This section is for those of you who want to quickly find out more about the significant differences between ActivInspire and its predecessors, ActivStudio and ActivPrimary. However, it also contains information that may be of general interest if you are new to Promethean software.
Throughout this section and throughout the help file, we show you the icons for both ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire Primary.
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Please note that there are literally hundreds of minor changes and improvements within ActivInspire that are too numerous to mention in this section. Please browse this complete help file and use the program to discover them all. |
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For a visual demonstration of what's new in ActivInspire, see the interactive online courses on Promethean Planet www.prometheanplanet.com/activlearning/online |
ActivInspire incorporates both ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire Primary. You can now switch between the two using the Configure panel on the Dashboard. The switch becomes effective next time you start ActivInspire.
Consistent cross-platform experience. ActivInspire looks, feels and behaves identically on WindowsTM, and Mac® platforms, simplifying your learning curve. Plus don’t forget Linux™. Yes we finally support it and it behaves in the same way there too!
ActivInspire contains fresh, new styling for both ActivInspire Studio and ActivInspire Primary. This clever makeover has been designed to blend the familiarity of the previous versions (including toolboxes and trays) with the intuitiveness and clarity of more conventional applications.
If you are not quite happy with the default look and feel, ActivInspire now offers you much greater customisation capabilities, including:
Quickly changing profiles (for example the layout
of ActivInspire) with Switch Profile
.
You can choose from these out-of-the box profiles:
1. At the Board
2. Authoring
3. Languages
4. Mathematics
5. Media.
Create, save and use your own profiles which you can share with others.
Automatic toolbox docking. Toolboxes and trays can automatically hide when not being used, or you can ‘Pin’ them to keep them visible.
Toolbox position flexibility – decide the best position to place or dock your toolboxes: left, right, top or bottom of the display.
Conventional Menubars. This optional feature provides a standard menubar, letting you access menus like File, Edit… and View.
Tabbed flipchart interface – Open multiple flipcharts and switch between them using Document Tabs.
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A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers |
Shapes have been given a major overhaul with the Shape Tool.
Some shapes have intelligent modifier points called shape points, where
you can alter the size of the arrow head on an Arrow Shape for example.
You can also manipulate the individual points that
make up the shape, allowing you to distort and morph them. There
are also new freeform and Bezier shape tools, plus
dotted and connective line tools. Shapes can also contain subtle gradient
fills (as can the page background).
Connector
This tool allows you to connect objects together with intelligent connector
lines, especially useful when working in Dual User mode (see below).
True annotation erasing with the Eraser
It now physically removes annotations and parts of annotations, as
opposed to magically hiding them (as in previous versions).
Magic Ink
This tool allows you to apply magic eraser ink which masks out objects
on the top layer. This replicates the Eraser Tool
of previous versions.
ActiVote and ActivExpression devices are now both fully supported directly within ActivInspire.
Labels
Your page objects can now be given a Label property that can act as
Tooltips or permanent descriptors.
Improved Maths Tools
Multiple rulers, protractors and compass tools can be opened on the
page. This is especially useful when in Dual User
mode (see below).
Desktop Tools
This floating tool feature allows you to quickly hide ActivInspire
and visit the Desktop in order to use some of the popular features, such
as the Camera , Screen
Recorder
and On-screen Keyboard
.
Express Poll
This feature allows you to quickly create an ad-hoc question for your
audience to answer using their ActiVote or ActivExpression
devices.
Marquee Handles have been dramatically improved. In addition to sizing and rotating an object, whenever you select objects you are provided with a range of default handle tools:
These include:
Transparency Slider. Quickly change the transparency of your selection.
Bring Forward / Send Backward. Alter the stacking order of your selection.
Toggle Grouped. Choose to group or ungroup your selection.
Duplicate. Choose to quickly duplicate your selection.
But we haven’t stopped there. If there are tools that you feel should be included (for example, Flip in X Axis), you can add them by simply customising the Marquee Handles within Edit Profiles > Commands.
Take a look. You will be amazed what you can add here.
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First steps with ActivInspire > Adding and manipulating shapes More about ActivInspire > Working with objects
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The Browsers encapsulate many the familiar concepts of the previous versions in one convenient location.
Page Browser
In addition to offering the same functionality as previous versions,
the Page Browser additionally lets you rearrange your flipchart pages
by dragging and dropping them directly within the Browser. You can also
drag pages from the Page Browser and drop them on any flipchart tab to
copy pages between open flipcharts. The Page Browser
continues to appear as a tray in ActivInspire Primary.
Resource Browser
A direct replacement for the Resource Library, this combines the folder
tree with the folder contents view. The Resource
Browser continues to appear as a tray in ActivInspire Primary.
Object Browser
Provides an object tree view, giving a more structured approach to
viewing and manipulating all objects on the page. Here you can quickly
view and alter the order, layer, visibility and lock states of one or
more page objects.
Notes Browser
The new location for Page Notes with full WYSIWIG
editing.
Property Browser
The new home of the Object properties. This provides you with a more
conventional grid list for modifying single or grouped object properties.
Properties are arranged in convenient groups including: Appearance, Location,
Container and Restrictor properties.
Action Browser
The new home of the Object Actions and Action Properties. Each
action now has an icon representation and the actions can be more easily
applied to one or more objects on the page. Here
you will also find a selection of pre-made action objects
that can be dragged directly onto the page.
Voting Browser
Here we’ve combined everything to do with registering, assigning and
enabling your ActiVote and ActivExpression devices.
Also includes registration of your ActivSlate devices.
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A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Studio > ActivInspire's Browsers A tour of ActivInspire > Exploring ActivInspire Primary > ActivInspire's Browsers |
The new, revolutionary and truly incredible ‘Dual User’ mode allows two people to work simultaneously on the ActivBoard using one pen each. This opens up a whole new world of collaborative possibilities within the classroom.
The ‘Dual User’ experience offers true advances in shared interactivity by careful styling of dual toolboxes and trays (ActivInspire Primary).
The fully revamped Resource Library contains many flipchart page templates and activities designed for Dual User mode.
ActivInspire no longer requires the connection of an
ActivBoard in order to be fully functional. You will find that Handwriting
Recognition
will now work away from the board.
We’ve designed ActivInspire so that it can work comfortably on other interactive whiteboards, including touchboards, by carefully considering the use of right-click functions and the size of icons within the user interface.
Tool History. The Toolstrip on the Main Toolbox, called the Toolbox Shortcut Bar, now displays your Tool History. So your most recently used tools are never more than one click away.
Improved support for importing other file formats into ActivInspire flipchart format, including:
PowerPoint® slides
SMART® Notebook (all versions), including question formats.
ExamView® and IMS XML question files.
Nested groups. You can now group objects together, then ‘group the groups’! If you ungroup them again, the original groups are maintained. In other words, the grouping behaviour in ActivInspire is now consistent with most other products on the market, for example, Microsoft PowerPoint.
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