Re: Problem to activate braille support in Gnopernicus

[Marc Mulcahy <Marc Mulcahy Sun COM>]

Hi All,

I can't get BrlTTY support working either.  It looks like a problem with 
the virtual terminal selection in Gnopernicus.  when you choose BRLTTY's 
brlapi rom the combo box listing the possible Braille devices, the spin 
button to select the port (or in this case, virtual terminal) is 
disabled.

Marc

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003, John J. Boyer wrote:

> Nath,
> 
> You don't have to use the GUI to configure Gnopernicus. There is a 
> command-line program called gcvonftool-2 that you can use to set all the 
> keys. This is covered in the documentation in the gnopernicus section of 
> the brltty package. Here it is.
> 
> Introduction
> ============
> 
> As of version 0.3.4 (released in July of 2003), Gnopernicus contains a braille
> driver for BRLTTY. This means that you can now use Gnopernicus with any braille
> display that is supported by BRLTTY. Although support is far from complete,
> basic braille displaying, as well as key transmission, work fine.
> 
> 
> Building BRLTTY
> ===============
> 
> Gnopernicus uses BrlAPI (BRLTTY's application programming interface).  When
> building BRLTTY, therefore, configure it with --enable-api in order to enable
> the compilation and installation of libbrlapi and its header files.
> 
>     ./configure --enable-api
>     make
>     make install
> 
> After installation, but *before* launching the new BRLTTY, you need to generate
> an authentication key for its API. The easiest way to do this is:
> 
>     echo some-string >/etc/bbrlapi.key
> 
> Easiest, of course and as usual, doesn't necessarily mean best. It's much
> better for this kind of data to be unpredictable. If, therefore, a random data
> source is available then it should be used.
> 
> If you have the mcookie command then you can do:
> 
>     mcookie >/etc/brlapi.key
> 
> If you have the dd command and the /dev/random device then you can do:
> 
>     dd if=/dev/random of=/etc/brlapi.key bs=32 count=1
> 
> If there's the slightest possibility that even just one untrustworthy user can
> access your system then you should seriously consider ensuring that the fiLe
> containing the authentication key for BrlAPI can only be accessed by those
> users who actually need to use the braille display. If there's only one braille
> user then it's easy.  Just make him the owner of the file and ensure that noone
> else can access it.
> 
>     chown whoever /etc/brlapi.key
>     chmod 600 /etc/brlapi.key
> 
> If there's more than one braille user then it's a little more complicated.  
> Create a new group with a meaningful name (like, say, brlapi), make the file
> readable to that group but not to anyone else, and ensure that each braille
> user is a member of that group.
> 
>     groupadd brlapi
>     chgrp brlapi /etc/brlapi.key
>     chmod 640 /etc/brlapi.key
>     usermod -G brlapi user1
>     usermod -G brlapi user2
>     ...
> 
> 
> Configuring Gnopernicus
> =======================
> 
> You need to activate Braille Support, and to change the Braille Device Type to
> "BRLTTY". This configuration can be done not only via the display but also via
> the command line. Both of these methods are described here.
> 
> 
> When the focus is inside the Gnopernicus window, select
> 
>     1 General Settings
> 
> In this menu, check the checkbox with the label "Braille". This activates
> braille support, and makes the "Braille Settings" window available.
> 
> Now click OK to apply the change and close the window.
> 
> In the main Gnopernicus window again, select
> 
>     2 Input/Output Settings -> 2 Braille Settings -> 1 Braille Device
> 
> In this dialog box, ensure that "BRLTTY" is the selected braille device.
> 
> After applying your changes, "Close" the "Braille Settings" and "Input/Output
> Settings" windows.
> 
> Braille should start working as soon as any needed configuration changes are
> made.
> 
> 
> There's a command-line interface to the Gnome configuration system (gconf)
> called "gconftool-2". You can get verbose help for it with "gconftool-2 --help"
> or something shorter with "gconftool-2 --usage".
> 
> The first step is to ensure that the accessibility features of Gnome are
> enabled. Gnopernicus, at start time, automatically detects if accessibility
> isn't enabled, and, if so, displays a dialog which asks the user if it should
> be enabled. Since a blind user can't see this dialog, here's how to ensure that
> the setting is correct ahead of time.
> 
> Check the current setting by inspecting the relevant gconf key:
> 
>     gconftool-2 --get /apps/desktop/gnome/interface/accessibility
> 
> If it's false, set it to true as follows (all one line):
> 
>     gconftool-2 --type bool
>                 --set /apps/desktop/gnome/interface/accessibility true
> 
> Gnopernicus uses gconf to store its settings, so you can manually turn braille
> on (and turn speech off if you like). The relevant gconf keys are:
> 
> [turn braille on]
>     gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/gnopernicus/srcore/br_active true
> 
> [set braille device to brltty]
>     gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/gnopernicus/braille/device BRLTTY
> 
> [turn braille monitor display (for sighted users) off]
>     gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/gnopernicus/srcore/bm_active false
> 
> [turn speech off]
>     gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/gnopernicus/srcore/sp_active false
> 
> You can run "gconftool-2 --get ...." with any key (you don't need the "--type"
> parameter for the "get" function) to verify that that gconf key is set
> correctly.
> 
> 
> Starting Gnome
> ==============
> 
> Here's a sample .xinitrc file for starting Gnome under the Garnome
> distribution. The accessibility key is set in the file to ensure that it is
> true. The environment variable GTK_MODULES seems to be necessary to make
> everything accessible. The .xinitrc file must be placed in your home directory
> and is used when you type "startx" to start the X-server.
> 
>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  #!/bin/sh
> 
>  # Define environment variables.
>  GARNOME=$HOME/garnome
>  PATH=$GARNOME/bin:$PATH
>  LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$GARNOME/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
>  PYTHONPATH=$GARNOME/lib/python2.2/site-packages
>  PKG_CONFIG_PATH=$GARNOME/lib/pkgconfig:/usr/lib/pkgconfig
>  GDK_USE_XFT=1
>  GTK_MODULES=gail:atk-bridge
>  export PATH LD_LIBRARY_PATH PYTHONPATH PKG_CONFIG_PATH GDK_USE_XFT GTK_MODULES
> 
>  # Configure Gnome.
>  gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/desktop/gnome/interface/accessibility true
> 
>  # Tell Gnopernicus which virtual terminal is being used by the X display.
>  # This is a bit complicated so cut-and-paste (rather than retype) it.
>  CONTROLVT="$(grep "using VT number" "/var/log/XFree86.$(echo "$DISPLAY" | sed -e "s/^.*::*\([0-9]*\).*$/\1/").log" | sed -e "s/^.*using VT number \([0-9]*\).*$/\1/")"
>  export CONTROLVT
> 
>  # Start the Gnome session.
>  exec $GARNOME/bin/gnome-session
>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> Starting Gnopernicus
> ====================
> 
> Gnopernicus is started from a file in your home directory which Gnome reads
> when it starts up. While Gnome provides a GUI for adding startup programs,
> there's no proper command-line or script way to do so yet. You can, however,
> manually edit the session file as follows:
> 
> 1) Create the directory "~/.gnome2" if it doesn't exist yet.
> 2) Create the file "~/.gnome2/session-manual" if it doesn't exist yet.
> 3) Contents of the "session-manual" file (without the indentation):
> 
>    <blank line>
>    [Default]
>    num_clients=1
>    0,RestartStyleHint=3
>    0,Priority=60
>    0,RestartCommand=gnopernicus
> 
> 
> Key Bindings
> ============
> 
> This driver assumes that Gnopernicus key bindings remain at their default
> settings. BRLTTY commands are mapped to Gnopernicus key bindings as follows:
> 
>    BRLTTY       Gnopernicus
>    Command      Binding      Description
>    ----------   -----------  -----------
>    CMD_LNUP     DK00         Go To Parent
>    CMD_HOME     DK01         Go To Focus
>    CMD_LNDN     DK02         Go To Child
>    CMD_FWINLT   DK03         Go To Previous
>                 DK04         Repeat Last
>    CMD_FWINRT   DK05         Go To Next
>                 DK01DK02     Do Default Action
>    CR_ROUTE     HMSnn        Route Cursor
> 
> 
> What's Left
> ===========
> 
> We need some way to figure out the tty on which the X server is currently
> running. Some investigation didn't really show any way to get this information
> via the X protocol. We'll probably need to add a BrlAPI-specific configuration
> entry which at least lets the user set this. The downside would be that this
> would make it very hard to use Gnopernicus for more than one X server
> concurrently.
> 
> Any input on these issues would be highly appreciated.
> 
> 
> ---------------------
> 
>  On Wed, 19 Nov 2003, Nath wrote:
> 
> > Jacob Schmude <jschmude adelphia net> writes:
> > 
> > > Hi
> > > Set the CONTROLVT environment variable to the number of your
> > > X console, this is usually 7. Set it like this:
> > > export CONTROLVT=7
> > >
> > I have already done that but unfortunatly nothing better after
> > initializing this environment variable.
> > > Also, it's probably best if you take the gnopernicus command-line
> > > options away and just configure it through the menu system of gnopernicus.
> > >
> > Yes I think so too but unfortunatly as I explaned in my previous message
> > I don't understand what the TTS says and then without braille it'll be
> > difficult for me to configure the gnopernicus options through the GUI. 
> > 
> > if you are using Braille with brlapi could you please send me your .xml
> > file concerning the braille configuration in order I can see if it looks
> > like mine or not ? thx !
> > 
> > 
> > > HTH
> > > On Wed, Nov 19, 2003 at 12:25:48AM +0100, Nath wrote:
> > >> Hi all,
> > >> 
> > >> After my speech problem now I come back to you to explain my braille
> > >> problem : Since I installed Gnome 2.4 on my Debian box I can't find how
> > >> to activate braille support using BRLTTY and BRLAPI. I installed the
> > >> Debian VRLTTY package which has support for BRLAPI enabled and I have
> > >> the brlapi-key file in /etc directory with "rw" access for all. I start
> > >> gnopernicus in the ~/.gnome2/session-manual file using the following
> > >> line at the bottom of the file :
> > >> 
> > >> 0,RestartCommand=/usr/bin/gnopernicus --enable-braille
> > >> --braille-device=BRLTTY --braille-port=1
> > >> 
> > >> The ~/.gconf/apps/gnopernicus/braille/%gconf.xml file has the following
> > >> contents :
> > >> 
> > >> <?xml version="1.0"?>
> > >> <gconf>
> > >> <entry name="translation_table" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>de</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="braille_style" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>8</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="cursor_style" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>underline</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="position" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="int" value="2"/>
> > >> <entry name="optical" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="int" value="0"/>
> > >> <entry name="device" mtime="1069196286" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BRLTTY</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="port_no" mtime="1069196286" muser="nath" type="int" value="1"/>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_count" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="int" value="9"/>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_0_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>VARIO20</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_0_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BAUM VARIO - 20 cells</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_1_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>VARIO40</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_1_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BAUM VARIO - 40 cells</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_2_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>VARIO80</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_2_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BAUM VARIO - 80 cells</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_3_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>DM80P</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_3_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BAUM DM80 - 80 cells</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_4_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>INKA</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_4_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BAUM INKA</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_5_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>ALVA380</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_5_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>ALVABRAILLE 380</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_6_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>ALVA544</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_6_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>ALVABRAILLE 544</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_7_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>ALVA570</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_7_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>ALVABRAILLE 570</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_8_ID" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BRLTTY</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_8_description" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>BRLTTY's BrlAPI</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="brldev_default" mtime="1069196287" muser="nath" type="int" value="0"/>
> > >> <entry name="attribute" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="int" value="8"/>
> > >> <entry name="status" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>CursorPos</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> <entry name="fill_char" mtime="1068762013" muser="nath" type="string"><stringvalue>##</stringvalue></entry>
> > >> </gconf>
> > >> 
> > >> An idea of what's wrong on my system ? 
> > >> 
> > >> Unfortunatly for the moment (until I will have no braille support) I
> > >> can't change parameters in the gnopernicus GUI because the TTS in
> > >> english reads me French and the speed is so fast that I can't understand
> > >> what it is said !
> > >> 
> > >> Thx a lot for your help and advices,
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> -- 
> > >> Nath
> > >> 
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> gnome-accessibility-list mailing list
> > >> gnome-accessibility-list gnome org
> > >> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-accessibility-list
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > gnome-accessibility-list mailing list
> > > gnome-accessibility-list gnome org
> > > http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-accessibility-list
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> 
>