CODE FACTORY

Remote ScreenAlignment User's Guide

Copyright © 2007, Code Factory, S.L.

Introduction

Screen alignment is part of the boot process of the Windows CE device, and is only necessary the first time the device is booted, or after a hard reset. Since Mobile Speak Pocket works on mainstream hardware and does not involve any specialized firmware changes, the screen alignment process cannot be completely bypassed.

However, we understand that the screen alignment process can be difficult for most users as it requires sighted assistance. In order to overcome this limitation, therefore, we have developed the Remote Screen Alignment application.

The Remote Screen Alignment Application runs on your desktop computer and retrieves the alignment information from the device. It then stores the information in a file on your computer. As long as you have this file, you will never need sighted assistance to align the screen no matter how many times you hard format the device.

We have included screen alignment information for certain devices in this application, so users of such devices can immediately use the program for its intended purpose. However, users of devices for which alignment information is not yet available in the application will have to get the screen aligned manually the first time. Once this is done, the user may retrieve the alignment information from the device and use it whenever the device needs to be formatted and its screen aligned again.

The Screen Alignment Process

When the device is turned on for the first time or a hard reset is performed, the "Setup your Pocket PC" wizard is displayed. You will hear an audio indication that the wizard has come up on the screen. This wizard is a set of screens that help the user align the device screen, testing the touch screen functionality, and setting the time zone for the user's region. The screen alignment process involves following displayed instructions to tap a target location which differs on every screen of the wizard.

Installing the Remote Screen Alignment Application

  1. Download the Remote Screen Alignment application installer from the Mobile Speak Pocket Downloads page.
  2. Run the Remote Screen Alignment installer file from where you have saved it in your computer.
  3. Select the installer language you wish to use, then activate the OK button.
  4. The next screen displays the License Agreement for this application. Press the "I agree" button when you are ready to proceed.
  5. The program to be installed is checked by default in the next screen. You can just activate the Next button.
  6. You may change the program folder for this application, but by default, C:\Program Files\Code Factory\Remote Screen Alignment is selected. Use the Browse button to choose another location, or press the Install button to accept the default and continue with installation.
  7. The application is then installed and if there were no problems with installing, focus will be on the Close button of a screen informing you that installation was successful. Press Enter here to exit the screen.

Using the Remote Screen Alignment Application

Following the successful installation of the Remote Screen Alignment application, you will find shortcuts in Start Menu > All Programs > Code Factory > Remote Screen Alignment for opening the Code Factory Downloads page, running the Remote Screen Alignment application, and uninstalling the program.

When you start the Remote Screen Alignment program, you will find four buttons with focus on the first one:

  • OK button - is pressed to close the application. Tapping the Escape key or pressing Alt+F4 will achieve the same result.
  • Skip button - is used to align the screen of your device remotely from your computer.
  • Retrieve button - allows you to get the screen alignment information from your device, given that it is already properly aligned, and to store it in a file that you can use later to align your device screen after a hard reset.
  • Alignment button - runs the normal screen alignment process and store the alignment information on your computer. You will need to manually align the screen if you select this option.

Aligning Your Device Screen Remotely from Your Computer

To find out if screen alignment information for your device model is already available upon installation of the Remote Screen Alignment application, follow these steps:

  1. Establish an ActiveSync partnership (standard or guest) between your computer and Pocket PC device. For instructions on how to set up a partnership, refer to the Mobile Speak Pocket Users Manual or ActiveSync Help.
  2. Run the Remote Screen Alignment application on your computer.
  3. Tab to the Skip button and press Enter. If the file containing the appropriate screen alignment information exists, then the message "Please wait while your device is being configured" is displayed, shortly followed by the message "The operation has been completed successfully. Your device will be restarted."
  4. Press Enter on the OK button already in focus and your device should restart.
  5. On your computer, you are returned to the Skip button and you may Shift+tab back to the OK button and activate it to close the application.

Note that the same steps are performed in order to align your device screen after every hard reset, if the screen alignment information is already stored in your device, whether or not you had to retrieve that information manually or was already included in the Remote Screen Alignment program.

However, if the screen alignment information for your device is not yet available, then activating the Skip button yields the message "No screen alignment information can be found for your device. The screen alignment will need to be done manually. Would you like to skip the welcome screen anyway?". It is suggested that you activate the No button in this screen, and ask a sighted person to align the screen for you.

Retrieving Screen Alignment Information

If you have already aligned the screen of your device, you need to retrieve the screen alignment information from the device. Follow these steps to do so:

  1. Make sure there is an existing ActiveSync partnership between your computer and Pocket PC device.
  2. Run the Remote Screen Alignment application on your computer.
  3. Press Tab to go to the Retrieve button and hit Enter.
  4. If the information was retrieved successfully, the message "The screen alignment information has been successfully stored" will be displayed and you can press the OK button at that screen to close it.
  5. Exit the application by activating the OK button.

The screen alignment information is stored in a file on your computer. This file is named according to your device model with a .dat extension. It can be found in C:\Program Files\Code Factory\Remote Screen Alignment, or in the program folder you selected during installation of the application.

You should ensure that the file for your device is not deleted or misplaced. You will not be able to align the screen without sighted help if you do not have this file in the future. Moreover, if the screen alignment information for your device was not included in the application files, we ask that you email it as an attachment to support@codefactory.es so that we can add it to the next version of the Remote Screen Alignment program.



Code Factory, S.L. - 2007