Running typsetup.exe will install the program. It should be done with administrator rights (on access restricted systems). (Installation in a user owned folder is possible if necessary. The program folder can be changed during the installation dialog.)
If you already used a VK TypeHelp version smaller than 1.2 at your Windows system previously, your data will be taken to a more suitable place. In rare cases, that might fail: If the program had been installed at another place than now (e.g. in your user-area). Then, close TypeHelp, go to the folder (normally named VK TypeHelp) containing the former executable TypeHelp.exe, there to the folder data, and copy TypeHelp.dat or {username}.dat into your folder \Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\VK TypeHelp\data (possibly substituting there a just before made empty one). Anyway the new one is to be named TypeHelp.dat.
Correspondingly, TypeHelp.dat might also be deleted or renamed (after having closed TypeHelp) in order to start anew without any former data.
Linefeeds mostly have no meaning for the content, so in this version of the program, any uninterrupted series of space "characters", linefeeds, and other control characters( ASCII 32 and lower), is converted to one space, in order to store equivalent contexts identically.
The program keeps a file of about 769 KB containing a structure of the learned contents. If the address space is exhausted when space for new input is needed, storage cells containig the oldest input are recycled. The capacity for usual text might roughly equal that of fifty to hundred typewriter pages. Corruption of the data can result in infinite loops: Crash of the process. The data structure is complex; you should not rely on its robustness.
The window presenting the assistant's propositions will not be hidden by a normal other window. This property conforms to its role as a tool for your working with another window.
The assistant works (in one respect) comparably to a key logger, but at the disposition of the user. But formerly input text might unexpectedly appear at the monitor; especially when presenting longer contexts, optionally from TypeHelp v1.2 on. Possible means for keeping the confidentiality of text pieces depend on the environment and the needs of the user and seem to concern another level than that of this special program. For instance, encryption of the data file.
Remember the possibility of "copying" (into the clipboard) a characteristic small piece of text and then feeding it in to the assistant (by pressing the "home" or "7" key at the numeric pad, or selecting the corresponding menu option). This way, you might e.g. take into account different styles in submissions for transcription.
When filling in a form go from one field to the next by pressing the tabulator key. This will better delimit future suggestions of the entries.
The cooperation and coexistance with other programs could (of course) not exhaustively be tested. Two hints:
1. In case of failing commands from the number pad, it might help to close TypeHelp and to start it anew. Perhaps another program did not forward that input. (Of course it would have no sense at all running another program at the same time that also designated a meaning to the positioning functions of the number pad.)
2. The cooperation with one editor failed in that the insert key did not have
the intended effect of accepting the suggestion. So, we assigned the same function
to the neighboring delete key in order to give the user a second chance.
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP.
Hardware:
PC, Intel Architecture (i486 or higher).
Keyboard with extra positioning keys, additionally to those at
the numeric keypad, so that the latter ones can be used for our
purpose. This excludes their use for any other purpose when
VK TypeHelp is running. (Besides shifting to numerics.)
In case of problems, please write to
Hints to possible improvements are much appreciated. They might concern situations the author is not aware of, but also the general behavior of the assistant, which may be a bit difficultly describable, sometimes.
Volkmar Kobelt