You can create visual scenes that include any of the following:
Hotspots on the image that speak
Hotspots on the image that produce sounds
Hotspots on the image that navigate to other vocabulary pages
Buttons surrounding the image that speak or navigate to other pages
This section explains how to create a button that will take you to the visual scene, how to create a background image for the scene, and how to add hotspots and other buttons. You can create the visual scene on the device or use ChatEditor to create the scene and transfer it to your device.
Before getting started: Make sure the image you want to use for the scene is on the device. You could use an image from the Chat software library, use the device’s camera to take a picture, or copy an image from your computer to the device. If you plan to use a sound that is not already available on the device, search the Internet for the appropriate sound in .wav format, download the file to your computer, and copy it to the device.
Create a Button Link for a Visual Scene Page
Go to the page that you want to link to your new scene.
Select Menu > Edit Mode.
Select and hold the button you want to link to the visual scene and select Edit Button. The Button Properties will be displayed
To select an image, select Import to use an image stored on the device or select Find to search for an image stored in the Chat library.
This image could be the same one you plan to use for the visual scene page. This will make it obvious to the user where the button will lead. The same image will be used for the background of the visual scene page.
Enter a label for the button.
Now you’re ready to create the visual scene page.
Create a Visual Scene Page
From the Button Properties, select the Actions tab and select the dropdown menu
to open a list of actions. Select Navigate. A list of pages will open, allowing you to select the page to navigate to.
Because you haven’t created the new page yet, select New from the bottom of the screen.
Enter a name for the new page.
Adjust the number of rows and columns, choosing the maximum number (19) for each. This will make it easier to create buttons that fit items in the image.
Select Import or Find and select the background image for your page.
Under “Alignment”, select Center or Fit. Fit will stretch the image to fill the page. If you stretch the image, the aspect ratio will not change, so it might not totally fill the page.
Select Save.
Select Save again.
Now you’re ready to add your first transparent hotspot button.
Add a Transparent Hotspot Button on a Visual Scene Page
You could create a button that speaks the name of a thing, makes a sound, and/or navigates to another vocabulary page. This button will act as a hotspot when touched.
Select and hold the button cell located above and to the left of an object. A list of button options will appear.
Select Create Button to display the Button Properties.
Enter a message in the Message box.
Note: Because you don’t want anything to appear on top of the image, do not type a label.
Select the Style tab. The Button Style properties will be displayed.
Select Transparent. This will allow the image to show through the button. The image preview will display a checkerboard pattern to indicate transparency.
Note: If you do not want to add a sound or navigation, skip steps 6 and 7 and proceed to step 8.
To add a sound, select the Actions tab and select Play Audio. A list of options will be displayed. Select either Import from file or Choose existing recording.
To add navigation, select Navigate from the list of actions. A list of pages will be displayed. Select the page you want and select OK.
Select Save.
Select Save again. The checkerboard transparent pattern will appear in the button cell you selected.
Select and hold the transparent button, select Change Button Size, and adjust the vertical and horizontal cells using the + and - buttons.
Select Save. The transparent pattern will expand to the size you specified, showing the area the button will cover.
Note: You may need to change the button size several times to cover the area you want. Each time, simply press and hold on the button, select Change Button Size, and adjust the vertical and horizontal cells.
Create, resize, and save additional transparent buttons for other areas in the image.
When you finish, select Menu > Edit Mode to exit Edit Mode.
Modify a Button Action on a Visual Scene Page
To remove the Navigate action:
In Edit Mode (Menu > Edit Mode), select Edit Button and select the Actions tab to display the list of actions set up for the button.
Select the Navigate action to open a menu.
Select Remove. The Navigate action will disappear.
Select Save.
To add an action and change the order of actions:
In Edit Mode (Menu > Edit Mode), select Edit Button and select the Actions tab.
Select Clear Display. Clear Display will be added to the bottom of the list of actions set up for the button.
Select the Clear Display action to open a menu.
Select Move Up. Clear Display will move up one position.
Select Clear Display and Move Up again, so that Clear Display appears as the first action.
Select Save.
Alternative Option for Creating a Visual Scene
If you prefer to create your visual scene page first, and then create the button link, do the following:
Go to Menu > Edit Mode > Pages.
Select Menu > New Page.
Enter a name for the page.
Choose the maximum number of rows and columns (19 each).
Select Import or Find and add an image to the page.
Select Center or Fit. Fit will stretch the image to fill the page or most of the page.
Select Save.
Add buttons to the page.
When you finish adding buttons and have saved the page, go to the page that you want to link to your new scene and follow the procedure under “Create a Linking Button”.
Add Buttons Surrounding a Visual Scene Page
You may prefer to create a visual scene with buttons outside the image instead of hotspots on the image.
Copy basic function buttons from other pages and paste them onto your visual scene page. To copy and paste a button:
Select Menu > Edit Mode.
Navigate to a page that includes the button you want to copy.
Select and hold the button and select Copy Button.
Navigate to your visual scene page.
Press and hold the location to which you want to paste the button.
Select Paste Button.
Create additional buttons that will allow the user to tell a story about the scene.