
MessagEase(tm) V. 4.2
========================

The fastest, most ergonomic keyboard for Palm

Visit www.exideas.com for the latest updates

Also available are MessagEaseST (stamp) a powerful keyboard for 
your Graffiti area, and MessagEaseKB (keyboard) an optional 
replacement for your Palm QWERTY keyboard (also free!). 
Download them at www.exideas.com today! 

MessageEaseKB, Palm OS keyboard replacement, free and complete with no 
expiration date. You can ownload it from:
www.exideas.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MessagEase/ 
to get more information.

Thanks for Downloading MessagEase(tm).  We are sure you'll enjoy the fast 
and convenient text entry and its entertaining game too!  It also allows 
you to type Japanese (Katakana) text.  This Program is provided complete, 
and with no expiration date.  If you like this program, please visit our 
website and contribute $4 to enable us produce more quality software.

MessagEase keyboard is based on the innovative text entry idea that allows 
more frequent letters to be entered with a single tap on a soft key.  Less 
frequent letters and all other special characters found on a regular keyboard 
are Entered with a single drag.  See below for how to enter text, how to run 
the game, or how to type in Japanese

Installation:
==============

You need to install:
MessagEase.prc	this is the MessagEase program

Just click on it to bring up your install tool.  Then when you synchronize your Palm, 
MessagEase.prc will be installed on your PDA.  I

Running MessagEase:
On your Palm, tap on the application button and find MessagEase icon. Tap on it

******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (4.2):
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Independent Macro files (not depending on MEKB or MEST)
enhanced hi-res graphics support




******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (4.0):
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MessagEase is now compatible with Palm OS 5.0



******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (3.6):
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Dragging-and-returning on ALL non-letter characters 
enters another character.  For example, while dragging 
from key I to key N enters a ?, dragging-and-
returning there enters .  Furthermore, all such new 
locations are programmable: you can store any non-
letter character there, recalling it with a drag-and-
return, without a Memory-Recall prefix.
This new feature particularly helps applications or 
languages requiring other characters beside those 
available with drags. For example, while the drag-and-
return on # enters , (pre-inserted), you can 
store any character, say  there.

Now you can save a single char in a instant memory by 
character code. For example, to save , you can 
enter <command>191, highlight all four characters, and 
save it at any programmable single character instant 
Memory.  Then dragging, or dragging and returning, on 
that location will enter . This is particularly 
useful for saving characters like <cursor right> that 
cannot be entered easily

The database used to store all your Memory is unified 
such that memory defined by any of the three programs, 
MessagEase, MessagEaseKB, or MessagEaseST are shared. 
This database is called MeData-DBME and contains all 
your Memories, instant memories, and single character 
instant Memories. To back up all your Memories, save 
this database. 
You can rename your current Mest database containing 
your present Memories (MEDATA-SBN3) to (MeData-DBME), 
preserving your current memories


******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (3.1):
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Bugs fixed:
- Solved the problem resetting POSE.
- Game or Speed score was display could corrupt after changing the levels
 
******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (3.0):
******************************************************************************* 
- Fixed problems surfacing in European OSs when combine command was invoked.
- Added Line/page scrolling
- Made the game playable with MeST

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NEW TO VERSION (2.6):
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- Augmented and improved game words.  
- Improved the game evaluation function.  
- Improved circle on-spot capitalization

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NEW TO VERSION (2.5):
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Combined Busy/Blank keyboards: Now an up-drag on the space bar will bring up the
busy keyboard from either the blank keyboard or the regular keyboard.

The keyboard's punctuation assignment was synchronized to that of MessagEaseST.



*******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (2.4.3):
******************************************************************************* 
Minor bug fixed:

- Cursor control now works if you have text selected.

*******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (2.4.2):
******************************************************************************* 
User selectable drag length: Allows you to customize the mimimum amount you'll 
need to drag before it is registered as a drag and not a tap.

Fixed a bug affecting Combine command when used with Palm OS international
version.
*******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (2.4):
******************************************************************************* 
A small circle (on most frequent letters) and dragging-and-return (for less 
frequent letters) enters a capital letter.

Insert routine made faster. Very large text entry supported without slow down.


*******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (2.2.3):
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Levls added to the game so that the you can change the difficulty level.


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NEW TO VERSION (2.2):
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Code redesigned so that MathLib is no longer needed



*******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (2.0):
******************************************************************************* 
Redesigned Space key:  Space key its bigger and easier to hit!  Either tap or drag 
right on the space key to enter space. Dragging left will enter backspace, and 
dragging down will enter carriage return.  In number mode, a tap will enter 0 
and right drag will enter space.

Added large bold font to the font options.

Streamlined the positions of some of special characters: major punctuation marks 
are closer to the space bar now.


*******************************************************************************
NEW TO VERSION (1.8):
******************************************************************************* 

Memory capability: 
=================
You can store about 190 strings of any length  in locations addressable by characters. 
To save a string: enter it and highlight it. Then enter M-command TWICE 
(up drag from key i/3) then tap or drag on the desired address (e.g. a, n, etc). 
To recall the text you saved, enter the M-command once (up drag from key i/3) 
followed by the character address you entered when you saved it. 

Insert Time and Date:  You can insert time or date into your text by recalling 
Memories in locations "T" or "D" , respectively.


New "Options" descriptions:
===========================

Busy keyboard: Will show the special characters and less frequent letters on 
both alpha and numeric keyboards

Small keyboard: Will only have the most frequent letters on the letter keyboard 
and numbers on the number keyboard. You can use this keyboard when you feel you know your letter locations on MessagEase's keyboard. 

Left handed/right handed keyboards: Moves the keyboard to the left/right side 
of the screen.

Font selection: Change the font to what suits you and your application best.

Automatic copy to Clipboard: When selected, MessagEase automatically copies 
either the entire text, or what you've selected and highlighted, to the system's clipboard when you exit MessagEase. This saves you a stroke if you cut and paste a lot. 

Automatic capitalization: When enabled, MessagEase automatically capitalizes 
on an empty buffer, and when the cursor follows a space before ".", "!", or "?". 

Other new features:

Keyboard Clicks: Each entry on the keyboard makes a clicking sound. 
Uncheck to silence the keyboard.

Game high score notice: High scores more than 1500 is validated with a c
ode. 

Blank Keyboard: For advance users, this options allows you to work with 
the keyboard without seeing the letters/characters marking.  Our experience 
has shown that this helps you learn the character positions.

You can scroll your text up and down by using Palm's up and down button.


To enter Text on MessagEase:
==============================
To enter most frequent 9 letters E, T, A, O, N, I, R, S, or H: Just Tap ONCE 
on its key. For example, to enter A tap on key marked by bold A in the (the 
top-left key).

To enter less frequent 8 letters: U, P, B, J, D, G, C, or Q: Drag from the 
center key (marked with O) toward that letter. For example, to enter U, drag up from the center key.

To enter less frequent 8 letters: V, L, X, M, F, W, Y, or K: Drag from its 
key toward the direction of that letter. 
For example, to enter V, drag diagonally towards the center key.

Entering Capital Letters:
==========================
Drag up on key marked with (123) to change to initalcap mode (Initialcap 
mode is indicated with a solid arrow on that key;  The shape of this arrow 
conforms to Palm's user interface convention.)  Drag up again to change to 
caplock mode (broken arrow shows).  Drag up again or drag down anytime to 
get back to the lowercase mode (gray arrow shows). MessagEase Automatically 
capitalizes when a period, question mark, or exclamation mark is followed 
by a space.

Entering Special Characters:
You enter special characters by dragging from its key toward its direction. 
If you want to see them while you type, you need to tap "123" to bring up 
the #/special character screen.  You can however enter special character 
from either screen. For example, on the numbers screen, drag from key 3 
to key 2 to enter"? Which corresponds to dragging from key I to key N on 
the "Ab" screen.  To enter @, drag diagonally from key 6 to key 8 which 
also corresponds to dragging from key R to key E.

Entering more special characters:
You can combine 2 characters to get special characters beyond those found 
on a regular computer keyboard.  You do this by entering each character 
then entering the combine command (drag up-left from key A). For example, 
to get "" enter "e", then enter "^", then enter combine (drag up-left 
from key A.  Additionally, if you just enter A and continuously use the 
combine command, MessagEase will run through all the "combining" 
possibilities for each letter.  By doing so you can potentially get 
more than 7000 characters.  Think Kanji! See the table below for all 
the combining possibilities.

Playing the game:
==================
MessagEase includes a fun and entertaining game.  Use the menu or 
command-G, to start the game.  You'll see the letters or characters 
drop from the top of the screen.  The object of the game is to enter 
the flying letters before they reach the bottom.  You score based on 
how fast you enter these letters.  The game will be over if three 
letters crash to the bottom without you typing them.  

This game is designed to increase your skill and enjoyment of using 
the keyboard.  You can practice each category of letters or special 
characters by choosing from the game option menu. (Tap on menu, then 
game, then options, or enter command-O to change the letter or 
character category being played.  If you score 500-1000 on all three 
categories, you can probably type more than 40 wpm with MessagEase.

Entering Japanese (Katakana):
To demonstrate the power and flexibility of MessagEase, we have 
included Katakana options in this version.  To activate Katakana 
typing, tap on Menu, then Help then, Japanese Katakana) option.  
The Katakana keyboard design is the result of the application of 
MessagEase to Katakana characters.  By using Katakana frequency 
data, this keyboard layout allows most frequent characters to be 
entered by a single tap.  Less frequent characters are entered with 
a drag, according to the same technique used for the roman-letter 
keyboard.   You can even play the game using Katakana characters; 
that will be a great way to improve your keyboard skill and Katakana 
character recognition.

Legal Stuff:
============
This program is provided as a freeware.  Therefore rights are hereby 
granted for its non-commercial distribution.  All rights of commercial 
use of this program, including but not limited to; porting it to use 
with other devices is strictly reserved.  MessagEase technology is 
protected by both U.S. and International patent and copyright laws.  
Its reproduction, modification, or reverse engineering is strictly 
prohibited. This program is provided "as is", with 
Absolutely no warranty expressed or implied. Use this software at your 
own risk. 

Please send feedback/comment to saied@exideas.com

Copyright (c) 2002 EXideas inc.

All rights are reserved.


Table of special characters:
==============================

To get 		enter	f	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	,	then enter	,	then the combined command
To get 	...	enter	.	then enter	.	then the combined command
To get 		enter	+	then enter	|	then the combined command
To get 		enter	+	then enter	+	then the combined command
To get 		enter	%	then enter	%	then the combined command
To get 		enter	S	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter	E	then the combined command
To get 	'	enter	<	then enter	'	then the combined command
To get 	'	enter	>	then enter	'	then the combined command
To get 	"	enter	`	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 	"	enter		then enter		then the combined command
To get 	-	enter	n	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 	-	enter	m	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	~	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 	(tm)	enter	T	then enter	M	then the combined command
To get 	(tm)	enter	t	then enter	m	then the combined command
To get 		enter	s	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter	e	then the combined command
To get 		enter	Y	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	!	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	c	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	L	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter	=	then the combined command
To get 		enter	Y	then enter	=	then the combined command
To get 		enter	|	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	S	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	s	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 	(c)	enter	c	then enter	o	then the combined command
To get 	(c)	enter	C	then enter	O	then the combined command
To get 	(c)	enter	o	then enter	c	then the combined command
To get 	(c)	enter	O	then enter	C	then the combined command
To get 		enter	<	then enter	<	then the combined command
To get over bar	enter	-	then enter	|	then the combined command
To get 		enter	-	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 	(r)	enter	r	then enter	o	then the combined command
To get 	(r)	enter	R	then enter	O	then the combined command
To get 	(r)	enter	o	then enter	r	then the combined command
To get 	(r)	enter	O	then enter	R	then the combined command
To get 		enter	-	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	+	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	-	then enter	+	then the combined command
To get 		enter	2	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	^	then enter	2	then the combined command
To get 		enter	3	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	^	then enter	3	then the combined command
To get 		enter	m	then enter	u	then the combined command
To get 		enter	M	then enter	U	then the combined command
To get para sign	enter	p	then enter	p	then the combined command
To get para sign	enter	P	then enter	P	then the combined command
To get 		enter	1	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	^	then enter	1	then the combined command
To get 		enter	>	then enter	>	then the combined command
To get 	1/4	enter	1	then enter	4	then the combined command
To get 	1/2	enter	1	then enter	2	then the combined command
To get 	3/4	enter	3	then enter	4	then the combined command
To get 		enter	?	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter	~	then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	A	then enter	E	then the combined command
To get 		enter	C	then enter	C	then the combined command
To get 		enter	E	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	E	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	E	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	E	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	I	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	I	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	I	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	I	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	D	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	N	then enter	~	then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter	~	then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	x	then enter	x	then the combined command
To get 		enter	X	then enter	X	then the combined command
To get 		enter	O	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	U	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	U	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	U	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	U	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	Y	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	I	then enter	P	then the combined command
To get 		enter	s	then enter	s	then the combined command
To get 		enter	S	then enter	S	then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter	~	then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	a	then enter	e	then the combined command
To get 		enter	c	then enter	c	then the combined command
To get 		enter	e	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	e	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	e	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	e	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	i	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	i	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	i	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	i	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	d	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	n	then enter	~	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter	~	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	-	then enter	:	then the combined command
To get 		enter	:	then enter	-	then the combined command
To get 		enter	o	then enter	/	then the combined command
To get 		enter	u	then enter	`	then the combined command
To get 		enter	u	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	u	then enter	^	then the combined command
To get 		enter	u	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	y	then enter		then the combined command
To get 		enter	i	then enter	p	then the combined command
To get 		enter	y	then enter		then the combined command

