Recognition

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Home > Reference > Tools > Handwriting Recognition

Handwriting Recognition
What? Writing on the board and letting ActivInspire turn your freehand annotations into text.
As well as recognizing handwriting and shapes within ActivInspire, the Handwriting
Recognition Tool can also recognise handwriting in other applications, for example
Microsoft Word ® .

Where? Tools > Handwriting Recognition

Dual Toolbox

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+H (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+H (Mac® )

How? Use Handwriting Recognition while your write:

Take your time to write slowly and clearly. If ActivInspire interprets your writing
correctly, carry on writing, otherwise select the correct spelling from the drop-
down list.
Use it at a later time:

With the Select Tool, select the annotations to be turned into text, then select
Convert to Text from the Object Edit Menu.

What can I customize? In the Main Toolbox:

Pen width Default = Fine line

Change the Pen width with the slider, or select a preset width, to
create thicker lines.

Color Default = Black

Change the olor by selecting another one from the Color Palette.

In the User Input section of Settings:

Recognition Default = 5
Timeout
Time interval in seconds before ActivInspire starts to turn your
handwriting into text.
Move the slider to change the timeout to between 0 and 5
seconds.

Handwriting Default = Language used by your computer's operating system

recognition
The language in which you are writing your annotations. Select
language
from the following languages:
Danish, German, Greek, English (Canada), English (United

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Handwriting Recognition

States), Spanish, Spanish (Mexico), Finnish, French, French

(Canada), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Norwegian,
Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Swedish, Chinese
(PRC), Chinese (Taiwan).

Where can I customize Main Toolbox

it? Settings > User Input

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Handwriting Recognition
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/handwriting_recognition.htm[1/21/2010 6:10:34 PM]

Magic Ink

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Home > Reference > Tools > Magic Ink

Magic Ink
What? Making any 'top layer' object (or part of an object) invisible, so that you can see the
objects on the layers beneath.

Where? Tools > Magic Ink

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+M (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+M (Mac® )

How? Magic Ink acts like a pen that can draw a 'see through' annotation on the top layer,
letting you punch holes through the objects on the top layer.

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Magic Ink
More info... Making flipcharts interactive > Working with actions

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Creating page notes

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Creating page notes

Creating page notes

You can create, view and edit page notes about your flipchart with the Notes Browser .

1. Click on the Notes Browser The Browser opens.

2. With your computer keyboard, type your notes. These can be as detailed or brief as you like. By default, your notes appear
as plain text.
3. To format your text, use the Format Toolbar.
4. When you have completed your notes, click on another tool to close the Browser and the toolbar.

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On-Screen Keyboard

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Home > Reference > Tools > On-Screen Keyboard

On-Screen Keyboard
What? Adding typed text to your flipchart while at the board.

Where? Tools > More Tools > On-Screen Keyboard

Desktop Tools

Shortcut? CTRL+K (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+K (Mac® )

How? Tap the on-screen keys to create the text.

What can I customize? Change the formatting, text olor and font with the Format Toolbar.

Where can I customize it? On the keyboard itself there are options to display a standard or extended
keyboard and choose the number of keys.

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using the On-Screen Keyboard
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Opening a flipchart

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Opening a flipchart

Opening a flipchart
Here we show you several ways to open a flipchart

Open from the Dashboard

When you run ActivInspire, the Dashboard opens, unless you have unchecked the 'Show the dashboard window on startup' Box.
Two ways to open an existing flipchart from the Dashboard.
Browse
1. Click on Open a flipchart. A dialog box opens, showing any flipcharts in the My Flipcharts folder.
2. Select a flipchart from the list in the folder, or navigate to another folder that contains flipcharts and click on Open. The
selected flipchart opens in the ActivInspire window.
Dashboard List
To save you time, ActivInspire lists your most recent flipcharts on the Dashboard. Click on one of the flipcharts.

Two other ways to open a flipchart

1. From the File Menu, select Open, or type CTRL+O (Windows TM and Linux TM ) or Cmd+O (Mac® ). A dialog box opens,
showing any flipcharts in the My Flipcharts folder.
2. Select a flipchart from the list in the folder, or navigate to another folder that contains flipcharts and click on Open. The
selected flipchart opens in the ActivInspire window.

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Printing a flipchart

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Printing a flipchart

Printing a flipchart
You can print your flipchart and use all or part of it as handouts, or print any page notes you have added with the Notes Browser.

1. From the File Menu, select Print, or press CTRL+Shift+P (Windows TM and Linux TM ), or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac® ). The 'Flipchart Print' Dialog
Box opens (shown below). You can select from a range of print options, including Export to PDF.
2. Make your choices, then click on Print.

ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary

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Protractor

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Home > Reference > Tools > Protractor

Protractor
What? Drawing arcs, segments and circles, measuring angles.

Where? Tools > Maths Tools > Protractor

How? Position the Protractor, drag it to the required size, select the type of protractor you
want to use and select the type of arc to create. Then select the Pen and change
the color or width as necessary, align the cursor on the edge of the protractor and
begin drawing.
Close the Protractor from the Popup Menu, or drag it to the Trashcan.

What can I customize? Full Displays a 360 degree circular protractor.

Protractor

Half Displays a 180 degree protractor.

Protractor

Arc Lets you draw an open arc.

Closed Arc Lets you draw a closed arc

Filled Arc Lets you draw a filled arc.

Where can I customize it? In the Protractor Context Menu.

Using the Protractor

More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Undo and Redo

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Home > Reference > Tools > Undo and Redo

Undo and Redo

What?
Undoing or redoing your last action, for example, Fill .

Where? Edit > Undo

Edit > Redo
Main Toolbox

Shortcut? Undo:
CTRL+Z (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Z (Mac® )
Redo:
CTRL+Y (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Y (Mac® )

How? Click repeatedly to undo or redo as many actions as required.

First steps with ActivInspire > Deleting Stuff

More info...

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Ruler

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Home > Reference > Tools > Ruler

Ruler
What? Drawing and measuring lines on the board.

Where? Tools > Maths Tools > Ruler

How? Drag the ruler to lengthen or shorten it, position it on the page where you want to
draw or measure, select the ruler's units of measurement.
Use the Pen or Highlighter to draw lines.

What can I customize? Length of the ruler.

Select the units of measurement for the top and bottom edges.

Where can I customize it? In the Ruler Popup Menu.

Using the Ruler

More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Saving a flipchart

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Saving a flipchart

Saving a flipchart
When you have completed your flipchart, you need to save it.
Here we show you two ways to do this.

Save a flipchart with its current name

Press CTRL+S (Windows TM and Linux TM ), or Cmd+S (Mac® ).
If you are saving an already named flipchart, that's all you need to do.
If you are saving a new flipchart, a standard save dialog box opens, allowing you to name and save your flipchart. When
saved, the flipchart's Document Tab shows the new name of the flipchart.

Save a flipchart with a new name

You may wish to use one flipchart as a starting point, then make changes and save different versions of it for different purposes.
1. From the File Menu, select Save As...
2. Type the name of your flipchart.
3. Click on Save. The Document Tab now shows the new name.

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Select

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Home > Reference > Tools > Select

Select
What? Selecting and manipulating one or more items on your flipchart.

Where? Tools > Select

Main Toolbox

How? Select the tool, then click on the item or drag the cursor across one or more items
to select them as a group.

First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes > Select a shape
More info... Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Shape

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Home > Reference > Tools > Shape

Shape
What? The Shape Tool provides access to the Shape Toolbox, containing a range of
predefined shape and line objects that can be added to the flipchart page.

Where? Main Toolbox

Main Menu > Insert > Shapes

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+S (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+Shift+S (Mac® )

How? Click on the Shape Tool to display the Shape Toolbox. From the Shape Toolbox,
click on the specific shape (or line) you wish to add to the page. Move the cursor
onto the page at the place you wish to draw the shape. Then click and drag the
cursor across the flipchart to add your new shape object at the required size on the
page.

What can I customize? Outline Select the outline color from the Color Palette, or change
the outline color and other properties in the 'Outline'
section of the Object Browser.

Fill Select the Fill colour from the Shape Toolbox, or change
the fill colour and other properties in the 'Fill' section of
the Object Browser.

Where can I customize it? Main Toolbox

Property Browser > Fill section

First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes

More info... Changing object properties
Reference > Properties Outline properties
Reference Properties > Fill properties

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Shape Recognition

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Home > Reference > Tools > Shape Recognition

Shape Recognition
What? Drawing on the board and letting ActivInspire turn your drawings into shapes.

Where? Tools > Shape Recognition

Dual Toolbox

How? Take your time to draw slowly and clearly. Works for all kinds of shapes, but is
particularly useful for things like triangles, squares and circles.

What can I customize? In the Main Toolbox:

Pen width Default = Fine line

Change the Pen width with the slider, or select a preset
width, to create thicker lines.

Color Default = Black

Change the color by selecting another one from the olor
Palette.

In the 'User Input' section of Settings:

Recognition Default = 5
Timeout
Time interval in seconds before ActivInspire starts to turn
your drawing into a shape.
Move the slider to change the timeout to between 0 and 5
seconds.

Fill recognized Default. RRecognized shapes are automatically filled with

shapes another color, or with the same color as the outline (see Fill
mode below).
RRecognized shapes are drawn in the outline color but
not filled.

Fill mode Only enabled if Fill recognized shapes is selected.

Another Default. Fills the shape with a different color than the outline.
color

Same as the Fills the shape with the same color as the outline.
outline

Another color Click to select a Fill color from the olor Palette.

Where can I customize Main Toolbox

it? Settings > User Input

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Shape Recognition

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Shape Recognition
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Snap to Grid

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Home > Reference > Tools > Snap to Grid

Snap to Grid
What? This is a toggle option which when turned on, forces objects that are moved on the
page to automatically align to the nearest part of the grid.

Where? Flipchart Page > Popup Menu > Snap To Grid

How? This function only applies if the page has a grid that has been designed to allow
snapping to occur. When set, objects will align themselves to the grid after you
complete the movement of the object. In most cases the bottom left corner of the
object will align to the nearest intersection on the grid. With text objects, the text
baseline will snap to the grid.

More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Creating and editing grids
More info... Reference > Tools > Grid Designer

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Flipchart Spellchecker

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Home > Reference > Tools > Flipchart Spellchecker

Flipchart Spellchecker
What? Check the spelling.

Where? Tools > More Tools

How? Like the spell checker in your word processing software, it allows you to select a
language and suggests changes which you can accept, reject, ignore, apply singly
or throughout the flipchart. When you have finished, click on Done.

Where can I customize it? 'Spell Checker' Dialog Box

File > Settings > Spell checker

What can I customize? You can choose which types of words to ignore, which language to use and
whether or not to highlight misspelled words.

First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text > Spellcheck
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

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Teacher Lock

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Home > Reference > Tools > Teacher Lock

Teacher Lock
What? This is a toggle tool that when turned on allows you to prevent certain aspects of
the program from running.

Where? Main Menu > Tools > More Tools… > Teacher Lock

How? Click on the Teacher Lock Tool and enter your password (defaults to 1234). The
Teacher Lock is then active.
Click on the Teacher Lock Tool a second time and enter your password again to
turn off the Teacher Lock feature.

More about ActivInspire > Working at the board > Using Teacher Lock
More info...

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Text

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Home > Reference > Tools > Text

Text
What? Allows you to add or edit rich text objects on your flipchart pages.

Where? Main Menu > Tools > Text

Main Toolbox

Shortcut? CTRL+T (Windows TM & Linux TM )

Cmd+T (Mac® )

How? Select the Text Tool, then click on the flipchart page to start a new text object or
click on an existing text object to re-edit that object.
When in text edit mode, the Format Toolbar opens at the top of the screen,
offering a range of text edit features, including font selection, size, attributes and
symbols. To commit text in the text edit box to the page, click outside the box or
select another tool.

First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and formatting text

More info...

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XY Origin

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Home > Reference > Tools > XY Origin

XY Origin
What? Defining a page's rotation point, so that you can rotate objects around the origin
point.

Where? Tools > Maths Tools

How? Select XY Origin, use Select to mover the point to the desired position and click
or tap. Rotate objects around the point with the Rotate Object Handle.

More about ActivInspire > Number tools for all occasions > Setting the XY Origin
More info...

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First steps with ActivInspire

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire

First steps with ActivInspire

This section contains the information you need to quickly get you started with ActivInspire:
Creating your first flipchart
Writing on a flipchart
Adding and formatting text
Adding and manipulating shapes
Copying, pasting and duplicating objects
Deleting stuff
Inserting pages
Inserting resources
Using grids
Creating objects
Creating page notes
Saving a flipchart
Printing a flipchart
Opening a flipchart
Easy teacher tricks

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About resources

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > About resources

About resources
ActivInspire includes a set of useful resources, contained
within the Resource Library.
The Resource Library contains many types of resources, for
example, activities, shapes, objects, backgrounds, grids,
graphic files, video files, sounds and templates.
There are two main sections in the Resource Library:

Use My Resources to store any resources

you create yourself .

Use Shared Resources to access the

resources that were installed with ActivInspire.

Use the Resource Browser to organize your

Resource Library folders and resource content within the
folders.
You can customize the Resource Library, by adding your own
folders and resources and removing any you don't need.
You can also store your resources in other folders on your
computer.
You can retrieve resources from anywhere on your computer
and if you have internet access, you can also download
resources from Promethean Planet.

You need to register as a member and sign in,

to download resources from Promethean
Planet.

Go and explore!
If you haven't explored the Resource Library yet, do so now.
1. Open the Resource Browser.
In ActivInspire Primary, click on the Resource Locations button on the film reel.

2. Browse the Shared Resources folders. Click on the + and - symbols to expand or collapse the folders displayed.
3. Look for categories that are of particular interest to you and explore them.

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Adding resources to a flipchart

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > Adding resources to a flipchart

Adding resources to a flipchart

The process of adding resources from the Resource Library to a flipchart is always the same, regardless of the type of resource.
Here we concentrate on templates, one type of resource that can be used in many different ways:
About templates
Insert a template

About templates
Some templates are designed to be used as provided, while you can use others as the starting point for your own work. Templates
can be life savers, when you quickly need to put a lesson together.
Some templates contain Page Notes with suggestions for how to use the template. How you use templates is entirely up to you.

You can always visit Promethean Planet for more templates

Insert a template
Here we show you some quick ways to insert a template into your flipchart.

Drag and drop

1. In the Page Browser, click on the
thumbnail of the page after which you want
to insert a page template.
2. Open the Resource Browser and browse
to the Templates folder.
3. Select a category and view its contents in
the Browser. For example, Templates >
Dual mode. This category contains
templates for collaborative working with two
ActivPens.
4. Click on the template of your choice and
drag and drop it onto the flipchart page.
The example on the right shows a template for
working with numbers in Dual User mode.

For ideas on how to use this template, click on the Notes icon.

After you add a template activity page, save the flipchart.

Then after performing the activity, you can use the Reset Page icon to restore the activity page to its original saved
state.

Use the Insert Menu

1. In the Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page after which you want to insert a page template.

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Adding resources to a flipchart

2. From the Insert Menu, select Page > and one of the available categories, for example, Templates > Dual mode.

or
From the Insert Menu, select Page > More Page Templates. The Shared Resources folder opens in the
Resource Browser.
3. Click on the Shared Page Templates folder and look at the thumbnails of the available templates.
4. Drag the template of your choice onto the flipchart page, or double-click the thumbnail to add it to the page.

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Importing and exporting resource packs

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > Importing and exporting resource packs

Importing and exporting resource packs

Here we show you how to import and export resource packs

Import resource packs

You can import resource packs to My Resources or Shared Resources.
1. From the File Menu, select Import > Resource Pack To My Resources or Resource Pack To Shared
Resources. A dialog box opens.
2. Browse to where the resource pack is located.
3. Select the resource pack and click on Open.

Export resource packs

Any folder of resources can become a resource pack.
1. In the Resource Browser select the folder of resources you want to export.
2. Right-click and select Export to Resource Pack, or
From the Popup Menu, select Export to Resource Pack. A dialog box opens.
3. Browse to where you want to export the folder.
4. Type in a name for the resource pack.
5. Click on Save. If a resource pack of the same name already exists in your chosen location, ActivInspire prompts you to:
Overwrite the existing resource pack
Extend the resource pack
Abort.

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Working with your own materials

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > Working with your own materials

Working with your own materials

We recognize that teaching materials come in many different formats. Everyone has their own ways of creating and presenting
information and ActivInspire supports many common formats.
You can:
Drag and drop images and text onto flipcharts from other applications running on the same computer.
Import files from other applications, for example SMART Notebook and Microsoft PowerPoint. For details, see Importing and
exporting files.
Browse to your existing resources with the Resource Browser.
Open flipcharts (.flp) created with earlier versions of Promethean software (Activstudio or Activprimary versions 2 and 3).

Remember that while ActivInspire can open flipcharts created in earlier versions of Promethean software, it saves
flipcharts in a format (.flipchart) that is incompatible with earlier versions of the software. Once you save these
flipcharts in ActivInspire, you cannot open them in Activprimary or Activstudio.
If your flipcharts contain actions, check that they are working as expected.
If they do not, see Reference > Actions > Summary of differences, where we describe any differences between
actions created in ActivInspire and earlier versions of Promethean software.

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Publishing flipcharts

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with resources > Publishing flipcharts

Publishing flipcharts
Use the Flipchart Publisher to create a protected version of your flipchart, prohibiting certain edit and output functions. You can

then distribute the protected flipchart that prevents the user from copying, printing or using the Camera .

Save a copy of your flipchart in a known place before you publish it. When published, any restrictions you have
set for your users will also apply to you.
Give your flipchart Publisher Information and limit what people can do with your flipchart.

Two ways to open the Flipchart Publisher

From the Main Toolbox

1. Click on the Main Menu icon

2. Select Publish...
From the File Menu
1. From the File Menu select Publish... The 'Flipchart Publisher...' Dialog Box opens.
2. Enter publisher Information as appropriate. This information is for your own use and will not be visible to users.
3. Select or deselect restrictions as appropriate, then do one of the following:
Click Cancel to close the dialog box without saving.
Click Save Details to save your choices without publishing.
Click Publish... to implement your choices and publish the flipchart to another location.
For more information, see Flipchart Publisher options

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Adding images

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Adding images

Adding images
Here we list the types of image you can use and show you how to add them:
Which graphics files can you use?
Add an image from the Resource Library
Add an image from elsewhere

Which graphics files can you use?

You can add images with these file extensions to your flipcharts, .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .tif, .png and .wmf (Windows computers only).
Any other formats are not supported.

Add an image from the Resource Library

1. Open the Resource Browser

2. In the top pane of the Browser, browse Shared Resources until you find the desired category.
3. Open the folder and browse its contents in the bottom pane of the Resource Browser.
4. Double-click on the image, or drag and drop it onto the flipchart page.

Add an image from elsewhere

1. From the Insert Menu, select Media. The 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box opens.
2. Browse to the folder that contains the file. This can be on your computer, or on the network.
3. Double-click on the file, or click on the file, then click on Open.

You can also create your own snapshots at the board with the Camera
For more information, see Using the Camera.

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Transforming objects

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Transforming objects

Transforming objects
Selecting Objects

Click to select objects when the Object cursor shows that the object is within range.
Click and drag diagonally - a grey rectangle indicates the selection area. Any object touched by the selection area is selected.
Click in the Property Browser.

Moving Objects

Click and drag the object, or drag it with the Freely Move Object Marquee Handle so you are not standing directly in
front of the board.
Resizing Objects
Click and drag the Marquee Handles to resize objects.
Use the bottom-right handle to transform objects with uniform scaling. That is, retaining the original proportions. Resizing with the
other handles will change the proportions and produce a distorted object.
If you should distort an object by mistake, then right-click the object and display the Property Browser. Scale Factor X and Y show
the precise scaling. Set these the same for proportional scaling. Set both to 1 to revert to the original sizes.

The Object Edit Popup Menu has convenient transforming tools (below) which can be added as part of a profile.

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Transforming objects

Increase / Decrease Object Size: The object size is increased or decreased by 10%.
Original Size: The object is restored to its original size.
Best Fit to Width: If the width of an object is distorted the height is increased proportionally.
Best Fit to Height: If the height of an object is distorted the width is increased proportionally.
Best Fit to Page: Object size is increased proportionally to the maximum for the page.
Mirror in X / Y Axis: The object is reflected along the X or Y axis.
Flip in X / Y Axis: The object is reflected and duplicated along the X or Y axis.

The alignment options are shown graphically in the menu.

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Importing files

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Importing and exporting files > Importing files

Importing files
In this section, we show you how to import files that were created with other software.
You can import the following types of files:
PowerPoint® files as objects or as images
ExamView® XML files
IMS® QTI XML files
SMART® Notebook files
SMART® Gallery items
For details of how to import resource packs, see Importing and exporting resource packs.

Import PowerPoint® files

You can choose to import your PowerPoint files:
As objects, which means items in your PowerPoint presentation become individual objects on each page of the flipchart,

so that you can edit them, for example, with the Text Tool.
As images, which means each slide of your PowerPoint presentation is imported as one image that fills a whole flipchart
page.

Import PowerPoint files as objects

1. On the Dashboard, click on Import
from Powerpoint..., or
from the File Menu, select Import >
Powerpoint® as objects. The
'Select a Powerpoint® File' Dialog Box
opens.
2. Navigate to the folder that contains the
file you want to import and select it.
3. Click on Open. A progress bar indicates
how the import is progressing and closes
on completion.
ActivInspire imports the selected file to a
new 'Untitled' flipchart.
When import is complete, you can select
and manipulate the imported objects like
any other objects.

Import PowerPoint files as images

From the File Menu, select Import > Powerpoint® as images.
The import process is exactly the same as for objects above, only the result is different. Each PowerPoint slide is imported as a
single image on each flipchart page.

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Importing files

Import other types of files

1. From the File Menu, select one of the

following:
Import > ExamView® XML
file or
Import > IMS® QTI XML file
or
Import > SMART® Notebook
File v8, v9, v9.5, v10 or
Import > SMART® Gallery
File.

2. A Dialog Box for your chosen import
operation opens.
3. Navigate to the folder that contains the
file you want to import and select it.
4. Click on Open. A progress bar indicates
how the import is progressing and closes
on completion.
ActivInspire imports the selected file to a
flipchart of the same name as the
original file. For example, 'Question
Types Test', as shown on the right.
When import is complete, you can select
and manipulate the imported objects like
any other objects.

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Exporting files

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Home > More about ActivInspire > Importing and exporting files > Exporting files

Exporting files
In ActivInspire you can export:
Your flipcharts to PDF. For details, see Printing a flipchart.
A flipchart page to a graphics file.

Voting results to Microsoft Excel® .

Export a page to a graphics file

1. Right-click on a blank part of the page you want to export.
2. From the menu select Export Page. The 'Export Page' Dialog Box opens.
3. Browse to the folder where you want to save the file.
4. Select a file type (Bitmap, JPEG, PNG, or TIF).
5. Type a file name.
6. Click on Save.

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Clock Tool

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Home > Reference > Settings > Clock Tool

Clock Tool

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Analog

Clock numbers Default = View numbers around the clock face.

Display colored blocks around the clock face.

Second hand Default = Display the second hand.

Display the hour and minute hands only.

Digital

24 Hour View a 24 hour clock.

Default = View a 12 hour clock.

Seconds Default = Display the seconds counting.

View the hours and minutes only.

Show AM/PM View a 12 hour clock with AM or PM displayed.

Default = Do not show AM/PM.

Show date Default = Display today's date below the time.

View the time only.

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Design Mode

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Home > Reference > Settings > Design Mode

Design Mode

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Allow locked objects to be edited Default = Remove any locking properties, to allow free
movement and editing of all objects.
Do not allow.

Show hidden objects Default = Make all objects visible.

Do not show hidden objects.

Highlight actions Default = Highlight actions with a red square in Design

Mode.
Do not highlight actions.

Disable Actions and Drag a Copy Default = Switch off any actions and disable 'Drag a Copy'
in Design Mode.
Keep actions and 'Drag a Copy' enabled.

Disable object restrictions Default = Switch off any object restrictions in Design
Mode, so that you can freely move objects.
Keep object restrictions enabled.

Disable blocker objects Default = Switch off the restrictors' 'Can block' settings.
Do not disable blocker objects.

Disable grid snapping Default = Remove any 'Snap to Grid' properties set on
objects to allow free movement of objects.
Keep any 'Snap to Grid' properties.

Disable desktop interaction Default = Disable Desktop Annotate and Desktop Tools.
Do not disable desktop interaction.

Show Design Mode Tooltip Hints Default = Show tooltips.

Do not show tooltips.

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Effects

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Home > Reference > Settings > Effects

Effects

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Spotlight Tool

Border width Increase or decrease the width of the border around the
spotlight area. The range is from 0 to 20 pixels.

Default = 15

Border color Color of the border around the spotlight.

Default = blue

Background color Color of the non-spotlighted area when using the Spotlight.
Default = black

Translucent border Default = Make the spotlight border translucent.

Give the spotlight border a solid color.

Translucent screen Make the spotlight screen (the darkened area that covers
the Flipchart or Desktop window) translucent.
Default = Make the spotlight screen opaque.

Right click captures image Default = Paste an image of the spotlight area on your
current flipchart page, when you right click while the spotlight
is activated.
Right click does not capture the spotlight area.

Reveal Tool

Color Color of the Revealer blind.

Default = black

Animation Speed Speed with which the hidden object will be revealed when
you are using an ActivRemote device. The range is from 1 to
20 seconds.
Default = 15

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Flipchart

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Home > Reference > Settings > Flipchart

Flipchart

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Create desktop flipchart on launch Create a desktop flipchart when you launch ActivInspire.
Default = Do not create a desktop flipchart on launch.

World color Background color of the flipchart window, behind the flipchart
page.
Default = Blue

Default page scale Default page scale for when you create a new flipchart or
open an existing flipchart:
Default = Best Fit
Width Fit
Height Fit
25%
50%
100%
150%
200%
400%
800%
Original Scale
You need to restart ActivInspire to activate this setting after
changing it.

Default page size Default page size for when you create a new flipchart or open
an existing flipchart:
Screen Size
Default = 1024 * 768
1152 * 864
1280 * 1024
Custom

Default Page color Only enabled if you set the default background to be a color.
Default = white

Show flipchart summary when saving Open a window to insert information describing the
flipchart when saving.

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Flipchart

Default = Close without showing flipchart summary.

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Flipchart Objects

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Home > Reference > Settings > Flipchart Objects

Flipchart Objects

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

High-quality rendering Default = Improve the resolution of objects. Could make

older computers run more slowly.
Draw objects with lower resolution. May make edges look
uneven.

High-quality rendering when annotating Improve the look of all line and shape edges, including
freehand annotations. Could make older computers run more
slowly.
Default = Draw annotations with lower resolution.

Container center tolerance If you are using containers with the Match Centers option,
you can specify how precisely the centers of objects must line

up to be contained. The lower the number of pixels, the
greater the accuracy required in lining up the centers of
objects.
Default = 10

Show pickup handles when dragging objects from Library Default = Enable the Select Tool and display pickup
boxes on items dragged from the Resource Library.
Do not enable the Select Tool.

Show pickup rectangle Default = Display a rectangle around selected objects.

Do not show a rectangle.

Add Timestamp to all new pages created Stamp the date and time on all new flipchart pages.
Default = Do not add a timestamp.

Automatic annotation grouping Group annotations together automatically as one object.

Treat annotations as individual objects.

Resource Library

Default resource library Location of the resource library that is displayed in the
Resource Browser:
Default = Shared Resources
My Resources
Other

Resource items retain transparency Default = Transparent objects retain their original
transparency when dragged onto a flipchart page from the

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Flipchart Objects

resource library.
Transparent objects do not retain their original
transparency.

View Mode Layout of the contents of the resource library in the Resource
Browser:
Default = List
Grid

Thumbnail Size Size of the thumbnails displayed in the Resource Browser:

Default = Large
Small

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Language

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Home > Reference > Settings > Language

Language

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Setting Options

Application language Displays ActivInspire in your computer's default language.

You can choose another language from the drop-down menu,
if your computer supports more than one locale.

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Learner Response System

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Home > Reference > Settings > Learner Response System

Learner Response System

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

ExpressPoll

Question timeout The time allowed to respond to a question. Setting a default timeout
restricts the time available to vote.
If you do not set a default timeout, voting will continue until all users

have responded, or until you click on Stop Vote .

Default = 0

Apply timeout to prepared questions Apply the above timeout to prepared questions.
Default = Do not apply the timeout.

Append question to current flipchart Append the question to the end of the current flipchart on a new
page.
Default = Do not append the question.

ActiVote

Allow users to modify their response Allow users to change their response during the timeout period.
When the timeout period has ended, further responses are ignored.
Default = Do not allow users to change their responses.

Answers

Show results after vote Default = Display results on the board after the vote has ended.
Do not display results.

Automatic page advance Turn the page automatically after receiving votes.
Default = Do not turn the page automatically.

Anonymous mode Display the results of the vote anonymously.

Default = Display the results by device or name.

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Learner Response System

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Multimedia

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Home > Reference > Settings > Multimedia

Multimedia

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Show sound controller Default = Show the Sound Controller when playing a
sound file; overrides other dynamic settings.
Hide the Sound Controller during play.

Show controls for flash Default = Show controls when Flash® files are playing.
Overrides dynamic settings.
Do not show controls for flash files.

Show frame capture button Default = Show Frame Capture button for still images
from videos and Flash files.
Does not show Frame Capture button.

Force overlay mode for flash Lets you annotate over a Flash file.
Default = Does not let you annotate over a Flash file.

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Online Settings

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Home > Reference > Settings > Online Settings

Online Settings

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Web Links

Home URL The website that is displayed when you open your web
browser from ActivInspire.

Web update

URL The website that ActivInspire contacts when you click Check
for Updates on the Dashboard.

Proxy settings

Proxy server name Name and HTTP port number of your proxy server.
Default HTTP port number = 0
HTTP port number
Your system administrator or service provider will supply you
with these details.

Username The login name and password required to access your server,
not to access the Online Resource Library.
Password Your system administrator or service provider will supply you
with these details.

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Profile and Resources

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Home > Reference > Settings > Profile and Resources

Profile and Resources

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

ActivInspire stores profiles, templates and other files in the default folders shown in the following table. You can copy or move the
files to other folders if you wish and change the appropriate setting so that ActivInspire can access the files in their new location.

When you change the default locations in 'Profile and Resources', you are simply pointing ActivInspire to look
for files in a new location. The files themselves do not move. Copy your files to the new location before you
change the location in ActivInspire. For information about copying or moving files, see your operating system
documentation.

Settings Default locations

Use default profile path Default = Access profiles at the location shown below.
Access profiles at another location.

Profile stored in

Windows My Resources\My Profiles

Mac
My Resources/My Profiles
Linux

Use default 'My Resources' Default = Access 'My Resources' at the location shown below.
path
Access 'My Resources' at another location.

My resources files in

Windows XP Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\Activ Software\ActivInspire\My

Resources

Windows Vista Users\username\Document\ Activ Software\ActivInspire\My Resources

Mac /Users/username/Documents/Activ Software/ActivInspire

Linux /home/username/Documents/Activ Software/ActivInspire

Use default 'Shared Resources' Default = Access 'Shared Resources' at the location shown below.
path
Access 'Shared Resources' at another location.

Shared resources files in

Windows XP Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Activ Software\ActivInspire

Windows Vista \Users\Public\Documents\ Activ Software\ActivInspire

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Profile and Resources

Mac /Users/shared/Promethean/Activ Software/ActivInspire

Linux /var/Promethean/Inspire/Shared Resources

Use default page template path Default = Access page templates at the location shown below.
Access page templates at another location.

Page template files in

Windows Shared Resources\Activities and templates

Mac
Shared Resources/ Activities and templates
Linux

Use default question page path Default = Access question pages at the location shown below.
Browse to access question pages at another location.

Question page files in

Windows Shared Resources\FlipchartPages\Activities and templates\Templates (learner

response)\

Mac
Shared Resources/FlipchartPages/Templates (learner response)/
Linux

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Spell Checker

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Home > Reference > Settings > Spell Checker

Spell Checker

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Highlight misspelled words Highlight misspelled words as soon as they have been
added to the flipchart.
Default = Do not highlight.

Ignore capitalized words Ignore words with leading uppercase letters while spell
checking.
Default = Do not ignore.

Ignore words in UPPERCASE Ignore words in uppercase letters while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.

Ignore words that contain numbers Ignore words that contain numbers while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.

Ignore words in mixed case Ignore words that contain both uppercase and lowercase
letters while spell checking.
Default = Do not ignore.

Ignore internet addresses Ignore internet addresses while spell checking.

Default = Do not ignore.

Report repeated words Default = Be notified of repeated words while spell

checking.
Do not report repeated words.

Edit user dictionary Open the user dictionary for the currently selected language
(see below) in a text editor.

Dictionary language Language to be used for spell checking, select from the drop-
down menu.
Default = Your computer's operating system language.

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User Input

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Home > Reference > Settings > User Input

User Input

For details of how to access Settings, see Choosing application settings.

Settings Options

Keyboard

Use keyboard supplied with operating system Use the keyboard supplied with your operating system.
Default = Use the Floating Keyboard supplied with
ActivInspire.

Use keyboard specified by user Allows you to select another keyboard.

Automatically show keyboard with text objects Show the floating keyboard when editing text objects.
Default = Do not show the keyboard.

Automatically show keyboard when saving files Display the keyboard when saving a flipchart. This is
useful when you are working at the board and want to quickly
type a filename without returning to your computer.
Default = Do not show the keyboard.

Recognition Tools

Recognition Timeout (seconds) Timeout for handwriting and shape recognition.

Range = 1 - 5 seconds.
Default = 5

Fill recognized shapes Fill your shapes with color when your they are
rrecognized.
Default = Do not fill recognized shapes.

Fill mode Only enabled if 'Fill recognized shapes' is selected. Select

from the drop-down menu:
Same as the outline
Another color (see below)

Another color Only enabled if 'Another color' is selected above. Click on the
box to choose a color.

Handwriting Recognition Language Language to use for handwriting recognition, select from the
drop-down menu.
Default = Your computer's operating system language.

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User Input

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Identification properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Identification properties

Identification properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Name ActivInspire allocates default names to flipchart objects, for example, Shape1, Shape2.
You can select and change the default name.

Keywords One or more words that identify the object.

Two ways to enter keywords:
Click on the Keywords box and begin typing. Separate individual keywords by a
space.
Click on the Keywords Editor icon [...], click on Add and begin typing. Use the
Keywords Editor to add, move and remove keywords.

Use keywords with containers. If you set a container so that it can contain an object
with a particular keyword, for example, 'animal', any object with the keyword 'animal' can
be contained by that container.

Description Only applies to pages.

Allows you to include instructions or comments about a specific page in the description
area. This can be used to describe how the page has been set up, for example, if you
share pages with fellow teachers and you have created some complex object properties or
actions.

Question A multi-answer question produced by the Question Wizard or ExpressPoll has three types
Tag of text objects:
With Question
Option
Label tags
The tag numbers let you see the answer / option pairings – this can be useful when you
edit and reformat the text, or move answers around.
If you nominated a correct answer with the Question Wizard, this information is contained
within the 'Label' tag. When the corresponding answer is returned by voters, it is
highlighted green in the results display. Nominate a new correct answer by placing it next
to the object with the appropriate 'Label' number.

You cannot generate a question and start a vote by applying tags to text entered
outside of the Question Wizard or ExpressPoll.

None Default

Question Allocated to your Question text.

Option 1 Associated with text tagged Label 1 (displayed as answer A or 1).

Option 2 Associated with text tagged Label 2 (displayed as answer B or 2).

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Identification properties

Option 3 Associated with text tagged Label 3 (displayed as answer C or 3).

Option 4 Associated with text tagged Label 4 (displayed as answer D or 4).

Option 5 Associated with text tagged Label 5 (displayed as answer E or 5).

Option 6 Associated with text tagged Label 6 (displayed as answer F or 6).

Label 1 Option numbers and labels must match, for answers to be correctly interpreted.

Label 2 If you move any options or labels, make a note of the change.

Label 3

Label 4

Label 5

Label 6

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Container properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Container properties

Container properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Can Contain Nothing Default

No container setting is applied.

Anything Any object placed on top is recognized.

Specific Object Choose one specific object for the container to

recognize.

Keywords The container recognizes any resource which has

the keywords you specify.

Contain Only enabled if 'Can Contain' is set to 'Specific

Object Object' (see above).
Select the object from the 'Select Object' Dialog
Box.

Contain Only enabled if 'Can Contain' is set to 'Keywords'

Words (see above).
Type the keywords the container can recognize.

Contain Rule

Centers Must Match The content's center must be placed on the

container's center for the contents to be recognized.
Useful when the 'contents' are bigger than their
containers.

Completely Contained The contents must fit inside the container.

Reward False Default

Sound
Set to 'True' to play a sound when an object is
correctly contained.

Reward Only enabled if 'Reward Sound' is set to 'True' (see

Sound above).
Location
Opens the 'Select a sound' Dialog Box to let you
browse to and select a sound file.

Return if not False Default

Contained
Returns the object to its original position on the
flipchart page if set to 'True'.

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Container properties

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Restrictors properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Restrictors properties

Restrictors properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Can Block False Default

True Object can block.

Can Snap False Default

True Object can snap to.

Snap Point x Point on the x axis to which the object can snap.

Snap Point y Point on the y axis to which the object can snap.

Snap To Center Default. Object snaps to the center.

Other Place Object snaps to another place which you can define.

Other Object Object can snap to another object.

First Text Line Object can snap to the first line of text.

Specific Point Object can snap to a specific point.

Top Left Object can snap to the top left.

Top Object can snap to the top.

Top Right Object can snap to the top right.

Left Object can snap to the left.

Right Object can snap to the right.

Bottom Left Object can snap to the bottom left.

Bottom Object can snap to the bottom.

Bottom Right Object can snap to the bottom right.

Can Move Freely Default. Object can move anywhere on the flipchart page.

Vertically Object can only move vertically.

Horizontally Object can only move horizontally.

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Restrictors properties

Along path Object can only move along the defined path.

No Object cannot move.

Move Path Only enabled if 'Can Move' is set to 'Along path' (see above).
Select the path from the 'Select Object' Dialog Box.

Can Size Freely Default

None Object cannot be resized.

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Menus and Popup Menus

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Home > Reference > Menus and Popup Menus

Menus and Popup Menus

This section lists and briefly describes the tools and functions available in each Menu and Popup Menu in ActivInspire:
Menubar
Popup Menus
Marquee and Sizing Handles

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ExpressPoll

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Home > Reference > Tools > ExpressPoll

ExpressPoll
What? Ask your students a quick question and display voting results instantly.

Where? Tools > ExpressPoll

Main Toolbox
Desktop Tools

Shortcut? F3

How? Select a question style and options from the voting 'Wonderwheel'

What can I customize? Question timeout Specifies the time available to respond.

Apply timeout to prepared Toggle switch.

questions

Append question to current Toggle switch.

flipchart

Where can I customize it? Settings > Learner Response System

Using Learner Response Systems

More info... Settings > Learner Response System
Working with actions
Actions > Voting Actions

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Summary of differences

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Home > Reference > Actions > Summary of differences

Important information for users of Activstudio and

Activprimary
Summary of differences
ActivInspire has been streamlined to work on WindowsTM , Mac ® and Linux TM computers. Flipcharts produced with Activstudio and
Activprimary 3.n should open in ActivInspire, on any of these platforms. Furthermore, ActivInspire is integrated to support devices
which previously needed separate software.
However, as a result of the streamlining, some flipchart objects with previously associated actions may lose their action when you
open the flipchart in ActivInspire.
If this happens, you can assign another appropriate action or delete the object.
The following sections list the differences between actions in Activstudio and Activprimary 3.n and ActivInspire:
Not supported
Superseded
Supported with differences

Not supported
These actions do not work in ActivInspire:

Export Page Fraction Creator Powerpoint Convertor Link Library

Power Tools Export to ppt Export to ppt obj Export to doc

Export to pdf Export to html Export to swf Export Results to Text

Export Wizard Activity Wizard Activcataloger Annotation Upgrader

Open My Notes and Pointers Open Shared Notes and Open Other Notes and Export to QuickTime (Mac)
Pointers Pointers

Export to picture slides Export to Applescript (Mac) Activmarker Clipboard Tickertape

(Mac)

Open My Tickertapes Open Shared Tickertapes Open Other Tickertapes Resource Library Small
Thumbnails

Resource Library Large Page Select Small Page Select Medium Page Select Large
Thumbnails

Superseded
These actions do not work in ActivInspire, because they have been superseded by other actions. We recommend that you read the
notes and save your flipcharts to the new .flipchart format with File > Save as... Then consider mapping other actions and try
them out, before you use the flipcharts in the classroom. See the Notes column for suggestions.

Action Notes

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Summary of differences

Recognition Toolbox
Choose between Handwriting Recognition and Shape Recognition

Flipchart Recorder
Consider using the Screen Recorder

Update Thumbnails Thumbnails are automatically updated in the Browser

Embed File Actions Choose between Insert Link to File and Insert Media from File

Resource Manager In ActivInspire, you manage resources with the Resource Browser

Keyword Editor In ActivInspire, you access the Keywords Editor from the Property Browser

Flipchart Builder In ActivInspire, you build flipcharts with the Page Browser and Resource Browser

Launch/Quit Application (Mac) Consider using Insert Link to File. You can launch an application, but you cannot
quit.

Supported with differences

These actions work, but they may behave differently in ActivInspire. We recommend that you read the notes, save your flipcharts
to the new .flipchart format, then try the actions out before you use them in the classroom. See the Notes column for a brief
description of the differences.

Activstudio & ActivInspire Action Notes

Activprimary Action

Deconstruct Text Extract Text New name, same functionality.

Start/Stop ActiVote
Start Flipchart Vote Enables Start Flipchart Vote if there is a
question on the current flipchart page.

ActiVote Results Voting Browser

Shows voting results in the Voting Browser

ActiVote Session Voting Browser

Opens the Voting Browser and displays
information about the current session.

Various Show Clock actions Clock

Displays the Clock according to the settings
in the 'Edit Profiles Settings' Tab.

ActiVote Question Settings Question on Current Page Launches the Insert Question Wizard. When
you complete the wizard, the question is displayed
on the current page.

Recorder Menu Screen Recorder

Displays the Screen Recorder

Area Screen Recorder There is no Area Screen Recorder in ActivInspire.

Straight Line Shape

Enables the Shape Tool.
Horizontal Line
Vertical Line

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Summary of differences

Square Tool
Circle Tool
Semi Arc
Rectangle
Ellipse
Corner Arc
Callout
Arrow
Point to Point

Slate Control Device Registration

Starts Device Registration
Device Register
ActiVote Users

Individual Resource Folder Resource Library Opens Shared Resources.

Actions

Question Master Question Wizard Launches the Insert Question Wizard. When
you complete the wizard, the question is displayed
on the current page.

Cut Page Cut Page Cuts, copies or pastes the designated target
object.
Copy Annotation Copy If there is no designated target object, applies the
action to the currently selected object. If no object
Paste Annotation Paste is selected, applies the action to the action object
itself.

Show Page Selector Page Browser

Opens the Page Browser

Edit Text Text

Starts the Text tool.

Set Grid (Mac) Grid Designer

Opens the Grid Designer

Set Page rColor (Mac) Set Background Opens the 'Set Background' Dialog Box, where you
can set a background color or image.

Slate XR (Mac) Device Registration

Starts Device Registration
Slate IR (Mac)

Print to pdf (Mac) Print Dialogue Box Opens the 'Print' Dialog Box, where you can select
options to print to PDF

Back to top
In ActivInspire, all the following actions open the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box. See the Notes column for details of what to do next.

Activstudio & Notes

Activprimary Action

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Summary of differences

Vote Settings Click on the 'Settings' Tab and select Learner Response Systems.

Toolstore Click on the 'Commands' Tab and add or remove tools to/from the Main Toolbox or
Marquee Handles

Open Toolbox Layout Click on the 'Layout' Tab.

Small Toolbox Click on the 'Layout' Tab and select the desired layout.
Medium Toolbox
Large Toolbox
Vertical Orientation
Right Orientation
Left Orientation
8, 16, 24 Toolbox Colors

Dock Resource Library Left In ActivInspire Studio, the Resource Library opens in the Resource Browser. Click on the
'Layout' Tab and select the desired Browser behavior.
Dock Resource Library Right
Dock Resource Library Bottom
Left
Dock Resource Library Bottom
Right

Save Toolbox Layout Click on the 'Layout' Tab. Save the layout to the default profile, or to another profile.

Clock Settings Click on the 'Settings' Tab, then click on Clock Settings.

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Appearance properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Appearance properties

Appearance properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Layer Top Default

Middle Specify on which layer the object is placed.
Bottom
Background

Depth not applicable Read only indicator. Shows the position of the object in the stacking order.

Grids and objects, if placed in front, have a higher number in the stacking
order.

Translucency This value can range from fully translucent (visible) to no translucency (solid).
Use the slider to change the translucency.

Visible True Default

False Set to 'False' to make the object invisible.

Ink Type Pen Default

Highlighter Annotations can be one of three types:
Magic Ink Pen annotations are solid.
Highlighter annotations are partially translucent.
Magic Ink annotations allow you to see through objects on the top layer.

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Outline properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Outline properties

Outline properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Style Outline style

Solid Default
None
Dashed
Dot
Dash-Dot
Dash-Dot-Dot

Color Outline color

Black Default

Width Outline width in pixels. Range = Finest possible, 1 - 100.

4 Default

Cap Style Applies caps of the selected type to the beginnings and ends of annotations or
lines, when 'Style' is set to one of the dashed options.

Default
Round

Flat
Square

Join Style Applies to the outside corners of shape objects.

Round Default
Mitre
Bevel

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Fill properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Fill properties

Fill properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Style None Default

Set to another option to apply the style of your
choice.

Solid Apply a solid fill effect.

Dense1 Select from matrix patterns of different densities.

Dense2
Dense3
Dense4
Dense5
Dense6
Dense7

Horizontal Select from a range of hatched fill patterns.

Vertical
Cross
Backward Diagonal
Forward Diagonal
Cross Diagonal

Gradient Select to enable a two-rcolor graduated fill.

Gradient None Default

Vertical Set to another option to apply the graduated coloring
of your choice.
Horizontal
Diagonal1
Diagonal2
Radial

Color Black Default

Set to another rcolor to apply the shading of your
Color 2 Black choice.

Only enabled when the fill 'Style' is set to

'Gradient' (see above).

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Fill properties

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Background properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Background properties

Background properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

rColor Black Default

Set to another rcolor to change the background.

Mode Transparent Default

Opaque Set to 'Opaque' to make the background rcolor appear solid.

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Position properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Position properties

Position properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Left Distance of object to left margin in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.

Top Distance of object to top margin in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.

Width Width of object in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.

Height Height of object in pixels. Accurate to three decimal points.

Scale Factor x 1 Default

Change the number to scale the object by the new factor along the x axis. For
example, set the scale factor to 2 to double the size.

Scale Factor y 1 Default

Change the number to scale the object by the new factor along the y axis.

Inverted False Default

Change to 'True' to flip the object by 180 degrees along the vertical.

Angle 0 Default
Change this to any value between 1 and 360 to pivot the object by the specified
number of degrees around the top right Marquee Handle.

Reflected False Default

Change to 'True' to flip the object by 180 degrees along the horizontal

Locked False Default

Change to 'True' to lock the object in place, so that it cannot be selected and
moved, except with the Freely Move Object Handle.
To unlock it again, set back to' False', or double-click the lock icon on the Object
Browser.

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Label properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Label properties

Label properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Caption Lets you add a one-line caption to an object.

Font Name Arial Default

Click the drop-down box to change the font.

Font Size 12 Default

Click the up or down arrow to increase or decrease the font size, or select the
size digits and type in the new size.

Font Color Black Default

Click on the color box to select another font color.

Outline Style None Default

Click the drop-down arrow to select an outline style for your label.
Solid

Dashed

Dot

Dash-Dot

Dash-Dot-Dot

Background Opaque Default

Mode

Transparent Select to make the label background transparent.

Background Click the box to select a background color.

Color

Behavior Always On Default

Tooltip Select to make the label visible only when the cursor moves across the object.

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Rotate properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Rotate properties

Rotate properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Can Rotate Freely Default

Object can rotate without any restrictions

Clockwise Object can only rotate in a clockwise direction.

Anticlockwise Object can only rotate in an anticlockwise direction.

No Object cannot rotate.

Rotate Step Object rotates a step at a time.

Rotate About Center Default

Object can only rotate around its own center.

Other Place Object can rotate around another place which you can define.

Other Object Object can rotate around another object.

First Text Line Object can rotate around the first line of text.

Specific Point Object can rotate around a specific point.

Top Left Object can rotate around the top left.

Top Object can rotate around the top.

Top Right Object can rotate around the top right.

Left Object can rotate around the left.

Right Object can rotate around the right.

Bottom Left Object can rotate around the bottom left.

Rotate Object Only enabled if 'Rotate About' is set to 'Other Object' (see above).
Select the object from the 'Select Object' Dialog Box.

Rotate Point x Object can rotate around the x coordinate.

Rotate Point y Object can rotate around the y coordinate.

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Multimedia properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Multimedia properties

Multimedia properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.
Multimedia properties are dependent on the type of file, operating system and multimedia player.

Property Option Description

Force Overlay False Multimedia object is not forced on top of annotations.

(swf and flv objects
only) True Multimedia object is forced on top of annotations.

Autoplay False Playback starts automatically when page is displayed

True Playback does not start automatically when page is displayed.

Loop False Single autoplay or controlled playback of multimedia file.

True Playback is repeated until stopped.

Hide Controls False Controller is displayed.

True Controller is hidden.

Force Aspect False Resizing will keep the aspect ratio.

True Resizing distortions are possible.

Transparent False When embedded objects are not set to forced overlay, they will be transparent.
Background
(swf objects only) True When embedded objects are not set to 'Force Overlay', they will be transparent.

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Page properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Page properties

Page properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Options Description

Width Page width in pixels.

Height Page height in pixels.

Frames Across Default = 0

Allows you divide the page into frames and specify the number of
horizontal frames.

Frames Down Default = 0

Allows you divide the page into frames and specify the number of
vertical frames.

Background Fill Default = White

Image Allows you to use an image, Desktop Snapshot or Desktop Overlay

as the background of your flipchart page.
Desktop Snapshot

Desktop Overlay

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Tools properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Tools properties

Tools properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Page Tools As before Default for all pages.

Maintains the current state of the Spotlight or Revealer when you go to
the selected page. For example, if the Revealer is switched on for
page 1 of your flipchart, it will automatically be switched on when you
turn to page 2, if page 2 contains the 'As before' tool state. However, if
the Revealer is switched off on page 1, it will also be switched off on
page 2.

Revealer Tool
Switches the Revealer or Spotlight on when you go to this page.
Spotlight Tool

Tools off Switches the Revealer or Spotlight off when you go to this page.

Revealer Mode Full Allows you to reveal the page by moving the cursor inward from any
side of the page.

Top

Bottom
Allows you to reveal the page by moving the cursor inward from either
the top, bottom, left or right of the page.
Left

Right

Spotlight Mode Circular Spotlight Provides a movable, sizable circular/oval or square/rectangular spotlight
through a full page masking layer.
Square Spotlight

Solid Circular Spotlight

Provides a movable, sizable circular/oval or square/rectangular mask.
Solid Square Spotlight

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Revealer properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Revealer properties

Revealer properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Mode Off Default.

Switches the Revealer off.

Top Switches the Revealer on and lets you reveal the display from the top,
bottom, left or right; or sets the Revealer to 'Full', so that you can reveal the
Bottom flipchart page from any side.

Left

Right

Full

Distance 0 Default.
Only enabled if 'Mode' is set to something other than 'Off'. Sets the starting
distance in pixels of the Revealer from the top, bottom, left or right edge of
the flipchart edge.

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Spotlight properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Spotlight properties

Spotlight properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Options Description

Mode Off Switches the Spotlight off.

Circular Spotlight Hides the screen, but for a circular or square spotlight.

Square Spotlight

Solid Circular Spotlight All the screen is visible, except for a solid circle or solid square.

Solid Square Spotlight

Left Aligns the Spotlight at the specified number of pixels distance from the left or top
of the display.
Top

Width Sets the width or height of the Spotlight.

Height

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Grid properties

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Home > Reference > Properties > Grid properties

Grid properties
For details of how to change properties, see Changing object properties.

Property Option Description

Visible False Default: False

Hides the grid.

True Shows grid.

Thumbnail Defines the scale at which the thumbnail

Scale representation of the grid will be drawn in the
Resource Library, when browsing for resources.

Default Scale Defines a scale factor which is applied to the grid's

defined start and step values. For example, if the
grid has an X Step of 50 pixels and a Default Scale
property of 2.0, the grid will be drawn every 100
pixels across the display.

Scale Step Defines the amount by which the Grid Default Scale
-
will alter each time you click on the + or buttons
to enlarge or reduce the grid on the page. The value
is added or subtracted from the Default Scale
depending on the button clicked.

Allow Snap False Default: False.

Enables or disables Snap to Grid.
True

On Top False Default: False

Places grid in front of or behind objects.
True

Grid Designer Opens the Grid Designer.

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Marquee and Sizing Handles

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Home > Reference > Menus and Popup Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles

Marquee and Sizing Handles

By default, the following handles are available when an object is selected:

Marquee Studio Primary Description

Handle More info...

Freely Move Lets you drag the object anywhere

Object on the page or into the Trashcan,
even if the object is locked. First steps with ActivInspire
> Adding and manipulating
shapes
Rotate Object Lets you rotate the object.

Object Edit Menu Opens the Object Edit Menu. Reference > Menus and
Popup Menus > Popup
Menus

Translucency Lets you increase or decrease the

Slider object's translucency.

Toggle Grouped Toggle switch. Groups selected A tour of ActivInspire >

objects so that you can work on Exploring ActivInspire
them as a single object. Studio > ActivInspire's
Browsers > Object Browser
A tour of ActivInspire >
Exploring ActivInspire
Primary > ActivInspire's
Browsers > Object Browser

Bring Forward
Brings the object forwards or More about ActivInspire >
sends it backwards by one position Working with objects >
Send Backward within the stack. Using layers and stacking

Duplicate Duplicates or the currently First steps with ActivInspire

selected object. > Copying, pasting and
duplicating objects

Increase Object Increases or decreases the size of

Size the object in increments according
to the Scale Factor set in the
Decrease Object Object Browser. The default factor
Size is 1.

Edit Shape Points Activates an object's shape points First steps with ActivInspire
so that you can drag them to > Adding and manipulating
change the shape of the object. shapes

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Marquee and Sizing Handles

Sizing Handle

Size Object Click and drag to extend and

distort the object First steps with ActivInspire
> Adding and manipulating
Size Object Click and drag to extend the shapes
(Maintain Aspect) object proportionately.

For details of how to add or remove Marquee Handles, see Choosing your tools.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/marquee_and_sizing_handles.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:06 PM]

Grid Designer

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Home > Reference > Tools > Grid Designer

Grid Designer
What? Designing your own custom, grids, or adapt grids in the Resource Library.

Where? Page Browser Popup Menu

Shortcut? CTRL+Shift+G (WindowsTM & LinuxTM)

Cmd+Shift+G (Mac® )

How? The Grid Designer gives you many options. Amongst other things, it lets you select
grid colors and line styles, stack several levels of grid on top of each other, show
or hide the grid, allow or disallow snap, so that objects align themselves
automatically with the grid, show it on top of or behind objects, set X and Y origins
and direction, as well as the size of X and Y steps.

Where can I customize it? 'Grid Designer' Dialog Box

More about ActivInspire > Working with objects > Creating and editing grids
More info... Working with actions
Reference > Actions > Command Actions

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/grid_designer.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:08 PM]

Copying, pasting and duplicating objects

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Copying, pasting and duplicating objects

Copying, pasting and duplicating objects

You can save a lot of time by re-using objects.
Here we show you how to:
Copy and duplicate objects
Cut and paste objects

Copy and duplicate objects

Copying and duplicating an object sounds similar, but is not quite the same.
Copy and paste an object
When you copy an object, ActivInspire stores it in the Paste buffer, until you decide where you want to put it.
Here are two ways to copy an object.
With the object selected:
From the Edit Menu, select Copy.
Click on the Object Edit Menu and select Copy.
Here are three ways to paste an object.
Navigate to where you want to put the copy of the object. This can be on the same page, another page, or even another open
flipchart:
Click where you want to insert the object and from the Edit Menu select Paste.
Right-click where you want to insert the object and from the Popup Menu select Paste.
To stack one object on top of another:
1. Select the other object.
2. Click on the Object Edit Menu and select Paste. The copied object is stacked on top of the selected object. Both objects
are on the same layer.
Duplicate an object
When you duplicate an object, ActivInspire places the duplicate so that it partly overlaps the original object.
Here are three ways to duplicate an object.

With the object selected:

Click on the Duplicate Marquee Handle.

From the Edit Menu, select Duplicate.
In the example on the right, note that the second object overlaps the first one.
Alternatively...
You can duplicate the whole page, then delete any unwanted objects from the copy:
Right-click anywhere on the page and from the Popup Menu, select Duplicate.
ActivInspire inserts a duplicate of the current page after the current page.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/copying_pasting_and_duplicating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:09 PM]

Copying, pasting and duplicating objects

Cut and paste objects

Cutting and pasting an object means removing it and inserting it elsewhere.
Here are two ways to cut and paste an object.
With the object selected:
From the Object Edit Menu, select Cut.
From the File Menu, select Cut.
To paste the object:
From the Object Edit Menu, select Paste.
From the File Menu, select Paste.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/copying_pasting_and_duplicating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:09 PM]

Inserting pages

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting pages

Inserting pages
Here we show you how to insert different kinds of pages into your flipchart:
Insert a blank page
Insert a snapshot of your desktop

Insert a blank page

1. In the Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page before or after which you want to insert a blank page.
2. From the Insert Menu, select Page > Blank Page After Current, or Blank Page Before Current.

Or
From the Page Browser's Popup Menu, select Insert Page > Blank Page After Current, or Blank Page Before
Current.
A blank page is inserted.

Insert a snapshot of your desktop

1. In the Page Browser, click on the thumbnail of the page after which you want to insert a snapshot.
2. From the Insert Menu, select Page > Desktop Snapshot. The 'Insert Page' Popup Box opens.

3. Click on the Camera A snapshot of your computer's desktop appears in a new page after the current one.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/inserting_pages.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:11 PM]

Inserting resources

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting resources

Inserting resources
You can add your own resources, use those provided with ActivInspire, or use resource packs that have been imported into the
Resource Library. Use resources as the building blocks for your lessons.
Here we show you how to find a resource and add it to a flipchart. Then we show you how to add a resource to the Resource
Library. Finally, we also show you how to add your own resources to the Resource Library.

First find the resource (ActivInspire Studio)

1. Click on the Resource Browser The Shared Resources folder opens in the Browser. This folder contains
resources to share with your colleagues. The Browser also contains buttons to open other folders:

My Resources opens your personal resources folder.

Other Resource Folder displays some of your frequently used folders.

Browse to locate another folder opens a dialogue box to allow you to look for files elsewhere on
your computer, or to create another folder.

Search Resources on Promethean Planet opens the Resources page of Promethean Planet in your web
browser.
2. In the Browser, explore the categories in Shared Resources until you find the one you are looking for, and click on it. The
top half of the Browser now shows the subfolders in that category.
3. Browse to and click on the folder that contains the type of resource you want to insert, for example, maths > tangrams in the
Shared Annotations folder. The bottom half of the Browser shows thumbnails of the resources in this folder.
4. Use the slider to see all the resources in this subfolder.

First find the resource (ActivInspire Primary)

1. In the Main Toolbox, click

on the Resource

Browser The
Resource Browser opens
like a film strip along the
bottom edge of the
ActivInspire window. In the
example on the right, you
can see four resources.
The one with the musical
note icon includes a sound
action.

2. Click on Resource Here we briefly describe the parts of the Resource Browser in the picture
above.
Locations The
1 Resources
Shared Resources
folder opens in a popup

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/inserting_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:13 PM]

Inserting resources

window This folder 2 Forward and Backward buttons let you scroll through the resources.

contains resources to
share with your colleagues. 3 The Tool Pod contains the following tools:
The window also contains
buttons to open other
Resource Locations
folders:

Rubberstamp On/Off
My Resources
opens your personal
resources folder. Toggle Transparency

Other Resource

Folder displays
some of your frequently
used folders.

Browse to locate another folder opens a dialog box to allow you to look for files
elsewhere on your computer, or to create another folder.

Search Resources on Promethean Planet opens the Resources page of Promethean Planet
in your web browser.
3. In the popup window, explore the categories in Shared Resources, until you find the one you are looking for
and click on it. The pop-up window now shows the subfolders in that category.
4. Browse to and click on the folder that contains the type of resource you want to insert, for example, maths >
tangrams in the Shared Annotations folder. The film strip shows thumbnails of the resources in this folder.

5. Use the Backward and Forward buttons on the film reel to see all the resources in this subfolder.

Insert a resource into the flipchart

Here are several quick ways to insert a resource:
Click on the thumbnail of the resource in the Browser and drag and drop it onto the flipchart page.
Right-click on the thumbnail and select Insert Resource into Flipchart from the Popup Menu.
Click on the Popup Menu and select Insert Resource into Flipchart.
Once you have inserted a resource, you can manipulate it like other objects to suit your needs.

Insert a resource into the Resource Library

You can also add your own resources to the Resource Library from a flipchart page. For example, if you want to file and reuse
some images, action objects or containers.
To add a resource to an existing folder in the Resource Library:
1. Open the folder in the Resource Browser.
2. Click and drag the object into the folder in which you want to insert it, then release it. The newly-added resource now
appears in the items section of the Browser. It has the default name of 'ResourceN' where 'Resource' identifies the type of
resource, for example, Image, and 'N' is a number.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/inserting_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:13 PM]

Inserting resources

To rename the resource:

1. Select the resource in the Resource Browser.
2. Select Rename Resource File from the Popup Menu. The 'Rename Resource File' Dialog Box opens.
3. Enter a name and click on OK.
To create a new folder, then add the resource to it:
1. In the Resource Browser, browse to and select the folder where you want to create a new folder.
2. Click on the Resource Browser Folders Menu and select Create New Folder. The 'Create New Folder' Dialog Box opens.
3. Enter a folder name and click on OK.
4. In the Resource Browser, browse to the new folder, then drag and drop the resource as described above.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/inserting_resources.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:13 PM]

Using grids

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Using grids

Using grids
Here we introduce grids and show you how to use them:
About grids
When to use grids
Insert a grid from the Resource Library
Snap to grid
Show or hide grids

About grids
A grid is one of the components which can make up the background layer of a flipchart. When you apply a grid to a page, you can
still change the color of the background and apply a background image to the page. Any objects, such as annotations and images,
are placed on top of the grid because they exist on a different layer. However, you can move the grid so that it displays on top of
all other objects.

When to use grids

You can use grids in a wide range of activities, here are some ideas:

Position objects accurately Create your own graph

when designing a paper, which you can use to
presentation and ensure represent numerical data in a
objects are lined up in the visual form.
correct place during drag and
drop activities.

Create guidelines to assist Create specialized paper to

with drawing three- represent complex
dimensional objects. mathematical functions.

Add scale to your

demonstrations, such as
object transformations.

Insert a grid from the Resource Library

The Resource Library contains a number of sample grids, which are ready for you to use.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:15 PM]

Using grids

Here we show you how to insert one of these grids into a flipchart:
1. Navigate to the page where you want to insert a grid.

2. Click on the Resource Browser

3. In the Shared Resources folder, click on Grids.
4. Select the category of your choice, for example, Graph Paper > Green. The thumbnails in the Browser show the
available grids.
5. Here are three quick ways to add the grid to the page. Click on the thumbnail of your chosen grid, then:
Drag and drop the grid onto the page.
From the Popup Menu, select Insert into Flipchart.
Right-click on the thumbnail and select Insert into Flipchart.

Snap to Grid
Use Snap to Grid so that items on the flipchart automatically line up with a grid on the page when you move them.
Make items line up with a grid
1. Drag a grid onto the page from the Resource Library.
2. Right-click on the page and select Snap to Grid.
3. Move or create an object, note how it lines up with the grid.
Switch off Snap to Grid
Snap to Grid remains active until you deselect Snap to Grid, or until you delete the grid.

When Snap to Grid is enabled, you may find that objects continue not to snap to the grid. This may be because the
Grid has not been designed to allow snapping to take place.
For details, see Reference > Tools > Grid Designer.

Show or hide grids

Grids are useful when you are constructing a flipchart, or when you want to align or measure objects precisely. You may want to
show or hide a grid when you are presenting at the board. You can still use the snap to grid feature without showing the grid itself.
We assume that you have already added a grid to the page.
Here we show you two ways to show and hide grids.
Property Browser
1. Click on the page to select it.

2. Open the Property Browser

3. Scroll down to Grid. Set Visible to True to show the grid, or to False to hide it.
Right-click
1. Right-click on the page.
2. Select Hide Grid. This is a toggle switch, you can use it to show or hide the grid.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:15 PM]

Using grids

For details of how to create your own grids with the Grid Designer , see Creating and editing grids.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/using_grids.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:15 PM]

Creating objects

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Creating objects

Creating objects
Here we show you how to:
Create a shape
Change its color

Create a shape

1. Click on Shape The cursor changes to give you a preview of the default shape , a straight line. The
Shapes Menu opens:
In ActivInspire Studio, it opens vertically on the right of the ActivInspire window by default.
In ActivInspire Primary, it opens in a horizontal film strip along the bottom edge of the ActivInspire window. Click on
the buttons on the film reel to reveal more shapes.

2. Click on another shape, for example, the triangle. Note that the cursor changes to a triangle .
3. Position the cursor where you want to start drawing the triangle, then click and drag until you are satisfied with the shape.

Change its color

Here are two ways to change the color of a shape:
Change the outline color

1. Click on Fill
2. Select a colour from the Color Palette.
In ActivInspire Studio, this is in the Main Toolbox.
In ActivInspire Primary, this is in a pod at the bottom of the ActivInspire window.
3. Position the cursor over the outline of the shape and click. The outline color changes to the one you chose.

If you click near, but not on the outline, the whole page will be filled with the color you selected. Just click on

Undo and try again.

Change the fill color
New shapes are filled by default. Changing the fill color is even easier than changing the outline color:

1. Click on Fill
2. Select a color from the Color Palette.
3. Position the cursor over the centre of the shape and click. The shape fills with the color you chose.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:18 PM]

Creating objects

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/creating_objects.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:18 PM]

Easy teacher tricks

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Home > First steps with ActivInspire > Easy teacher tricks

Easy teacher tricks

ActivInspire helps you include images, color and interactivity in your lessons. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of the
software:

1. Use color and fonts

Interactive whiteboards give you the opportunity to use many colors in your classes. It’s easy to get into the habit of using only one
or two fonts. Explore the full range of fonts available, but remember to choose strong colors that work well on the board, keep your
layout uncluttered, so that the aims and objectives of the lesson don't get lost in the detail.

2. Raid the Resource Library

In the Resource Library you’ll find a wide range of images, backgrounds and other resources.

3. Use many pages

Spread exercises over a number of pages to help you control the pace of lessons.

4. Re-save your flipcharts

When you teach with your flipcharts you will customize them for each class. Re-save the flipchart with a different name when you
have finished teaching the lesson and distribute the flipchart to your students.

5. Print your flipcharts

Use the pages as handouts.

6. Explore the presentation tools

Take advantage of ActivInspire’s presentation features to make lessons more creative and engaging. What do the Revealer

the Spotlight the Tickertape and Magic Ink do?

7. Get your students involved

Encourage students to do presentations at the board; let them create their own pages; let them take control of tools; let them work
together in Dual User mode; ask them ad-hoc questions to stimulate discussion.

8. Share your flipcharts

And make sure your colleagues share their flipcharts with you!

9. Incorporate your current resources into the flipchart

If you already use CD-ROMs, DVDs and USB storage devices, use them with your flipcharts. Use scanners to copy handouts
you’ve already created – but remember to take advantage of ActivInspire's opportunities for interactivity.

10. Keep the focus on what is being learned

ActivInspire offers excellent opportunities for flexible teaching, making it look like you’re being spontaneous whilst sticking strictly to
the lesson plan laid down in the flipchart.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/easy_teacher_tricks.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:19 PM]

Popup Menus

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Home > Reference > Menus and Popup Menus > Popup Menus

Popup Menus
Popup Menus are context specific, for example, the Object Edit Menu is only available when you are working with objects.

You can display Popup Menus by clicking on this icon , or by right-clicking on a flipchart page or object.
For full details of the tools provided in ActivInspire, see Reference > Tools.
Here we give you an overview of the tools and functions available in the Popup Menus in ActivInspire:
Object Edit Menu
Page Menu
Resource Browser Folders Menu
Resource Browser Items Menu

Object Edit Menu

When you have selected an object, you can also display the Object Edit Menu from this Marquee Handle
You can access the following functions from the Object Edit Menu:

Tool Studio Primary Description

More info...

Property Opens the Property Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring

Browser ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
Browsers > Property Browser
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Property
Browser

Action Browser Opens the Action Browser. A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
Browsers > Action Browser
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Primary >
ActivInspire's Browsers > Action
Browser

Edit Shape Activates an object's shape points First steps with ActivInspire >
Points so that you can drag them to Adding and manipulating shapes
change the shape of the object.

Insert link to Opens the Insert Link to File More about ActivInspire > Working
file... Dialog Box. with objects > Adding and
removing links

Cut First steps with ActivInspire >

Copying, pasting and duplicating
objects
Copy First steps with ActivInspire >

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/popup_menus.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:22 PM]

Popup Menus

Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or Deleting stuff

deletes the selected object.
Paste

Delete

Transform Displays tools for changing the

position, size and alignment of the More about ActivInspire > Working
selected object. with objects > Transforming
objects
Reorder Displays tools for moving selected Reference > Menus and Popup
objects to a different place in the Menus > Menubar > Edit
stacking order, or to another layer

Toggle Locked Toggle switch. Locks or unlocks A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
selected object(s) so that they can ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
or cannot be moved or grouped Browsers > Object Browser
with other objects.
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Primary >
Toggle Grouped Toggle switch. Groups selected ActivInspire's Browsers > Object
objects so that you can work on Browser
them as a single object.

Toggle Hidden Toggle switch. Shows or hides the

selected object(s).

Toggle Drag a Toggle switch. Enables or disables

Copy the ability to click on an object
and create another copy by
dragging it away from the original.

Page Menu
This menu is available from the Page Browser and by right-clicking on a flipchart page.

Tool Description
More info...

Insert Page Reference > Menubar > Insert

First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting
pages

Blank Page Before Current

Inserts a blank page before or after the
current one.
Blank Page After Current

Desktop Snapshot Minimizes ActivInspire and opens the More about ActivInspire > Working at
'Insert Page' Popup Box with the the board > Using the Camera
Camera set to 'Take a Snapshot'.
Reference > Tools > Camera

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/popup_menus.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:22 PM]

Popup Menus

More Page Templates Opens a 'User Selected' folder. More about ActivInspire > Working with
resources > Adding resources to a
Has the same effect as clicking on the
flipchart
Other Resource Folder icon in the
Resource Browser.

Insert Question Launches the 'Insert Question' Wizard. Using Learner Response Systems >
Prepared questions - Using the
Question Wizard

Export Page Opens the 'Export Page' Dialog Box. More about ActivInspire > Importing and
exporting files

Set Background Opens the 'Set Background' Dialog Box.

Select from:
Fill
Image
Desktop Snapshot
Desktop Overlay

Grid Designer Opens the Grid Designer.

More about ActivInspire > Working with

Hide Grid Hides the grid.
objects > Creating and editing grids

Snap to Grid Makes moving objects snap to the grid.

Add to Resource Library Adds the selected item to the 'My More about ActivInspire > Working with
Resources' folder. resources
Add Page
Add Background
Add Grid

Cut Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or

deletes the current flipchart page.
Copy

Paste

Duplicate

Delete

Resource Browser Folders Menu

This menu is available in the Folders section of the Resource Browser.

Tool Description
More info...

Export to Resource Pack... Opens the 'Save as...' Dialog Box. More about ActivInspire > Working with

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/popup_menus.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:22 PM]

Popup Menus

resources > Importing and exporting

Import Resource Pack Here... Only available for top-level folder in 'My resource packs
Resources' and 'Shared Resources'.

Rename Folder Only available for lower-level folders in

'My Resources', 'Shared Resources'
Delete Folder and 'User Selected' folders.
Opens a dialog box to let you rename,
Create New Folder delete or create a folder.

Resource Browser Items Menu

This menu is available in the Resources section of the Resource Browser.

Tool Description

More info...

View Mode Displays resources in the folder as a A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
list or grid. ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's
View as list
Browsers > Resource Browser
View as grid
A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring
ActivInspire Primary >ActivInspire's
Thumbnail Size Displays small or large thumbnails of Browsers > Resource Browser
resources.
Small
Large

Insert into Flipchart Inserts selected resource into the First steps with ActivInspire > Inserting
current flipchart page. resources
More about ActivInspire > Working with
resources > Adding resources to a
flipchart

Rename Resource File Opens the 'Rename Resource File'

Dialog Box. Lets you enter a new
filename and save the resource.

Delete from Library Deletes the selected resource from the

Resource Library.

file:///C|/Program%20Files/Activ%20Software/Inspire/help/en_US/popup_menus.htm[1/21/2010 6:12:22 PM]

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