Menubar

This page lists the default functions in each menu of the ActivInspire Menubar. You can see at a glance which items are available in ActivInspire Personal, what options there are, and a brief description of their purpose:

For further details of the tools provided in ActivInspire, see Tools.

Some of the functionality described in this section requires ActivInspire Professional. If you have ActivInspire Personal, see Reference > Differences between Personal and Professional Editions.

File

The File Menu includes:

Menu item

Personal Edition?

Option

Description

New Flipchart

P

 

Opens a new 'Untitled' flipchart

New

P

 

Opens a new flipchart of the specified size.

P

Screen Size Flipchart

P

1024 x 768 Flipchart

P

1152 x 864 Flipchart

P

1280 x 1280 Flipchart

P

Custom Size Flipchart

Open...

P

 

Opens the 'My Flipcharts' folder.

Open Recent

P

 

Opens a drop-down list of recent flipcharts.

 

P

Clear List

Resets your recent flipcharts list.

Close flipchart

P

 

Closes the current  flipchart. If it contains unsaved changes, opens a dialog box inviting you to confirm if you want to save changes or cancel.

If you click Yes to save before closing, opens the 'My flipcharts' folder in the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box.

Save

P

 

Saves the current flipchart. If it is 'Untitled', opens the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box.

Save As...

P

 

Opens 'My flipcharts' folder in the 'Save the flipchart as...' Dialog Box. You can rename the flipchart, save the flipchart in this folder, or navigate to anywhere on disk or network.

Click:

  • Save to save the flipchart

  • Cancel to exit without saving

Summary...

P

 

Opens the 'Flipchart Summary' Dialog Box.

This lets you record information about your flipchart.

Click:

  • OK to save the flipchart summary

  • Cancel to exit without saving

 

P

Title

Enter the title of your flipchart.

 

P

Description

Enter a brief description of its contents.

 

P

Grade

Note the grade for which this flipchart is designed.

 

P

Keywords

Add words to classify the flipchart.

Publish...

X

 

Opens the 'Publish Flipchart' Dialog Box.

This lets you restrict what others can do with this flipchart, once it has been published.

Click:

  • Cancel to exit without saving

  • Save Details to save changes without publishing

  • Publish... to apply and save your changes and publish the flipchart

 

X

Publisher Information

Enter information in the textbox. This information is hidden from users. The textbox automatically shows any information you entered previously.

 

X

Prevent copying pages and objects

Protects your flipchart pages and objects from being cut or copied.

Users can still duplicate and mirror objects, as well as deconstruct text.

 

X

Prevent Flipchart saving and exporting

Prevents users from saving or exporting your flipchart. This restriction also prevents exporting of Learner Response System results.

If saving is allowed, the newly saved flipchart is saved as a normal flipchart without any restrictions.

 

X

Prevent Flipchart printing

Prevents users from printing your flipchart.

 

X

Prevent Camera Tool

Prevents users from using the Camera in the current session.

Will also apply to other flipcharts open at the same time.

Submit Flipcharts to Promethean Planet

P

 

Opens the Promethean Planet website in your web browser.

Import

P

 

For each of the import operations, you can browse to the file's location and select it.

Click:

  • Open to begin the import operation

  • Cancel to exit without saving

 

P

PowerPoint® As Images

On Windows® computers, opens a dialog box that lets you browse to and select the file you wish to import.

 

P

PowerPoint® As Objects

 

X

PDF...

Opens a dialog box that lets you browse to and select the file you wish to import.

You can import all the pages or a range of pages.

 

X

ExamView® XML file

Opens a Dialog Box that lets you browse to and select the file you wish to import.

 

X

IMS QTI XML file

 

P

SMART Notebook File v8, v9, v9.5, v10

Opens a Dialog Box that lets you browse to and select the file you wish to import.

 

P

SMART Gallery Item File

 

P

Resource Pack To My Resources...

Opens the 'Open Resource Pack' Dialog Box to let you import resources into your Resource Library.

 

 

P

Resource Pack To Shared Resources...

Print...

P

 

Sends the current flipchart to the default printer.

Settings...

P

 

Opens the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box. Here you can customise features such as the Learner Response System, Tools and Multimedia.

For details of all available settings, see Reference > Settings.

Exit

P

 

Exits ActivInspire. Prompts you to save any changes to flipcharts, before closing.

Click:

  • Yes to save changes.

  • No to quit without saving.

  • Cancel to continue working.

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Edit

The Edit Menu includes:

Menu item

Personal Edition?

Option

Description

Design Mode

X

 

Toggle switch that enables/disables Design Mode. For details of Design Mode Settings, see Design Mode.

Undo

P

 

Undoes/redoes the previous command or action.

Redo

Select

P

 

Enables Select .

Select All

P

 

Select all objects on the current page.

Page Background...

P

 

Opens the 'Set Background' Popup Box to let you select a background for the current page.

Choose from:

  • Fill -  select a single colour or two colours for a graduated fill

  • Image - browse for an image and choose its positioning and fit

  • Desktop Snapshot

  • Desktop Overlay

Grid...

X

 

Opens the Grid Designer to let you create your own colourful multi-level grids.

Clear

P

 

All Clear actions apply to the current page.

 

P

Clear Annotations

Deletes anything created with the Pen, Highlighter or Magic Ink.

 

P

Clear Objects

Deletes any objects including text created with the Text Tool.

 

P

Clear Grid

Deletes all grid levels.

 

P

Clear Background

Deletes the background.

 

P

Clear Page

Deletes everything on the page.

Reset Page

X

 

Resets the current page to the state it was in when it was last saved, or clears a new page if the flipchart has not been saved.

Cut

P

 

Cuts, copies, pastes, duplicates or deletes the currently selected object(s) or page.

Copy

Paste

Duplicate

X

Delete

P

Transform

X

 

 

 

X

Increase Object Size

Increases or decreases the size of the object by 10% of its current size.

 

X

Decrease Object Size

 

X

Original Size

Resets the size of the object back to the original.

 

X

Best Fit to Width

Sets the selected object(s) to best fit the page width or height, while preserving the aspect ratio of the object(s).

Only applies to objects whose initial size is larger than the flipchart page, for example, scanned images.

 

X

Best Fit to Height

 

X

Best Fit to Page

Sets the selected object(s) to best fit the page size (both width and height), while preserving the aspect ratio of the object(s).

Only applies to objects whose initial size is larger than the flipchart page, for example, scanned images.

 

X

Mirror in X Axis

Creates a mirror image of the object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.

 

X

Mirror in Y Axis

Creates a mirror image of the object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.

 

X

Flip in X Axis

Flips the object in the X axis, towards the top of the page.

 

X

Flip in Y Axis

Flips the object in the Y axis, towards the left of the page.

 

X

Align

Aligns groups of objects.

 

X

Align Left

Aligns all selected objects so that their left edges are the same as the left-most object in the selection.

 

X

Align Centre X

 

Aligns all selected objects so that their centres match horizontally, with their centre points being placed at the centres of the initial bounding rectangle.

 

X

Align Right

Aligns all selected objects so that their right edges are the same as the right-most object in the selection.

 

X

Align Top

Aligns all selected objects so that their top edges are the same as the highest object in the selection.

 

X

Align Centre Y

Aligns all selected objects so that their centres match vertically, their centre points being placed at the centre of the initial bounding rectangle.

 

 

X

Align Bottom

Aligns all selected objects so that their bottom edges are the same as the lowest object in the selection.

 

X

Align Width

Stretches all selected objects to the same width as the first object created within the selected objects.

 

X

Align Height

Aligns objects at the height of the first object created in the group.

 

X

Align Angle

Aligns objects at the angle of the first object created.

 

X

Align Complete

Aligns all selected objects to match the left, right, bottom, top, width, height and angle properties of the first object created within the selected objects.

Reorder

X

 

Moves selected objects to a different place in the stacking order, or to another layer

 

X

Bring to Front

Sends the object to the front of the stack.

 

X

Bring Forwards

Sends the object forwards by one position within the stack.

 

X

Send to Back

Sends the object to the back of the stack.

 

X

Send Backwards

Sends the object backwards by one position within the stack.

 

X

To Top Layer

Sends the object to the top, middle or bottom layer.

 

X

To Middle Layer

 

X

To Bottom Layer

Question on Current Page...

P

 

Opens the 'Insert Question' Wizard, which lets you choose a question type and design.

For details, see Using Learner Response Systems > Prepared Questions - Using the Question Wizard.

Student Database...

P

 

Opens the 'Edit Student Database' Dialog Box.

For details, see Using Learner Response Systems > Assigning students to devices.

Device Registration...

P

 

Begins the process of telling the ActivHub how many devices and device groups there are in the classroom. You need to register devices before you begin a voting session.

See Using Learner Response Systems > Registering devices

Profiles...

X

 

Opens the 'Layout' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.

Not available in ActivInspire Personal.

Design Mode Settings...

X

 

Opens the 'Settings' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.

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View

The View Menu includes:

Menu item

Personal Edition?

Description

Switch Profile

X

Displays a drop-down menu of available profiles.

Fullscreen

P

Switches to fullscreen mode.

Click on the Fullscreen icon to switch fullscreen mode on or off.

Flipcharts

P

Displays a drop-down menu of the currently open flipcharts.

Next Page

P

Goes to the next or previous page.

Previous Page

Page Turn Effects

X

Opens the Effects Browser. Move the cursor over a thumbnail to preview effects. Any effect selected applies to all pages in all flipcharts.

Page Zoom

X

Begins Page Zoom. Left or right-click to zoom in or out. Click and drag to pan around the flipchart page.

Pen Modifiers

X

Only available when Pen, Highlighter or Magic Ink is selected. Opens the Pen Modifiers Toolbox as a toolstrip next to the Main Toolbox (ActivInspire Studio) or above the Pen Tray (ActivInspire Primary).

Browsers

P

Toggle switches that show or hide the Browsers, Menubar, Document Tabs and Flipchart bin.

 

Menubar

Document tabs

Flipchart bin

Dashboard

P

Displays the ActivInspire Dashboard.

Sound Controller

X

Displays the Sound Controller when you click on a sound file to play the sound. The Sound Controller is displayed until you close it, or go to another flipchart page.

Customise...

X

Opens the 'Commands' Tab of the 'Edit Profiles' Dialog Box.

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Insert

The Insert Menu includes:

Menu item

Personal Edition?

Option

Description

Page

P

Blank Page Before Current

Inserts a blank page before or after the current page.

 

P

Blank Page After Current

 

P

Desktop Snapshot

Displays the desktop and enables Desktop Snapshot. when you click on Take Snapshot, inserts snapshot of the desktop after the current page.

 

 

Other menu options may also be available here. These depend on the resources you have installed.

 

X

More Page Templates

Opens 'Shared Resources' folder in the Resource Browser.

Question...

P

 

Opens the 'Insert Question' Wizard.

Self Pace Question Set...

X

 

Opens the 'Self Paced Question Set Wizard'

Media...

P

 

Opens the 'Choose media to insert' Dialog Box.

Link

P

 

 

 

P

File...

Opens the 'Select File' Dialog Box.

 

P

Website...

Opens the 'Insert Website' Dialog Box.

From Scanner/Camera

X

 

Windows computers only.

Opens the 'Select source'  Dialog Box to let you insert graphics files from a scanner or camera that is attached to your computer.

Text

P

 

Enables the Text Tool.

Shapes

X

 

Opens the Shapes Menu. Lets you select a shape and draw it.

Connectors

P

 

Enables the Connectors Tool.

Timestamp

P

 

Adds a timestamp to the current page.

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Tools

The Tools Menu includes:

Menu item

Personal Edition?

Option

Description

Desktop Annotate   

X

 

Lets you:

  • Write annotations on your computer's live desktop with the Pen  or Highlighter

  • Interact with other applications on your desktop with Select

Desktop Tools

P

 

Minimises ActivInspire and displays Desktop Tools.

Dual User

X

 

Enables collaborative working with two ActivPens on an ActivBoard version 3, or an upgraded ActivBoard version 2.

ExpressPoll

P

 

Launches the voting 'Wonderwheel' with which you can select a question style and options to ask your class.

Pen  

P

 

Lets you write and draw annotations on the board.

Highlighter

P

 

Lets you highlight areas of the flipchart in translucent colour.

Eraser  

P

 

Lets you permanently erase or break up annotations made with the Pen, Highlighter, or Magic Ink.

Fill  

P

 

Lets you fill:

  • Shapes with single or gradient colours (you can set gradient colours in the Property Browser)

  • Intersecting partial shapes with different coloured fill shapes

  • Pages

Magic Ink

P

 

Lets you make areas of your flipchart invisible and reveal them when the class is ready.

Handwriting Recognition

X

 

Lets you write on the board, then turns your annotations into print.

Shape Recognition

X

 

Lets you draw on the board, then turns your drawings into shapes.

Revealer

X

 

Lets you selectively reveal parts of the flipchart page.

Spotlight

P

Circular Spotlight

Lets you move different shaped light or opaque spotlights to show or hide areas of your flipchart.

 

P

Square Spotlight

 

P

Solid Circular  Spotlight

 

P

Solid Square Spotlight

Camera

P

Area Snapshot

Lets you take a snapshot from the screen – this may be a picture on a website or flipchart, for example.

 

P

Point to Point Snapshot

 

P

Freehand Snapshot

 

P

Window Snapshot

 

P

Fullscreen Snapshot

Maths Tools

P

Ruler

Lets you draw and measure lines on the board.

 

P

Protractor

Lets you draw arcs, segments and circles and measure angles.

 

X

Compass

Lets you draw circles and arcs of any size, colour or line thickness with the Pen, Highlighter or Eraser.

 

X

Dice Roller

Lets you roll up to five dice, set the speed of the roll and print the result to the flipchart.

 

X

Calculator

Lets you perform maths calculations at the board.

More Tools...

 

 

 

 

X

Sound Recorder

Lets you record sounds and incorporate them in your flipchart.

 

X

Screen Recorder

  • Fullscreen Recorder

  • Area Screen Recorder

Lets you record actions on a flipchart, desktop flipchart, the desktop, or another application, then play them back as an animation.

You can make a fullscreen recording, or restrict the recording to an area of the screen.

 

X

On-screen Keyboard

Lets you add typed text to your flipchart while at the board.

 

P

Clock

Displays a clock which you can use in timed activities and competitions.

 

X

Tickertape...

Runs a tickertape with the text of your choice across the board until you stop the tape.

 

P

Web Browser

Launches your computer's web browser.

 

X

Spellcheck Flipchart

Lets you check the spelling of your flipchart.

 

X

Teacher Lock...

Restricts access to the current activity.

 

X

Edit User Defined Buttons...

Lets you define your own shortcut buttons which will appear in the Shortcut Bar of the Main Toolbox.

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Help

The Help Menu includes:

Menu item

Personal Edition?

Description

Contents

P

Opens this help file.

Promethean Website

P

Opens the Promethean website or Promethean Planet website in your internet browser.

Promethean Planet

Check for updates...

P

Checks if an updated version of ActivInspire is available. Either confirms that you have the latest version installed, or opens the 'ActivInspire Update' Dialog Box. Follow the instructions on the screen to download and install software updates.

About

P

Opens the 'About ActivInspire' Dialog Box. This contains details of the software release version and license agreement.

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