Braille2000: System Requirements

Braille2000 consists of two bodies of software:  the braille-text editing tool, and the printer-driver for embossing.  If you do not have your own embosser, then you will only use the editing tool.

The editing tool (Braille2000 itself)

The Braille2000 editing tool will run on Microsoft Windows95, Windows98, WindowsME, WindowsNT, Windows2000, and WindowsXP. To input in six-key braillewritter fashion, you need a keyboard that is good for braille.

On Windows95 only, you must have installed Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher.  Note that the current release of Internet Explorer is 6.0 which does not run on Windows95.  You are best off installing version 5.0 or 5.5.  You will find Microsoft Internet Explorer on all those free America Online trial CDs that come in the mail.  Search the CD for the file IE50.EXE and run it to install Internet Explorer 5.0 (you do not need to do the regular installation of AOL, unless you want to).

On all platforms, Braille2000 needs about 7 megabytes of disk space.  You will also need a keyboard that can handle braillewriter-style inputs.

The printer-driver for embossing

To emboss via Braille2000, you need to install the printer-driver for embossing.  This is like defining an ink printer for Windows.  Software for operating your embosser via the Windows printer mechanism is included with Braille2000.  There are some additional steps (explained in the Help text) to install the printer-driver for embossing and to tell Windows you have an embosser attached to your computer.

The printer-driver for embossing operates with Microsoft Windows 95, Windows98, WindowsME, Windows2000, and WindowsXP.  Note that there is no support for embossing on WindowsNT (WindowsNT is obsolete and no support for embossing via WindowsNT will be forthcoming).  On Windows95, Windows98, and WindowsME, the printer-driver for embossing that comes with Braille2000 also supports embossing from ED-IT PC.  Although ED-IT PC itself will run on Windows2000 and WindowsXP there is no support for embossing from ED-IT PC on those platforms.

The printer-driver for embossing is designed to support all embosser models that connect to the computer by way of a serial port or a parallel port.  For embossers that can produce interpoint braille, there is software control of the embossing mode to permit you to submit a mix of single-side and interpoint embossing jobs.  There is full support for sharing the embosser on a local area network via standard Windows networking.

Program Keys

When you acquire a license for Braille2000 you will receive a program key device. (When acquiring a group license, you will receive one program key per user.) The Braille2000 software installs to the hard drive of any computer you plan to use. The program key does not install, it must be present for all uses of the software.

The program key exists in four forms (specify the type you need when ordering Braille2000):
  3.5" diskette
  9-pin serial port plug-in
  USB port plug-in ($10 surcharge, each)
  USB hard-drive (flash-drive) plug-in ($20 surcharge, each)*
*at the present time the USB hard-drive key works only with Windows2000/XP

Institutional group licenses for computers all on a local area network can be supported by a keyless network-based license.

All program keys have a lifetime warranty. The warranty does not cover loss or theft. When the program key is not available, the software switches to a demonstration mode which is adequate to evaluate the system but inadequate for real braille transcription work.