Features Missed in ActivInspire

[Ann Marie]

In a recent sales presentation I showed Inspire in a school considering a switch from SMART boards. They were looking for several features that used to be in Studio and I could not find. These should be considered since they are available in the SMART notebook software.
1. Capture a Word document. We used to be able to import from a pdf. Will this be coming back again?
2. In the desktop flipchart we were able to change the setting so a screen capture would occur when a new page was accessed as may be needed when scrolling down a page.
3. In Smart Notebook they can extend a page if they realize they need more room for a lengthy math formula. How can that be done in Inspire?
4. We were able to set a preference to not show the pen icon when writing at the board. It tends to block the text and be distracting to students. I could not find this option in Inspire.
Any ideas?
Thanks,

[saha]

Yes these are great tools that were available in V3. I am sure the next release is going to put these features back.

[angiemccp]

I didnt know there was an option to not show the pen icon in V3.!! Where can I find the directions for that?[clap]

[CPope]

On a PC, you can change that in Studio Settings - I'm not on my PC at the moment, but it's probably in User Input or Tools or General.....sorry.....

Char

[rgrondin]

Studio Settings Flipchart

[CPope]

Thanks!

;)

[mhughes2781@mail.com]

I have recently installed ActiveInspire and I'm sure I'll get used to it. Is it just me or can you not erase any objects that are on the top layer anymore? I seem to only be able to erase pen. This means I can't make any magic spyglasses unless I import them from ActivPrimary. Is there a way to rub out the top layer objects in Inspire?.

[cmansell]

I think if you look at the "Magic Ink" tool, that might be what you're looking for. I think that in Inspire, they split the erase tool into two different tools.

craig

[DBarnwell]

Craig is correct. The eraser tool in Inspire only works on annotations, and actually erases them instead of hiding them (As in if I erase the middle of a line I'm left with two lines). The Magic Ink tool is as far as I can tell identical to the old eraser.

[davidlloyd]

I didnt know there was an option to not show the pen icon in V3.!! Where can I find the directions for that?[clap]

Do be careful about making the pen icon invisible. I was dragged to a school two hours drive away to sort out a problem that I could recreate on the phone. The school claimed the board wasn't working. Turned out they'd made the pen tool invisible. I wasn't best pleased:eek:

[Pupalaikis]

Speaking of missing features, how about:


The search function in the resource browser
Flip chart builder - useful for combining parts of other flipcharts


UPDATE

Just found out that once you have completed typing in a text box and moved on, I have found that you cannot return to the text box and change the color of the text nor the background color using the color selectors in the text toolbar.

[Alickina]

I don't know about extending the flipchart in the middle of a presentation, but you can still customize the size of your flipchart so that it will continue down if you prepare ahead of time. Just go to File>New (not new flipchart) >custom size flipchart. The teacher can then make their flipchart several screens long or wide (or both).

[marks]

Regarding question 4 I recently went through a training and I thought I heard some one say that the page could be extended. Char or Dan, can you verify and explain how it's accomplished?

[srchlc]

Just found out that once you have completed typing in a text box and moved on, I have found that you cannot return to the text box and change the color of the text nor the background color using the color selectors in the text toolbar.[

Yes, you can. On the text toolbar near the right end is a button that is select all. Press that and it will let you change the colors of the box and text.

Holli

[Pupalaikis]

Thanks!.

I was trying to change the text color during class itself, so was trying to get it down on the quick. Now, having time to look at it, I can see that just clicking that button is much easier than manually selecting all the text using the cursor.

I would definitely call that an improvement over V3.



Yes, you can. On the text toolbar near the right end is a button that is select all. Press that and it will let you change the colors of the box and text.

Holli

[Daniel Bunker]

I thought I heard some one say that the page could be extended. Char or Dan, can you verify and explain how it's accomplished?

Navigate to the page you want to extend
Open the Browser and go to the Proporties section
Click on the page
Change the page dimensions in the page section
Set the flipchart to width fit on the top toolbar.