BANA Formats 2011 with MegaDots
This presentation is a in four parts:



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Why we needed MegaDots 2.5
Installing MegaDots in Virtual Systems
Using MegaDots 2.5
Supporting the BANA 2011 rules with MegaDots 2.5 SR1
A Little History (Why we needed MegaDots 2.5)
MegaDots recently had its twentieth birthday. MegaDots has been adapting to changes in
Windows and to changes in computer design ever since the Microsoft release of
Windows 95 in 1995. By now MegaDots has spent much more of its life under Duxbury
Systems than under RDC or the shortlived Braille Planet. Duxbury Systems took on
MegaDots in 1999.
For the braille transcriber, one of the key features of the classic MegaDots is the “big
dots/full screen mode”. If we think about the years 2002 through 2006, these were the
golden years of MegaDots. In this time period, we had the combination of Windows XP,
and the ability to run the “big dots/full screen mode”.
We now have Windows 8. It has certainly gotten harder to get new computers that run
MegaDots in the beloved full screen environment that shows braille as Big dots. There
are a number of factors combining to make this difficult, computer hardware, video cards,
drivers, and operating systems. The big dots/full screen mode needs to use video mode
13h. If you really want to know more about this, check out the Wikipedia article on
"Mode 13h.” The key takeaway for us is that this video mode is described entirely in the
past tense.
That's why Team Megadots has recently focused more on running MegaDots in a
window and making that window as workable as possible. With each new version of
MegaDots we add further adaptations.
Year
2002
2006
2009
2012
2013
Version Comment
2.2
First version to install from a CD, but it still needed a license floppy
2.3
Installed totally from a CD with a password. First version where the
installer created a XP style desktop shortcut for MegaDots.
2.4
First version that includes a braille font called MegaDots window
braille to view braille dots in a window.
2.5
Includes that braille font plus a better one called MegaDots cleaner
braille. First version that imports Word 2007/2010 documents.
2.5 SR1 Supports BANA 2011 rules
Installing and Using VMLite XP Mode
MegaDots cannot run on a Windows 64-bit system. But you can create a virtual 32-bit
Windows computer on most 64-bit Windows systems.
VMLite XP mode is a wonderful tool for running MegaDots on a 64-bit Windows
machine. It has a number of advantages over the Microsoft-provided XP mode.



One big advantage of VMLite over the Microsoft XP mode is the ease of saving
from and writing to drives for the host Windows 7 machine.
It even lets you use the Windows clipboard to move things between the virtual XP
machine and the Windows 7 host machine.
Some technical issues: it does not require as advanced computer horsepower as
the Microsoft XP mode.
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Overview of the Installation of VMLite XP Mode
VMLite Workstation is available from http://www.vmlite.com. When you first go into the
website, there is a link on the top of the page to Login. You need to Login at this
website in order to get the desired download. If you have never logged in there before,
click on Login and then use the Register link. You need to create a user name and
password. If you like, you can use your email address as your user name.
Once you have logged in, click on Products (just to the right of Home. Once you do that,
there is a sub-menu under the main menu. Now click on VMLite XP Mode.
You see a vertical menu open on the right of your screen. choose Download.
Select Run, that will start the installation of VMLite XP Mode.
This is a big download (about 65 megabytes. This in turn starts a download of an image
of the Windows XP disk, which is much bigger than that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This installation also works on Windows 8, but the edition of Windows XP you install
may not be legal for Windows 8, When it doubt, purchase a Windows XP license to make
it legal.
Using MegaDots 2.5
Why did we create MegaDots 2.5?
We could no longer renew the license to include the software called Word-for-Word that
MegaDots traditionally used for the importing and exporting of many file types. We
needed to replace that with something else. Team DBT filled in the gap. MegaDots 2.5
includes a specialized version of DBT to help with file importing.
We aded an improved braille font for viewing braille in a window; fixed many other
problems; laid some foundation for the upcoming BANA 2011 Formats.
We have been working on developing an update beyond MegaDots 2.5, to support
BANA Formats 2011. It may be MegaDots 2.5 SR1, or it may be MegaDots 2.6.
Importing and Exporting Files with MegaDots 2.5
MegaDots 2.5 uses some pieces of DBT to import files. Like DBT 11.1, among other
things MegaDots 2.5 can open: DBT files (.dxp and .dxb) retaining the format structure,
and mathematics if present; Word documents through Word 2010; OpenOffice files;
some Excel files; WordPerfect files; HTML files; and textfiles. MegaDots 2.5 also
exports documents to Word documents.

The leader will show some examples.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's how to enhance your MegaDots 2.5 installation to allow MegaDots to open RTF
files:


Google the phrase "conversion filters: 1992-93" and go to the first result.
Download the file called w4w19f.exe and save it in your MegaDots 2.5 program
folder.
Voila! After that you'll be able to open RTF files in MegaDots 2.5. This can be very
useful, since numerous programs such as OCR programs save .doc files that are actually
RTF files.
MegaDots 2.5 and the BANA 2010 Template
The BANA 2010 template supplied with DBT, created by Susan Christensen, has been a
bridge between Word and DBT. It allows transcribers to do high-quality transcribing data
entry in Microsoft Word, and bring that into DBT, without much need for touch-ups in
DBT. Work has also begun on a BANA 2011 template.
Starting with MegaDots 2.5, now the BANA 2010 template also comes with MegaDots
(BANA 2011 template to follow). It can provide that same option for MegaDots,
allowing Word documents created for DBT to be used by MegaDots as well.
The BANA 2010 template also builds a bridge between MegaDots and DBT. You can
export a Megadots document to a Word document in the BANA 2010 template and then
open that Word document in DBT. That largely preserves the document structure and
formatting in moving from MegaDots to DBT. I'd love to see some enterprising
transcribers using MegaDots 2.5 offer a service to convert old MegaDots files into DBT
files for groups that no longer use MegaDots.

The leader will show some examples.
There are two long web pages in the MegaDots documentation menu about the BANA
2010 Template. One is on how to the the Template, and the other is on how to use
MegaDots to take advantage of material that uses the Template.
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Word and DBT/MegaDots Markup
Word Style (BANA
Braille 2010)
Toolbar:
Menu
DBT 11.1 SR4 Style
acronym
MegaDots
Markup
omit
Attribution
Styles: Notes Plus Attribution.
Style:
Attribution
Body Text
Styles: Body
Style: Body
text
BoxBegin (AutoText)
Styles: NotesPlus BB-BoxBegin.
Line: Begin a
box
BoxDouble (AutoText)
Styles: NotesPlus BD-BoxDouble.
Line: Double
box
BoxEnd (AutoText)
Styles: NotesPlus BE-BoxEnd.
Line: End a
box
B-BodyText.
BH-BoxCenteredHead.
BL-BlockProtectLevel.
bold
Char: bold
BP-BlockProtect
brldisplay.
brlinline
Caption
Styles: Notes Plus C-Caption.
Style: Caption
Cartoon
Styles: Notes Plus CT-Cartoon.
Style:
Cartoon
CBC-Display
Styles: Notes Plus CD-CBCDisplay.
Style:
Computer
CBC-Inline
Character
Tran: CBC
Centered
Styles: Contents,
Glossary,
Centered.
Headings, Index
Style:
Centered text
Centered&GuideDots
Character
Style:
Centered text
CenteredFullLine
Styles: Contents,
CF-CenteredFullLine.
Headings
CI-CBCInline
CenteredWithGuideDots.
Style:
Centered text
compdisplay.
Style:
Computer
compinline
Tran: CBC
CrossReference
Styles: Notes Plus CR-CrossReference.
Style: Cross
reference
Directions
Styles: Exercise
Style:
Directions
DirectionsNemeth
Nemeth: Nemeth DirectionsNemeth.
Style:
Directions
Exercise (1 of 1 level)
Styles: Exercise
E1-ExerciseSingleIndent.
Style:
Exercise
Exercise1-Exercise6
Styles: Exercise
E2-ExerciseMultiIndent.
Style:
Exercise
E1P-ExerciseSingleProtect.
Style:
Exercise
E2P-ExerciseMultiProtect.
Style:
Exercise
E2NExerciseMultiIndentNem.
Style:
Exercise
Ex2Nemeth1Ex2Nemeth2
Nemeth: Nemeth
Directions.
E2NPStyle:
ExerciseMultiProtectNem. Exercise
ExactTranslation
Character
ExactTranslation.
Tran: Exact
Footnote
Styles: Notes Plus Footnote.
Style:
Footnote
French
Character
French
Tran: One
German
Character
german
Tran: One
Glossary (1 of 1 level)
Styles: Glossary
G1-GlossarySingleIndent.
Style:
Glossary
Glossary1- Glossary2
Styles: Glossary
G2-GlossaryMultiIndent.
Style:
Glossary
GO-GuideWordsOff
Group
GuideDots
Character
GuideDots
Guide Dots
Guide Word
Character
GW-GuideWord
Char: Guide
Word
Heading 1
Styles: Headings H1-HeadingCentered.
Style:
Heading
Level 1
Heading 2
Styles: Headings H2-HeadingCell5.
Style:
Heading
Level 4
Hyperlink
(automatic)
Hyperlink
Char:
underline
i-italic
Char: italics
Index (1 of 1 level)
Styles: Index
I1-IndexSingleIndent.
Style: Index
Index1-Index6
Styles: Index
I2-IndexMultiIndent.
Style: Index
Italian
Character
Italian
Tran: One
Latin
Character
latin
Tran: One
LeftFlush
Styles: Body
LeftFlush.
Style: Left
Flush
LinearMath
Nemeth: Nemeth LinearMath
omit
LineNums
Character
LineNums
Char: Hidden
text
List
Styles: Body
L-List.
Style: List
LitBold
Nemeth:
Emphasis
LitBold
Char: bold
Literary
Nemeth: Nemeth Literary
omit
LitItalics
Nemeth:
Emphasis
LitItalics
Char: italics
or underline
Main Body (AutoText)
Character: Page
MainBody.
Page: Main
Setups
body
NB-NoBold
New Page
NE-NewPageEven.
New Page
NN-NewPageNemeth.
New Page
NN-NewPageNext.
New Page
NO-NewPageOdd.
New Page
NS-NoNumberSign.
New Page
Poem1
Styles: Poetry
P1-Poem1.
Style: Poem
Poem2 (2a-2b)
Styles: Poetry
P2-Poem2.
Style: Poem
Poem3 (3a-3c)
Styles: Poetry
P3-Poem3.
Style: Poem
Poem4 (4a-4d)
Styles: Poetry
P4-Poem4.
Style: Poem
Poem5 (5a-5e)
Styles: Poetry
P5-Poem5.
Style: Poem
Poem6 (6a-6f)
Styles: Poetry
P6-Poem6.
Style: Poem
PrelimPageNumber
(AutoText)
Character: Page
Setups
PrelimPageNumber.
ProsePlay
Styles: Plays
PP-ProsePlay.
Style: Prose
play
ProseStage
Styles: Plays
PS-ProseStage.
Style: Prose
stage
Quote
Styles: Body
Quote.
Style:
Quotation
RefPageNemeth
Nemeth
RefPageNemeth.
ppi
RefPageNemethEmbed
Nemeth
RefPageNemethEmbed
ppi
RefPageNumber
Character
RefPageNumber.
ppi
RefPageNumberEmbed
Character
RefPageNumberEmbed
ppi
RightFlush
Styles: Body
RF-RightFlush.
Style: Right
Flush
RunningHead
Styles: Headings RunningHead.
Soft Return (AutoText)
Character: DBT
Codes
SoftReturn
Spanish
Character
Spanish
Stairstep1-Stairstep6
Styles: Stairstepz StairstepTable.
Style:
Stairstep
TechnicalNotation
Nemeth
TechnicalNotation
omit
TN-Nemeth
Nemeth
TN-Nemeth
omit
TOC (1 of 1 level)
Styles: Contents
C1-ContentsSingleIndent.
Style:
Contents
Style: Header
Tran: One
C2-ContentsMultiIndent.
Style:
Contents
TOC 1-TOC 6
Styles: Contents
TranscriberNote
Styles: Notes Plus TranscriberNote.
Char: note
Uncontracted
Character
Uncontracted
Tran: One
VersePlay1-VersePlay2
Styles: Plays
VP-VersePlay.
Style: Verse
play
VerseStage
Styles: Plays
VS-VerseStage.
Style: Verse
stage
The above chart is from the MegaDots 2.5 documentation. A long web page was
written by Susan Christensen about her Word BANA 2010 Template for use with
DBT. We adapted this DBT-related documentation for use in MegaDots
documentation. The last column in the chart shows how the style or character
format is handled in MegaDots 2.5.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Right now, Susan Christensen is working on a revised version of her template “BANA
2013 Template”. We will make sure that MegaDots 2.5 SR1 is compatible with the new
Template.
Supporting the BANA 2011 Rules
with MegaDots 2.5 SR1
We are currently working on an update to MegaDots 2.5 that supports Formats 2011. For
this workshop, let's just call it MegaDots 2.5 SR1.
When preparing new material for Formats 2011 in MegaDots 2.5 SR1, transcribers will
use a new Megadots style sheet called Textbk11. Using the Textbk11 style sheet will
make the support for Formats 2011 come alive.
The use of the Literary Stylesheet will no longer be the default in the new MegaDots.
Indent and Runover Rules
Some of the changes for Formats 2011 will not require different data entry in Megadots
2.5 SR1. For example, the Formats 2011 rules call for a different way of doing indent and
runover in hierarchically nested material, like tables of contents entries, index entries,
exercises, lists, and so on. In MegaDots 2.5 SR1 transcribers can use the same styles and
data entry as before. But with the Textbk11 style sheet, MegaDots will format this
material with the indent and runover given in the Formats 2011 rules. MegaDots 2.5 SR1
will also use the new format for line numbering, including the numeric indicator, when it
sees that the Textbk11 style sheet is in use.
Cell 7 Headings
In the Textbk11 style sheet there is a new heading style called More minor head, for
headings blocked in cell 7. You can add this heading style to the hierarchy of heading
styles you want in the MegaDots Heading Menu using Document menu > Heading setup.
Preliminary Pages: T Pages and P Pages
Other rule changes will require some different data entry by the user. For example, front
matter will require different types of pages. In the Textbk11 style sheet all of the t pages
are listed in the Control+Insert menu as Braille page - Prelim, while p pages are listed in
Braille page - Supplemental.
Font Attribute Changes
In MegaDots 2.5 SR1 there are new choices for how to show the various forms of
emphasis. J stands for Joined bold-italics; 1 stands for Single underlining; 2 stands for
Double underlining.
Nemeth Code Use inside of Textbook Format
Another change in Formats 2011 is that books not transcribed entirely in Nemeth Code
can have some Nemeth Code segments. Traditionally MegaDots has not allowed this
kind of translation, except with use of Translate eXactly. But in MegaDots 2.5 SR1 you
can do this by marking the math with Translate Mathematics markup. The MegaDots
translation will also add the new signs dots 456, 146 (_%) to start a Nemeth Code
segment and dots 456, 156 (_:) to terminate it. You will also be able to use the
Control+I and Control+M Math Items list commands while working in the Textbk11
style sheet.
Footnotes
Footnotes are a bit of a challenge for MegaDots. The old system was automated. It
appears that entering footnotes will involve a bit more data entry. If you use the
traditional system of MegaDots footnote markup, you need to tell MegaDots when to
delay footnotes and when to stop delaying them at the end of a print page. If you use
Note markup with automatic numbering, MegaDots uses two cells with dots 2356 instead
of dots 35 (dropped g instead of dropped i).
Using the Manual note style is similar to its use before Formats 2011. We have changed
the indent and runover for the Manual note style. We have also added a new kind of line
in the Insert items > Line menu. Control+Insert L S now gives a Start of notes line: dots
5, 25 (six times). When you use paragraphs in the Manual note style, MegaDots will
automatically add the Start of notes line before the first one in a consecutive group.
Displayed Matter
We recommend that you use the Braille section layout Left margin command when
setting off displayed matter.
Boxes
Formats 2011 has added blank lines around boxes for most circumstances. It also allows
for showing color on a boxing line. We are still working this out.
Bullets
We are still working this out.
Reference Indicators
We are still working this out.
(Now a demo of MegaDots 2.5 SR1)