Software Environment

Starting Version 1.1, the software supports UNICODE character set, on top of the ANSI counterpart. Now, mdb databases created by MS Access up to 2003, or those compatible with MS Jet Engine up to Version 4.0, or up to DAO 3.6.

The software has been compiled for two target platforms. One, the ANSI compilation for Windows 9x and ME series, and UNICODE compilation for Windows NT and XP group. The two compilations both support UNICODE data. The difference lies in the names of fields, tables or even queries. For these names, only the UNICODE version allows UNICODE character sets to be used. For the ANSI counterpart, only one single ANSI character set, that of the system, is supported. This may be largely a DAO limitation or MFC.

Another limitation for ANSI build is that basis values, as can be learned later, may be only in the ANSI codepage of the system. This is not a problem for the UNICODE build.

Setup Requirements

This is a software application which relies heavily on other components, ActiveX or otherwise, provided by the author himself, or by Microsoft Corporation, or by third parties, whether through Microsoft or independently. Hence, before this software application will run, those components have to be installed already.

ActiveX ncScrollbar by the Author

This scrollbar maybe obtained from either www.simtel.com or www.winsite.com . Please be patient with all the ads being flashed. It is part of the deal in exchange for freely hosting the controls. For now, the MDB Speaking Flashcards Freeware edition is available also in those websites. Make sure to obtain the latest version 2.40. There is a bug in 2.30 which has been emphasized in the Commander as can be learned later on.

When the software technology is obtained, this is in a zip format. Unzip the technology. There are two versions of the scrollbar, the ANSI and the UNICODE. The former works with all Windows desktop or laptop platforms, while the latter for the NT’s and XP’s only. Please choose the appropriate version, and register it to your system.

If you do not have a program to register ActiveX, please follow this:

Copy the OCX and LIC files to the directory of the MDB Speaking Flashcards software application.

Download by clicking this Setup file . Unzip the file and copy the program SETUP.EXE and the accompanying OCI file to the directory of the MDB Speaking Flashcards software application.

When all the files have been transferred to the same directory, run setup.exe. Click Open item in the File menu, then choose the OCI of the scrollbar. Click the register button from the toolbar. Alternatively, click the Register item in the Action menu.

Follow the screen. Hopefully the ActiveX would have been registered.

DAO 3.6 by Microsoft Corporation

This component is required for all DAO database applications like the MS Acess 2000 or later, or the MDB Speaking Flashcards software application. This is freely distributed by Microsoft. This is installed by MS Access or MS Office by Microsoft, or programming languages sold by Microsoft. This may also be bundled with DAO-aware applications.

To check whether the computer has this component is to run the program and switch to Database View. Try loading a database file. If there is no problem along the way, then it should have been installed already.

Otherwise, go to the Microsoft website to obtain and install the needed file: Dao360.dll. For Windows 9x, ME platform and Windows NT 4.0, please install the Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 7.0. Please click this link: . (To launch it in another window, right-click it and choose Open in Another Window item from the pop-up menu. This way, this webpage will not be lost.)

For other platforms , please install the Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8.0. Please click this link: .

Just follow the instructions there.

For advanced programers who want to free up some space, other files included with the service packs are not needed by the MDB Speaking Flashcards, can be safely removed as long as no other applications depend upon them.

SpeechAPI.exe by Microsoft Corporation

This file is included with the MDB Speaking Flashcards zip file. After unzipping the latter, just look for the SPEECHAPI.EXE and run it to install the SAPI binaries. However, the speech engines should be obtained separately and installed in the computer, if they are not yet installed.

Please take note that the Freeware edition of the MDB Speaking Flashcards only recognize SAPI 4.0 compliant speech engines, like the ones freely available and downloadable later. SAPI 4.0 and SAPI 5.0, and later, compliant speech engines are recognized and supported only by the Commercial edition.

Text-To-Speech Engines

There are free and commercial speech engines available in the market. The following are freely downloadable SAPI 4.0 compliant speech engines available in the www.microsoft.com website. After downloading, just double-click on the file, and follow the screen. The speech engine should be available to the MDB Speaking Flashcards. If currently running, however, please close the application first and then reopen it.

Now, please click on the appropriate links. If these fail, please go to the www.microsoft.com website and search for MS Agent component. The language-specific speech engines should be made available following the link downloadable user components of the MS Agent.

American English

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British English

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Dutch

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French

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German

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Italian

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Japanese

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Korean

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Portuguese

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Russian

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Spanish

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