In November 2006, Learning By Design released SPELL – 2, an enhanced version of the SPELL Spelling Performance Evaluation for
Language and Literacy software program. Compare the features of
SPELL vs. SPELL – 2.
Is SPELL v1.x compatible with OSX?
Cross-Platform
Why does the audio skip and stutter when I run the SPELL v1.x program? Do I have a
defective CD?
To determine if you have a defective CD, please install and run the
SPELL v1.x program on another computer.
If you experience the same audio problems on a different computer, return the CD
to us for replacement.
If the audio problems can not be replicated on a different computer, then
the problem is specific to your computer. Some suggestions to remedy the
problem:
1. Check that your computer specs, especially your CD-ROM speed and
processor speed, meet the minimum system requirements for SPELL v1.x.
2. Check that you have the most current audio drivers for whatever audio
sound card your computer is using.
3. Run the defragmentation utility to defrag your hard drive. If you are unable to resolve the audio problems, please contact the
manufacturer of your computer.
I can view the student reports on screen but why can't I close or print a report once I've opened
it for viewing?
If you are unable to view the "Print" and "Close" buttons in the lower right-hand corner of a report once it is displayed on-screen,
you need to adjust your monitor resolution.
In Windows, from the Start menu, select Control Panel, Display: Settings and select 800 x 600
display resolution. Click Apply. On a Macintosh, from the apple menu, select Control Panel and choose Monitor to select 800 x 600 display
resolution.
Are any updates available for my version of the SPELL v1.x program?
In November 2006, Learning By Design released
SPELL – 2, an enhanced version of the SPELL Spelling Performance Evaluation for
Language and Literacy software program. Compare the features of
SPELL vs. SPELL – 2.
Can I administer SPELL v1.x without the use of headphones?
The use of headphones for administration of SPELL v1.x is highly recommended to maximize validity of test results.
What type of headphones is recommended for use with SPELL v1.x?
The headphones commonly used for portable audio devices are appropriate for use with SPELL v1.x.
Why does the order of presentation of the Selector Module items vary from student to student?
The starting item number for the Selector Module is determined by the individual student's grade and spelling grade level as entered by the examiner on the Student Information Form.
The specific test items and the order of the test items presented to the student in the Selector Module are determined by the individual student's performance in the Selector Module.
The Selector Module presents the items in the order necessary to establish a basal and then a ceiling for the individual student and discontinues the Selector Module once a ceiling has been established.
How do I know which level of the Main Test Module has been selected for administration to the
individual student?
The level of the Main Test Module selected by SPELL v1.x for administration to an individual student is indicated in the lower
right corner of the student information displayed when student begins and resumes testing in the Main Test Module.
Next Module:
Main Test (L1) denotes Level 1; (L2) denotes Level 2, and so on.
After the student has finished spelling the first 20 words of the
Main Test Module, SPELL v1.x automatically checks for a minimum spelling accuracy level for selected spelling patterns.
If the student
does not meet the minimal criterion set by the program, SPELL v1.x will automatically and seamlessly drop to the next lowest level of the
Main Test Module.
Why does the test item number in the lower left corner of the screen not always correspond to the
item number in lists of words for the Selector or Main Test Module contained in the Appendices?
Because the test item counter in the lower left corner of the screen reflects the number of items completed by the student, there is not always a direct correspondence between the counter number and test item number found in the list of words.
This is because the starting test item number for the Selector Module is determined by the student's grade and/or spelling grade level and not all students will need to complete all 40 items in the Selector Module. Also, a word previously completed in the Selector Module will not be presented again in the Main Test Module.
The examiner can use the number that appears in the lower left corner of the screen to gauge the approximate number of items remaining to be completed in the Main Test Module.
Why can't I select and print a report for my student?
A student's reports can be printed only after the student has completed the entire SPELL v1.x assessment.
If you highlight a
student's name on the Management Tools page and the "Select A Report…" option is grayed out, go to Resume Testing to complete the
SPELL v1.x assessment for the student.
After I finish testing a student, why can't I locate the student's name under Resume Testing?
Once a student has completed the SPELL v1.x assessment, his or her name is removed from the list of students displayed under the
Resume Testing folder tab.
For students who have completed SPELL v1.x, you may access their records under the Management Tools folder tab.
Where can I find the electronic versions of Appendix B and Appendix C?
These files are located on the SPELL v1.x CD-ROM. From your desktop, open the directory for your CD-ROM drive, and locate the Handouts folder. Appendices B and C are inside this folder.
How can I export the student reports as an electronic file?
All SPELL v1.x reports are saved and accessed within the SPELL v1.x program. You can export SPELL v1.x reports in PDF format if you have Adobe Acrobat Write - available for purchase from www.adobe.com - installed on your computer. To print any of the SPELL reports to a PDF file, simply follow these steps:
1. From the Management Tools screen, use the "Select A Report" drop down
menu to select the report you wish to print.
2. Click on the View/Print button to view the selected report on your
computer screen.
3. Click on the Print button.
4. When the Print Dialogue box opens, select Adobe PDF Writer as your
printer.
Why does it take a long time to open a student record?
The amount of time it takes to open a record is determined by your computer's specifications. If accessing student records
seems sluggish, we recommend that you use Management Tools to periodically purge old student records from the student list.
Be sure to
print and save hard copies of the student's reports before purging the student's data record, as the student's data will be
permanently deleted from the SPELL v1.x program.
Does SPELL v1.x accept spellings that contain characters other than the letters of the alphabet?
The SPELL v1.x program will accept keyboard input of the 26 letters of the alphabet and apostrophes, hyphens, and periods. Although
none of the target words in SPELL v1.x contains apostrophes, hyphens, or periods, these characters are allowed since they are sometimes used
to spell words, as is the case for contractions, possessives, compound words, and abbreviations.
SPELL v1.x does not include apostrophes,
hyphens, or periods in its analysis of the student's spellings, but will list the words in which these characters appear on the
student's report.
The examiner is encouraged to review the list of words for a specific pattern of misuse that may need to be addressed.
When I attempt to install SPELL v1.x, I get an error with a message that
indicates the installer is looking for another Setup disk. (Note: The installer
may present a dialog asking for the location of this disk.)
This error occurs if the installer is unable to read the CD-ROM due to
a dirty, damaged or faulty disk. First, clean the CD with a commercial cleaner and try again.
If this does not resolve the problem,
please contact a Technical Support representative at Learning By Design for a replacement disk. Your SPELL v1.x CD will be replaced in
accordance with Our Return Policy printed on your invoice or sales receipt.
When I launch SPELL v1.x, I get an error with a message: "The file {a
filename} is not a Director file..."
This error occurs if SPELL v1.x cannot read the CD-ROM. There are several reasons why this may happen: The CD may not lie correctly in the CD-ROM drive bay, the CD
may be defective, or the problem may be with the CD-ROM drive itself.
1. If you were able to install SPELL v1.x, your CD probably is incorrectly
inserted in your CD-ROM drive; remove and re-insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive and re-launch SPELL.
2. If removing and re-inserting the CD fails, try the SPELL v1.x CD on another machine. If you can launch SPELL v1.x on another
machine, the problem is probably with your CD-ROM drive or CD-ROM software drivers; contact the manufacturer of your CD-ROM drive.
3. If you cannot launch SPELL v1.x on another machine, please contact a Technical Support representative at Learning By Design
for a replacement disk. Your SPELL v1.x CD will be replaced in accordance with Our Return Policy printed on your invoice or sales receipt.
Windows
The SPELL v1.x program is not saving my students' data. Why is this happening?
Your user account on your computer may not have write privileges to the SPELL v1.x Data directory on the hard drive and therefore the
SPELL v1.x program cannot write to that directory in order to save the student data. This can occur on Windows 2000, Windows XP
and networked systems.
If you are using Windows 2000, Windows XP or working on a network system, ask your IT administrator if
SPELL v1.x was installed under an administrator account but run under a guest account.
If so, this is the reason the student data was
not saved. You need to either
1: Run SPELL under an administrator account or
2.Set up the user account with write access to the
SPELL v1.x Data directory on the hard drive.
For assistance with setting up user accounts and user access, please consult your
Operating System User Manual, or contact the manufacturer of your
computer.
What are the minimum system requirements on a Windows system for SPELL v1.x?
For Windows 98/ME
Pentium II, 233 MHz or higher
32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended)
10 MB free hard disk space
(200 MB free for virtual memory)
16-bit color monitor
Windows-compatible sound card
4x CD-ROM drive
For Windows 2000/XP (XP recommended)
Pentium II, 233 MHz or higher
64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended)
10 MB free hard disk space
16-bit color monitor
Windows-compatible sound card
4x CD-ROM drive
How can I use another application without exiting the SPELL v1.x program?
Use the following procedure:
1. Click the Management Tools tab
in the Main Menu. (The password dialog box will be
displayed.)
2. Type "#exit" (i.e., the pound sign + the word 'exit') into the dialog box and click OK. (The dialog box will display
"Command Accepted.")
3. Type your password into the dialog box and click OK.
4. While in the SPELL v1.x program, use Alt+Tab to toggle between open programs or Alt-F4 to quit SPELL v1.x.
5. To turn this feature off, simply follow Steps 1 and 2 above.
Why doesn't sound play and why is the animation
jerky during some of "Fiona" or "Quinn" animations?
The problem most likely is with DirectSound Audio,
a DirectX component.
The Windows DirectX Diagnostics tool will tell you
what version of DirectX is installed on your computer
and test whether it is properly configured.
To open the DirectX Diagnostics tool:
1. Click “Start…Run”
to open a command window.
2. Enter “dxdiag”
(or “dxdiag.exe”) in the “Open:”
input box.
3. Click “OK”; DirectX
Diagnostics will open and run.
4. Follow instructions in DirectX
diagnostics to test your configuration.
If you get the error message “Cannot find
the file ‘dxdiag’ (or one of its components)…”
it means that DirectX is missing or the version
installed on your computer is earlier than 5.0.
In either case, you must install (or upgrade) DirectX.
SPELL v1.x works best with version 7.0 or later.
You may download the latest version of DirectX from the Microsoft Corporation web site.
Get more information about the DirectX and the DirectX Diagnostics tool.
Why is the right side
of my printed report cutoff, or why won't my printed
report fit onto the page?
You have selected an incorrect paper size for your
page setup.
Use the following procedure to correct this problem:
1. Click the "Print" button in the SPELL v1.x Print Preview window; a page setup dialog
will appear.
2. Click "Properties" to open the properties
dialog.
3. Click “Advanced” to open the advanced
options dialog.
4. Within the “Paper/Output”
option, select “Letter” or “Paper
Size”.
5. Click “OK” to close the advanced
options dialog.
6. Click “OK” to close the properties
dialog.
7. Click “OK” to print your report,
“Cancel” to close the page setup dialog.
(Note: The appearance and labeling of options in
the advanced options dialog may vary depending upon
your printer driver.)
Why do my reports automatically
print in Landscape mode?
Your printer default may be set to "Landscape".
Use the following procedure to correct this problem
(Note: The exact sequence may differ from machine
to machine.)
1. Click the Start button.
2. Select Settings...Printers.
3. Right-click the printer you
normally use.
4. Select “Printing preferences…”
5. Click the “Layout”
tab if is not already selected.
6. Select the "Portrait"
radio button in Orientation.
7. Click “OK”
Why does SPELL v1.x sometimes
crash when I try to print a document?
You are selecting a printer that is not online, or
a "phantom" printer that is found in your
network printer folder, but, in fact, does not exist
on your network.
Use the following procedure to check if this is
the case:
1. Click the Start button.
2. Select Settings…Printers.
3. Double-click on a printer icon
to check the status of a printer. The window that
opens will indicate if the printer is NOT found
on your network and if you do NOT have access privileges.
4. Alternatively, in the Printers
window, right-click a printer icon.
5. Select Properties. If the icon
is that of a printer that doesn’t exist on
the network, an error message will inform you of
that fact.
6. If the properties dialog opens,
click the Security tab.
7. Check the “Permissions”
window. The “Print…Allow” checkbox
must be checked if you are to have permission to
print your document.
When you return to SPELL v1.x to print a document, select
a printer in the page setup dialog that you know
is online and to which you have access
When spelling words, my student holds down the letter keys for an extended period of time.
How can I prevent the repetition of letter input that sometimes occurs even though the student presses a letter key only once?
This problem can be resolved through Accessibility Options. Use the following procedure:
1. Click the Start Button.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. Select Accessibility Options.
4. Select the Keyboard tab.
5. Turn on the FilterKeys .
Macintosh
What are the minimum system requirements on a Macintosh system for SPELL v1.x? MacOS 8.6 or higher
Power PC 250 Mhz processor or higher (G3 recommended)
24 MB available memory
(32 MB recommended)
10 MB free hard disk space
16-bit color monitor
4x CD-ROM drive
When I try to print a report on my HP printer, I receive this error message:
"Unable to initialize Print-O-Matic xtra."
There is an incompatibility between the Print-O-Matic software plug-in and HP printer drivers when running the Print-O-Matic
software on OSX systems.
The problem is not with the SPELL v1.x software, but with the Print-O-Matic plug-in that we license from the
makers of the Print-O-Matic plug-in.
There is no fix available from this third party vendor at this time. To work-around this
problem either:
1. use another printer;
2. install SPELL on a system other than OSX or;
3. Print the SPELL v1.x report to a .pdf file
and then print the .pdf file on your HP printer.
How can I use another application without exiting the
SPELL v1.x program?
Use the following procedure:
1. Use Command+Tab to display the Finder Menu.
2. From the drop-down menu, select the open application you wish to use.
When I install SPELL v1.x I get an error: "The software to be installed requires 64 MB total
machine memory (RAM) which this computer does not have."
The installer is indicating that it has detected less than 64MB RAM on your machine. We recommend at least 64MB to run the SPELL v1.x
application even though it may run satisfactorily with 32MB. This error message is for your information only. Click 'Continue' to
complete the SPELL v1.x installation.
Will SPELL v1.x run on my E-Mac?
Yes. The E-Mac exceeds the minimum technical requirements for running the
SPELL v1.x program.
Is SPELL v1.x compatible with OSX?
The SPELL v1.x program runs in Classic Mode OSX but does not run in Native Mode OSX.
