View Full Version : Removing the watermark
jtw521
20-10-2006, 03:14 PM
Am I right in thinking there is a way of removing the 'hardware not detected' watermark because I want to transfer a load of slides to Word and photgraphing would be easier - but I don't want the watermark. Thanks.
Margaret Allen
20-10-2006, 04:43 PM
sorry no not unless you are attached a board or a graphics tablet.+wave+
Danny Nicholson
20-10-2006, 05:06 PM
ActivStudio lets you export your flipcharts to Word anyway, or even Powerpoint
Click on Promethean man, then Flipchart, then Export and choose Word or Powerpoint etc
would that help?
sartley
20-10-2006, 05:56 PM
Another sort of solution could be ... I discovered that if you use the erase tool over the watermark, it will temporarily erase - until you select another tool. If it was really important for you to have images without the watermark, instead of using the camera tool, you could erase the watermark and then use the print screen button on your keyboard and then in Word crop the image.
jtw521
20-10-2006, 06:07 PM
Thanks for the tips, image quality on export is not good enough for what I want it for and while useful to remember the eraser also removes some of the layered objects in that area. Looks like I'll have to copy and paste, something I didn't really want to do.
Is there a good reason the watermark is there?
Margaret Allen
20-10-2006, 07:06 PM
Security.....:eek: +wave+
Daniel Turner
20-10-2006, 08:51 PM
You could also use flipchart viewer or student edition to do this.
Dan
jtw521
20-10-2006, 09:30 PM
Flipchart viewer? Not sure what this is and to install student edition alongside so that I can work around this problem is a little OTT.
Just out of interest, how does the watermark increase security? Surely if the security was necessary you wouldn't be giving all these work-rounds? There is an obvious downside to having it there - isn't it too much for what you get back?
It is quite annoying to have it there while you are trying to create flipcharts at home! However, on a postive note for the watermark, it stops relatively new/inexperienced teachers going insane when they can't get their boards working. It highlights quite clearly what the problem might be!
Margaret Allen
20-10-2006, 10:40 PM
The full functionality available to just anyone is not going to happen and so we currently have the watermark. You have several work arounds (these work arounds are the best we can currently offer to people who haven't bought our hardware) which should meet the needs of what you wanted to do or was that not what you were trying to establish? :D :eek:
jtw521
21-10-2006, 02:02 PM
I was asking how this watermark improves security.
I can't imagine circumstances where someone would use ActivStudio other than for teaching.
ActivStudio is not available from any source other than a school who have already bought the hardware. So if the scenario you are concerned about is schools using ActivSTudio by projecting directly onto a wall rather than Promethean board, then to do that they must have bought your hardware for another room (but presumably can't afford full installation in all rooms). In any case they could download Smart from the internet and do this with impunity, isn't their only restriction that you do not use their software on a competitors hardware? Surely you would rather people used your software?
Yeah, there should be an option to remove the water mark quite simply because they are really annoying when you're preparing lessons. I understand there may be advantages to it but in this case, I have more teachers complaining about the issue and they couldn't do anything about it except to pretend it's not there. But overall, I'm glad that Promethean is around, their software is awesome. I'm a veteran web developer and I believe they did a great job in their software, and if they wanted a web extension to e-learning, feel free to email me eric_smilez@hotmail.com :) I can develop anything to make Promethean better! [clap]
I have encountered a really bad problem and was stucked for the last 2 weeks. I ran the debug program for activstudio "AS2PED" and it progress to the line "Testing for hardware" and then crashes. I am unable to see the ActivStudio toolbar at all. The problem has been narrowed down to Sygate firewall, and the logical thing to do is to uninstall Sygate firewall, but it still doesn't work, ActivStudio just keeps crashing ever since Sygate firewall has been installed. We narrowed down to Sygate as the culprit after an extensive program by program installation and then test the ActivStudio program to see if it works, and it still does to the point just before the Sygate installation. I am at my wits end, is this "Testing for hardware" line relevant to the watermark? Any option to turn off this? The ActivStudio program runs fine WHEN the laptop is connected to the ActivBoard, very strange, but the fact is that teachers would like to prepare their lessons from home. If you need to verify the issue, just install Sygate on your computer and then don't connect to the activboard, and launch the activstudio program.... Please help urgently... :( The teachers and principles are complaining, and I am the sitting duck at the moment, ready to be cut and cooked for dinner anytime.
paulellis
15-12-2006, 10:20 AM
the logical thing to do is to uninstall Sygate firewall, but it still doesn't work,
Hi,
It's often difficult to completely remove a firewall or Anti-virus product so it may be that it hasn't completely uninstalled. There is something on the Sygate forums here: http://forums.sygate.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=6143&highlight=remove+sygate
Of course, you should always think twice about messing directly with your computer's registry but if you're stuck it may be worth a try (in other words, don't blame me if it all goes wrong ;) ).
Paul
daverosthorn
15-12-2006, 11:09 AM
For once, I must agree that the watermark is required.
As someone said earlier, it's great for fixing your board when it's not working - gives you a nice big hint as to what the problem is (especially for those who are not as IT proficient as others).
It also DOES provide security in terms of the use of Promethean software on other IWB solutions. If there was no watermark, it could easily be pirated onto another IWB and we don't want that, do we?! :D
The watermark annoyed me for the first few months of developing AS2 activities but once you get beyond that, you begin to not even notice it :) In fact, when I use a whiteboard (not that often really), I always think something is missing!!! :D
Anyway, you *should* have got one of those little USB tablets, just plug one of those in and you'll be fine!
rexboggs5
17-12-2006, 12:43 AM
You could also use flipchart viewer or student edition to do this.
Dan
Is it OK to have both ACTIVStudio and the Viewer or the Student Edition on the same computer? I thought I read someone that this wasn't recommended.
Cheers
Rex
sartley
17-12-2006, 12:23 PM
It's fine, Rex - I have both with no adverse effects,
Hi,
It's often difficult to completely remove a firewall or Anti-virus product so it may be that it hasn't completely uninstalled. There is something on the Sygate forums here: http://forums.sygate.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=6143&highlight=remove+sygate
Of course, you should always think twice about messing directly with your computer's registry but if you're stuck it may be worth a try (in other words, don't blame me if it all goes wrong ;) ).
Paul
Thanks Paul, that might help, I would have to try it out and then I'll report the results later. :D
For once, I must agree that the watermark is required.
As someone said earlier, it's great for fixing your board when it's not working - gives you a nice big hint as to what the problem is (especially for those who are not as IT proficient as others).
It also DOES provide security in terms of the use of Promethean software on other IWB solutions. If there was no watermark, it could easily be pirated onto another IWB and we don't want that, do we?! :D
The watermark annoyed me for the first few months of developing AS2 activities but once you get beyond that, you begin to not even notice it :) In fact, when I use a whiteboard (not that often really), I always think something is missing!!! :D
Anyway, you *should* have got one of those little USB tablets, just plug one of those in and you'll be fine!
Yeah, I understand what you mean with having the watermark on. Plugging in those little USB tablets might help but persuading the schools to purchase the ActivBoards alone is already a difficult task, after they have bought them, getting them to buy more USB tablets just to resolve the issue is impossible. Now I'm in the firing line because there was some customer who was unhappy and he/she accuses us of selling things that don't work, but it wasn't us damit. This problem is causing me sleepless nights, and I don't think I will get any sleep until the issue is resolved amiciably.
jtw521
18-12-2006, 07:40 AM
The watermark annoyed me for the first few months of developing AS2 activities but once you get beyond that, you begin to not even notice it :) In fact, when I use a whiteboard (not that often really), I always think something is missing!!! :D
Problem is you do notice it if you are using features such as full screen capture either on video or on camera.
For arguments sake, if someone wanted to use the software on a different IWB can they run it with the watermark? Wouldn't it be better for the computer to recognise the type of board and stop output?
Wouldn't it be better for the computer to recognise the type of board and stop output?
Wasn't that a great idea? But it still wouldn't solve my problem, because the software still hangs at "Testing for hardware" portion, I am still stucked. I realize that the ActivStudio can run fine in safe mode, now trying to manually check what's the difference between safe mode and normal mode...
yipee, found the solution already from the asia-pac team of Promethean... no more Sygate worries... yipee... [clap] {} :D
brianksee
20-12-2006, 05:15 AM
I have an idea. It might cost a little extra, but I believe it would be worth it, while totally eliminating the problem. I am not sure of all the tech aspects, but couldn't you give one small plug-in device with each board sold.
A device that will sidetrack and mimic the board being hooked-up, but much smaller. Therefore, while I am at home, I could plug it in, and then it would give me the option to temporarily remove the watermark while the device was attached.
I am not a tech guy, but I believe this is a great option if possible, because often times I move my text while at home because of the difficulty reading it while the watermark is displayed.
Another option could be to only to allow certain registered computers to remove watermark. The idea is this. I would first have to apply for the option through one of you sites. You could then get my IP (I believe that is what it is called for my computer number). While I was logged on with my approved computer to the site it would remove the the watermark. If I logged off, then the watermark would reappear. However, I am not sure if this is possible.
If not, I would recommend that the watermark at least be moved to the bottom. Therefore, it would be visible, but I would still be able to start a page w/o it interferring.
Margaret Allen
20-12-2006, 09:54 AM
Currently the way around this is to puchase a tablet.
http://www.mypromethean.com/uk/server/show/nav.1692
daverosthorn
20-12-2006, 11:23 AM
Currently the way around this is to puchase a tablet.
http://www.myPromethean.com/uk/server/show/nav.1692
we received tablets with ALL our boards :D
deeschmidt
12-01-2007, 07:27 PM
The problem at my school is that once my teachers are plugging into their boards at school, the watermark is not disappearing. They are creating their flipcharts at home. I cannot figure out why the mark is still appearing. Is there a quick fix? All other features seem to be working perfectly.
Margaret Allen
13-01-2007, 08:53 AM
The only thing I can think of is that they are opening the program before attaching to the board? When the program boots up it searches for a board - hence the watermark if there is none present. However, if they then attach the board, the driver kicks in, but the software can't retrospectively remove the watermark. Hope that makes sense.
Ring Technical support and they will sort you out or try our knowledge database....
http://uk.prometheankb.com/display/4/search.asp?tab=search
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