












                               Morse Practice Program

                                    User's Manual

























       Dennis R. McManus  W3IMA


       January 3, 1994


       Notices                                                             ii






          This program was designed and written by  Dennis R. McManus, W3IMA.
       Permission is granted to distribute this program free of charge to all
       who wish to use it for non-commercial purposes.  Its intended  purpose
       is to assist  individuals or classes  who are studying  Morse code  in
       order to obtain an amateur radio license.  Although the program may be
       freely distributed,  all rights  to the  program are  retained by  the
       author.  It may not be modified in any manner without express  written
       permission from the author.



       Copyright 1992 - 1994 by Dennis R. McManus, W3IMA


       Table Of Contents                                                  iii






                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS



       1. GENERAL OVERVIEW .................................................1

           1.1. System Requirements ........................................1
           1.2. Program Installation .......................................1
           1.3. General Features ...........................................1

       2. PROGRAM OPERATION ................................................3

           2.1. Starting The Program .......................................3
           2.2. Controlling The Program ....................................4
               2.2.1. Selection With The TAB And Cursor Keys ...............4
               2.2.2. Selection With "Hot Keys" ............................4
               2.2.3. Selection Using The Mouse ............................5
               2.2.4. Typing Entries In Input Boxes ........................5

       3. THE CONFIGURATION SCREEN .........................................6

           3.1. Setting The Code Characteristics ...........................6
               3.1.1. Setting The Character Speed ..........................6
               3.1.2. Setting The Sending Speed ............................7
               3.1.3. Setting The Tone Frequency ...........................7
           3.2. Selecting A Serial Port ....................................7
           3.3. Loading A Configuration File ...............................8
           3.4. Setting The Random Alphabet ................................8
           3.5. Setting The Emphasis Alphabet ..............................8
           3.6. Switching To The Practice Screen ...........................9
           3.7. Saving A Configuration File ................................9
           3.8. Testing The Code Configuration .............................9
           3.9. Stopping Sending ...........................................9
           3.10. Exiting From The Program ..................................9

       4. THE PRACTICE SCREEN .............................................10

           4.1. Practice Modes ............................................10
               4.1.1. ( ) Random Group ....................................10
               4.1.2. ( ) 5 Char AABAA ....................................10
               4.1.3. ( ) Flash Card ......................................11
               4.1.4. ( ) Text File .......................................11
               4.1.5. ( ) Keyboard Out ....................................11
           4.2. Special Options ...........................................11
               4.2.1. [ ] Hide Text .......................................12
               4.2.2. [ ] Compress Spaces .................................12
               4.2.3. [ ] Stop On '@' .....................................12
           4.3. Loading A Text File .......................................13
           4.4. The Display Window ........................................13
               4.4.1. Display Of Random Groups ............................13


       Table Of Contents                                                   iv


               4.4.2. Display Of 5 Char AABAA .............................14
               4.4.3. Display Of Flash Card ...............................14
               4.4.4. Display Of Text File ................................14
               4.4.5. Display Of Keyboard Out .............................14
           4.5. Switching To The Configuration Screen .....................15
           4.6. Clearing Text In The Display Window .......................15
           4.7. Sending Text ..............................................15
           4.8. Stopping Sending ..........................................15
           4.9. Exiting From The Program ..................................15

       A. SPECIAL CODES ...................................................16


       General Overview                                                     1






                                  GENERAL OVERVIEW



       1. GENERAL OVERVIEW

          The Morse Practice Program was designed to make it easy to practice
       copying Morse code.  It concentrates mainly on copying on paper  which
       is the mode used when taking  the license examinations.  There are  no
       special modes that create example code  tests or methods that  require
       the user to type the copied code on  the keyboard.  The intent of  the
       program was to offer clean, well-timed code in a program that is  easy
       to set up and use.


       1.1. System Requirements

          The program is intended  to run on all  levels of IBM  PC/XT/AT and
       100% compatible systems with at least 160K of free memory and at least
       one floppy  disk drive.   It  will run  on monochrome  or color  video
       systems as well as LCD laptop displays.


       1.2. Program Installation

          The program may be installed on  a hard disk by  simply copying all
       the files from the  floppy disk to the  desired directory on the  hard
       disk.  The  main program file  is MPP.EXE.   There is  also a  default
       initialization file called MPP.INI  which is used  to set the  initial
       configuration each time the program is  started.  There are also  some
       text files that  can be  used for practice.   These  were copied  from
       several sources in magazines and instruction manuals.


       1.3. General Features

          The program  display  is  divided into  two  main  screens.   These
       screens allow  the  user  to configure  the  system  and  specify  the
       practice mode to  use.   All the features  available to  the user  are
       displayed on one of these two screens at all times.  There is no  need
       to remember which  menu has  which command in  it.   The first  screen
       allows the user to  set the configuration  parameters for the  program
       and to  save and  restore selected  configuration  sets.   The  second
       screen is used to control the  practice session.  It allows  selection
       from among five operating modes.  It also allows special conditions to
       be set that control how the text is sent and displayed.

          Three of  the  five  operating  modes  involve  sending  of  random
       characters.  One mode allows sending standard ASCII text files and one
       allows sending text that is input from the keyboard.


       General Overview                                                     2


          The timing of the code  is completely independent of  the CPU speed
       of the PC.   This allows  the program to  be run on  all levels of  PC
       without having to calibrate the speed.  All timings are developed from
       a one millisecond time base that is achieved by reconfiguring the  DOS
       time-of-day clock.  The frequency of this clock is standard across all
       IBM PC compatible machines.

          Code can be sent with spacing between characters different than the
       actual character speed.  This method, known as the Farnsworth  Method,
       allows characters to be sent at a faster speed and have longer  spaces
       between characters  while  still  maintaining  the  specified  overall
       sending speed.

          The program can optionally be  controlled using a mouse  as well as
       the keyboard.  All operations that  do not require the typing of  text
       can be activated by the mouse.

          It is hoped  that some day  an on-line help  system will  be added.
       This has not been done as of this release.  The F1:Help option on  the
       bottom of  each  screen will  currently  just  pop up  a  message  box
       indicating the feature has not been implemented yet.


       Program Operation                                                    3






                                  PROGRAM OPERATION



       2. PROGRAM OPERATION

          This chapter describes the program operation in detail.


       2.1. Starting The Program

          The easiest way to  start the program is  to just type  the program
       name on the command line without any parameters:

           MPP

       and the program will start with the configuration parameters that were
       in effect when the program was last exited.

          If  you  want  to  start  the  program  with   a  specific  set  of
       configuration parameters that were  saved in a  disk file, supply  the
       configuration file name as a parameter.  For example:

           MPP GENERAL

       will cause the program to read  the configuration file GENERAL.CFG  to
       set its initial  parameters.  If  no file extension  is supplied,  the
       default is .CFG.  Three such configuration files are included that set
       up the parameters for code practice  for the various license  classes.
       These  are   NOVICE.CFG,  GENERAL.CFG,   and  EXTRA.CFG.      Creating
       configuration files  will  be  explained  in  the  subsection  on  the
       Configuration Screen.

          If you  are using  an LCD  screen or  a monochrome  monitor with  a
       driver that emulates color using different  levels of gray shade,  the
       screen may be hard to read.   If this is  the case, start the  program
       with the -b command line switch to force monochrome operation:

           MPP -b

       or if also specifying a configuration file:

           MPP -b filename

          Another command line switch has been added  to overcome a potential
       problem with the video system.  The -v command line switch will  force
       the program to not try to configure  the video mode in case the  video
       card in the PC does not support all the mode setting commands.  If the
       screen does not display properly, try using this switch.


       Program Operation                                                    4


          If the -b and/or -v switch is used with  a configuration file name,
       it must come before the configuration file name.


       2.2. Controlling The Program

          When the  program  starts, it  displays  the Configuration  Screen.
       This is one of the two screens that are used to control all aspects of
       the program operation.  The other screen is the Practice Screen.   All
       operations that can be performed and options that can be selected  are
       displayed on one or the other of these two screens.

          The options fall into five general categories:

          1.  Options that require values to be entered in input boxes.

          2.  Options that require selection of one item from a group.

          3.  Options that are individually turned on or off

          4.  Options that are performed immediately using function keys

          5.  Operations in the Display Window on the Practice Screen

          The blinking  text cursor  is always  positioned  on the  "current"
       selection option.   There are three  ways to select  the operation  to
       perform on these screens other than those that are activated using the
       function keys:

          1.  By using the TAB and cursor keys

          2.  By using special "hot keys" (ALT key combinations)

          3.  By using the mouse.


       2.2.1. Selection With The TAB And Cursor Keys

          All the related  options are  grouped within  boxes on  the screen.
       The TAB key moves from one box to  the next.  The Shift-TAB key  moves
       in the reverse direction.  Within a  box, the Up and Down cursor  keys
       move from one item to the next in the respective  direction.  Once the
       blinking cursor is positioned on the option you wish to perform, press
       either the space bar or the enter key to activate it.


       2.2.2. Selection With "Hot Keys"

          Each option has  one of its  characters displayed in  a highlighted
       attribute.  Holding down  the ALT key  while pressing the  highlighted
       character both selects and activates the specified option.


       Program Operation                                                    5


       2.2.3. Selection Using The Mouse

          The program is designed to use a Microsoft mouse  or any mouse that
       emulates the Microsoft  mouse interface.   The  mouse can  be used  to
       select and  activate any  of the  options including  the function  key
       options by  moving  the  mouse cursor  over  the  desired  option  and
       clicking the left button.  The option is only performed when the mouse
       button is released so it important to keep the mouse cursor positioned
       over the option while releasing the button.


       2.2.4. Typing Entries In Input Boxes

          When an option is  selected that requires  text to be  entered from
       the keyboard, the current  value, if there is  one, is displayed in  a
       highlighted mode with the  text cursor on the  first character of  the
       entry.  If any cursor movement key is pressed such as a right or  left
       arrow key or the  Home or End  key, the highlight  is removed and  the
       original text stays in the input box.  This allows existing entries to
       be modified  without  having  to  completely  retype  them.    If  any
       printable character is  typed, the original  text is  removed and  any
       text that is typed replaces the original entry.

          While entering and  modifying text  in an  input box,  various line
       editing options are available:

          1.  The right and  left arrow  keys may be  used to  move back  and
              forth through the text.

          2.  The Ctrl-right and Ctrl-left arrow keys  move a full word at  a
              time in the respective direction.

          3.  The Home and  End keys  move to the  beginning and  end of  the
              input text respectively.

          4.  The Ins key toggles  between overtype mode (underscore cursor)
              and insert mode (block cursor).

          Pressing the Enter key or clicking on the OK button will accept the
       current input line.   Pressing the Esc key  or clicking on the  Cancel
       button will retain the original entry unchanged.


       The Configuration Screen                                             6






                              THE CONFIGURATION SCREEN



       3. THE CONFIGURATION SCREEN

          The  Configuration   Screen  allows   the  user   to  set   up  the
       characteristics of the code  speed and tone,  select specific sets  of
       characters to use for random code generation, specify a serial port to
       use to drive an external oscillator,  and load and save  configuration
       files which contain all these parameters.


       3.1. Setting The Code Characteristics

          The first group  of options  on the  Configuration Screen  sets the
       character speed,  sending  speed,  and tone  frequency  for  the  PC's
       internal speaker.

          The character  speed  and  sending  speed  can be  set  separately.
       Specifying the character speed to be faster than the sending speed  is
       often  referred  to  as  the  Farnsworth  Method.    This  allows  the
       characters  to  be  heard  as  a  single  sound  pattern  rather  than
       individual dots and dashes and allows a longer time to recognize which
       character was sent.   The two speed settings  are described in  detail
       below.

          Although the two  speed numbers  may be  set to  a resolution  of a
       tenth of a word  per minute, this accuracy  is only guaranteed at  the
       lower speeds.  As  the speed is increased,  one millisecond time  base
       becomes a larger portion of each character element.  The 0.1 word  per
       minute resolution is  good up to  about 10 words  per minute.   Up  to
       about 40 words per minute, the resolution is accurate to at least  1.0
       word per minute.  Above those speeds, who is counting exactly  anyway?
       The accuracy is  good enough  for the  speeds required  for Ham  Radio
       tests.


       3.1.1. Setting The Character Speed

          The character  speed is  the speed  in words  per minute  that each
       individual character is sent at.  The character speed may be set  from
       13.0 to 99.9 words per minute.  The reason the lower limit is 13.0  is
       because below  this  speed, it  is  difficult to  concentrate  on  the
       overall sound pattern of  a character and too  easy to count dots  and
       dashes.  The standard license tests are usually given with a character
       speed of  either 15.0  or 18.0  words per  minute depending  on  which
       Volunteer Examination Coordinator the testing is being given  through.
       Note that  the 20  word per  minute  test is  usually given  with  the
       character and sending speeds both the same.


       The Configuration Screen                                             7


          The character  speed is  not allowed  to be  less than  the sending
       speed.  If a value less than the sending speed is entered, the sending
       speed will be lowered to match the new character speed.


       3.1.2. Setting The Sending Speed

          The sending speed is the  actual overall speed in  words per minute
       that the code is sent at.  The valid range for this speed is from  1.0
       to 99.9 words  per minute.   When  the character  speed is  set to  be
       faster  than  the  sending  speed,  the  spacing  between   individual
       characters is made longer in order to maintain the overall speed.

          The sending speed is not  allowed to be greater  than the character
       speed.  If a  value greater than the  character speed is entered,  the
       character speed will be raised to match the new sending speed.


       3.1.3. Setting The Tone Frequency

          If the internal  speaker in  the PC  is being  used to  produce the
       code, its frequency may be specified in Hertz  from 20 to 9999.  If  a
       value of zero  is entered, the  internal speaker is  turned off.   The
       option of  turning off  the speaker  is intended  to be  used when  an
       external oscillator is being  keyed using one of  the serial ports  as
       described below.


       3.2. Selecting A Serial Port

          The second group of options on the  Configuration Screen allows the
       selection of one of the standard  serial ports to control an  external
       code oscillator.  The options are:

          1.  ( ) None

          2.  ( ) COM1:

          3.  ( ) COM2:

          The parentheses  indicate that  only one  of these  options may  be
       selected at a time.  Selecting any one of these options  automatically
       deselects any  other one  in the  group.   A *  character between  the
       parentheses indicates which option is currently selected.

          Various circuits have appeared  in magazines and other  sources for
       keying an external oscillator from a serial port.  To date, none  have
       been tried with this program.  Both the DTR and RTS control lines  are
       keyed by this program on the  selected serial port.  The author  would
       appreciate being informed of any success in this area.

          Note that  when one  of the  serial ports  is selected,  it is  not
       reconfigured by the program until the first code is sent.  This allows
       for the  case where  a serial  mouse  is being  used and  the  program


       The Configuration Screen                                             8


       happens to start with  the mouse's port selected.   Simply select  the
       other port or None before sending  any code and the mouse will  remain
       functional.  If the  None option is selected,  neither serial port  is
       changed from its current configuration.


       3.3. Loading A Configuration File

          Each time  the  program exits  to  DOS,  the current  configuration
       parameters are saved on  the disk in a  file called MPP.INI.   Special
       configurations can be saved  to the disk and  recalled at any time  to
       set up the program.  Selecting the Load Config File option displays an
       input box requesting the name of the saved configuration file to load.
       Files specified for this option must have been saved using the F3:Save
       Config option  that is  explained  below.   If  no file  extension  is
       supplied, the default is .CFG.

          The information contained  in the  configuration files  consists of
       all the options that  are displayed on the  Configuration Screen.   As
       stated earlier,  three  configuration  files  are  supplied  with  the
       program.  These are NOVICE.CFG, GENERAL.CFG, and EXTRA.CFG.


       3.4. Setting The Random Alphabet

          The Random  Alphabet  is  used  along  with the  Emphasis  Alphabet
       (described below) in all practice  modes that send random  characters.
       These two strings list the only characters that will be sent in  these
       modes.  The Random Alphabet specifies the normal set of characters  to
       select from.  When  you select this  option, an input  box pops up  in
       which you may enter the characters  that you want to use when  sending
       random characters.  This string is not permitted to be empty.

          Characters that have no Morse code equivalent  in this program will
       show up in the  input box as they  are typed but  will not be  entered
       into the saved string.  Some procedural signals such as AR and SK have
       single punctuation characters that are used  to represent them in  the
       program.  These characters are listed just above the function key list
       at the bottom of the screen.   Other punctuation characters  translate
       directly into their Morse  equivalent.  See Appendix  A for a list  of
       punctuation  characters  and  procedural  signals  supported  by   the
       program.

          If the  input  box  contains only  characters  for  which no  Morse
       equivalent has been  defined, the  string ABC  will be  placed in  the
       Random Alphabet to keep it from being empty.


       3.5. Setting The Emphasis Alphabet

          The Emphasis  Alphabet  is  used  along  with the  Random  Alphabet
       (described above).   This string lists  characters that  will be  sent
       more often in  the random  character sequences  in order  to get  more


       The Configuration Screen                                             9


       practice with them.  This string may be empty in which case all random
       characters are selected from the Random Alphabet.

          The characters that are allowed  to be included in  this string are
       the same as those described under the Random Alphabet above.


       3.6. Switching To The Practice Screen

          To switch to the Practice Screen, either press the  F2 key or click
       the mouse on the F2:Practice option on the bottom line.


       3.7. Saving A Configuration File

          The current configuration options may  be saved to a  disk file and
       recalled later to set the program back to the saved state.  When F3 is
       pressed or the mouse  is clicked on the  F3:Save Config option on  the
       bottom line, an input box is displayed asking for the name of the file
       to save the  configuration information in.   If no  file extension  is
       specified, the default is .CFG.


       3.8. Testing The Code Configuration

           While on the Configuration Screen,  if F8 is pressed  or the mouse
       is clicked on the F8:Test option on the bottom line, the message  "VVV
       TEST" is sent to give  an example of the  current code speed and  tone
       frequency.   This  allows  the  code  options  to  be  adjusted  to  a
       comfortable configuration before beginning a practice session.


       3.9. Stopping Sending

          To stop sending  at any time,  press F9 or  click the mouse  on the
       F9:Stop option on the bottom line.


       3.10. Exiting From The Program

          To exit  from the  program, press  F10 or  click the  mouse on  the
       F10:Exit option on the bottom line.  If code is currently being  sent,
       this option will  pop up an  error box indicating  that you must  stop
       sending  before  exiting.     This  prevents  accidental  exit   while
       practicing.  After  pressing Enter  or clicking  on the  OK button  to
       clear the error box, if you really want to exit, just stop sending  as
       described above and select the F10 option again.


       The Practice Screen                                                 10






                                 THE PRACTICE SCREEN



       4. THE PRACTICE SCREEN

          The Practice Screen is used to define the mode in which the code is
       sent (random character groups, text files, keyboard input, etc...) and
       also allows  the user  to set  up special  conditions for  sending  or
       displaying the characters.  This is  the screen on which all  practice
       sessions will be controlled.


       4.1. Practice Modes

          There are five modes for sending  the code.  The  first three modes
       send random characters selected from the Random and Emphasis Alphabets
       that are defined on the Configuration  Screen.  The fourth mode  sends
       text from  any  standard  ASCII  text file.    The  fifth  mode  sends
       characters that are typed on the keyboard.

          The parentheses  indicate that  only one  of these  options may  be
       selected at a time.  Selecting any one of these options  automatically
       deselects any  other one  in the  group.   A *  character between  the
       parentheses indicates which option is currently selected.


       4.1.1. ( ) Random Group

          In this mode, random groups of characters are sent.  The characters
       are randomly selected from the  Random Alphabet with special  emphasis
       on any  characters  in  the Emphasis  Alphabet.    The  "words"  range
       randomly between three  and eight  characters in  length.   Characters
       from the Emphasis Alphabet, if it is not empty, are randomly  inserted
       with  two to  five characters from the  Random Alphabet between  them.
       The characters are displayed in the Display Window as they are sent if
       the Hide Text option is not currently active.


       4.1.2. ( ) 5 Char AABAA

          In this mode, random characters  are sent in groups  with a special
       pattern.  Each group is five  characters in length in the form  AABAA.
       The first  two  and last  two  characters are  all  the same  and  are
       selected from the Random Alphabet.   The middle character is  selected
       from the Emphasis  Alphabet if it  is not empty.   Otherwise it  comes
       from the Random Alphabet  also.  The characters  are displayed in  the
       Display Window  as  they are  sent  if the  Hide  Text option  is  not
       currently active.


       The Practice Screen                                                 11


       4.1.3. ( ) Flash Card

          In this mode, characters are sent randomly one by one and displayed
       in a large format  in the Display Window  like a flash  card.  If  the
       Hide Text option is not active,  the characters are displayed as  they
       are sent.  If the Hide Text  option is active, each character is  sent
       and not displayed until the next  character would normally be sent  at
       the current sending speed.  This  allows the user to try to  recognize
       the character before it is shown.

          NOTE:  Characters are  not sent at the  normal speed in  this mode.
       Characters are displayed for the duration of a space between words and
       then after the character is removed from the screen another word space
       occurs before the next character is  sent.  This mode is intended  for
       individual character recognition practice and not "at speed" practice.


       4.1.4. ( ) Text File

          In this mode,  a selected ASCII  text file may  be sent.   The file
       that is sent  is selected using  the Load Text  File option  described
       below.  If the  Hide Text option is  not currently active, the  entire
       text (or as much as will fit in the window) is displayed and a special
       cursor tracks the characters as they are sent.  The point in the  file
       at which sending starts may be  selected by placing the cursor at  the
       desired location before starting.  If no text file has been  selected,
       nothing is sent when the F8:Send option is selected.


       4.1.5. ( ) Keyboard Out

          In this mode, the text that  is sent is entered  from the keyboard.
       If sending is active,  the characters will be  sent as they are  typed
       (or as fast as the sending speed  allows).  If sending is not  active,
       text can be entered  and edited as  desired and then  sent when it  is
       complete.  The Hide Text and Compress Spaces options have no effect on
       this sending mode.

          Characters for which there  are no Morse code  translations in this
       program will be entered  into the Display Window  but will be  skipped
       when they are encountered while sending.  Some procedural signals such
       as AR  and SK  have single  punctuation characters  that are  used  to
       represent them in the program.  These characters are listed just above
       the function key list at the bottom of the screen.  Other  punctuation
       characters translate  directly  into  their  Morse  equivalent.    See
       Appendix A for a list of punctuation characters and procedural signals
       supported by the program.


       4.2. Special Options

          The second group of options on the  Practice Screen allow selecting
       special modes of displaying and sending the text.  In this group,  the
       square brackets indicate  that each option  may be turned  on and  off


       The Practice Screen                                                 12


       individually in any combination.  An X in the brackets indicates  that
       the option is active.


       4.2.1. [ ] Hide Text

          The main purpose  of this  option is to  indicate whether  the text
       that is being sent should be  visible on the screen  or not.  This  is
       true for Random Groups, 5 Char AABAA, and Text File modes of  sending.
       If the option is active, no text is shown in the Display Window.

          In the  Flash Card  sending mode,  it controls  whether there  is a
       delay between sending the character and displaying it or not.  If  the
       option is active,  a normal inter-character  delay is inserted  before
       the character is displayed.   This gives the  user the same amount  of
       time to recognize a character that would normally occur when receiving
       text "at  speed".    If  the option  is  inactive,  the  character  is
       displayed immediately as it is sent.


       4.2.2. [ ] Compress Spaces

          This option is  only used in  the Text File  sending mode.   If the
       option  is  active,  groups  of  consecutive  white  space  characters
       (spaces, tabs, and  line endings) are  sent as a  single space.   This
       allows general text files  that may have large  spacing in them to  be
       sent at  a normal  speed without  having  to send  each space  in  the
       groups.  This  option does  not have any  effect on  the Keyboard  Out
       sending mode because it is assumed that if multiple spaces are  keyed,
       it is desired that they be sent.


       4.2.3. [ ] Stop On '@'

          When this  option is  active,  if an  @  character is  encountered,
       sending stops automatically  at that point.   This works  in both  the
       Text File and the  Keyboard Out sending modes.   This allows  multiple
       short messages to be grouped in a single file or to be keyed in at the
       same time and be sent one at a time.  The message that is sent may  be
       selected by placing the  cursor at the  desired point before  starting
       sending.

          In the Text File  mode, the cursor  automatically moves past  the @
       character before it stops so that the next message will begin properly
       when sending is started again without moving the cursor.

          Because the keyboard cursor  does not move with  the sending cursor
       in the Keyboard Out  mode, starting again after  an @ character  stops
       sending would repeat the last message.


       The Practice Screen                                                 13


       4.3. Loading A Text File

          This option is used to select the ASCII text file that will be used
       in the Text File sending mode.  When you select this option, an  input
       box pops up asking for the  name of the text file  to use.  After  the
       text file  is opened,  its name  is displayed  in the  Load Text  File
       selection box.   If the sending  mode is set  to Text  File, the  file
       contents will show up in the Display Window if the Hide Text option is
       not active.  If no file has been selected since starting the  program,
       the string "-- None --" is displayed.


       4.4. The Display Window

          The Display Window is the area  on the bottom half  of the Practice
       Screen.  It  is used to  display the characters  that are  sent.   The
       cursor may be moved around in the  window while not sending.  If  more
       text is present than will fit in the Display Window, the normal cursor
       movement keys may be used to move around in the window as long as  the
       cursor is in the Display Window.  The  mouse may be used to place  the
       cursor on any  character that is  currently visible in  the window  by
       clicking on the desired location.

          The arrow keys  move one  character or one  row in  the appropriate
       direction.  The  Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right  keys move one  word in  the
       appropriate direction.  The  PgUp and PgDn keys  move one window at  a
       time in the appropriate direction.  The Home and End keys move to  the
       beginning and end of the current line respectively.  The Ctrl-Home and
       Ctrl-End keys  move  to the  beginning  and  end of  the  entire  text
       respectively.

          The data in the Display Window behaves differently depending on the
       sending mode that  is currently selected.   The following  subsections
       describe the behavior in each mode.


       4.4.1. Display Of Random Groups

          In this sending mode, the characters are displayed as they are sent
       if the Hide Text option is not currently active.  The text remains  in
       the window after sending is stopped as long as the sending mode is not
       changed.  If code was being  copied with the Hide Text option  active,
       disabling the Hide Text option will  display the characters that  were
       sent so that copy may be checked against what was sent.

          The cursor may  be placed  anywhere in the  displayed text  in this
       mode if  not  currently  sending.   When  sending  is  started  again,
       however, the new characters will be  started at the end of those  that
       are already displayed.

          The contents of the Display  Window may be cleared  by either using
       the F3:Clear Text option on the bottom of the screen or changing to  a
       different sending mode.   The Display  Window is  always cleared  when
       this mode is entered.


       The Practice Screen                                                 14


       4.4.2. Display Of 5 Char AABAA

          The behavior of the Display Window in this sending mode is the same
       as for the Random Group sending mode described above.


       4.4.3. Display Of Flash Card

          In the Flash Card sending mode, a box is displayed in the middle of
       the window.   As  characters are  sent, they  are displayed  in  large
       format in  this box.   If  the Hide  Text option  is not  active,  the
       characters are displayed immediately  as they are sent.   If the  Hide
       Text option is active,  the character is not  displayed until after  a
       delay equal to the time between characters within a word.  This  gives
       you the  amount  of  time  you would  normally  have  to  recognize  a
       character before it is  displayed.  In this  sending mode, the  cursor
       may not be moved in the Display Window.

          Procedural signals  that  are  normally thought  of  as  a pair  of
       characters like SK or AR are shown as their respective pair instead of
       the punctuation characters that represent them in the program.


       4.4.4. Display Of Text File

          In the Text File sending  mode, the contents of  the selected ASCII
       file are  displayed in  the window  if  the Hide  Text option  is  not
       active.  If the text is visible in the window,  a special cursor shows
       which character  is currently  being sent  while sending.   While  not
       sending, the cursor can be placed at any point in the text file  using
       the methods described at the beginning  of the section on the  Display
       Window above.  Sending  always starts at the  location of the  cursor.
       This allows you to select where to start sending in a file.

          The text of  the current file  remains available until  a different
       file is  selected in  its place  or the  program is  terminated.   The
       F3:Clear Text option at the bottom of the screen does not work in this
       sending mode.


       4.4.5. Display Of Keyboard Out

          In the Keyboard Out sending mode, the text that is displayed in the
       Display Window  is  whatever is  entered  through the  keyboard.    If
       sending is active while  typing, the characters will  be sent as  they
       are typed (or as fast as the sending speed allows).  A special  cursor
       shows the characters that are being sent.  The normal text cursor  can
       be placed at any point in the existing  text and text can be added  or
       changed even while sending.  This will not change what characters  are
       being sent unless the changes are being made where the sending  cursor
       is or sending is stopped and restarted.

          As with the  Text File  mode, sending always  starts at  the cursor
       location.  This mode is useful for setting up special text to be  sent


       The Practice Screen                                                 15


       in a class or group study session.  The Hide Text option has no effect
       on this sending mode because you  already know what you are typing  in
       anyway.

          The text that you  type in this  mode remains available  even after
       switching to  a different  mode and  back again.   You  can clear  any
       existing text from the Display Window in this mode using the  F3:Clear
       Text option on the bottom of the screen.


       4.5. Switching To The Configuration Screen

          To switch to the Configuration  Screen, either press the  F2 key or
       click the mouse on the F2:Configure option on the bottom line.


       4.6. Clearing Text In The Display Window

          The text that  is currently  in the Display  Window for  the Random
       Group, 5 Char AABAA, or Keyboard  Out sending modes may be cleared  by
       pressing F3 or by  clicking the mouse on  the F3:Clear Text option  at
       the bottom of  the screen.   This option has  no effect  on any  other
       sending mode.    This option  also  does  not work  while  program  is
       sending.


       4.7. Sending Text

          To start sending in any of the five sending  modes, either press F8
       or click the mouse on the F8:Send option at the bottom of the screen.


       4.8. Stopping Sending

          To stop sending  at any time,  press F9 or  click the mouse  on the
       F9:Stop option on the bottom line.


       4.9. Exiting From The Program

          To exit  from the  program, press  F10 or  click the  mouse on  the
       F10:Exit option on the bottom line.  If code is currently being  sent,
       this option will  pop up an  error box indicating  that you must  stop
       sending  before  exiting.     This  prevents  accidental  exit   while
       practicing.  After  pressing Enter  or clicking  on the  OK button  to
       clear the error,  if you  really want to  exit, just  stop sending  as
       described above and select the F10 option again.


       Appendix A  Special Codes                                           16






                              APPENDIX A  SPECIAL CODES



       A. SPECIAL CODES

          The Morse  code characters  supported by  the  program include  the
       normal alphabet, A  - Z, the numbers 1 - 9, the following punctuation
       characters:

          "    Quote                 di-dah-di-di-dah-dit
          $    Dollar                di-di-di-dah-di-di-dah
          '    Apostrophe            di-dah-dah-dah-dah-dit
          (    Left Paren            dah-di-dah-dah-di-dah
          )    Right Paren           dah-di-dah-dah-di-dah
          ,    Comma                 dah-dah-di-di-dah-dah
          -    Hyphen                dah-di-di-di-di-dah
          .    Period                di-dah-di-dah-di-dah
          /    Fraction Bar          dah-di-di-dah-dit
          :    Colon                 dah-dah-dah-di-di-dit
          ;    Semicolon             dah-di-dah-di-dah-dit
          ?    Question              di-di-dah-dah-di-dit
          _    Underscore            di-di-dah-dah-di-dah

       and several  procedural  signals  that  are  represented  using  other
       punctuation characters:

          !    Attention (KA)        dah-di-dah-di-dah
          #    Wait (AS)             di-dah-di-di-dit
          &    Understood (SN)       di-di-di-dah-dit
          *    End of contact (SK)   di-di-di-dah-di-dah
          +    End of message (AR)   di-dah-di-dah-dit
          =    Double dash (--)      dah-di-di-di-dah