The File menu, on the far left of the main toolbar, is where you access your main vocabulary file. This file, with the ending '.voc', is much more than a list of words. It keeps track of what you want to learn, what you know, when you've seen various items, how your memory works, and so on.
If you don't have a vocab file yet, you can create a new, empty one by choosing New, under the File menu, and then you can add your own words or import lists of words, as explained in the next section. Or you can open one of the existing vocab files, such as 'Harry.voc', and then save it with your own name, such as 'Fred.voc'. (The 'Save' button will be grayed out until you have some made some changes, but the 'Save as' option will be available under the File menu). Note that, under the File menu, the various vocabularies that have been used recently are listed, but without their 'voc' ending. This user list can be edited so that it only contains the vocab files you are interested in.
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After you've opened up a vocab file, or created a new one and imported some words, the next thing to do is start testing yourself. Click the Test button to get started, and then Stop Test when you've finished. (It's the same button, but it changes its name to show you if you are in the middle of a test.)
When you've finished the test, click on Save to save your progress. This button will be grayed out if there is nothing to save.
For 90% of the time, those are the only three things you'll need from the main toolbar: the File menu, the Test/Stop Test button, and the Save button. You might want to quickly look at a couple of the other features below, however.
If you are unsure of something, look at the Help menu, on the far right. You can access this Tutorial and other New User options, along with help files on a number of topics. If the answer is not in the Help files, email us via the Cerebware website.
If you don't know how to enter Umlauts, you should read the help file 'Entering special characters'. Then you can decide whether to let your operating system take care of umlauts, or use the internal Cerebware keyboard shortcuts. Enter your preference under the Umlauts menu.
The Themes menu is worth a look. Here you'll find short lists of words grouped by themes such as 'Animals' or 'Travel'. Whenever you want to add some words to your vocabulary, you can import one of these lists. New themes are being added all the time - just check the Cerebware website - or you can make your own lists.
Is your Vocab still empty, and you don't know how to get going? Don't worry - read the next installment in the tutorial...