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Giving a voice to children who struggle to communicate.

SAW Support

Some common problems encountered when using our SAW (Special Access to Windows) software.

Although we don't have the facilities to offer a dedicated telephone support helpline, you can email any software queries to support@ace-centre.org.uk and we'll try our best to help you. Known bugs, development ideas and other information can be found on the Oastsoft SAW Trac pages

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SAW does not start in 'Run' or 'User' mode

This happens when you open SAW itself rather than a selection set. When a selection sets is opened it is loaded into SAW and goes into User mode automatically.

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SAW doesn't 'speak'

There may be a number of reasons why SAW won't speak using text-to-speech:

  • The selection set(s) have not been configured for text-to-speech.
  • SAPI 4 or SAPI 5 aren't installed.
  • No SAPI voices have been installed.
  • The volume for WAV output has been turned down.
  • No speakers have been connected or they haven't been switched on or powered up (perhaps flat batteries).
  • SAW's speech settings have not been configured.
  • 'Send to Speech Engine' has been disabled in the settings.

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My switches don't work

If you have a normal games joystick plugged in AND a USB joystick, box or cable, then the USB one is disabled in Windows XP. Use a standard USB or Games port joystick and rewire it for switches.

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SAW is not doing anything when I select an item

Make sure that the application has the focus (click in its window) and that the 'application' box is ticked in Output Settings.

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I can't see all of the selection set in the SAW window. How do I get it back?

You can't make a SAW window greater than the size of the screen. The window may be at its maximum size and the selection set was created in a higher resolution screen (800 x 600 say) and you are using a lower one (640 x 480 say). The solution is:

  • Stop the selection set running
  • Set AutoResize on
  • Make the Window smaller
  • Set AutoResize off
  • Make the Window larger again
  • Do this until you can see the whole of the selection set again.

Now save the selection set in its new size and it should come up like that from now on unless you change the resolution of your screen again.

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I can't see all or any of the SAW Window on the screen.

SAW should put off-screen selection sets in the top left hand corner of the screen. However, the window may have been created in a higher resolution screen (800 x 600 say) and you are using a lower one (640 x 480 say).

  • Drag the title bar of the window until you can see all of the window.
  • Stop SAW running (Control + R)
  • Save the selection set in its new position (Control + S)
  • Run the selection set again (Control + R)

If the window does not appear at all look for Saw32.ini in the Windows folder and edit the second line to:

Window=0, 0, 200, 200

Save the file and re-start SAW

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Nothing is being sent to the word processor or other application.

There can be two reasons for this. Either the word processor or application that you are trying to use does not have the current focus (click in the window of the application to correct this), or the setting to send to the application is switched off. In the latter case:

  • Stop SAW Running (Control + R)
  • Select the Special menu - Edit I/O Settings
  • Choose the 'Output Settings' tab
  • Make sure that send to 'Application' is ticked
  • Choose the Input 'Settings tab'
  • Tick 'Save current settings as default on OK'
  • Click OK

Then run SAW again (Control + R)

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SAW crashes when I try to open the Edit I/O settings or test the speech.

The problem may be due to TextSpeak not being registered properly. Unregister it by choosing 'Run from the 'Start' menu' and enter:

regedit /u "C:\program_files\SIHdev\TextSpeaker\TextSpeaker.OCX

and then register it again with:

regedit "C:\program_files\SIHdev\TextSpeaker\TextSpeaker.OCX

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I have used exec item <id> in SAW as a command but nothing happens.

The item being executed must have a written script - a default script in the exed-ed item will not be executed.

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How can I make an item carry out the command of another item a number of times?

Just add in the exec item <id> command a number of times in the script.

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I can't type into entry boxes or search boxes in Internet Explorer

This is a problem for mouse/pointer click (Direct mouse setting) users. Switch users and dwell select users do not have this problem. The workaround at the moment is to use Mozilla Firefox, which seems to work fine.

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giving the gift of communication