BastiUK's VocProf - Frequently Asked Questions (13/10/2003)
This document contains important information about BastiUK's VocProf. You can download the latest program version including this document at: www.BastiUK.de/vocprof
Please note: To illustrate VocProf's features and functions, the author ressorts to linguistic examples in English. English is just an example language! VocProf works with all Romance and Germanic languages!
Information about the shareware version and how to order a software licence
What is "shareware"?
Buying products online can be very risky - software is no exception. You hardly know what you'll get. Therefore some intelligent people invented a principle called "shareware". Shareware is completely functioning, free software that is limited in time. Time limitations are necessary as shareware wants to show the main features of a commercial software product. Thus you can evaluate software before you decide to buy a licence.
BastiUK's VocProf is available in a free shareware version, as well. You can evaluate its shareware over a period of 7 days or 5 hours of constant work. In this way you can get a first impression of the program, so that you know what you buy when you buy it. If you want to use VocProf for longer, please order a software licence online: www.BastiUK.de/goto/vp_order.htm (English and international website).
What are the benefits of the full, registered version?
BastiUK's VocProf is introduced in full details on the product website: www.BastiUK.de/vocprof (English and international website)
Can I use my "shareware files" within a full, registered version?
Of course you can! If you register your software (that is, if you buy a software licence), all of your previous vocabulary files and user settings will be available in the registered version!
To order a licence, please visit: www.BastiUK.de/goto/vp_order.htm (English and international website)
Where can I order a software licence?
You can order software licences over the internet - with instant delivery and various means of payment:
Online order: www.BastiUK.de/goto/vp_order.htm (English and international website)
Language support
Which languages does BastiUK's VocProf support? Does it support Slav languages?
BastiUK's VocProf supports all Germanic and Romance languages (such as English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish and many more!).
Slav languages are not supported but may be working well with VocProf. You can specify own font settings and thus use external fonts (True Type Fonts) to be able to work with languages that need special characters. To change your font settings, open the "settings" dialog and choose "font settings".
Does VocProf offer support for special characters?
Yes, of course! There are hardly any languages in the world that do not use special characters. German, French and Spanish may only be the most popular examples. That's why BastiUK's VocProf offers two powerful ways to manage special characters:
First of all, you can use an on-screen keyboard to type in special characters by clicking on buttons. The on-screen keyboard is available in the editor (click on "Chars" in the toolbar) as well as in any vocabulary test session (hit the F2-key).
Besides, more advanced users can use certain key combinations (called hotkeys) to type in special characters. Each special character has its own key combination, that can be recognized easily. To type in "Ö", for example, you have to press Ctrl + Shift + : and then O. Refer to the user's manual to get an overview of all available hotkeys. Alternatively, open the on-screen keyboard and leave the mouse pointer over a button for a while to open a tool-tip showing the respective hotkey.
How can I mark irregular verbs?
Use semicolons to separate irregular verbs. Thus you can write "to eat; ate; eaten" or "essen; aß; gegessen". In test sessions, you will then have to type in the irregular verbs in the same sequence.
Important: Do not use commas for irregular verbs, as they are used to separate synonyms. Synonyms can be typed in in any order ("to go, to walk" is the same as "to walk, to go"), whereas irregular verbs must always be typed in in their certain sequence ("to eat; eaten; ate" is wrong, correct is "to eat; ate; eaten").
General features
Why is VocProf so much more powerful than common vocabulary trainers?
VocProf is not a common vocabulary trainer, although it offers all the functions you know from common trainers. Besides, VocProf provides you with very special didactic methods to ensure you learn foreign words as efficiently as possible. Those methods were developed with the help of hundreds of active language learners - students and professional interpreters gathered all their experience to develop a software that meets all their demands.
The main benefits of this irreplaceable everyday tool are:
- VocProf offers various settings and options to make vocabulary tests and learning sessions fit the user's learning habits properly.
- VocProf offers innovative learning methods to ensure an efficient learning process: Declaring words as "primary" and "secondary" makes it possible to associate words - thus you can learn more words with less effort.
- To learn derivatives: Declare "sleep" as a "primary" word and its derivatives "to sleep", "sleepy" and "sleepless" as "secondary" words. Thus you will always associate the derivatives with their original form.
- To learn the differences between similar expression: Declare "to uncover" as a "primary" word and "to cover up" as a "secondary" word to make sure you keep their opposite meanings in mind.
- VocProf offers a very flexible syntax interpretation
- Use parentheses to add additional grammatical expressions to certain words. Thus you can easily learn prepositions: "to negotiate (with, about)" (English) or "verhandeln (mit, über)" (German)
- You can add as many synonyms to a word as you like. Use commas to separate them: "to care, to take care" (English) or "sich kümmern, betreuen" (German)
- Combine these features: "to care (for), to take care (of)" (English), "starren (auf), schauen (auf)" (German)
- VocProf can handle vocabulary lists, grammar exercises and completion tests.
- Refer to the user's manual to get to know how much more VocProf has to offer!
Is VocProf a multi-user software?
BastiUK's VocProf can handle an unlimited amount of users. Each user gets an own user account including a user directory, where personal files and user settings will be saved. Users can exchange vocabulary files with each other when working on the same machine. Import and export functions make it possible to exchange files via internet, e-mail or disks.
What types of learning methods does VocProf support?
VocProf can handle vocabulary lists (for vocabulary tests), grammar exercises and completion tests.
Does VocProf support the IPA's phonetic font?
Of course! Please visit the international VocProf website for further assistance and information on how to use phonetic fonts in VocProf: International Support Page
Can VocProf import Excel™ sheets?
Yes, VocProf provides an import function for simple Excel™ sheets. Please consult the user's manual for more information.
Errors, bugs and support
I'm encountering a software error. What can I do?
First of all: There is no program available on the world wide web that is free of any errors. Software errors may upset you from time to time but they should not keep you from working.
BastiUK's VocProf has been equipped with a powerful error routine. Each time an error is raised, VocProf displays an error message providing additional information about the software error. This message is being saved in a file called "errors.txt" or "errors_assist.txt" in the sub-directory "error-files" in the VocProf application directory. Under certain circumstances, you are allowed to proceed with your work. Sometimes, though, proceeding is impossible and you need to shut down the application. This is really annoying but cannot always be avoided. That is why you should start saving your work regularly.
If you encounter a specific problem regularly, please do the following: Send us an E-Mail (Support@BastiUK.de) and try to describe your problem as exactly as possible. Please enclose the error file(s) and any vocabulary units that might be affected by the error. We can only help you if you provide us with detailed information!
Where can I receive product support?
Please contact us if you have questions, problems or feedback regarding our software products:
Miscellaneous questions
Does VocProf contain predefined vocabulary files?
VocProf is equipped with an internal vocabulary archive offering vocabulary lists and grammar exercises for most popular languages. You can also download the latest files from the online vocabulary archive. Go to: www.BastiUK.de/goto/vp_archive.htm
Microsoft Excel™ and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
"BastiUK's VocProf" is developed by Sebastian Felling (Support@BastiUK.de). You are using the software and applying the information contained in this document at your own risk!
Copyright © 2002 - 2003 Sebastian Felling