task bar stays hidden

[Foulds]

I cannot get to the windows taskbar when I have an flp onscreen, is this normal?

[Charlotte]

This is normal but easy to get around. Just resize your flipchart to allow access to the taskbar. You can resize it to any dimension you need. +wave+

[Foulds]

Hmm, I thought that would be the case, but it is not normal for any program except activstudio and it means a whole lot of fussing around unmaximising then dragging the corners to fit the screen. It isn't even remembered the next time you open that flp.

However, I do love the new annotate over desktop which allows me to annotate all over the rest of the departments powerpoints much better than the powerpoint tools.

[Charlotte]

You could always use the import Ppt tool to convert them to flips. I am trying to persuade my dept away from Ppt as they are all pretty good AS users... just a case of what you're used to I guess. +wave+

[Foulds]

yes I could, however both applications have there strengths and weaknesses. The animations possible now in the latest powerpoint are so much better than can be done in AS (correct me if I'm wrong) eg. it is possible to have a smooth movement from place to place and you can then edit that path without altering anything else. It reminds me of the mac app Hyperstudio but it actually works, I would like to encourage promethean to expand this side of AS as it would obviate the need for powerpoint or flash. There are so many things that I would like to be able to do in this way.

[Margaret Allen]

Dare I say it Developer Edition.....[clap]

[airskeeter]

After opening n Imbedded PP or Excel file, the toolbar stays behind the flipchart in 2.5.42.

[alicegop]

if you don't have a windows button on your computer you can push Ctrl and Esc at the same time. this will bring up the task bar. I find I need to do this alot when I am using the camera tool.

Another option is to create a user defined button.

go to the Promethean guy
toolbox customize
toolstore
there is a guy on a key with a question mark, drag that onto the third column of your main toolbar.
Click finish
right click over the icon in the third column
Set the key strokes (click the ctrl and then choose esc from the drop down)

[airskeeter]

How would I use a user defined button when my tool bar is behind everything????

[alicegop]

I thought the question was about the bar at the bottom of the screen. (to get the start menu) if you have a user defined button you can bring up the start menu and thus usually have access to other functions.

[Lusty]

I believe there is a hot fix for this: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=884539, they say its best to wait for the next service pack if the problem is not severe.

Regards

[Stuart Collins]

this hot fix is for something else. Our flipcharts are supposed to hide the taskbar when maximised, thus maximising your available workspace.

if you minimise or resize the window then you can see the taskbar, you can also try clicking on the "new flipchart" button, this hides the currect flipchart, clicking it again will restore your flipchart.

[jtw521]

Our flipcharts are supposed to hide the taskbar when maximised, thus maximising your available workspace.

.

I understand the point you are making but as I already maximise working space by having extra long pages that I can scroll down, thereby allowing myself to always work at a comfortable height and maximise available working space on any sheet, I do not see it necessary or desirable for Activ Studio to take over the whole screen.

As I often annotate over internet pages, pdf files, word files etc, sometimes a number of applications are open and I need the ability to easily change to the application I want. My personal preference would be to always see the bottom bar. Couldn't this be an option in the settings?

In addition to this I would prefer to have the option to have the toolbar as a single fixed row of icons at the top or bottom of the page, outside the page area. This way I don't have to look and find where I last moved the floating toolbar to - all tools are always in the same place. I know this makes it sound like any other windows application but since I am so used to them I would prefer that option. Again, can this be put as an option in Studio settings?

[Foulds]

yah beauty, the user defined key is the fix for me, it is the windows task bar that I need and ctrl + esc brings it up. I toyed with alt + tab, which doesn't work because when you do it on the keyboard you hold down the alt key and jab the tab.

[alicegop]

I would also like the toolbar to be linear and fixed along one side of the screen. The main toolbar is so bulky it gets in the way. I want all the buttons, but if they could be all in one line along the side, that would be great!

[Charlotte]

I would also like the toolbar to be linear and fixed along one side of the screen. The main toolbar is so bulky it gets in the way. I want all the buttons, but if they could be all in one line along the side, that would be great!
I like the toolbox just as it is! I particularly like the roll-up function - this enables me to use the whole screen to display my flipchart. The fact that the toolbox is so easy to customise makes it a winner with me.

[alicegop]

I agree with that, I would just like an option to dock it to the side in a linear fashion. Not to take away from what it already has. When you are doing cornell style notes with the flipcharts or you have large graphs and the work side by side the toolbar definately gets in the way. I find that I need to switch colors often and go from pen to arrow alot (especially since a math problem frequently goes off the page so I need another page, I don't want to lengthen the page because I export to powerpoint and post on my website) so the roll up feature is an extra step. If I had the tools on the side in a line that would be great for my applications. When the kids are using the board the full toolbar as it is is a better option.

[jtw521]

I agree with that, I would just like an option to dock it to the side in a linear fashion. Not to take away from what it already has. When you are doing cornell style notes with the flipcharts or you have large graphs and the work side by side the toolbar definately gets in the way. I find that I need to switch colors often and go from pen to arrow alot (especially since a math problem frequently goes off the page so I need another page, I don't want to lengthen the page because I export to powerpoint and post on my website) so the roll up feature is an extra step. If I had the tools on the side in a line that would be great for my applications. When the kids are using the board the full toolbar as it is is a better option.

Maybe a maths thing! I concur fully, my initial point on this was not to have the toolbox changed but to have an option to put the toolbox where I was most comfortable with it - locked, linear and off the edge of the page!

[Westlake]

I find that I need to switch colors often and go from pen to arrow a lot... I don't want to lengthen the page because I export to powerpoint.... so the roll up feature is an extra step. If I had the tools on the side in a line that would be great for my applications.
I have put my most commonly-used tools, including Pen and Select tool, in the Flipchart Toolstrip (the fixed one at the side of the page..) AND removed them from the floating Toolbar. I leave that rolled up most of the time and just select the tools from the Toolstrip.
Not sure what is the maximum number of items that can be in the Toolstrip?
Hilary

[Foulds]

Now that is the beauty of this forum, I never knew I could put tools on that side bar I always assumed it was on the customize toolbar screen because it hadn't been hidden not because it was available. A whole new world opens up before me!

[jtw521]

I have put my most commonly-used tools, including Pen and Select tool, in the Flipchart Toolstrip (the fixed one at the side of the page..) AND removed them from the floating Toolbar. I leave that rolled up most of the time and just select the tools from the Toolstrip.
Not sure what is the maximum number of items that can be in the Toolstrip?
Hilary

I've done this already but find that I can't leave it rolled up because I change pen colour a lot and would still prefer an option of having the icons along the top rather than the side.

In fact while I'm on with it, I don't like the additional pen floating toolbar either, activating this by the button on the pen is always dodgy and I'm never sure where it is going to appear, not good when you are close up to a big board. I'd much prefer a drawing toolbar containing a set of icons along the top a la Powerpoint. Can't we just have an option to set AS as a standard MS application?