Sharing pages on a DynaVox V or Vmax or Editing Software using Packages
January 2009
Creating a Package from Pages
Creating a package from pages is the preferred method for sharing Series 5 pages. This process generates a single file (with the .pak extension) that contains page files from your Series 5 device. This enables you to keep a separate copy of those files in another location. It also enables you to share those files with another Series 5 user, a different user on the same device, or a Windows computer running the Series 5 software.
When you create a package from pages, the software creates a .pak file that contains all of the custom symbols, background pictures or special features that are included on the pages that you put in the package. This streamlines the process of page sharing. It is especially easy to share a page set if all the included pages are grouped into one package.
You can create a package in the following locations:
- A folder on your V/Vmax device hard drive
- An external file sharing device (USB storage device, Compact Flash data card or CD)
- Note: All V/Vmax devices are compatible with a variety of USB storage devices (including jump drives and zip drives) and Compact Flash data cards. However, only open V/Vmax devices can burn files to CD using a USB-compatible external CD drive.
Note: While this set of steps applies to pages, popups and templates, only the term “pages” will be used throughout the steps. When directed to select a page file, simply select the type of file (page, popup or template) you want to use.
To create a package from pages, follow these steps:
- If you are creating the package on a file sharing device, connect it to your V/Vmax device (the dual USB host port is on the left side, the card slot is on the right side).If you are creating the package from the DynaVox Series 5 software on a Windows computer, connect the file sharing device to the appropriate port on your computer. (You should also launch the Series 5 software on your computer).
- Note: If you are using an open V/Vmax device, or the DynaVox Series 5 software on a Windows computer, a Microsoft window may appear and display the contents of the file sharing device (or ask what kind of action should be taken). Close this window by selecting the Close button [X] in the top right corner (or by selecting the Cancel button, if available).
- Select the Main Menu button in the title bar.
- Select Setup.
- Select Tools Menu.
- Select the Page Browser button.
- In the left viewport, select the folder that contains the pages that you want to include in the package. The contents of the folder will be shown in the right viewport.
- In the right viewport, select the check box beside the name of any page (or page set folder) you want to include in the package. You can choose multiple pages (or page set folders) for one package.
- Note: Select the Select All check box to select the check box for every folder or file in the right viewport.
- Select the Sharing Operations button.
- Select the Package from Pages button.
- Select the destination for the package you are creating. Use one of the following methods:
- To create the package on a file sharing device, proceed to step 11.
- To create the package in a folder on your V/Vmax device (or Windows computer) hard drive, proceed to step 12.
- To create the package on a file sharing device, proceed to step 11.
- To create the package on a file sharing device, complete this step:
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- In the left viewport, select the icon that represents the file sharing device that is connected to your V/Vmax device. The icon resembles a disk, and it typically has the drive letter E:, F: or G:.
- Proceed to step 13.
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- To create the package in a folder on your V/Vmax (or Windows computer) device hard drive, complete this step:
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- Use the left viewport to navigate to the folder where you want to create the package. Select the expansion box [+] next to a folder to see the sub-folders that it contains.
- Select the destination folder in the left viewport.
- If you are using a dedicated V/Vmax device, and you are creating the package so that it can be imported by another user on the same device, it must be located in the Shared folder. Select the Shared icon in the left viewport.
- If you are using an open V/Vmax device (or Windows computer), and you are creating the package so that it can be imported by another user on the same device, the easiest method (and best practice) would be to export the file to the Shared folder. Select the expansion box beside the drive C: icon, then select the expansion box beside the 5100 folder, and then select the Shared folder.
- If you are using a dedicated V/Vmax device, and you are creating the package so that it can be imported by another user on the same device, it must be located in the Shared folder. Select the Shared icon in the left viewport.
- Proceed to step 13.
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- Select the Name text box. The system keyboard will open.
- Enter a name for the new package.
- Select the OK button to close the system keyboard.
- Select the OK button when the package has been successfully created.
- Select the OK button to close the Page Browser menu.
- Select the OK button to close the Tools menu.
- You may disconnect the file sharing device if you wish.
The package (with the .pak extension) can now be found in the destination that you selected.
If you want to share the package with another V/Vmax user (on the same or a different device), or with a Windows computer running the DynaVox Series 5 software, see Import a Package.
Importing a Package of Pages
You can import a package file (.pak) into your Series 5 software. This enables you to incorporate sets of pages and their support files (custom sounds, symbols, pictures, videos, etc.).
In order to successfully import the package, it must be stored in one of the following locations:
- A folder on your V/Vmax device (or Windows computer) hard drive
- An external file sharing device (USB storage device, CompactFlash data card or CD)
- Note: All V/Vmax devices are compatible with a variety of USB storage devices (including jump drives and zip drives), CompactFlash data cards and USB-compatible external CD drives (CDR/W).
To import a package, follow these steps:
- If the package is stored on a file sharing device, connect it to your V/Vmax device (the dual USB host port is on the left side, the card slot is on the right side). If you are using an external CDR/W drive, make sure that the CD that contains the file is loaded in the CDR/W drive. You may also have to plug the CDR/W drive into a wall outlet for power. If you are importing to a Windows computer that is running the DynaVox Series 5 software, connect the file sharing device to the appropriate port on your computer. If your computer has an internal CD drive, you can use it to import a file from a CD. (You should also launch the Series 5 software on your computer.)
- Note: If you are using an open V/Vmax device, or the DynaVox Series 5 software on a Windows computer, a Microsoft window may appear and display the contents of the file sharing device (or ask what kind of action should be taken). Close this window by selecting the Close button [X] in the top right corner (or by selecting the Cancel button, if available).
- Select the Main Menu button in the title bar.
- Select Setup.
- Select Tools Menu.
- Select the Page Browser button. You can import the contents of the package into an existing page set, or you can import the package contents into a newly-created folder to keep them separate from your other pages. If you want to add the package contents to an existing page set, continue with step 6. If you would prefer to import the package contents into a new folder, proceed to step 7.
- Select the destination folder for the package files. Use one of the following methods:
- To save the package files in an existing folder, proceed to step 7.
- To save the package files in a new folder, proceed to step 8.
- To save the package files in an existing folder, proceed to step 7.
- To save the package contents in an existing page set, complete this step:
- Select the appropriate folder in the left viewport. If the folder you want to use is a sub-folder of another folder, you must first select the expansion box (+) beside the larger folder (or double-select the folder).
- 2. Proceed to step 9.
- Select the appropriate folder in the left viewport. If the folder you want to use is a sub-folder of another folder, you must first select the expansion box (+) beside the larger folder (or double-select the folder).
- If you are creating a new folder for the package contents, complete this step:
- Select the folder in which you want to create a new folder. If the new folder should be on the top level, select the Top level folder. If the new folder should be placed within an existing folder, select the appropriate folder.
- Select the New Folder button. The system keyboard will open.
- Enter a name for the new folder.
- Select the OK button to close the system keyboard. The new folder will be highlighted in the left viewport.
- Proceed to step 9.
- Select the folder in which you want to create a new folder. If the new folder should be on the top level, select the Top level folder. If the new folder should be placed within an existing folder, select the appropriate folder.
- Select the Sharing Operations button.
- Select the Import Package button.
- Select the location that contains the package you want to import. Use one of the following methods:
- If the package is on a file sharing device, proceed to step 12.
- If the package is in a folder on your V/Vmax device (or Windows computer) hard drive, proceed to step 13.
- If the package is on a file sharing device, proceed to step 12.
- To import from a file sharing device, complete this step:
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- In the left viewport, select the icon that represents the file sharing device that contains the file that you want to import. Typically, this is drive E:, F: or G:.
- Proceed to step 14.
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- To import from another folder on your V/Vmax device (or Windows computer) hard drive, complete this step:
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- Use the left viewport to navigate to the folder that contains the package that you want to import. Select the expansion box [+] next to a folder to see the sub-folders that it contains. Select a folder to see its contents in the right viewport.
- If you are using a dedicated V/Vmax device, and you are importing the package from another user on the same device, the package should be Shared folder. Select the Shared icon in the left viewport.
- If you are using an open V/Vmax device, and you are importing the package from another user on the same device, it could be in any folder outside of the C:)00User Files folder. To open the Shared folder (the preferred location for exported packages), select the expansion box beside the drive C: icon, then select the expansion box beside the 5100 folder, and then select the Shared folder.
- If you are using a dedicated V/Vmax device, and you are importing the package from another user on the same device, the package should be Shared folder. Select the Shared icon in the left viewport.
- Proceed to step 11.
- Select the Show All Directories check box.
- In the right viewport, select the name of the package file you want to import.
- Select the OK button to close the Select Package menu.
- You may be asked if you want to overwrite pages with conflicting names. As the new package is imported, the DynaVox Series 5 software will check to see if any pages in the package have the same name as pages that already exist anywhere in the active user. Two different pages with the same name cannot exist within one user.
- If you want to automatically overwrite your existing pages with new pages from the package, select the Yes button.
- If you want to look at each conflict on an individual basis, select the No button. Each time the software finds a page in the package that has the same name as an existing page you will be given three choices. You can choose to rename the existing page, not to import the conflicting page from the package, or replace the existing page with the one in the package.
- An hourglass icon will be displayed while the pages are being imported. This process may take a moment.
- If you want to automatically overwrite your existing pages with new pages from the package, select the Yes button.
- Select the OK button when the pages have been successfully loaded.
- Select the OK button to close the Page Browser menu.
- Select the OK button to close the Tools menu.
- You may disconnect the file sharing device if you wish.
The contents of the package are now available in the destination folder that you
selected for the active user.
—
Source: This information is taken directly from the DynaVox Knowledgebase