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author | Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org> | 2020-08-06 14:36:13 -0700 |
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committer | Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org> | 2020-08-06 14:36:13 -0700 |
commit | c0c419c04557117258d184876d94091d29bbd9a6 (patch) | |
tree | b363d085bc6c715d9513f0cd06ac37d6a0378e8d /Documentation/admin-guide | |
parent | 3f9df56480fc8ce492fc9e988d67bdea884ed15c (diff) | |
parent | 5bbd90550da8f7bdac769b5825597e67183c9411 (diff) |
Merge tag 'staging-5.9-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/gregkh/staging
Pull staging/IIO driver updates from Greg KH:
"Here is the large set of Staging and IIO driver patches for 5.9-rc1.
Lots of churn here, but overall the size increase in lines added is
small, while adding a load of new IIO drivers.
Major things in here:
- lots and lots of IIO new drivers and frameworks added
- IIO driver fixes and updates
- lots of tiny coding style cleanups for staging drivers
- vc04_services major reworks and cleanups
We had 3 set of drivers move out of staging in this round as well:
- wilc1000 wireless driver moved out of staging
- speakup moved out of staging
- most USB driver moved out of staging
Full details are in the shortlog.
All of these have been in linux-next with no reported issues. The last
few changes here were to resolve reported linux-next issues, and they
seem to have resolved the problems"
* tag 'staging-5.9-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/gregkh/staging: (428 commits)
staging: most: fix up movement of USB driver
staging: rts5208: clear alignment style issues
staging: r8188eu: replace rtw_netdev_priv define with inline function
staging: netlogic: clear alignment style issues
staging: android: ashmem: Fix lockdep warning for write operation
drivers: most: add USB adapter driver
staging: most: Use %pM format specifier for MAC addresses
staging: ks7010: Use %pM format specifier for MAC addresses
staging: qlge: qlge_dbg: removed comment repition
staging: wfx: Use flex_array_size() helper in memcpy()
staging: rtl8723bs: Align macro definitions
staging: rtl8723bs: Clean up function declations
staging: rtl8723bs: Fix coding style errors
drivers: staging: audio: Fix the missing header file for helper file
staging: greybus: audio: Enable GB codec, audio module compilation.
staging: greybus: audio: Add helper APIs for dynamic audio modules
staging: greybus: audio: Resolve compilation error in topology parser
staging: greybus: audio: Resolve compilation errors for GB codec module
staging: greybus: audio: Maintain jack list within GB Audio module
staging: greybus: audio: Update snd_jack FW usage as per new APIs
...
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/admin-guide')
-rw-r--r-- | Documentation/admin-guide/spkguide.txt | 1575 |
1 files changed, 1575 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/spkguide.txt b/Documentation/admin-guide/spkguide.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..3782f6a09e97 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/spkguide.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1575 @@ + +The Speakup User's Guide +For Speakup 3.1.2 and Later +By Gene Collins +Updated by others +Last modified on Mon Sep 27 14:26:31 2010 +Document version 1.3 + +Copyright (c) 2005 Gene Collins +Copyright (c) 2008 Samuel Thibault +Copyright (c) 2009, 2010 the Speakup Team + +Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document +under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or +any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no +Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A +copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free +Documentation License". + +Preface + +The purpose of this document is to familiarize users with the user +interface to Speakup, a Linux Screen Reader. If you need instructions +for installing or obtaining Speakup, visit the web site at +http://linux-speakup.org/. Speakup is a set of patches to the standard +Linux kernel source tree. It can be built as a series of modules, or as +a part of a monolithic kernel. These details are beyond the scope of +this manual, but the user may need to be aware of the module +capabilities, depending on how your system administrator has installed +Speakup. If Speakup is built as a part of a monolithic kernel, and the +user is using a hardware synthesizer, then Speakup will be able to +provide speech access from the time the kernel is loaded, until the time +the system is shutdown. This means that if you have obtained Linux +installation media for a distribution which includes Speakup as a part +of its kernel, you will be able, as a blind person, to install Linux +with speech access unaided by a sighted person. Again, these details +are beyond the scope of this manual, but the user should be aware of +them. See the web site mentioned above for further details. + +1. Starting Speakup + +If your system administrator has installed Speakup to work with your +specific synthesizer by default, then all you need to do to use Speakup +is to boot your system, and Speakup should come up talking. This +assumes of course that your synthesizer is a supported hardware +synthesizer, and that it is either installed in or connected to your +system, and is if necessary powered on. + +It is possible, however, that Speakup may have been compiled into the +kernel with no default synthesizer. It is even possible that your +kernel has been compiled with support for some of the supported +synthesizers and not others. If you find that this is the case, and +your synthesizer is supported but not available, complain to the person +who compiled and installed your kernel. Or better yet, go to the web +site, and learn how to patch Speakup into your own kernel source, and +build and install your own kernel. + +If your kernel has been compiled with Speakup, and has no default +synthesizer set, or you would like to use a different synthesizer than +the default one, then you may issue the following command at the boot +prompt of your boot loader. + +linux speakup.synth=ltlk + +This command would tell Speakup to look for and use a LiteTalk or +DoubleTalk LT at boot up. You may replace the ltlk synthesizer keyword +with the keyword for whatever synthesizer you wish to use. The +speakup.synth parameter will accept the following keywords, provided +that support for the related synthesizers has been built into the +kernel. + +acntsa -- Accent SA +acntpc -- Accent PC +apollo -- Apollo +audptr -- Audapter +bns -- Braille 'n Speak +dectlk -- DecTalk Express (old and new, db9 serial only) +decext -- DecTalk (old) External +dtlk -- DoubleTalk PC +keypc -- Keynote Gold PC +ltlk -- DoubleTalk LT, LiteTalk, or external Tripletalk (db9 serial only) +spkout -- Speak Out +txprt -- Transport +dummy -- Plain text terminal + +Note: Speakup does * NOT * support usb connections! Speakup also does * +NOT * support the internal Tripletalk! + +Speakup does support two other synthesizers, but because they work in +conjunction with other software, they must be loaded as modules after +their related software is loaded, and so are not available at boot up. +These are as follows: + +decpc -- DecTalk PC (not available at boot up) +soft -- One of several software synthesizers (not available at boot up) + +See the sections on loading modules and software synthesizers later in +this manual for further details. It should be noted here that the +speakup.synth boot parameter will have no effect if Speakup has been +compiled as modules. In order for Speakup modules to be loaded during +the boot process, such action must be configured by your system +administrator. This will mean that you will hear some, but not all, of +the bootup messages. + +2. Basic operation + +Once you have booted the system, and if necessary, have supplied the +proper bootup parameter for your synthesizer, Speakup will begin +talking as soon as the kernel is loaded. In fact, it will talk a lot! +It will speak all the boot up messages that the kernel prints on the +screen during the boot process. This is because Speakup is not a +separate screen reader, but is actually built into the operating +system. Since almost all console applications must print text on the +screen using the kernel, and must get their keyboard input through the +kernel, they are automatically handled properly by Speakup. There are a +few exceptions, but we'll come to those later. + +Note: In this guide I will refer to the numeric keypad as the keypad. +This is done because the speakupmap.map file referred to later in this +manual uses the term keypad instead of numeric keypad. Also I'm lazy +and would rather only type one word. So keypad it is. Got it? Good. + +Most of the Speakup review keys are located on the keypad at the far +right of the keyboard. The numlock key should be off, in order for these +to work. If you toggle the numlock on, the keypad will produce numbers, +which is exactly what you want for spreadsheets and such. For the +purposes of this guide, you should have the numlock turned off, which is +its default state at bootup. + +You probably won't want to listen to all the bootup messages every time +you start your system, though it's a good idea to listen to them at +least once, just so you'll know what kind of information is available to +you during the boot process. You can always review these messages after +bootup with the command: + +dmesg | more + +In order to speed the boot process, and to silence the speaking of the +bootup messages, just press the keypad enter key. This key is located +in the bottom right corner of the keypad. Speakup will shut up and stay +that way, until you press another key. + +You can check to see if the boot process has completed by pressing the 8 +key on the keypad, which reads the current line. This also has the +effect of starting Speakup talking again, so you can press keypad enter +to silence it again if the boot process has not completed. + +When the boot process is complete, you will arrive at a "login" prompt. +At this point, you'll need to type in your user id and password, as +provided by your system administrator. You will hear Speakup speak the +letters of your user id as you type it, but not the password. This is +because the password is not displayed on the screen for security +reasons. This has nothing to do with Speakup, it's a Linux security +feature. + +Once you've logged in, you can run any Linux command or program which is +allowed by your user id. Normal users will not be able to run programs +which require root privileges. + +When you are running a program or command, Speakup will automatically +speak new text as it arrives on the screen. You can at any time silence +the speech with keypad enter, or use any of the Speakup review keys. + +Here are some basic Speakup review keys, and a short description of what +they do. + +keypad 1 -- read previous character +keypad 2 -- read current character (pressing keypad 2 twice rapidly will speak + the current character phonetically) +keypad 3 -- read next character +keypad 4 -- read previous word +keypad 5 -- read current word (press twice rapidly to spell the current word) +keypad 6 -- read next word +keypad 7 -- read previous line +keypad 8 -- read current line (press twice rapidly to hear how much the + text on the current line is indented) +keypad 9 -- read next line +keypad period -- speak current cursor position and announce current + virtual console + +It's also worth noting that the insert key on the keypad is mapped +as the speakup key. Instead of pressing and releasing this key, as you +do under DOS or Windows, you hold it like a shift key, and press other +keys in combination with it. For example, repeatedly holding keypad +insert, from now on called speakup, and keypad enter will toggle the +speaking of new text on the screen on and off. This is not the same as +just pressing keypad enter by itself, which just silences the speech +until you hit another key. When you hit speakup plus keypad enter, +Speakup will say, "You turned me off.", or "Hey, that's better." When +Speakup is turned off, no new text on the screen will be spoken. You +can still use the reading controls to review the screen however. + +3. Using the Speakup Help System + +In order to enter the Speakup help system, press and hold the speakup +key (remember that this is the keypad insert key), and press the f1 key. +You will hear the message: + +"Press space to leave help, cursor up or down to scroll, or a letter to +go to commands in list." + +When you press the spacebar to leave the help system, you will hear: + +"Leaving help." + +While you are in the Speakup help system, you can scroll up or down +through the list of available commands using the cursor keys. The list +of commands is arranged in alphabetical order. If you wish to jump to +commands in a specific part of the alphabet, you may press the letter of +the alphabet you wish to jump to. + +You can also just explore by typing keyboard keys. Pressing keys will +cause Speakup to speak the command associated with that key. For +example, if you press the keypad 8 key, you will hear: + +"Keypad 8 is line, say current." + +You'll notice that some commands do not have keys assigned to them. +This is because they are very infrequently used commands, and are also +accessible through the sys system. We'll discuss the sys system later +in this manual. + +You'll also notice that some commands have two keys assigned to them. +This is because Speakup has a built in set of alternative key bindings +for laptop users. The alternate speakup key is the caps lock key. You +can press and hold the caps lock key, while pressing an alternate +speakup command key to activate the command. On most laptops, the +numeric keypad is defined as the keys in the j k l area of the keyboard. + +There is usually a function key which turns this keypad function on and +off, and some other key which controls the numlock state. Toggling the +keypad functionality on and off can become a royal pain. So, Speakup +gives you a simple way to get at an alternative set of key mappings for +your laptop. These are also available by default on desktop systems, +because Speakup does not know whether it is running on a desktop or +laptop. So you may choose which set of Speakup keys to use. Some +system administrators may have chosen to compile Speakup for a desktop +system without this set of alternate key bindings, but these details are +beyond the scope of this manual. To use the caps lock for its normal +purpose, hold the shift key while toggling the caps lock on and off. We +should note here, that holding the caps lock key and pressing the z key +will toggle the alternate j k l keypad on and off. + +4. Keys and Their Assigned Commands + +In this section, we'll go through a list of all the speakup keys and +commands. You can also get a list of commands and assigned keys from +the help system. + +The following list was taken from the speakupmap.map file. Key +assignments are on the left of the equal sign, and the associated +Speakup commands are on the right. The designation "spk" means to press +and hold the speakup key, a.k.a. keypad insert, a.k.a. caps lock, while +pressing the other specified key. + +spk key_f9 = punc_level_dec +spk key_f10 = punc_level_inc +spk key_f11 = reading_punc_dec +spk key_f12 = reading_punc_inc +spk key_1 = vol_dec +spk key_2 = vol_inc +spk key_3 = pitch_dec +spk key_4 = pitch_inc +spk key_5 = rate_dec +spk key_6 = rate_inc +key_kpasterisk = toggle_cursoring +spk key_kpasterisk = speakup_goto +spk key_f1 = speakup_help +spk key_f2 = set_win +spk key_f3 = clear_win +spk key_f4 = enable_win +spk key_f5 = edit_some +spk key_f6 = edit_most +spk key_f7 = edit_delim +spk key_f8 = edit_repeat +shift spk key_f9 = edit_exnum + key_kp7 = say_prev_line +spk key_kp7 = left_edge + key_kp8 = say_line +double key_kp8 = say_line_indent +spk key_kp8 = say_from_top + key_kp9 = say_next_line +spk key_kp9 = top_edge + key_kpminus = speakup_parked +spk key_kpminus = say_char_num + key_kp4 = say_prev_word +spk key_kp4 = say_from_left + key_kp5 = say_word +double key_kp5 = spell_word +spk key_kp5 = spell_phonetic + key_kp6 = say_next_word +spk key_kp6 = say_to_right + key_kpplus = say_screen +spk key_kpplus = say_win + key_kp1 = say_prev_char +spk key_kp1 = right_edge + key_kp2 = say_char +spk key_kp2 = say_to_bottom +double key_kp2 = say_phonetic_char + key_kp3 = say_next_char +spk key_kp3 = bottom_edge + key_kp0 = spk_key + key_kpdot = say_position +spk key_kpdot = say_attributes +key_kpenter = speakup_quiet +spk key_kpenter = speakup_off +key_sysrq = speech_kill + key_kpslash = speakup_cut +spk key_kpslash = speakup_paste +spk key_pageup = say_first_char +spk key_pagedown = say_last_char +key_capslock = spk_key + spk key_z = spk_lock +key_leftmeta = spk_key +ctrl spk key_0 = speakup_goto +spk key_u = say_prev_line +spk key_i = say_line +double spk key_i = say_line_indent +spk key_o = say_next_line +spk key_minus = speakup_parked +shift spk key_minus = say_char_num +spk key_j = say_prev_word +spk key_k = say_word +double spk key_k = spell_word +spk key_l = say_next_word +spk key_m = say_prev_char +spk key_comma = say_char +double spk key_comma = say_phonetic_char +spk key_dot = say_next_char +spk key_n = say_position + ctrl spk key_m = left_edge + ctrl spk key_y = top_edge + ctrl spk key_dot = right_edge +ctrl spk key_p = bottom_edge +spk key_apostrophe = say_screen +spk key_h = say_from_left +spk key_y = say_from_top +spk key_semicolon = say_to_right +spk key_p = say_to_bottom +spk key_slash = say_attributes + spk key_enter = speakup_quiet + ctrl spk key_enter = speakup_off + spk key_9 = speakup_cut +spk key_8 = speakup_paste +shift spk key_m = say_first_char + ctrl spk key_semicolon = say_last_char + +5. The Speakup Sys System + +The Speakup screen reader also creates a speakup subdirectory as a part +of the sys system. + +As a convenience, run as root + +ln -s /sys/accessibility/speakup /speakup + +to directly access speakup parameters from /speakup. +You can see these entries by typing the command: + +ls -1 /speakup/* + +If you issue the above ls command, you will get back something like +this: + +/speakup/attrib_bleep +/speakup/bell_pos +/speakup/bleep_time +/speakup/bleeps +/speakup/cursor_time +/speakup/delimiters +/speakup/ex_num +/speakup/key_echo +/speakup/keymap +/speakup/no_interrupt +/speakup/punc_all +/speakup/punc_level +/speakup/punc_most +/speakup/punc_some +/speakup/reading_punc +/speakup/repeats +/speakup/say_control +/speakup/say_word_ctl +/speakup/silent +/speakup/spell_delay +/speakup/synth +/speakup/synth_direct +/speakup/version + +/speakup/i18n: +announcements +characters +chartab +colors +ctl_keys +formatted +function_names +key_names +states + +/speakup/soft: +caps_start +caps_stop +delay_time +direct +freq +full_time +jiffy_delta +pitch +inflection +punct +rate +tone +trigger_time +voice +vol + +Notice the two subdirectories of /speakup: /speakup/i18n and +/speakup/soft. +The i18n subdirectory is described in a later section. +The files under /speakup/soft represent settings that are specific to the +driver for the software synthesizer. If you use the LiteTalk, your +synthesizer-specific settings would be found in /speakup/ltlk. In other words, +a subdirectory named /speakup/KWD is created to hold parameters specific +to the device whose keyword is KWD. +These parameters include volume, rate, pitch, and others. + +In addition to using the Speakup hot keys to change such things as +volume, pitch, and rate, you can also echo values to the appropriate +entry in the /speakup directory. This is very useful, since it +lets you control Speakup parameters from within a script. How you +would write such scripts is somewhat beyond the scope of this manual, +but I will include a couple of simple examples here to give you a +general idea of what such scripts can do. + +Suppose for example, that you wanted to control both the punctuation +level and the reading punctuation level at the same time. For +simplicity, we'll call them punc0, punc1, punc2, and punc3. The scripts +might look something like this: + +#!/bin/bash +# punc0 +# set punc and reading punc levels to 0 +echo 0 >/speakup/punc_level +echo 0 >/speakup/reading_punc +echo Punctuation level set to 0. + +#!/bin/bash +# punc1 +# set punc and reading punc levels to 1 +echo 1 >/speakup/punc_level +echo 1 >/speakup/reading_punc +echo Punctuation level set to 1. + +#!/bin/bash +# punc2 +# set punc and reading punc levels to 2 +echo 2 >/speakup/punc_level +echo 2 >/speakup/reading_punc +echo Punctuation level set to 2. + +#!/bin/bash +# punc3 +# set punc and reading punc levels to 3 +echo 3 >/speakup/punc_level +echo 3 >/speakup/reading_punc +echo Punctuation level set to 3. + +If you were to store these four small scripts in a directory in your +path, perhaps /usr/local/bin, and set the permissions to 755 with the +chmod command, then you could change the default reading punc and +punctuation levels at the same time by issuing just one command. For +example, if you were to execute the punc3 command at your shell prompt, +then the reading punc and punc level would both get set to 3. + +I should note that the above scripts were written to work with bash, but +regardless of which shell you use, you should be able to do something +similar. + +The Speakup sys system also has another interesting use. You can echo +Speakup parameters into the sys system in a script during system +startup, and speakup will return to your preferred parameters every time +the system is rebooted. + +Most of the Speakup sys parameters can be manipulated by a regular user +on the system. However, there are a few parameters that are dangerous +enough that they should only be manipulated by the root user on your +system. There are even some parameters that are read only, and cannot +be written to at all. For example, the version entry in the Speakup +sys system is read only. This is because there is no reason for a user +to tamper with the version number which is reported by Speakup. Doing +an ls -l on /speakup/version will return this: + +-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Mar 21 13:46 /speakup/version + +As you can see, the version entry in the Speakup sys system is read +only, is owned by root, and belongs to the root group. Doing a cat of +/speakup/version will display the Speakup version number, like +this: + +cat /speakup/version +Speakup v-2.00 CVS: Thu Oct 21 10:38:21 EDT 2004 +synth dtlk version 1.1 + +The display shows the Speakup version number, along with the version +number of the driver for the current synthesizer. + +Looking at entries in the Speakup sys system can be useful in many +ways. For example, you might wish to know what level your volume is set +at. You could type: + +cat /speakup/KWD/vol +# Replace KWD with the keyword for your synthesizer, E.G., ltlk for LiteTalk. +5 + +The number five which comes back is the level at which the synthesizer +volume is set at. + +All the entries in the Speakup sys system are readable, some are +writable by root only, and some are writable by everyone. Unless you +know what you are doing, you should probably leave the ones that are +writable by root only alone. Most of the names are self explanatory. +Vol for controlling volume, pitch for pitch, inflection for pitch range, rate +for controlling speaking rate, etc. If you find one you aren't sure about, you +can post a query on the Speakup list. + +6. Changing Synthesizers + +It is possible to change to a different synthesizer while speakup is +running. In other words, it is not necessary to reboot the system +in order to use a different synthesizer. You can simply echo the +synthesizer keyword to the /speakup/synth sys entry. +Depending on your situation, you may wish to echo none to the synth +sys entry, to disable speech while one synthesizer is disconnected and +a second one is connected in its place. Then echo the keyword for the +new synthesizer into the synth sys entry in order to start speech +with the newly connected synthesizer. See the list of synthesizer +keywords in section 1 to find the keyword which matches your synth. + +7. Loading modules + +As mentioned earlier, Speakup can either be completely compiled into the +kernel, with the exception of the help module, or it can be compiled as +a series of modules. When compiled as modules, Speakup will only be +able to speak some of the bootup messages if your system administrator +has configured the system to load the modules at boo time. The modules +can be loaded after the file systems have been checked and mounted, or +from an initrd. There is a third possibility. Speakup can be compiled +with some components built into the kernel, and others as modules. As +we'll see in the next section, this is particularly useful when you are +working with software synthesizers. + +If Speakup is completely compiled as modules, then you must use the +modprobe command to load Speakup. You do this by loading the module for +the synthesizer driver you wish to use. The driver modules are all +named speakup_<keyword>, where <keyword> is the keyword for the +synthesizer you want. So, in order to load the driver for the DecTalk +Express, you would type the following command: + +modprobe speakup_dectlk + +Issuing this command would load the DecTalk Express driver and all other +related Speakup modules necessary to get Speakup up and running. + +To completely unload Speakup, again presuming that it is entirely built +as modules, you would give the command: + +modprobe -r speakup_dectlk + +The above command assumes you were running a DecTalk Express. If you +were using a different synth, then you would substitute its keyword in +place of dectlk. + +If you have multiple drivers loaded, you need to unload all of them, in +order to completely unload Speakup. +For example, if you have loaded both the dectlk and ltlk drivers, use the +command: +modprobe -r speakup_dectlk speakup_ltlk + +You cannot unload the driver for software synthesizers when a user-space +daemon is using /dev/softsynth. First, kill the daemon. Next, remove +the driver with the command: +modprobe -r speakup_soft + +Now, suppose we have a situation where the main Speakup component +is built into the kernel, and some or all of the drivers are built as +modules. Since the main part of Speakup is compiled into the kernel, a +partial Speakup sys system has been created which we can take advantage +of by simply echoing the synthesizer keyword into the +/speakup/synth sys entry. This will cause the kernel to +automatically load the appropriate driver module, and start Speakup +talking. To switch to another synth, just echo a new keyword to the +synth sys entry. For example, to load the DoubleTalk LT driver, +you would type: + +echo ltlk >/speakup/synth + +You can use the modprobe -r command to unload driver modules, regardless +of whether the main part of Speakup has been built into the kernel or +not. + +8. Using Software Synthesizers + +Using a software synthesizer requires that some other software be +installed and running on your system. For this reason, software +synthesizers are not available for use at bootup, or during a system +installation process. +There are two freely-available solutions for software speech: Espeakup and +Speech Dispatcher. +These are described in subsections 8.1 and 8.2, respectively. + +During the rest of this section, we assume that speakup_soft is either +built in to your kernel, or loaded as a module. + +If your system does not have udev installed , before you can use a +software synthesizer, you must have created the /dev/softsynth device. +If you have not already done so, issue the following commands as root: + +cd /dev +mknod softsynth c 10 26 + +While we are at it, we might just as well create the /dev/synth device, +which can be used to let user space programs send information to your +synthesizer. To create /dev/synth, change to the /dev directory, and +issue the following command as root: + +mknod synth c 10 25 + +of both. + +8.1. Espeakup + +Espeakup is a connector between Speakup and the eSpeak software synthesizer. +Espeakup may already be available as a package for your distribution +of Linux. If it is not packaged, you need to install it manually. +You can find it in the contrib/ subdirectory of the Speakup sources. +The filename is espeakup-$VERSION.tar.bz2, where $VERSION +depends on the current release of Espeakup. The Speakup 3.1.2 source +ships with version 0.71 of Espeakup. +The README file included with the Espeakup sources describes the process +of manual installation. + +Assuming that Espeakup is installed, either by the user or by the distributor, +follow these steps to use it. + +Tell Speakup to use the "soft driver: +echo soft > /speakup/synth + +Finally, start the espeakup program. There are two ways to do it. +Both require root privileges. + +If Espeakup was installed as a package for your Linux distribution, +you probably have a distribution-specific script that controls the operation +of the daemon. Look for a file named espeakup under /etc/init.d or +/etc/rc.d. Execute the following command with root privileges: +/etc/init.d/espeakup start +Replace init.d with rc.d, if your distribution uses scripts located under +/etc/rc.d. +Your distribution will also have a procedure for starting daemons at +boot-time, so it is possible to have software speech as soon as user-space +daemons are started by the bootup scripts. +These procedures are not described in this document. + +If you built Espeakup manually, the "make install" step placed the binary +under /usr/bin. +Run the following command as root: +/usr/bin/espeakup +Espeakup should start speaking. + +8.2. Speech Dispatcher + +For this option, you must have a package called +Speech Dispatcher running on your system, and it must be configured to +work with one of its supported software synthesizers. + +Two open source synthesizers you might use are Flite and Festival. You +might also choose to purchase the Software DecTalk from Fonix Sales Inc. +If you run a google search for Fonix, you'll find their web site. + +You can obtain a copy of Speech Dispatcher from free(b)soft at +http://www.freebsoft.org/. Follow the installation instructions that +come with Speech Dispatcher in order to install and configure Speech +Dispatcher. You can check out the web site for your Linux distribution +in order to get a copy of either Flite or Festival. Your Linux +distribution may also have a precompiled Speech Dispatcher package. + +Once you've installed, configured, and tested Speech Dispatcher with your +chosen software synthesizer, you still need one more piece of software +in order to make things work. You need a package called speechd-up. +You get it from the free(b)soft web site mentioned above. After you've +compiled and installed speechd-up, you are almost ready to begin using +your software synthesizer. + +Now you can begin using your software synthesizer. In order to do so, +echo the soft keyword to the synth sys entry like this: + +echo soft >/speakup/synth + +Next run the speechd_up command like this: + +speechd_up & + +Your synth should now start talking, and you should be able to adjust +the pitch, rate, etc. + +9. Using The DecTalk PC Card + +The DecTalk PC card is an ISA card that is inserted into one of the ISA +slots in your computer. It requires that the DecTalk PC software be +installed on your computer, and that the software be loaded onto the +Dectalk PC card before it can be used. + +You can get the dec_pc.tgz file from the linux-speakup.org site. The +dec_pc.tgz file is in the ~ftp/pub/linux/speakup directory. + +After you have downloaded the dec_pc.tgz file, untar it in your home +directory, and read the Readme file in the newly created dec_pc +directory. + +The easiest way to get the software working is to copy the entire dec_pc +directory into /user/local/lib. To do this, su to root in your home +directory, and issue the command: + +cp dec_pc /usr/local/lib + +You will need to copy the dtload command from the dec_pc directory to a +directory in your path. Either /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin is a good +choice. + +You can now run the dtload command in order to load the DecTalk PC +software onto the card. After you have done this, echo the decpc +keyword to the synth entry in the sys system like this: + +echo decpc >/speakup/synth + +Your DecTalk PC should start talking, and then you can adjust the pitch, +rate, volume, voice, etc. The voice entry in the Speakup sys system +will accept a number from 0 through 7 for the DecTalk PC synthesizer, +which will give you access to some of the DecTalk voices. + +10. Using Cursor Tracking + +In Speakup version 2.0 and later, cursor tracking is turned on by +default. This means that when you are using an editor, Speakup will +automatically speak characters as you move left and right with the +cursor keys, and lines as you move up and down with the cursor keys. +This is the traditional sort of cursor tracking. +Recent versions of Speakup provide two additional ways to control the +text that is spoken when the cursor is moved: +"highlight tracking" and "read window." +They are described later in this section. +Sometimes, these modes get in your way, so you can disable cursor tracking +altogether. + +You may select among the various forms of cursor tracking using the keypad +asterisk key. +Each time you press this key, a new mode is selected, and Speakup speaks +the name of the new mode. The names for the four possible states of cursor +tracking are: "cursoring on", "highlight tracking", "read window", +and "cursoring off." The keypad asterisk key moves through the list of +modes in a circular fashion. + +If highlight tracking is enabled, Speakup tracks highlighted text, +rather than the cursor itself. When you move the cursor with the arrow keys, +Speakup speaks the currently highlighted information. +This is useful when moving through various menus and dialog boxes. +If cursor tracking isn't helping you while navigating a menu, +try highlight tracking. + +With the "read window" variety of cursor tracking, you can limit the text +that Speakup speaks by specifying a window of interest on the screen. +See section 15 for a description of the process of defining windows. +When you move the cursor via the arrow keys, Speakup only speaks +the contents of the window. This is especially helpful when you are hearing +superfluous speech. Consider the following example. + +Suppose that you are at a shell prompt. You use bash, and you want to +explore your command history using the up and down arrow keys. If you +have enabled cursor tracking, you will hear two pieces of information. +Speakup speaks both your shell prompt and the current entry from the +command history. You may not want to hear the prompt repeated +each time you move, so you can silence it by specifying a window. Find +the last line of text on the screen. Clear the current window by pressing +the key combination speakup f3. Use the review cursor to find the first +character that follows your shell prompt. Press speakup + f2 twice, to +define a one-line window. The boundaries of the window are the +character following the shell prompt and the end of the line. Now, cycle +through the cursor tracking modes using keypad asterisk, until Speakup +says "read window." Move through your history using your arrow keys. +You will notice that Speakup no longer speaks the redundant prompt. + +Some folks like to turn cursor tracking off while they are using the +lynx web browser. You definitely want to turn cursor tracking off when +you are using the alsamixer application. Otherwise, you won't be able +to hear your mixer settings while you are using the arrow keys. + +11. Cut and Paste + +One of Speakup's more useful features is the ability to cut and paste +text on the screen. This means that you can capture information from a +program, and paste that captured text into a different place in the +program, or into an entirely different program, which may even be +running on a different console. + +For example, in this manual, we have made references to several web +sites. It would be nice if you could cut and paste these urls into your +web browser. Speakup does this quite nicely. Suppose you wanted to +past the following url into your browser: + +http://linux-speakup.org/ + +Use the speakup review keys to position the reading cursor on the first +character of the above url. When the reading cursor is in position, +press the keypad slash key once. Speakup will say, "mark". Next, +position the reading cursor on the rightmost character of the above +url. Press the keypad slash key once again to actually cut the text +from the screen. Speakup will say, "cut". Although we call this +cutting, Speakup does not actually delete the cut text from the screen. +It makes a copy of the text in a special buffer for later pasting. + +Now that you have the url cut from the screen, you can paste it into +your browser, or even paste the url on a command line as an argument to +your browser. + +Suppose you want to start lynx and go to the Speakup site. + +You can switch to a different console with the alt left and right +arrows, or you can switch to a specific console by typing alt and a +function key. These are not Speakup commands, just standard Linux +console capabilities. + +Once you've changed to an appropriate console, and are at a shell prompt, +type the word lynx, followed by a space. Now press and hold the speakup +key, while you type the keypad slash character. The url will be pasted +onto the command line, just as though you had typed it in. Press the +enter key to execute the command. + +The paste buffer will continue to hold the cut information, until a new +mark and cut operation is carried out. This means you can paste the cut +information as many times as you like before doing another cut +operation. + +You are not limited to cutting and pasting only one line on the screen. +You can also cut and paste rectangular regions of the screen. Just +position the reading cursor at the top left corner of the text to be +cut, mark it with the keypad slash key, then position the reading cursor +at the bottom right corner of the region to be cut, and cut it with the +keypad slash key. + +12. Changing the Pronunciation of Characters + +Through the /speakup/i18n/characters sys entry, Speakup gives you the +ability to change how Speakup pronounces a given character. You could, +for example, change how some punctuation characters are spoken. You can +even change how Speakup will pronounce certain letters. + +You may, for example, wish to change how Speakup pronounces the z +character. The author of Speakup, Kirk Reiser, is Canadian, and thus +believes that the z should be pronounced zed. If you are an American, +you might wish to use the zee pronunciation instead of zed. You can +change the pronunciation of both the upper and lower case z with the +following two commands: + +echo 90 zee >/speakup/characters +echo 122 zee >/speakup/characters + +Let's examine the parts of the two previous commands. They are issued +at the shell prompt, and could be placed in a startup script. + +The word echo tells the shell that you want to have it display the +string of characters that follow the word echo. If you were to just +type: + +echo hello. + +You would get the word he |