Getting started

System requirements

In order to run the Zhengdu screen reader efficiently, your computer must meet some basic requirements. They are outlined below

Operating system: Windows 7 service pack 1 or never
RAM: 2048 MB
Disk space: 300 MB
Internet connection (for online editions)
A soundcard

These are the recommended technical requirements, yet if you are a computer beginner, you might need some more special equipment in order to make your life easier. Specifically it is recommended to get a desktop keyboard in case you use a laptop. It is because the keyboard is larger and easier to learn and it contains additional block of keys known as the Num Pad. If you are not sure whether your keyboard contains a numpad, check if there is a square block at the righthand of the device. If there isn't, visit the nearest computer shop and ask for a keyboard with a numpad.

Keyboard description

The below section contains a rough description of a standard desktop keyboard. When reading, please keep in mind that there are different keyboard variations, and so the below description might not be 100 percent accurate. It is provided here mostly for sighted people to help them learn how to describe the keyboard to a blind person.
The most upper row of the keyboard starts with the ESCAPE (ESC) key. It is located at the upper left corner of the keyboard. It is mostly used to cancel operations, go back to the previous menu, ETC.
Going right from the ESC key we have 12 functional keys, labeled F1 to F12. Sometimes they are grouped by 4, allowing for easier distinction. They are used to perform various operations. They are most often paired with other keys to create keyboard sequences, known also as keyboard shortcuts.
More to the right, we have 3 more keys. These are "PRINTSCREEN", "SCROLLOCK" and "PAUSE" keys. PRINTSCREEN is used to create screenshots (photos of your screen). SCROLLOCK is mostly historical and so does not have much use now, unless specified differently by a software program, and PAUSE is used to stop and resume operation of ZDSR.
The second row, often called the number row starts with a tilde (prim) key.
To the right of PRIM, we have 10 number keys, labeled from 1 to 0 respectively.
The remaining 3 keys in this row are minus, equal sign and "BACKSPACE". BACKSPACE is used to delete a character that is located to the left of the cursor, it can perform other operations depending on the currently running software program as well.
To the right of the "BACKSPACE" key we have a rectangular block of 6 keys. The first row of this block starts with the "INSERT" key, known as the "ZDSR key" in this book. The key next to it is called "HOME" and is used to go back to the beginning of the current line when editing text, or to the beginning of a list when in the list view. The last key in this row is the "PGUP" key. It is used to go one page up when editing text, or go twenty items up when in the list view.
The second row of the small block starts with the "DELETE"(DEL) key. This key is used to delete one character that is located to the left of the cursor when editing text or to delete the currently selected item when in the files view. The next key is called "END" and is used to go to the end of the current line when editing text, or to the end of the list when in the list view. The last key of this block is the "PGDOWN" (PAGE DOWN) key. It is used to go one page up when editing text, or twenty items up when in a list view.
When going right from the PGUP key, there is a large, square block of keys. This block is called a numpad and it largely reflects a phone keyboard, yet put upside down. We will start exploring the numpad from its upper left corner. The first key is called the "NUMLOCK" key and it is used to switch the functions which the numpad performs. For now the only thing you need to know about it is that when it is on, it is used to type numbers and when it is off, it performs different operations.
The next 3 keys are division sign, multiplication sign, minus, respectively.
The next row contains keys 7, 8, 9 as well as the plus sign. The plus sign is a long key, which is taking two rows in most of cases.
The below row contains keys 4, 5, 6. The middle key is a bit special, because it contains a little bump which makes it easily locatable.
One row below we have keys 1, 2, 3 respectively as well as the key known as the NUMPAD ENTER. This key is another long key, and so it takes up the rest of the vertical space of the keyboard.
The last row of the numpad starts with the key 0, and to its right we have the "DECIMAL" key.
Let's go back to the main keyboard for now. One key down from the forementioned "PRIM", we have the "TAB" key. This key is very important, as it is used to navigate forward in the Microsoft Windows operating system. When editing text though, the "TAB" key is used to move everything to the right of it 4 spaces. To the right of it we have a row of keys consisting of 13 keys. These are "Q", "W", "E", "R", "T", "Y", "U", "I", "O", "P", "[ (Left square bracket)", "] (Right square bracket" and "\ (Backslash)" keys.
The below row starts with the "CAPSLOCK" key. This key is used to toggle whether the letters you type are capitalized or not. When this is on, you type in capital letters, otherwise you don't. To the right we have other letters and symbols, namely "A", "S", "D", "F", "G", "H", "J", "K", "L", "; (Semicolon)" and "' (apostrophe). The last key in this row is very important. It is called "ENTER" and it is used to accept choices, or going one line down when editing text.
The next row of keys starts and ends with a long key. These keys are called "LEFT SHIFT" and "RIGHT SHIFT" respectively. They are used in conjunction with letters in order to capitalize them. If "CAPSLOCK" is turned on though, holding "SHIFT" and pressing letters makes them lowercase. Between the shift keys we have the following keys: "Z", "X", "C", "V", "B", "N", "M", ", (Comma)", ". (Dot)", "/ (slash).
The lowest row of the keyboard contains some keys that are mostly used in conjunction with other keys, creating keyboard sequences, known also as keyboard shortcuts.

LCTRL (LEFT CONTROL): This key located in the bottom left corner of the keyboard does nothing by itself when operating the computer without ZDSR. When the application is active though, it silences its speech.
LWIN (LEFT WINDOWS KEY): A key with the Microsoft Windows logo on most keyboards. It opens the "Start Menu" of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
LALT (LEFT ALT): This key opens the default menu bar in most applications.
SPACE: This is the longest key of the keyboard. It is used to input the "space" character when editing text, or to activate interface elements when navigating with the keyboard.
RALT (RIGHT ALT): Pressing this key is the same as pressing the "LCTRL+LALT" key combination. It is also used in conjunction with letters to input diacritic characters on non-english keyboards.
RWIN (RIGHT WINDOWS KEY): This key does the same function as the "LWIN" key unless otherwise specified by a software application.
APPS (APPLICATIONS KEY): This key is used to open context menus in most applications. In case of the apsence of this key, the "SHIFT+F10" combination might be used instead.
RCTRL (RIGHT CONTROL): Behaves in the same way as the "LCTRL" key unless otherwise specified by the software application.

The last element of the keyboard we haven't covered yet are the arrows. They are situated between the "RCTRL" and "NUMPAD 0" keys and form an upward facing triangle, or a printed "T" letter. The upmost key in this triangular block is the "UP ARROW": This key is used to go up one line when editing text, or go to the previous list element when in the list view. Below it we have the DOWN ARROW, to the left of it there's the LEFT ARROW, and to the right the RIGHT ARROW. Their function are the same, but covering their respective sides.

Downloading ZDSR

If you have purchased the software or want to use the screen reader's free edition you first need to download it from the Internet. Downloading makes a file hosted on an Internet server available on your computer, which makes it easily usable by you. If you have another screen reader active on your machine, open your favorite web browser and navigate to [https://zdsr24.com](This URL).
Then navigate to the "Download" link. From there, the various editions of the screen reader are listed as Level 3 headings. Choose your edition and select its "Download" link under its heading in order to begin the download process. An alternative method is to type a special address in the browser's address bar. This method will allow to download the given edition extremely quickly. The below table contains all available addresses that can be typed.

| Edition | Download Link |
| ----- | ----- |
| Free edition | free.zdsr24.com |
| Youth edition | youth.zdsr24.com |
| Commercial edition | commercial.zdsr24.com |
: A list of short download links

In case you do not have an active screen reader at the moment, it is highly recommended that you ask a sighted person for assistance. They can either go to the main website of the screen reader located at address www.zdsr24.com or use any of the short addresses provided above.

Installing ZDSR

Downloading the screen reader does not make it possible to use it yet. Before using, you need to install it. Installing a software means that your computer will take some special preparations and instructions from the software (ZDSR in this case) in order to prepare your environment for it.
If you have another screen reader, remember to close it shortly after executing the installer, as shortcut key conflicts might occur. After pressing the ENTER key on the installer file you should hear speech. If you don't, wait a few seconds, press "E" as "English" and press enter. This problem occurs if ZDSR could not find your language in its database.
After hearing the speech prompt, you have two choices. You can proceed with an "express installation". This method is recommended if you are a beginner and/or you never installed a software program before. To execute the express installation, press "Y" to trigger the installation process. Wait a few minutes and the program will be installed on your computer. If you wish to execute the standard installation though, press "N" after hearing the first speech prompt. Then the standard installation dialog will appear. You can navigate it by pressing the "TAB" key on your keyboard. You activate various options by pressing "SPACE". All installation screens are described below.
The first screen is just an introduction. You can press the "N" key in order to navigate to the next screen.
The second screen asks you to accept the license agreement of ZDSR. If you wish to accept the agreement, press "ALT" together with "A"
The third screen shows what's new in the version of ZDSR you are currently installing. You can press "N" again in order to navigate to the next screen.
The next screen is a bit more complicated though. It shows the list of additional tasks the installation program can perform during the installation process. The table describing them is outlined below, together with their description as well as a default value, in case you have unwillingly changed something.

| Option name | Option description | Default value |
| ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Create desktop icon | Creates a desktop icon on your desktop. This makes it possible to quickly launch the program from the area which is visible easily. | Checked |
| Auto start | Enabling this option makes it so that your computer starts speaking automatically right after its turned on. | Checked |
| Read Windows logon window and security window | Controls whether ZDSR reads the secure screens of the Microsoft Windows operating system. If you don't know what this option is, leave it be. | Checked |
| Install Skyvoice TTS engine | Installs the Skyvoice TTS engine, a high quality Chinese and english voice. | Checked |
| Install IBM ViaVoice TTS Engine | Installs the English Eloquence synthesiser. | Checked |
| Install IBM Chinese TTS Engine | Installs the Chinese Eloquence synthesiser. | Checked |
| Install Mini Dog driver | Installs a driver for the dongle, a device which authorises your ZDSR license. If you use the online edition, or the free edition of ZDSR, you can freely uncheck this option. | Checked |
: Detailed description of the installer's options

After making any special amendments to the component list, you can press "N" again to continue.
The final screen of the installer shows the summary of all selected options. After review, press "I" to start the installation process.
As with the "Express Installation" mode, a music will play and the installation process will be completed shortly after.

Activating ZDSR (Youth edition only)

If you have purchased ZDSR Youth edition, you need to activate it before use. Software activation is like checking in at an airport. You show your ticket, the guards check if everything is fine and you can move further. Here it works very much like that: you launch the software, enter the key you have been provided and, depending on its authenticity, you are "let through" or "turned down". Upon registering your purchase we have sent you an E-Mail containing very important data. Please save this E-Mail in a safe place, as disclosing the information it containes will lead to loss of all your rights. We also recommend that you make a note of the key (a long string of numbers), and a password consisting of four digits. Albeit it is possible to recover these data in an emergency, it is recommended that you keep them well-guarded.
In order to activate your software you first need to run it. Running or "launching" a software means that it starts working either in background (you do not directly see the exact steps the program performs) or in foreground (you see and can control everything). ZDSR, being a screen reading application, performs mainly in background. You don't see how it "talks" to your computer, how it retrieves the information and how it generates speech. You just hear the program speaking. With that out of the way, let's finally run the program. There are many ways to do so, depending on the options you have set in the installer. The most common options are listed below.

Press the shortcut "LCTRL+LALT+I" on your keyboard. This is the easiest method, as you do not have to memorize any positions. You just press these three keys together, wait a few seconds and the program is launched with a sound.
Find the "Zhengdu Screen reader Youth Edition" on your desktop. If for some reason you cannot or do not want to use the keyboard sequence, you can find the appropriate icon and execute it by pressing "ENTER". You can go to your desktop by pressing the "LWIN+D" key sequence. After doing so, press letters "Z, H, E" in quick succession and finally press enter.
Launch "Zhengdu Screen reader Youth Edition" from the "Start menu" (Windows 8/8.1/10 only). If you are not certain about going to the desktop and pressing many keys in quick succession, there's an easier method. First press the "LWIN" key on your keyboard. Then type "zhengdu" and press enter. After a few seconds you should hear the program's starting sound and speech.

Regardless of the method chosen, after listening to the program's starting sound and the speech prompt saying the program's version (a version is a number representing how many changes have been made to the program since its release. Do not worry about it for now), you will be placed in the activation window. This window behaves similarly to the software installer. You use the "TAB" key to move forward in a window and the "SPACE" key to activate the various elements. The table below describes the activation window from top to bottom, allowing you to quickly familiarise with it and complete the activation process
.

| Option | Description |
| ----- | ----- |
| Activation method: | here you can control what method you use to activate your copy of ZDSR. You can activate either via authorisation key (default), or via SMS (works only in China for now). Please do not change this option unless specifically instructed by a support agent. |
| Authorisation key: | Here you can enter your authorisation key (longer of the two numbers provided in an E-Mail). |
| Authorisation password: | Here you can enter your four-digit password we provided in the same E-Mail. |
| OK | Validates the information provided. On success this option activates your copy of ZDSR. |
| Cancel | Aborts the activation process, exiting ZDSR. |
: Description of the ZDSR Youth activation window.

Troubleshooting activation problems (Youth edition only)

In case of an error message during the activation process, please check the following:

Do you have an active Internet connection? ZDSR Youth edition requires an active Internet connection during activation. If you have just downloaded ZDSR, then there's a very high chance your Internet connection is already working.
Have you entered the authorisation key correctly? Remember that when entering your authorisation data, you must be 100 percent accurate. Please check whether both your key and password are entered exactly as written in the E-Mail you have received.
In case of any further problems, please contact the Zhengdu Screen Reader Support Service via E-Mail. If possible, please include the error message displayed on the screen. You can either rewrite it or copy and paste it into an E-Mail. If you cannot copy and paste, don't worry. Just rewrite it from memory.

First start

Now you can finally start learning how to use your Zhengdu Screen reader. If you have purchased the Youth Edition of the program, you have it activated and running by now If you are using the commercial edition though, you need to plug the dongle you have received into one of the USB ports of your laptop or desktop computer. Keep in mind that the device must be always plugged in to your USB port, otherwise ZDSR will exit after a while. Think about the dongle as both a key and a battery. When it is plugged in, ZDSR receives all the necessary information and so it works correctly. In any other case, it "gets lost" and so it turns itself off. In order to start using your software, you first need to run it. Running or "launching" a software means that it starts working either in background (you do not directly see the exact steps the program performs) or in foreground (you see and can control everything). ZDSR, being a screenreading application performs mainly in background. You don't see how it "talks" to your computer, how it retrieves the information and how it generates speech. You just hear the program speaking. With that out of the way, let's finally run the program. There are many ways to do so, depending on the options you have set in the installer. The most common options are listed below.

Press the shortcut "LCTRL+LALT+U" (for the Commercial version) or "LCTRL+LALT+I" (for the free version) on your keyboard. This is the easiest method, as you do not have to memorize any positions. you just press these three keys together, wait a few seconds and the program is launched with a sound.
Find the "Zhengdu Screenreader" (for the Commercial version) or "Zhengdu Screenreader Public Welfare Version" (for the free version) on your desktop. If, for some reason you cannot or do not want to use the keyboard sequence, you can find the appropriate icon and execute it by pressing "ENTER". You can go to your desktop by pressing the "LWIN+D" key sequence. After doing so, press letters "Z, H, E" in quick succession and finally press enter.
Launch "Zhengdu Screen reader" (for the Commercial version) or "Zhengdu Screenreader Public Welfare Version" (for the free version) from the "Start menu" (Windows 8/8.1/10 only). If you are not certain about going to the desktop and pressing many keys in quick succession, there's an easier method. First, press the "LWIN" key on your keyboard. Then, type "zhengdu" and press enter. After waiting a few seconds you should hear the program's starting sound and speech.

Regardless of the method you chose, you will hear the program's starting music and shortly after a speech prompt telling you the software version. A program's version is the numeric representation of changes that have been made since the software's first release. Do not worry about it for now. After hearing the information you will be put in the "Welcome window" of the Zhengdu screenreader. This window contains the most useful settings for the novice users. You navigate the window traditionally with the "TAB" key and you use the "SPACE" key to activate various elements. The below table describes the welcome window, along with the default values of the settings (if applicable).

| Option | Description | Default value |
| ----- | ----- |
| Brief introduction of ZDSR | Here you can listen to a very short description of what ZDSR is and what editions are available. | Not applicable |
| Show welcome window at start | Controls whether the "Welcome window" is displayed every time the screen reader is started. | Checked |
| Auto start | Controls whether ZDSR starts automatically with your computer, meaning that it starts speaking as soon as your computer is on. | Checked |
| Read Windows logon window and security window | Controls whether ZDSR reads the secure screens of the Microsoft Windows operating system. If you don't know what this option is, leave it be. | Checked |
| Voice Scheme settings | Opens the dialog where you can customise the various speech parameters of the program. | Not applicable |
| Import settings | Allows you to import settings to your ZDSR. Importing means transfering settings from any other ZDSR instance (either yours or someone else's you know) to your instance, allowing you to instantly configure the program. | Not applicable |
| Help | Opens a help document for ZDSR. | Not applicable |
| Visit official site of ZDSR | Opens the official site of ZDSR. | Not applicable |
| Close | Closes the "Welcome window". | Not applicable |
: Detailed description of the "Welcome window"

Keyboard shortcuts used in this chapter

Sections like this summarise all new keyboard shortcuts that we have learned throughout the relevant chapter. The below table contains their list, along with their short description.

| Shortcut | Description |
| ----- | ----- |
| TAB | Moves forwards in a software application. |
| SPACE | Allows to activate various interface elements. |
| LCTRL+LALT+U | Starts ZDSR Commercial edition. |
| LCTRL+LALT+I | Starts ZDSR Youth Edition or ZDSR free edition. |
| ENTER | Activates elements on the desktop or activates search while in the "Start menu". |
| LWIN | Opens the "Start menu". |
: Keyboard shortcuts used in Chapter 2.