1. The layout of the Keyboard in terms of the location of the various keys viz. alphabet letters, numerals, punctuation marks, cursor controls, function keys, key combinations for different functions as described below, etc must be taught first and the user asked to memorise their location and master their use by systematic practice.
(See the Page on the Use of the ASCI Keyboard) The general approach used in teaching the use of a typewriter can be followed.

    2. The Trainer should study, and whenever necessary, refer to the comprehensive on-line Help available through the Main Menu.The on-line Help covers only the features of the basic Windows version for use by the sighted, and does not cover the special sound-related features that have been added later in the enhanced Windows version for the use of the Visually Handicapped. These features are therefore listed out and explained below.

    3. The following are the features / settings which may be set with the assistance of a sighted Helper, even though Hot Key sequences are available for setting these and can be used by the User himself or herself :

(a) The Sound Controls Option under the View item of the Main Menu : This may be used for changing and testing the Pitch, Frequency and Playback Rate (Speed) of speech in English or the selected Local Language.

(b) The PLAY and STOP buttons in the Toolbar (which can be displayed or hidden through a View Menu Option) can be used by a Helper to start or stop the reading of the file on display on the screen. Reading can also be limited to any block of text selected with the mouse (by a sighted person).

(c) There may be still many other occasions and operations requiring the assistance of a sighted Helper to help the User.

4. The following are features / settings under the MODE item of the Main Menu, that can be set by the User himself or herself, using the Hot Key sequences noted below :
ALT-M followed by K : The KEYSOUND feature -
        To enable or disable speaking each   key that is pressed.
ALT-M followed by W : The WORDSOUND feature -
        To enable or disable speaking each completed word.
ALT-M followed by L : The PLAYLINE feature -
        To enable or disable speaking each completed text line.
ALT-M followed by N : The NOSOUND feature -
        To disable all the above speech modes
ALT-M followed by A : The ALLMODES feature -
        To enable or disable all the above speech modes

5. General Operational Features for the Trainee to use the Language Editor without assistance :

(1) The Computer can configured to automatically bring up the DOS Prompt or the Windows Opening Screen, or the Windows Language Editor when power is switched on. In such a case, the User can himself or herself switch the computer on and get started as indicated in Para 2 below. (If the System is not so configured, a sighted
Helper will have to help to load the Program). Once the Windows Language Editor is loaded and announces "New File", the Trainee can start editing operations as indicated below from Para 3 onwards.

(2) (a) If the System is configured to open with the DOS Prompt, the User should type IITMFCED and press and after a lapse of 10 seconds press once again, to indicate acceptance of Conditions of Use of the Mbrola Public Domain Sound Software which presents an acceptance window. Thereafter the Windows Language Editor loads and presents a clear editing screen and announces "New File".
     (b) If the System is configured to open with the Windows Opening Screen,
(and assuming that the the Windows Language Editor icon is positioned as the topmost
icon on the leftmost column of icons on the Windows opening screen, the User should,
after the lapse of 10 seconds of the Windows opening chime, click the left button of the mouse once to select some icon at random, then press the LEFT ARROW key six or seven times to move the selection highlight to reach and stop on an icon on the left-most column of icons, and then press the UP ARROW key six or seven times for it to reach and stop on the topmost icon on the leftmost column. Then the User should press <ENTER> and after a lapse of 10 seconds, press <ENTER> once again for acceptance of Conditions of Use of the Mbrola Public Domain Sound Software which presents an acceptance window. The Windows Language Editor will now load and announce "New File".
    (c) If the System is set to directly bring up the Windows Language Editor on power up, then 10 seconds after the Windows opening chime, the User should press <ENTER> to indicate acceptance of Conditions of Use of the Mbrola Public Domain Sound Software. The Windows Language Editor will now load and announce "New File".

(3) The User should type ALT-F then N to ready the system for text entry of a new file.

(4) The User should type ALT-F then O, followed by typing the name of a file that already exists and press . On this the programme announces the opening of that file. That file can then be further edited, printed etc

(5) The User should type ALT-L followed by a letter to choose or change the Language of text entry, viz. S for Sanskrit H for Hindi, T for Tamil, L for Telugu, K for Kannada, M for Malayalam, B for Bengali, G for Gujarati, R for Granth and I for  IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet ie diacritised English. The name of the Language
chosen is announced. Mixing of languages during text entry is feasible

(6) The User should type ALT-F, then S and the programme announces saving the file. If it is a new file being saved forthe first time, a save window appears and the User should type in a name for the file and press <ENTER>

(7) The User should type ALT-F, then X to close the Editor programme, and it will then announce "Exit". The computer can then be switched off

(8) During editing, the User can use the following Function/ Special Keys for the operations noted against each :
HOME- Move cursor to beginning of current line.
END - Move cursor to end of current line
F4 - Read the current line number.
F7 - Read the current file on displayfrom the beginning.
F8 - Stop reading the current file on display.
F9 - Switch from Local Language to English and back
F12 - Read current text line including spaces up to the current cursor position
          along with one character thereafter.
Left/Right Arrow - Move cursor left or right within a line to position where an
        error is heard in the speech feedback when F12 is pressed. Alternate between
        use of the Left/Right Arrow keys and the F12 key to quickly locate errors and
        correct them.
Up/Down Arrow - Read the current line and then move the cursor to the end of the
        previous line or the end of the next line.