Introduction
Contents
Orientation
Menu Bar
Blocks
Edit Block
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Tools Area  
 

The Tools Area is located in the center at the top of the screen just to the right of the Catalog and just to the left of the Blocks Area. The four tools in this area are:

   

Block-It / Unblock-It Button

 

The "Block-It" button , located in the left, upper corner of the tools area, allows you to group multiple Blocks into one Super Block (see Block/Unblock).

Speed Selection

 

The Speed Selection tool controls the playback speed of the music files. Its settings can be changed in two ways:

  1. You can change the tempo by pointing the cursor at the slider arrow and moving it right (for faster) or left (for slower).
  2. The current value of the play speed is displayed in the window to the left of the slider . Click on this number to highlight it, then change the speed to the desired value by typing in a number and then pressing Return or Enter key.

Play / Stop Button

 

The " Play / Stop " button is used for starting and stopping playback. It also indicates the current state of playback

A green triangle indicates that Impromptu is ready to play. Clicking the button will start playback. A grey button means that Impromptu is playing; clicking on the grey button will stop playback.

NOTE: If the Play button shows a green triangle, pressing the space bar will also start playback. While Impromptu is playing, pressing the spacebar will stop playback.

Cursor Selection

 

The Cursor Selection tool is an important tool used to interact with Impromptu. It is located in the lower right hand corner of the Tools Area . This tool allows you to select one of three cursors each with a unique function.

When a cursor type is selected, it will become highlighted, and the mouse cursor will take on the shape of that cursor. Click on a Block with the mouse cursor to perform its function.

The Hand Cursor - allows the user to highlight, move, and play Blocks in the Blocks Area and the Playroom Area . In the Blocks Area, click once to play a Block, click-and-drag to move a block from the blocks area nto the Playroom Area. In the Playroom Area, click once to highlight a Block, double click to play a Block. Click-and-drag a box around multiple Blocks to highlight all of them. Click-and-drag a Block / Blocks to move them around inside the Playroom

The Ear Cursor is used to play blocks in either the block area or the playroom. Click the block once to hear it.

The Magnifying Glass Cursor - when the user clicks on a Block with the Magnifying Glass Cursor, the Edit Window opens up to show the contents of the block and to allow the user to modify the Block. To open a Super Block, hold down the command key and click on the Super Block with the Magnifying Glass Cursor.

 

   
Impromptu 2.0 beta 1 © 2004 Jeanne Bamberger