StreamText Linking

 

 

 

StreamText linking sends the transcript from the Transcriber computer to the StreamText server on the internet.  Readers may read the live transcript at the StreamText web site by using standard web browsers.

StreamText has the advantage that readers don't need to install special TypeWell software; any web browser will suffice.  However, the StreamText display is not as sophisticated as TypeWell Reader software; it doesn't show style info like bolding, or math info like superscripts.  Furthermore, StreamText has a more primitive way of handling edits to previous text: it deletes everything back to the point where the transcriber is editing, then restores it only when the transcriber is again transcribing at the end of the document.  This causes the intervening text to disappear from the reader's display during editing.  It's recommended that transcribers refrain from editing text that's more than a few words back while using StreamText, to avoid confusing the reader.

Pricing of StreamText linking is different, too.  TypeWell has the ability to connect to StreamText, but StreamText is a separate company.  You must arrange an account with the StreamText company to pay by the hour for the use of this service.  Please contact StreamText.Net for details about purchasing an account for the use of StreamText. 

Once the StreamText.Net Connector application is installed on the transcriber's computer and you have scheduled a StreamText "event" for a particular class or meeting, operation of the system is straightforward:

• The transcriber signs into StreamText.Net and "starts" the scheduled event.
• The transcriber launches the Connector application to connect to the StreamText server.
• The transcriber opens the TypeWell program and links to StreamText.
• The reader views the real-time transcript in a web browser.

Once you install the Connector application (below), you will be prompted for your StreamText login email/password before you can link the application with TypeWell.

Installing the StreamText.Net Connector

You need to install the Virtual COM Ports software and then install the StreamText.Net Connector application.  This software connects TypeWell Premium Transcriber to the StreamText server.

1. Contact StreamText.Net to set up a StreamText account.
2. Follow the StreamText directions to download and install the Virtual COM Ports and the Connector applications.  During this process you will need to "Accept" the .NET Framework Client Profile.  If you don't have the Windows Installer 3.1 prerequisite that the directions mention, it is available at the Microsoft Download Center.
3. Once installation is complete, the Connector application will launch.  The first time the Connector application launches, you will be prompted for the email address and StreamText password that you got with your account in step 1.  The Connector application will verify your login credentials and then open.

Once installation is complete, proceed to the configuration section, below.

Configuring StreamText.Net Connector

Once installed, you must configure the Connector to a COM port that TypeWell can see.

1. Launch the StreamText.Net Connector application.
2. In the "Write To" box, click the radio button for "COM Port."
3. In the "Connection" box, verify that the email address displayed is the one you use to log in to StreamText.
4. Click the "COM Port Number" button and select COM3 or COM4.
5. Click OK to save the setting.
6. Click the "Connect and Write" button.  When "Connected to" changes to "True," that means the Connector application has successfully connected to the StreamText server.  Then, once TypeWell is linked to StreamText (see below), "COM Port Connected:" should also change to "True."

Linking TypeWell Premium to StreamText

Once the Connector application is running, start TypeWell Premium Transcriber and:

1. Go to the menu Link > By Streamtext.
2. Check the "Enable" checkbox, then choose either COM3 or COM4, whichever you chose in step 3 of the Connector configuration above.
3. Click OK to save the setting.
4. Make sure the top entry in the Link menu is checked, to turn on linking.

TypeWell will now automatically contact the StreamText server, by way of the StreamText.Net Connector application.  If everything is working correctly, TypeWell's Link menu will say "Linked" as usual, and the Connector application will display "True" for both the server connection and the COM Port connection.

NOTE: You will need to log in to the StreamText web site to schedule an "event" for each class in order for a reader to be able to watch the real-time transcript in a web browser.  More information is at the StreamText support site.