CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk

Subject: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 03:58 PM

Jon Freeman noted in the Mudcat Song Circle thread that I had looked at Accessibility Options as a method of providing a persistent CTRL key in PalTalk. These options are available in Windows98 and, I believe, also in Windows95. For anybody who's interested, the following is the procedure:

1. Click on Start/Settings/Control Panel. If Accessibility Options is one of the icons, go to step 4.

2. You will need the Windows install disk for this step. If Accessibility Options is not installed, double-click on Add/Remove Programs, then the 'Windows Setup' tab. Highlight 'Accessibility' by clicking on it, then click on 'Details.' When the 'Accessibility' window appears, click in the box next to 'Accessibility Options' to place a check mark in it. Accessibility Tools are not needed for this process. Click 'OK', then 'OK' again to install. A computer restart will probably be needed after the installation is complete.

3. After rebooting, if the Control Panel window is not open on the screen, open it by clicking Start/Settings/Control Panel as in step 1. Accessibility Options should be present in the Control Panel window.

4. Double-click the 'Accessibility Options' icon to open the program. This will open the 'Accessibility Properties' window. Note that the first item is 'Sticky Keys.' Click on the 'Settings' button for this option.

5. In the 'Settings for Sticky Keys' window, I suggest checkmarking boxes for 'Use Shortcut,' and 'Turn StickyKeys off if two keys are pressed at once.' The others may be checked according to your preference. Once you have set the options to your liking, click the 'OK' button.

6. Again on the 'Accessibility Options' window, check the 'General' tab. Under 'Automatic Reset' I suggest that you either turn the feature off or set the time setting to at least 10 minutes, to keep your mic from being turned off in the middle of a song.

7. When you have set the Automatic Reset function to your preference, click on 'Apply' then 'OK.' This completes the setup of Sticky Keys.

If you have set up Sticky Key's options as I suggested, when you are in PalTalk, StickyKeys can be activated by pressing the Shift Key five (5) times. Once activated, when you depress the CTRL key and release, it will act as if it remains depressed. Pressing any key will release the CTRL key, but will leave StickyKeys running. To turn off StickyKeys, press any modifier key (CTRL, ALT or SHIFT) along with any other key.

One caveat I would mention with this procedure. Once StickyKeys has been set up, it seems to load on my computer automatically at boot-up. This hasn't been a problem for me, since I just press a couple keys to turn it off, but I suppose if one forgot, it could cause some problems. Ya pays yer dime and ya takes yer chances. It's working well for me and, if you try it, I hope it'll work well for you too.

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:48 PM

Having played with my setup a little more, I'd suggest that the 'Turn Sticky Keys off if two keys are pressed at once' option, mentioned in step 5 above, NOT be used. Using it made turning Sticky Keys off very easy, but would also turn it off when I typed a capital in text chat - something I didn't necessarily want. Also, turning it off stopped the program from loading upon Startup. The five presses of the Shift key mentioned above acts as a toggle. Pressing Shift five times will turn on Sticky Keys (if the Shortcut option is set) and pressing five more times will turn it off.

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 12:13 AM

Refreshing, since it was discussed in the Mudcat Song Circle tonight. I've also found my old Win95 manual and can confirm that Accessibility Options were definitely available with that version too.

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 12:21 AM

It really does seem like a good idea to me Ivan.I hope others have noted it.

Jon

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 11:20 PM

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From:
Date: 16 Nov 00 - 01:44 AM

Ivan

was your last post supposed to mention that the screen -saver kicking in released the sticky key?

Yes folks, you should set your screen-saver to cut in at more than your longest song!

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 16 Nov 00 - 04:18 PM

Thanks, jacko, I forgot to mention that. Actually, I was just refreshing the thread. But jacko made an important discovery by having his screen saver start up and release the CTRL key (he was using StickyKeys, as outlined above) in the middle of a song. So remember to either disengage your screen saver during PalTalk or set it long enough so you can perform an entire song.

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 16 Nov 00 - 04:39 PM

One other suggestion I'd like to make. A number of people have ended up using PalTalk nicknames that bear no relationship to their Mudcat or old HearMe personas, which makes it sometimes difficult to sort out who's who in the Song Circle. A few have thought of what I think is a good idea if Paltalk rejects their Mudcat name, and that's using "mc_" in front of their Mudcat name as a PalTalk name. This serves to both identify them as Mudcatters and to allow them to use thier Mudcat identity.

If you've already signed up for a PalTalk nickname that's way different from your Mudcat name, and you'd like to take advantage of this suggestion, let me remind you that PalTalk allows multiple 'accounts' tied to the same email address. To add another nickname, when the PalTalk signon window appears, click on the arrow at the right of the Nickname box and select <New User>. Then click on the arrow at the right of the box that contains 'Logon to an Existing Account' and select 'Add a PalTalk Account to this Machine.' Click on 'Sign on' and you'll be given a registration window exactly like the one you first used to register. Enter the requested information and click 'Finish.' Just as before, you'll be sent an email to which you must respond to confirm your new nickname. Then, when you log on to PalTalk, you'll have both nicknames available on the signon screen, with the one you last used highlighted.

This might be a good way to add a 'listening' persona to your list as well, for use on those evenings when you won't be performing.

Subject: Some PalTalk Suggestions
From: IvanB
Date: 16 Nov 00 - 05:14 PM

A number of performers on both HearMe and PalTalk have been unable to broadcast with an acceptably high sound volume. Here's a suggestion that might enhance your volume:

1. Click on Start/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment/Sound Volume. On some machines "Multimedia' may substitute for 'Entertainment' in the above sequence. Alternatively, you can click on Start/Run and type in "sndvol32.exe" (without quotes) in the box, then click on OK or press the Enter key.

2. If the Microphone volume slider is not shown, click on Options/Properties and turn on the mic slider by clicking on the box at the left of 'Microphone.' Click on 'OK' or press the Enter key to accept.

3. If there is an 'Advanced' box at the bottom of the mic slider, go to step 4, otherwise click on Options once more and click on 'Advanced Controls' to turn it on.

4. Click on the 'Advanced' button on the mic slider. At the bottom left of the window that appears will be a check box with the legend '1 Mic Gain (+20dB).' If there is not an arrow in this box, click on it to turn it on. Click on 'Close' or press the Enter key.

This completes the process. Hopefully it will enhance your sound volume for PalTalk.

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:55 PM

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: IvanB
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 03:39 PM

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: Catrin
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 09:29 AM

Thanks Ivan - That is all really useful!!

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: mkebenn
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 10:47 AM

Thanks, Ivan, now all I need is the Mic LOL. Mike

Subject: RE: CTRL Key Hold Down for PalTalk
From: Catrin
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 10:39 AM

mike - you can pick up a mike for a tenner :-}