Notebook PEA - Manual
There is a good chance that you do not need this manual.Just extract the downloaded file and doubleclick the jar file (Windows) or the start file (Unix). If this does not work, read the first part of the manual.
If the Notebook PEA starts, you'll probably find your way without any instructions. If not, read the manual.
1. Start the Jar Archive
If you are familiar with jar archives, you can skip this part.
Java Runtime Environment
You need a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run the program. On most systems there is at least one available (Open JDK, Oracle Java SE, Jamiga, CACAO, JamVM...). Normally you do not have to install anything, but if you can't start the program, take a look at Open JDK project or the Orcale Downloads. Oracles JRE is free available for most platforms and also - with a few exceptions - open source.
Unpack the download file
In most cases an archive manager opens when the file is clicked,on Windows: 7zip, PeaZip... (Warning: WinRar for Windows makes executable jar archives in-executable)
on Unix Ark, File Roller, Karchive, Xarchiver, PeaZip... You can also use the command line for Linux:
For tar-gz files type
tar -xzf EXAMPLE.tar.gz , for zip files
type unzip EXAMPLE.zip (for zip files, you may need to install unzip first).
Start the jar file
PEAs are single Java jar archives, a file with the extension "jar".
Linux, BSD systems and Mac OS and other UNIX like systems:
Console: go to the directory in which the jar file is located and type: java -jar notebook.jar.
There is also a script file called unix_start.sh to start the Notebook PEA (maybe you have to make it executable).
Windows: Normally you can open the jar archive just by a double click.
You can also use the terminal,
go to the directory of your archive and type java -jar EXAMPLE.jar.
There is also a file called windows_start.bat which should start the Notebook PEA by a double click. This
is only necessary if an archive manager (e.g. WinRar) has made executable jar file unworkable by default.
2. Initialization: First Start
View transcript or download text (3.7 KiB)
The first time you start the notebook PEA, you have to initialize. You are asked for a password and a location for the encrypted rtf or html file.
In order to be able to manage several files at the same time with the same Notebook PEA, a previously encrypted
text file must be displayed in the password dialog. If this is not the case, a different salt is created for the file,
which does not allow a shared opening even with the same password.
The problem does not occur, if the question about remembering the file name is answered with Yes.
If several files are selected at the same time in the initial dialog, the password is only checked for the first selected file. Files encrypted with a different password are displayed as tabs, but can not be opened.
3. One-Click Process for Standard Cases
If no special settings have been made and you want to open all previously encrypted local files, just click the "OK" button or press the ENTER key to open all local files (one-click usability).
4. Cloud Handling
The Notebook PEA supports Nextcloud, Owncloud and many cloud providers. You can find out more about suitable providers on the Cloud Support website.
You need an existing account with a cloud provider that supports the WebDAV protocol. No account can be created with the PEA.
Once an account has been added, the credentials are stored in the file cloud.properties. The program also remembers which files were opened with the PEA and displays them. The password is stored encrypted with the password of the PEA. This also means that for each access before the PEA password has been entered, the cloud password must be entered manually.
Attention: Due to a password change for single files, the password in the access data of the cloud provider might have to be changed as well.
If both the file names and the contents of files (local or in the cloud) are identical, it is assumed that these files should be synchronized. When the mouse pointer is over the tab, the corresponding files are displayed. Changes are then applied to all of these files.
If the names of files match but their contents differ, you have to decide which of the files to open. This is to prevent conflicts between different versions.
5. Accessibility
Font sizes and colors can be adjusted in the settings menu. Changes sometimes only take effect at the next startup.
To facilitate the use of the keyboard e.g. for screen readers, some hotkeys are defined. This may not work if these hotkeys are already defined for the operating system.
Most keys follow the usual rules (TAB and SHIFT + TAB to navigate, SPACE to select, ALT + letter to open the menu, left/right/up/down to navigate in the menu).
Most dialogs close with ESCAPE.
Keys in the password dialog (on start):| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| CTRL + F1, CTRL + F2... | Open a character table (navigate with TAB / SHIFT + TAB, select with SPACE) |
| CTRL + K | Open the onscreen keyboard for key logger prevention (navigate with TAB / SHIFT + TAB, select with SPACE) |
| ESC | Close the onscreen keyboard or the character table |
| Focus on password field: ENTER | Open selected files with typed password |
Keys in the text editor:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| CTRL + TAB | Go to buttons (size, bold...) from text - Does't work in Windows, use the format menu instead |
| ALT + # | Open the color selection (predefined colors) |
| CTRL + ENTER | Select another text (navigate with left/right/up/down to open text, navigate with TAB to close texts) |
| ESC | Return to the text from tabs or buttons |
Accessibility may not be sufficient and is most certainly not perfect. Suggestions for improvements are gratefully received (peafactory 'at' eck.cologne).