IMG's Blog - Recorded Keystrokes

Build-A-Board 2.20 Release 7 & My-T-Soft Basic 2.20 Release 12
written August 26, 2022 by Kermit Komm
Category: Development Tags: My-T-Soft; My-T-Soft Basic; Build-A-Board #100

IMG is pleased to announce that new updates to IMG's My-T-Soft� Build-A-Board and My-T-Soft� Basic are now available for download and use.

The Build-A-Board 2.20 Release 7 includes updates to run-times, including My-T-Soft for Android, My-T-Soft for Linux, My-T-Soft for Windows, and various other maintenance and usability updates. Both releases include the updated IMG License Manager, which provides local storage of Build-A-Board.com account credentials, etc. For specific details on these capabilities, see the My-T-Soft 1.90 Release 5 blog post. For product information, current download, and online help just go to the Build-A-Board product page or the My-T-Soft Basic product page.

For users running earlier releases of Build-A-Board, you just need to go to Help | Check for Updates... and walk through the automatic update option.

My-T-Soft for Linux 2.20 Release 16 now available!
written August 10, 2022 by Kermit Komm
Category: Development Tags: My-T-Soft; Linux; #99

IMG is pleased to announce that a maintenance update for Linux is now available as My-T-Soft for Linux 2.20 R16 (Release 16) for the following platforms: i386 (32-bit) and AMD64 (64-bit). This updates the recent R14 release to add a few key features. Download available here These are an ongoing process to bring improvements, new features, and new platforms to the Build-A-Board run-time targets. The past several updates have been internal, focusing on the Linux version working on a headless server so the web based Build-A-Board (not yet public) can generate KBF files, and create the layout image. This layout image can then be seen as the actual run-time visual representation of the target system layout visible to the user. Because the ability to display the high-resolution images was limited on Linux, full support for the 3D HiRes default key, and the open-ended Key Images is now fully supported for 64-bit targets. The 32-bit Linux target now matches the 64-bit release - the R14 had a few memory issues that affected image operation in the 32-bit build. Several minor memory issues were identified & resolved.

The R16 release includes updates to support the LKBF (Load KBF) command (e.g. [CMD:LKBF=NewLayout.KBF]. The Load KBF option provides an optional positioninfo indicator, which gives new layouts more flexibility in creating a robust user interface, and controlling the visual display of the layouts in use. As a reference, the following outlines the LKBF position information options now available in the Linux run-time targets:

LKBF Notes:

If no [,positioninfo] is provided, the KBF will open based on its embedded top/left position.

The following positioninfo values will exist:

top - the top / center will be the anchor point
bottom - the bottom / center will be the anchor point
left - the left / center will be the anchor point
right - the right / center will be the anchor point
toplft - the top / left corner will be the anchor point
toprgt - the top / right corner will be the anchor point
botlft - the bottom / left corner will be the anchor point
botrgt - the bottom / right corner will be the anchor point

scrntl - will position on the screen top / left
scrntc - will position on the screen top / center
scrntr - will position on the screen top / right
scrnml - will position on the screen middle / left
scrnmc - will position on the screen middle / center
scrnmr - will position on the screen middle / right
scrnbl - will position on the screen bottom / left
scrnbc - will position on the screen bottom / center
scrnbr - will position on the screen bottom / right

overlay - will overlay the existing window (layouts should be same size)

For example, [CMD:LKBF=TEST.KBF,right] will effectively open the new layout with the right-most edge anchored, giving the illusion that it extends the panel outwards to the left (assuming TEST is larger than than the showing layout).

The technical updates of the past 2 releases include better handling for PNG images with scaling and improved speed. All rendered images are held in memory, so once all key aspects are properly rendered, there is no delay in displaying key changes (up/down/shift/Caps/etc.). We also have matched the Android versioning in the sense that all public releases will be even numbers, while odd numbers will be "under development" for internal purposes.

About IMG

Since 1995, Innovation Management Group has been the primary supplier of onscreen keyboard user interfaces and designer utilities to major corporations, manufacturers, integrators, and users worldwide. IMG's products run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on some of the most secure, advanced, and critical systems in the world.

The My-T-Soft� Family along with IMG's My-T-Soft Build-A-Board Keyboard Designer offers a consistent cross-platform onscreen user interface that is fully customizable and programmable for various hardware / software platforms. It allows customers to control user input in any field or any application and maintain a higher level of security than with a traditional physical keyboard or membrane panel. The My-T-Soft product family is ideal for use in environments such as automation, field service, food and beverage, instrumentation, in-vehicle, kiosk, laboratory, logistic, medical, military, mobile, pharmaceutical, point-of-sale, ruggedized, utility, warehousing, whiteboard, or other extremely clean, dirty, or hazardous interactive user environment.

The Magnifier support - software vs. hardware
written January 10, 2022 by Alex S.
Category: Development Tags: The Magnifier; Support; Video #97

Below is from a recent case regarding The Magnifier. Due to the nature of the software, reliance on the underlying magnification API, and the need for the system's physical video throughput to sustain and keep up with constant visual updates, sometimes the software simply can't perform on a lower-end system. Because the underlying problem is hardware based, there is nothing we can do from a support standpoint. We do have this tech link that outlines some issues and possible solutions for an existing system, sometimes the only solution is to upgrade the video capabilities. This case outlines how the problem with The Magnifier was resolved.

Windows 10 - 32 bit - Intel Q35 display adapter

Case open Message:

Screen flashes when the magnifier is set to full screen. When the Intel Q35 display adapter is disabled The Magnifier works as it should but there is screen distortion because of resolution issues without the functioning Intel Q35 adapter. I don't think The Magnifier is compatible with the Intel Q35 display adapter on a 32 bit system. I purchased license but not happy with the functioning of the product. Screen flicker on full screen very distracting. Is there any way to fix this issue? Please advise.

IMG Response:

What you are describing has to do with the video driver or capabilities of your video subsystem. This tech item http://www.imgpresents.com/imgfaq.htm?keyword=IU2111120673 provides some options - depending on settings, the amount of video memory used (& system speed/video throughput) can be drastically different. Also actual video driver.

Message:

Do you think an upgrade video graphics card would help?

IMG Response:

Yes, almost without a doubt. Almost every issue with the Magnifier has to do with video throughput. Although there are various factors, comparing video memory on the video card is a pretty good gauge to how powerful it is. If this is a motherboard based video, most of these systems are aimed at office use, not super strong with video capabilities.

Message:

Yes, this is an onboard Dell Optiplex 755 motherboard based video system. I'll try installing an upgrade video graphics card. I've already tried an NVIDIA graphics card and it stopped the flickering problem but was incompatible with the operating system in other regards and I'm sending it back. Next I'll try A Dell based graphics card designed for the Optiplex 755 operating system. Thanks for your time and trouble. My mother is practically blind from retinal issues at 94 and likes using The Magnifier to see email and internet. I've disabled the onboard Intel graphics device and The Magnifier works as it should but having issues with screen resolution elsewhere. Need to install a graphic card that works.

IMG Response:

Thanks for understanding the situation. We sometimes have people that want the software to solve a hardware problem. It is appreciated that you grasp the real issue.

Message:

Just to let you know. I installed an upgrade video graphics card and The Magnifier now works perfectly. I purchased an ATI Radeon HD 2400 Full Profile Graphics Adapter card on eBay. Works good on Dell Optiplex 755 32 bit computer. All is well. Thanks for your help.

My-T-Soft for Android 10 - 2.20.208 Release
written May 26, 2021 by Kermit Komm
Category: Development Tags: My-T-Soft; Android; Build-A-Board #96

The latest update of My-T-Soft for Android is now available. Due to changes in security and modifications to the Input Method Manager / Input Method Service in the Android 10 release, a targeted release once again made the most sense.

Security changes regarding shared storage and local storage access (used for custom keyboard layouts, settings, etc.) required specific changes to operate on Android 10. Also, there were specific changes to the Input Method Manager and Input Method Service (which My-T-Soft uses as an alternate Input Method), and older release code was no longer compatible with the privileged operations necessary to operate on Android 10. Due to these issues and lack of backwards compatibility (or potential different issues) in handling a multiple API targeted release, an API 29 only release was chosen. Without getting into the technical aspects, it is important to note that the security and architectural changes were not unknown when Android development began, so it is a bit disconcerting that these changes were implemented after such a long release history. It is also relevant to note that because My-T-Soft interacts as an Input Method Service, this change would not affect normal/user level apps, because this was specific to the type of interface that an on-screen keyboard requires in Android.

With the code rework and specific changes for Android 10 all "behind the scenes", this release is essentially the same as previous releases. The one minor feature added was an ability to set the Default Keyboard layout via the Keyboard Layouts (Boards), so that once a board is selected, you can select the Set Default Layout to copy the currently selected layout to KEYBOARD.KBF (so this will be the default/first opened layout). In previous releases, this was best handled by integrating with your Build-A-Board.com Account, manually handling when your device was connected to a laptop or desktop, or manipulating via a Files app. Now this can be managed within the My-T-Soft Settings directly.

For those not yet familiar with My-T-Soft for Android, key features include the ability to customize layouts with IMG's Build-A-Board, tie layouts together into sets, position layouts anywhere on the screen, and customize key actions with keystroke macros and internal commands (Launch Apps, Open New Keyboard File, etc.). The software installs as another input method, and can be swapped in & out with other methods. My-T-Soft for Android can tie into accounts at Build-A-Board.com, so favorite boards can be quickly brought onto any device, and provides access to the ever growing online database of onscreen keyboard layouts. Because layouts are customizable, key sizes are flexible, and both text and images can be used on keys, the possibilities for optimizing the user input interface are endless.