Notes on PM Desktop

I'm writing this from the PM QX perspective. The keystrokes for the BX can, and probably are, different. Refer to PM or JAWS documentation for those commands. You need to have both JFW 6.2 and PM version 3.0 installed in order to use PM Desktop.

You can use the PM Desktop program with either a USB or wireless connection. If you want a wireless card, then check out the hardware compatibility list on PacMate Gear. Many have and use the SanDisk CF Connect + 128MB + Wi-Fi card, and others like the Ambicom or other cards. Prices will vary depending on what you want.

1. To start PM Desktop, you must start it from the PC/laptop that you have JFW loaded onto. Go to the Start menu, then JAWS 6.2 (or whatever the program icon is called), then Tools, then PAC Mate Desktop. You can send this to the Desktop for easier access, or if you're running Windows XP, pen it to the Start menu.

2. To start the program from your PM, after its started on the ddesktop: you will first need to open Active Sync on your PM. It might have already have popped up if you're using a USB connection. When it comes up, press Alt, then arrow to and press Enter on Sync. This will start the sync process, if it has not already started. Once this is done, you can press Insert+Shift+F4. Insert is also called the JFW key, and unless you have changed this in the settings, you can also use the Caps Lock key as the JFW key.

This is a toggle command, which means that if you need to check something on your PAC Mate, like amount of battery percentage left on the Today screen, you can turn off the PM Desktop with the Insert+Shift+F4 command, go to the Today screen, and then toggle the program back on again. This is handy if you want to bring up the FS Commander program (free from Freedom Scientific), and turn on your TV or stereo.

3. To stop using the PM Desktop program, go to Active Sync on your PM, hit the Alt key, and arrow to and press Enter on the Stop item. This will stop wireless syncing between the PM and PC, and allow you to remove your wireless card. If you're using a USB connection, then simply remove the cable from your PM or PC. Note that since you stopped the PM Desktop utility, this in effect has unloaded JFW from your PC. You will need to start JAWS again from the shortcut on the Start menu or your Desktop, or however you start JFW. If you don't have icons on your desktop or Start menu for JAWS, you may have to restart your computer.

When not running PM Desktop, you can go to the JFW Basic Settings dialog, found in the Options menu, and hit Enter on the Advanced button. This will take you to a smaller dialog with two check boxes. The first controls where the speech goes, and the second controls the Braille. If these boxes are checked, then the speech/Braille will come through your PM. If they are not checked, then the speech or Braille will come through the desktop. Once you finish checking or unchecking, press Enter on the OK button, then tab to and press Enter on the OK button in the Basic Settings, which closes the dialog.

These check boxes are useful if you want to move around your house or apartment and still be able to hear and feel what your desktop outputs with your PM. I've heard of people who do this, control their desktop and have the speech and Braille come through their PM, while they're sitting on their patio. One reason why you might not want the boxes checked would be if you live in an efficiency, like I currently do, and might want the speech to come through your computer speakers, but want the Braille to come through the PAC Mate.

Have fun!