SofType for TouchScreens (STT) is an excellent on-screen keyboard for any touchscreen application for Windows. SofType can be configured to launch at boot time and provide the capability to log on to Windows XP. In addition, STT can be used to enter the screen saver password in Windows XP. STT can also be used to enter Ctrl+Alt+Del key sequences for accessing the Task Manager and the Security features of Windows. This allows one to use Ctrl+Alt+Del to call the "Close Program" dialog box in Windows XP, Ctrl+Alt+Del allows one to call the task manager, to log off, lock the computer, or reboot.
All aspects of the user interface can be modified including keys, key arrangement, fonts, colors and keyboard size, and many can be changed under program control. The program ships with many standard layouts and custom layouts can be created using a standard text editor. The Title, Menu and Status bars of a keyboard can be hidden to reduce the screen area occupied by the keyboard and to eliminate unauthorized modifications. Control of the user interface also assures a consistent functionality across multiple target systems.
(Standard Qwerty keyboard layout with word completion bar.)
SofType for TouchScreen has abbreviation expansion and macro capability. These features can be used to minimize keystrokes when entering repeated phrases or multi-line text entries, such as login sequences.
(Qwerty layout with word prediction and round keys.)
Simple keyboard layouts can be used for simple tasks, as shown below.
Application Programmer's Interface
STT has an Application Programmers Interface (API) library for rudimentary control of the keyboard from another application. For example, there are API's that allow an application to launch and exit STT, hide the keyboard, position the keyboard, change its size and the specific layout.
Access Toolbar
In addition to the normal functions of a keyboard, STT has a utility toolbar available that allows the user to hide and show the keyboard as well as convert touch events ("left clicks") into right clicks. There are several options for this toolbar, some with text descriptions on the keys and some that only include the right button or the hide/show button.
Configuration Utility
There is a utility to assist the developer in configuring, porting and updating an installation or group of STT installations. This is a graphical utility that changes the keyboard dynamically as entries are made and then saves a configuration file used by STT at startup. After using the file to update an installation STT removes the file to allow local customization. This technique for easily reconfiguring a fielded customer installation can be a powerful technical support tool. It can be used to repair an installation or customize it for a customer.
(The main dialog box for the configuration utility is shown above. )
(Dialog showing some of the command line options available to control STT configuration.)
Demonstration Program
A time limited demonstration version of SofType for TouchScreens is available for evaluation.
This program will run for twenty minutes and exit. It can be restarted as many times as you need to evaluate its functionality. In addition to exiting every twenty minutes, the demonstration version of STT does not save configuration information.
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