Webinar 1: Save-As-DAISY and MathML

Save-As-DAISY and MathML

Dave Schleppenbach and Dennis Leas

gh, LLC

Summary of Solution

Creating DAISY books with MathML content is somewhat complicated to set up. However, once you are properly configured making books is easy and quick.

• Pre-requisites: Software that you need
• Stage 1: Install various components (Save-As-DAISY)
• Stage 2: Create document in office program
  • MS Word 2003, 2007, or XP
  • Open Office (most current version)
• Stage 3: Use gh Player™ to proof and finalize

Entire Process takes about 20 minutes; instructions are available at www.daisy.org

Pre-requisites

Pre-requisites: Software that you need

• An Office/Desktop Publishing software program compatible with DAISY—for authoring
  • Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, or XP
  • Open Office (most recent version)
  • Adobe InDesign (not fully tested with MathML)
  • Microsoft Exchange (untested)
• gh Player™ version 2.2 (Build 2.2.4.0815)—for conversion
• A DAISY software player that supports MathML (could be gh Player™)—for playback

Step 1: Install Various Components

• General Description: Visit http://www.daisy.org/project/save-as-daisy/
• At this point you must choose either Microsoft Word or Open Office.
• Microsoft Word is more expensive, but process is more fully tested and produces a full DAISY file set.
• Open Office is completely free, but produces XML only.

Step 1: Install Components (Word)

Stage 1: Install various components—Microsoft Word Version

• Save-As-DAISY Word Plugin (free):
  • Filename "DaisyTranslator_WordAddin_24March2009.zip"
  • URL http://www.daisy.org/project/save-as-daisy-microsoft/
• Design Science Tools:
  • Math DAISY Tool ($179, optional if using GH Player)
    • Filename "MathDaisy10_install.exe"
    • URL http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathdaisy/trial.asp
  • MathPlayer (free)
    • Filename "MathPlayerSetup.exe"
    • URL http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/download.htm
  • MathType ($97, optional if using GH Player)
    • Filename "MTW6.5c.exe"
    • URL http://www.dessci.com/en/products/MathType/

Step 1: Install Components (Open Office)

Stage 1: Install various components—Open Office Version

• Save-As-DAISY Open Office Plugin (free)
  • Filename "OOo_3.1.0_Win32Intel_install_wJRE_en-US.exe"
  • URL http://odt2daisy.sourceforge.net/

Step 2: Create Document (Word)

Next, create the document in either Word or Open Office.

• Create document
  • Use equation editor with Insert | Object (Equation)
  • Also use regular styles (Heading1, List, etc.)
• Name and Save document as *.DOCX—Office Open XML (OOXML) format (requires plugin if you are not using Word 2007 or greater; this plugin is part of the DAISY download)
  • Choose Save As | Word 2007 Document (*.docx)
• Use File | Save As DAISY command
  • Choose an option from list: DAISY XML (from Single docx)
    • Click Translate button in Dialog Box (process takes a few minutes)
    • Click OK once success message comes up.
    • File package is located in same directory as *.docx file.
      • DOCX file
      • CSS file
      • XML file
  • The XML file is ready for the next stage.

Step 2: Create Document (Word, cont.)

Alternatively, you can use the Full DAISY option as follows:

• Create document
  • Use equation editor with Insert | Object (Equation)
  • Also use regular styles (Heading1, List, etc.)
• Name and Save document as *.DOCX—Office Open XML (OOXML) format (requires plugin if you are not using Word 2007 or greater; this plugin is part of the DAISY download)
  • Choose Save As | Word 2007 Document (*.docx)
• Use File | Save As DAISY command
  • Choose an option from list: Full DAISY XML (from Single docx)
    • Select subitem of DAISYPipelineTTSNarrator
    • Click Translate button in Dialog Box (process takes a few minutes)
      • Some advanced settings are available for expert users
    • Click OK once Job Complete message comes up.
    • File package is located in same directory as *.docx file.
      • Many different files, including audio
      • Relevant file for GH Player is the *.OPF file (Package File)
        • Note that default filenames are confusing—disadvantage to this method
        • YOU CANNOT RENAME THESE FILES unless you edit the OPF and XML.
• Now, the DAISY package is ready for the next stage.

Step 2: Create Document (Open Office)

Next, create the document in either Word or Open Office.

• Open Office Writer (looks like MS Word)
• Set Up Writer to work with DAISY
  • Select Tools | Extension Manager...
  • Click the Add... button
  • Select folder where Open Office DAISY plugin was unzipped, choose the .oxt file
  • Click Open, the plugin should appear in the Extension Manager list. Make sure that it is Enabled.
  • Click the Close button
• Create document
  • Use equation editor with Insert | Object | Formula
  • Also use regular styles (Heading1, List, etc.)

Step 2: Create Document (Open Office, Cont.)

• Name and Save document as *.ODT—Open Office Document Format
• Use File | Export As DAISY... command
  • Choose a location for the XML file (this can be the same folder as the Office document).
  • Click Save
  • You can fill in information in the dialog box
  • Click Export when ready
  • Click OK when message pops up
  • Two files are created (CSS and XML)—ready for the next stage!

Step 3: Use gh Player™

First, open gh Player™ and set up the correct options:

• Choose Options | Customize and select the "Math" Tab
  • Click checkbox for "Use MathML Natively"
  • This will require a free download of MathPlayer (which should already be installed)

• Other useful options for a student (optional):
  • Options | Customize and select the "General" Tab
    • Click checkbox for "Show word when tracking"—allows student highlight parts of equations
    • Click "Keep reading when using other programs"—allows student/teacher to hear output while converting additional documents—useful for proofing
• Select ScanSoft "Samantha" for a good TTS voice to use with Math (Options | Customize and select the "Narrator Voice" Tab)

Step 3: Use gh Player™ (Word)

If coming from Microsoft Word:

• For Single XML file:
  • Drag the XML file from the fileset into gh Player™ (while gh Player™ is open and running).
  • Choose File | Save As...
  • Select a folder for the final DAISY output (you may to use a different folder than you use for Word)
  • Click OK. Your full DAISY book will appear in the directory.
• For Full DAISY package:
  • Drag the OPF file from the fileset into gh Player™ (while gh Player™ is open and running)
  • Saving the book as DAISY in gh Player™ is optional. If you choose to do this (for example, to clean up the XML) then be sure to select a different folder so as not to mix files.

Step 3: Use gh Player™ (Open Office)

If coming from Open Office:

• For Single XML file:
  • Drag the XML file from the fileset into gh Player™ (while gh Player™ is open and running).
  • Choose File | Save As...
  • Select a folder for the final DAISY output (you may to use a different folder than you use for Word)
  • Click OK. Your full DAISY book will appear in the directory.

Tips for Better Results

• Do not put blanks in file names of DAISY books or any associated files—this is not allowed by the spec and will break many DAISY players.
• Images can be used in books; make sure to fill out the ALT text for the image in order to have a description available in the DAISY Book.
  • To place images in the Word document, make sure to use the Insert | Image | From file... comand. Do not use copy and paste! The Save As DAISY feature can only recognize images which are external to the document—not embedded images (from copy/paste).
  • Source Image file should be in the same folder as the Word document and DAISY files.
  • Microsoft Word—right-click on image and choose Format Picture
  • Then choose the Web tab
  • Enter the descriptive text in the Alternative Text box and click OK.
  • During the Save As DAISY process, a new image file will be created. Do not delete the old file.