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Strategy

Orbit 20 Part 2

This second installment on the Orbit Reader 20 will focus primarily on the file structure.

In the first article in this series, we introduced the layout of the Orbit Reader and proceeded into the basic menu structure.  In this article, we will look at how files are organized and how to customize it by creating, removing folders and moving items to suit your needs. The third article will focus on reading and working on files.

File List and Organization

The Orbit Reader’s file/folder list is a bit different than many other conventional lists in that files and folders are intermingled and NOT separated according to type.  By default, the list is arranged alphabetically. So your “bookshare” folder might be located right next to a file with the name of “by the deep blue sea”. 

The type of information you can get about each of these is somewhat different though.

If you are focused on a file and press the right arrow, you will see the following come across your display:

If you are focused on a folder, however, and you press the right arrow, you will see the following items come across your display 

Here are some other useful navigation commands you can use in the file list:

Cutting, Copying, Pasting Files

Rather than “moving” files or folders from one location to another, the Orbit uses the familiar cut/copy/paste method.

NOTE: While you can certainly use the Space + X (dots one, three, four, six) to cut the file, I usually recommend that new users start by copying and pasting.  This ensures that if there is a mistake made that the file doesn’t completely disappear. So in the examples below, rather than walking through the cut command, we will use copy instead.  

With your file in focus:

Other File Management Commands

New file – Space + N (dots one, three, four, five)

New folder – Space + O (dots one, three, five)

Delete file/folder – Space + D (one, four, five)

Rename file/folder – Space + R (dots one, two, three, five)

Protect/unprotect file – Space + P (dots one, two, three, four)

Mark file – Space + M (dots one, three, four)

Edit current file – Space + E (dots one, five)

Edit last edited file – Space + dots one, two, four, six

A Word About File Formats

The Orbit Reader 20 does NOT have an internal translator.  This means that it can only accept and use specific file types.  Below are the file types and a bit about what to expect when loading and using them:

.BRF Files (Braille Ready Format)

These files are translated and formatted braille files.  They are most often files downloaded from Bookshare, the National Library Service, or other agencies.  

.BRL Files (Ballistic Research Laboratory CAD)

Very similar to .BRF files, .BRL files are translated but are unformatted braille files.  These files can be read on the Orbit. 

.TXT Files

Text files are NOT transcribed in braille, so they show up in uncontracted eight dot computer braille.  If you want to read contracted braille, it needs to be in one of the above formats. To do this, you will need to utilize a translation program such as Duxbury, BrailleBlaster, or other specific braille translation software.  

Next Installment

The next installment of this series will focus on reading files that are loaded onto an SD card on the Orbit.  

Resources

Want more resources?  You can view the Orbit User Guide here.  

Also, there is a YouTube playlist under development on the Orbit by yours truly (yes, I do realize that’s a pretty shameless plug).  The video below is Part Three focuses on the file manager.

 

By Snowflake_tvi

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