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This document is for the Kar2ouche IT Administrator and covers the recommended configurations for the Kar2ouche user environment on PCs and Apple Macs.

Introduction

We highly recommend that the IT Administrator takes a look at the Kar2ouche user options before performing the installation of Kar2ouche.  Kar2ouche can be configured to make Kar2ouche much easier to use and improve overall performance, aligning the application to the platform in which it will be used.

Most user options for Kar2ouche are stored in a configuration file called Kar2ouche.  This file is created the first time the Kar2ouche application is opened following a successful installation.  It resides in the same directory as the kar2ouche executable file and is used by Kar2ouche whilst loading.  The settings in the kar2ouche configuration file are used to set up the user environment for each user session.

Depending upon the installation, the Kar2ouche configuration file will reside either locally or on the server.  For local installations, the Kar2ouche configuration file can be found in the same directory as the Kar2ouche executable file.  For server-based installations, there will either be one master Kar2ouche configuration file or a method used whereby the Kar2ouche configuration file is distributed to each workstation on a regular basis.

The Kar2ouche application comes with a friendly GUI (graphical user interface) for configuring the most common user settings.  This is suitable for most changes that need to be made.  For more information on this please see http://support.immersiveeducation.eu/index.php?ToDo=view&questId=16&catId=25.  Alternatively, the Kar2ouche IT Administrator can manually configure the Kar2ouche configuration file using a basic text editor, as discussed in this document.

Using a text editor to configure the Kar2ouche user options

• To manually configure the Kar2ouche user options, the IT Administrator must have administrative access to the Kar2ouche directory, either on the server or the local workstation depending upon the installation type.
  
  
• In the Kar2ouche directory there is a configuration file called Kar2ouche - open this file using a basic text editor, such as Notepad for PCs or Text Edit for Apple Macs, for example.  For more information on how to use the Apple Mac text editor see http://support.immersiveeducation.eu/index.php?ToDo=view&questId=18&catId=32
  
  
• Before making any changes it is advisable to make a copy of the Kar2ouche configuration file for backup purposes.
  
  
• Settings that have either a 0 or a 1 indicate whether the setting is active is not (1 indicates an active setting)

Settings that can be configured

CopyPasteImages=0
Change the setting to 1 to enable the students to import from other applications and perform DTP functionality.  This setting allows users to copy and paste image objects from other applications, expanding DTP (desktop publishing) functionality.  File sizes may increase with this function enabled if users import large file formats such as bitmaps (.bmp file extension), etc.  We recommend the use of image management software so users can tailor imported images to smaller file sizes, before importing them into Kar2ouche.

StartFullScreen=0
Change the setting to 1 if Kar2ouche is to open in ‘full’ screen mode.  If this setting is set to 0 then Kar2ouche will launch in  'windowed' screen mode.  'Windowed' screen mode enables users to work in other applications at the same time and may improve display issues with old graphics cards.  ‘Windowed’ mode must be used for interactive whiteboards and Tablet PCs.

ToggleFullScreen=0
Change the setting to 1 so users are can toggle between ‘windowed’ screen mode and ‘full’ screen mode.

DefaultStoryboardSavePath=C:My Documents
Type in the file path where the users will save their Kar2ouche work* (includes storyboards, custom sound files and custom backgrounds).  For example, this may be user directories on the network.

* NOTE: Even if a default path is set, users can navigate to any available file path within Kar2ouche, which is useful if users wish to save work to a CD or different network location.  This applies to all file path settings.

DefaultStoryboardLoadPath=C:My Documents
Type in the file path where the users will load their Kar2ouche work (includes storyboards, custom sound files and custom backgrounds).  This should be the same location as the save path so users can load work they have previously created and saved.

AutosaveFilename=C:My Documents
Type in the file path where Kar2ouche will automatically make regular saves of the users Kar2ouche work.  This should be the same location as the save path.

DefaultAudioSavePath=N:MediaServerShared Audio
Type in the file path where the users will save their custom sound files.  This is usually the same location as the save path.  Alternatively, some organisations have created one special folder on a server for the storage of all audio file to they can be used by everyone.

DefaultTextLoadPath=C:My Documents
Type in the file path where the users will save their Kar2ouche work (includes storyboards, custom sound files and custom backgrounds).  For example, this may be user directories on the network.

DefaultBackgroundLoadPath=C:My Documents Type in the file path where the users will save their Kar2ouche work (includes storyboards, custom sound files and custom backgrounds).  For example, this may be user directories on the network.

Password=password
This is the password used to ‘unlock’ the Options Pages in Kar2ouche.  The Options Pages contain all the settings that are configured for the Kar2ouche user environment.  We recommend that this password is changed to protect the settings.

OptionsFilename=N:MediaServerKar2ouche
This file path is the location of the Kar2ouche configuration file itself.   By default, the Kar2ouche configuration file is created on the local drive following the first time the user launches Kar2ouche, in the Kar2ouche directory with the rest of the application.

If you wish to have a master Kar2ouche configuration file on the server (for easier management) then you will need to create one master Kar2ouche configuration file on the server.   The file path for this setting should then point to the Kar2ouche configuration file on the server.

AutosaveFrequency=5
This is the automatic save time (in minutes) for all storyboards.  You may wish to increase this to reduce network loading.

SampleRate=11025
SampleBits=8
Leave these settings at the above values for basic audio quality.  You can change these settings for CD audio quality but there will be an increase in audio file sizes.  To change to CD quality, the settings should be changed to 44100 and 16, respecively for SampleRate and SampleBits.

FontTooltipSize=8
You can change this font size to improve tooltip legibility.