IBM Softcopy Reader
Getting Started



Opening a book
To open a book:
  1. From the Menu Bar Choose File » Open.
  2. From the Look in panel, click the down arrow to display a list of drives that are physically on your workstation, or connected to your workstation through a network.
  3. Click the drive letter (C:, D:, etc.), then click the folder containing the book you want to open. The books contained in the folder will be listed.
  4. Highlight the book you want to open by clicking it, then click Open.
Using the Table of Contents
Once the book is open, the Table of Contents will be displayed on the left side of the Softcopy Reader window. You can go directly to any topic in the Table of Contents by double-clicking the topic. Unexpanded paths will have an  icon next to them. Click on this icon to expand or collapse the topic. To expand or collapse all topics, choose the View » Expand All or View » Collapse All from the main menu. There are several other ways to navigate, which are explained below.

Viewing pictures in the text
You can select if you want the pictures in the book to be automatically displayed in the text. From the Menu Bar, choose View » Pictures and click Show Pictures in Text. If you do not select this, you can view the pictures manually by clicking on the picture labels.

Using the toolbar
Navigate by All Topics (Table of Contents)
Clicking this icon expands the current topic (text and pictures) to the full size of the Book Reader window. The Table of Contents will open in a smaller floating window that you can position anywhere. Double-click a topic to open it in the main window.
Also available from the menu: Navigate » By Table of Contents
Navigate by Revisions
If a book contains revisions this icon will be active. Click the icon and a window will open with the list of revised topics. Double-click a topic to open it in the main window.
Also available from the menu: Navigate » By Revisions
Navigate by Topics Seen
Displays the history of topics visited. Double-click a topic to open it in the main window.
Also available from the menu:  Navigate » By Topics Seen
Back
Moves to the previous topic visited.
Forward
Moves to the next topic visited (after using the Back button).
Go to Previous Topic
Moves to the previous sequential topic in the book.
Also available from the menu:  Navigate » Go To Previous Topic
Go to Next Topic
Moves to the next sequential topic in the book.
Also available from the menu:  Navigate » Go To Next Topic
Search
Opens the Search Book Window.
Also available from the menu:  Search » Search Book
Display Search Results
Displays a list of search results from the last search performed. Double-click a search result to see the topic containing the result.
Also available from the menu:  Search » Display Search Results
Go To Previous Topic Match
Moves to the topic for the previous sequential result from the last search.
Also available from the menu:  Search » Go To Previous Topic Match
Go To Next Topic Match
Moves to the topic for the next sequential result from the last search.
Also available from the menu:  Search » Go To Next Topic Match
Create New Note
Displays the New Note input window which allows you to create a new note attached to the currently displayed topic.
Also available from the menu:  Notes » New
Display Notes List
Displays the Notes List window showing all notes in this book. Double-click the notes in the list to see the topic containing the note.
Also available from the menu:  Notes » Display Notes List
Print
Opens a Print window allowing you to select the printing of the current or selected topics.
Also available from the menu:  File » Print
Help
Displays this help screen.
Also available from the menu:  Help » Getting Started

Using the font selector fields
Font Lets you select a font style that best suits your viewing needs. Click the drop-down box to select from the list of available fonts.
TOC Size Lets you select the font size that is used to display the table of contents. Click the drop-down box to select from the list of available sizes.
Topic Size Lets you select the font size that is used to display text in the topic window. Click the drop-down box to select from the list of available sizes.

Using the menu items
In addition to the functions that appear on the toolbar, there are several additional features that are available through the menus. These are:

File
Open... Opens a new book in the reader.
Book Description Displays additional book information.
Save Topic as HTML Allows you to save a topic as an HTML file.
Print Opens a Print window allowing you to select the printing of the current or selected topics.
Close Closes the Book Reader.


Edit
Copy Copies text highlighted in the Book Reader window to the clipboard.
Place Bookmark Places a bookmark on the current topic. The bookmarked topic will have an  icon under its heading. Using the Navigate » Go to Bookmark menu selection will bring the reader back to this topic from other places in the book.
Remove Bookmark Removes the previously-placed bookmark.
Select All Selects all topics in the Table of Contents.
Deselect All Removes all selected topics in the Table of Contents.
User Defined Directories Displays the User Defined Directories for Books, Bookshelves and Bookshelf Indexes window to allow changes to the user definedBooks and Bookshelf paths.


View
Expand All Expands all topics and sub topics to display the entire topic tree in the Table of Contents panel.
Collapse All Collapses all topics and subtopics to display only the top-level topics in the Table of Contents panel.
Pictures > Show Pictures in Text  This check box item determines whether pictures are displayed inline with the text. If not selected, the pictures may be opened manually by clicking on the picture labels. When opened manually, the pictures will be displayed in a separate window.
Definition lists > Compact if possible When this check box is selected, the definition term and description are displayed (if possible) on the same line. When this check box is cleared, the definition term and description are displayed on separate lines.
Build > Older version Controls possible "reflow" problems which may exist in displayed content. If text does not wrap properly across lines, select this check box and redisplay content.


Navigate
By Topics Opens the Table of Contents window. Double-click a topic to display it in the Book Reader window.
By Topics Seen Opens the Topics Seen window. Double-click a topic to display it in the Book Reader window.
By Revisions If a book contains revisions the By Revisions text bar will be active. Click on this bar and the Revisions window will open with the list of revised topics. Double-click a topic to display it in the Book Reader window.
By Figures Opens the Figures window. Double-click a figure in the list to display the topic in which it appears.
By Tables Opens the Tables window. Double-click a tablein the list to display the topic in which it appears.
By Index Opens the Index window and displays the book's index. Click the underlined topic numbers in the Index to go to the appropriate topic.
Go To Topic ID Opens the Go To Topic ID window. Enter the desired topic ID (e.g "2.0" or "GLOSSARY") in the Enter a Topic ID panel. The selected topic (if the ID is valid) will be opened in the Book Reader window.
Go To 
Bookmark
Returns to the topic previously bookmarked during the current session.
Go To
Previous Topic
Moves to the previous sequential topic in the book.
Go To Next Topic Moves to the next sequential topic in the book.


Search
Search Book Opens the Search Book window.
Display Search Results Displays a list of search results from the last search performed. Double-click a search result to see the topic containing the result.
Go To Previous Match Moves to the previous hit in the same topic.
Go to Next  Match Moves to the next hit in the same topic.
Go To Previous Topic Match Moves to the topic for the previous sequential  result from the last search.
Go to Next Topic Match Moves to the topic for the next sequential result from the last search.


Notes
New Displays the New Note input window which allows you to create a new note attached to the currently displayed topic.
Display Notes List Displays the Notes List window showing all notes in this book. Double-click the notes in the list to see the topic containing the note.


Help
Getting Started Displays this help screen.
User's Guide Opens the IBM Softcopy Reader User's Guide
About Softcopy Reader Opens the About Softcopy Reader window which describes the current version of the reader.


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International Business Machines Corporation.