USING BOARDMAKER 6 FOR SYMBOL SUPPORT (PC version)
Communication Symbols
The expansion of AAC has generated heavy new demands for customised
graphics for support. You can save a lot of time by using Boardmaker
software on the Mac or PC to generate materials incorporating PCS Picture Communication Symbols - in either colour or black & white.
Boardmaker versions
Like most software products, Boardmaker has been developed and
upgraded over time. This means it exists in several versions: the most
recent updates have a UK version, eliminating problems when searching
for vocabulary by name, which used to arise where US & UK English
differ.
However, NB: there are still some cultural differences in content, which
may make certain symbols inappropriate for UK use. These may need to
be adapted; others may need to be added.
Boardmaker also comes with a picture index, a pdf copy of all the symbols
which appear within Boardmaker. This can be downloaded from the
Boardmaker disk.
Also, note: as with other software while later versions will process files
developed on the earlier ones, it does not work the other way.
In Boardmaker 6, you can at any time choose whether you want Black &
White or Colour Libraries under the Settings button - the images are the
same, but as line drawings, the b/w versions are more easily colour coded
by hand for individual user preferences.
settings button
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LAUNCHING BOARDMAKER
Boardmaker is launched from the start menu, programs, Boardmaker,
alternatively double-click on the shortcut if available on the desktop.
Boardmaker will open on a new blank board, however by choosing open
from file menu, you can to open one of the pre-made grids.
Pre-made grids
In addition to the symbols libraries, Boardmaker offers a range of grid
templates to fit various commercial AAC devices, as well as some layouts
for ’low tech’ users of PCS. If you want to make an overlay using a premade grid for a specific AAC device, open BM Communication Devices
and scroll through the list to select.
Double click on the icon for the grid specification you want, and it will
open up ready drawn to size. Manufacturers of new communication
devices will provide with their devices, pre-made grids which can be
installed into Boardmaker
DESIGNING YOUR OWN GRIDS
Custom Grids
To design your own grid from scratch, go to File and select New Board
button to launch the application and open a blank board.
Go to File – Page Set up to choose your paper size and orientation.
Then go to File – Board Set up and select Use Printer Page.
You may also want to check Use As Default at this stage.
Use the box tool to draw the first box to the required size; then use the
‘spray’ tool to replicate it as many times as you choose.
box
spray
USING BOARDMAKER LIBRARIES
Now, with either your pre-made or custom grid on screen, you are ready
to start browsing through the picture libraries. Whichever version of
Boardmaker you may have, the search program works in much the same
way.
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Click on the Boardmaker icon to begin to search for the pictures you
require. This will open up the picture libraries database.
In the Libraries program, you can search either by browsing (frame by
frame) or by word search.
Boardmaker libraries are grouped in categories, with banks of symbols
stored in files under their group name.
Symbol categories
Click the Thumbnails button to see thumbnails of all items
in the selected category
Click the Categories button to see the available categories [libraries]
Remember the Picture Index
You can check out the range of symbols available in each category in the
pdf Boardmaker Picture Index supplied on each BM disk
Accessing the Libraries: using the Arrow Buttons
When you access the libraries via the Libraries icon, it will open up at an
individual symbol. From there, if you want to browse, the arrow buttons
allow you to move forwards or backwards through the frames.
Accessing the Libraries: using the Word Index
To search the word index, type in the name of any item you are looking
for. Before clicking to begin the search, usually it is best to click on
Whole Word. (Compare what happens with a word like “hat ” if you don’t).
If you have a number of symbols to locate, it is also good idea to have a
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list of items you are looking for. If you want to restrict the field of
search, click on the appropriate button.
Beginning
Anywhere
Whole word
The Symbol Finder will show the first symbol selected. Use Arrows to
move forward and back through the list, or click Thumbnail button to see
all selected.
Display information
Click the Symbol Finder Settings button to select language, text shown
or hidden, to change the size shown and used on grid/button
NB: some requests will pick up more than one symbol containing the key
word: if you click on Next the program will search through all the files till
it has exhausted the items, which fit your specification. Unless you are
very sure you have got the best symbol for your purpose, it is always best
to click on arrows or Thumbnail button to check the alternatives.
Sizing a Boardmaker symbol
Using the % button, in Symbol Finder Settings, you can change the size of
the symbol when extracted from the library - not crucial when pasting
into a Boardmaker grid, since buttons have an Auto Re-size feature, but
useful when symbols are being pasted elsewhere.
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Cropping a Boardmaker symbol
If you want only part of a symbol, click the marquee/lasso button on
Symbol Finder box, and draw round it to crop the part you want.
Resize symbols
For most purposes, the Auto Resize feature is useful. However, there
are times when the size should be changed eg:
to allow a symbol to be re-sized within the button
Click on the symbol and drag the symbol from the corners
to incorporate more than one symbol within a single button
place first symbol on button; find second symbol; with arrow tool, click on
button to have the extra symbol added; click Add to from the window
which opens - symbol is added; now it can be resized etc as required
to allow the text box to be altered, reformatted or moved, or copied
to another button
select A, the Text tool, click and drag across existing text, delete and
enter new text
Symbols can also be extracted from Boardmaker to paste into any Word
or Paint program, such as Microsoft Office. To do this, add the symbol
to a button, highlight the symbol, and choose edit copy, now click on to
the Word/Paint page to activate it and use the Paste command in the
Edit Menu
Customising Symbols
Many AAC programs come with ready-made overlays, but the systems
depend on having symbols which are meaningful for each individual user.
As well as careful editing of lexicon names, this may demand some
creative adaptation of standard symbol sets.
Modifying Symbols in Boardmaker 6
The basic Toolbar contains tools to change the look of the buttons and
the grid background.
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To make any changes, click on the board or button/group of buttons to
select, then...
Click on colour button to see the range of colours, single click in selected
colour to change
Click on line tool to change the thickness of button border
Click on the corner tool to change the button shape
Click on the button tool to change the way the button looks
Modifying Symbols in Boardmaker 6
It is much easier to customise and change symbols in this version of
Boardmaker. Click on a symbol on a button to see the extended Toolbar.
There are 4 different features which can be looked at when modifying or
changing a symbol:
orientation
sizing
combining
colour
*The symbols have to be converted to bitmaps before they can be
changed - just click Yes on window
Orientation
Click on the symbol, then on the appropriate direction button on Toolbar
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Sizing
Click on symbol, then push or pull out to reduce or enlarge symbol
Combining
See notes on page 5 for details
Colour
Click to select the symbol then click the Fill tool, click the colour tool,
choose colour, click inside the symbol with tip of paint drip.
To fill the background of the symbol area, choose the colour then click on
the Fill All tool
There is an Invert tool, which produces an effect similar to a negative useful with black and white symbols
MAKING YOUR OWN SYMBOLS
You can create your own pictures or symbols in any drawing or painting
software and import them to use in Boardmaker.
You can also import digital images from digital cameras or web pages.
The process is - create an image, select required part, copy, and paste
into Boardmaker, name then use.
Create an image - draw shape etc or download from a digital camera or
take a screen shot from a web page or scanned image.
To add to Boardmaker - paste image into Symbol Finder [to add and have
available later] or on to selected button [single use]
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To name and categorise new image - click on change symbol names
button, enter name, click on assign categories button then show my
categories button to edit your own categories [libraries]
To create your own category - click unlock category names box, then
enter name for your new category, OK
See p34 in BM booklet for more information
USING DIGITAL IMAGES
Working with digital images
Images from a digital camera, scanned, photo CD, or internet are likely to
be too big in memory terms to use in Boardmaker directly.

Using your image editing or scanning software, preview and crop
image

Set output size to most likely size required eg Boardmaker grid
of 3cm x 3cm buttons image resized to 2.5cm [the software will
maintain proportions so only the largest dimension required]

Set the resolution size to the largest size you anticipate using
as enlarging a digital image in Boardmaker gives poor results

Save programs have a Save for Web or Save for Email setting –
use that to ensure the image is around 75-150kb memory

Boardmaker will import photographs saved as jpeg, bitmap, gif
Importing a digital image into Boardmaker document
Digital images can be directly dragged onto a button from their source,
eg from internet, my pictures. Alternatively highlight the button you want
to import the image to, go to file, select import, locate your digital image
stored on the computer and choose ok.
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To save your new image or symbol into Boardmaker
Pictures from a variety of sources can be imported into the SYMBOL
FINDER for future use. Digital images, symbols created from other
symbols, clipart can all be added.
a. saved photos or graphics
with Symbol Finder open, go to File menu - Import, navigate to find and
select your image it will show in a dialog box to be named and given a
category. Alternatively, you can drag the image directly onto Symbol
Finder, this will also open up the dialog box.
b. copying a new symbol from a button
this is for a symbol you have created or modified
with Symbol Finder open, select your symbol
Shift-click the multiple parts
do not select the name/title
Edit menu - Copy
click on the Symbol Finder, Edit - Paste
it will show in a dialog box to be named and given a category
the dialog box allows you to name your new symbol, in English as well as in
other languages, and under several names
enter the name/s you want under the Add New Name button, click the
button to confirm
to put your new symbol into a category, click the Assign button
from the list, click the tick box to select
you can assign several categories, or create a new category
for more information, see pages 54-60 in the Boardmaker Handbook
WORKING WITH SYMBOLATE BUTTONS
Symbolate enables you to add PCS symbols instantly as you type. The
symbolate button grows as text is added. The appearance of the
symbolate buttons can be altered in the same manner as other buttons.
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Adding a symbolate button
Click on symbolate icon. Click on page where you want to place the button
and begin to type. Pictures will appear as you type.
Changing instant symbols or getting rid of unwanted symbols
Ensure symbolate icon is active. Click on word you want to alter, press F1
or F2 to toggle forward and backwards through the choices available.
Making new word-symbol pairs
Whilst there are many word-symbol pairs available, there will be some
words that are not paired to symbols. To make a new pairing, using
symbolate tool, double click on the word to open the Symbolate
Candidate dialog box [alternatively select the word and press esc], click
add new symbol, then search for the symbol you would like to pair, click
OK button when you have made your choice.
Imported digital images will also become available for the symbolate
button.
Choosing default word-symbol pairs
Open symbolate candidate dialog box, highlight your preferred symbol
and choose make as default.
Customising text for symbols
To alter the text for a symbol, ie adding a child’s name. Make sure
symbolate tool is active, highlight word to change, hold down alt key and
type new text.
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Colour Coding Storyboards
The colour coded boxes, which hold symbols and texts for a Storyboard
can be made in Boardmaker.
When black and white symbols are being used, it is important to decide
whether you would like the colour of the symbol to be the same as the
background colour or if you would like the inside of the symbol to remain
white.
If the latter is the case, the symbol can be filled using the Fill tool.
It is worth remembering that the final colour of the symbol or box may
not be the same as you see on the computer screen! Often the choice of
printer used can cause the colour to be slightly lighter, darker, more pink
etc!
IMPORTANT!!
PCS symbols used in Boardmaker are copyright
Where you have adapted or reproduced graphics from Boardmaker,
always check that the use you will be making of them is legal.
To be avoided: sharing picture sets with users in other establishments, or
using images in any materials, which are offered for sale.
PRINTING A GRID
When your grid is complete, use the Print command in the File Menu to
print your grid.
Paper Size
When printing overlays for a number of US designed Voice Output Aids,
you will find that the overlay size is too large to fit on an A4 sheet. They
are designed for US legal paper, which is slightly larger that UK
Foolscap. US legal is obtainable from Office Suppliers, and is worth
obtaining, in order to avoid having overlays pieced together from two
sheets.
To change Paper size - from Print Setup dialog box, choose Properties select required paper size from there.
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INTERACTIVE SYMBOLS
Interactive Symbols
Symbols that are interactive are more interesting to use and encourage
learning.
paper fasteners can be used so that different parts of a symbol can be
moved
velcro enables the symbols to be moved from one place to another
small versions of a symbol can be added to a simple voice output aid with
BluTak as a signal for use
laminating symbols will keep them clean and new looking; check that ‘glare’
is not a problem for user. Matt laminating film is available but this is
more costly than standard laminating film.
organise your Boardmaker files so that it is easy and quick to find a
symbol you have modified, combined or created
SAVE all symbols you create, modify or customise - you never know when
you might want them again!
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TROUBLESHOOTING
The colour fill does not fill solid colour
check the monitor resolution - try 1024 x 768
also, set colours to 16-bit High
make these changes in the Control Panel dialog window
The colour fill does not fill whole symbol, or selected area, but dot by dot
make sure you select the colour fill tool [Fill or Fill all] before you click
the colour palette
*For more help and information go to www.mayer-johnson.com and follow
the links
updated calendar grids are available for each year
some libraries - eg topic, language
boards for stories and songs
upgrades to software
OTHER TIPS
Please note: Your version of Boardmaker v6 needs the disk to run. If
you are asking your technical support to install Boardmaker on your
computer, please make sure that you keep the disk.
If you have a single user licence for Boardmaker you are given
permission by Mayer-Johnson to install Boardmaker on more than one
computer. As Boardmaker requires the disk to run, this means that
Boardmaker can only be used on one machine at any given time.
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