

                                TexTS
                                =====

                           TEXt To Speech


TexTS is an application for vocalising text in a number of ways:

  To vocalise a text file drop the file on the TexTS icon. Vocalisation of
  the file can be terminated by selecting 'Stop vocalisation' from the icon
  bar menu.

  Text can be vocalised as it is typed by selecting 'Vocalise each char'
  or 'Vocalise each word' (or both together!) from the icon bar menu.
  'Vocalise each char' will vocalise each letter as it is typed, 'Vocalise
  each word' will vocalise complete words: A word is vocalised when the
  following space (or new line, or tab, etc) is typed.

  'Vocalise screen' will cause a string beneath the mouse pointer to be
  vocalised.



The 'Exceptions' file
=====================
Inside the application is a text file called 'Exceptions'. If you do not
like the way a word is vocalised, add it to the exceptions file - in
alphabetical order (currently it doesn't matter, but in future versions it
probably will). The first word on a line is the word or symbol to be
replaced and the rest of the line is the replacement string (ie one word or
symbol can be replaced by several words). 



Notes
=====
(1) There can be a long delay when vocalising a long string in an Edit
    window. This delay can be minimised by pointing near the start of the
    string.

(2) TexTS uses a pair of modules (VoiceSynth and TextTalk) written by David
    Knell of DT-Soft. He has given us permission to use these modules, but
    they must **NOT** go outside Acorn.

(3) As David Knell will be the first to admit, the quality of the speech
    leaves a lot to be desired. He's working on a better version...

Many thanks to Ran for the PointerUtils (now you know why he wrote
'PtrCopy'), and also for his help.



Bugs etc
========
David Knell's software

 'full' generates an error
 'knot', 'knight' etc are transcribed as 'kot' and 'kite'
 Initial 'x' is not pronounced as 'z'
 Single letters are pronounced phonetically, not by name.

The rest

  When 'Vocalising screen' is selected text in an adjacent window can be
  vocalised if the lines of text in the two windows overlap on the
  screen.

  Space (0x20) and other white space characters are not vocalised. This may
  be a nuisance when 'Vocalise by char' is selected as you have no feedback
  as to whether you have typed in the space.


To do
=====

  PtrUtils should return the y coordinate, and also work with fancy fonts.

  TexTS and PtrCpy cannot be used together.

  Pressing 'delete' can cause word to be revocalised.

  Remove unwanted modules on exit.

History
=======
0.01 (16 Sep 90)        Started
0.02 (7 Oct 90)         Released into Acorn

