Inspiration Reference Card
To begin
 When the program is first started the Inspiration Starter will
appear
 Choose from a diagram, outline, template or open file.
 To add ideas to a bubble quickly use the Rapid Fire icon.
 Click the Rapid Fire icon to turn it on (or press Ctrl + R).
 Type ideas that relate to the main idea.
 Press Enter or Return and the idea will be placed in a box off
the main idea.
 Turn Rapid Fire off when done by clicking the icon again.
 When a box is selected clicking on the Create icons will pop a
new box off the one that was selected.
 The arrows on the Create buttons are sensitive. When an arrow
is highlighted in blue that means the arrow will be added off the
highlighted box in that direction
 A symbol palette is open on the right hand side of the screen. If
not go to the View menu and click on Symbol Palette (or press
Ctrl +8).
 To change a text box to a symbol, click on the box to select it
and then click on the symbol.
 The symbol will replace the box and the text will be placed below
the box.
 The new symbol palette has a search feature at the bottom.
 Click on the Arrange button and an Arrange Diagram window
will open.
 Click a new arrangement for the diagram and then click OK. The
diagram will be re-organized into that shape.
 The diagram can be converted into an outline by clicking on the
Outline icon.
 Changes made in the outline will also be in the diagram when
you click back to Diagram mode. Click the Diagram icon to go
back to the diagram.
 If you add a box that is unattached to other boxes and you want
to attach it click on the Link icon.
 Then click on the two boxes that you want to link.
 The arrow will point from the box you clicked on first to the other
box.
"Tech Training ." Inspiration. 09 Sept 2006 . Forsyth County Schools. 28 Oct 2008
<http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/129410616215138857/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=71618
&129410616215138857Nav=|200|&NodeID=631>.
 To add information to a symbol click the Note icon (or press Ctrl
+ Y)
 Notes will be the subsections of the outline and will transfer to
word processing
 To add a hyperlink to the text for a symbol click the Hyperlink
icon (or press Ctrl + Shift + 6)
 The hyperlink can be to a website, email address, file or new
Inspiration document.
 To hear a word, see it’s definition, and find synonyms click the
Word Guide icon while resting on the word
 If the document is ready to go to the editing stage click the
Transfer icon, choose Microsoft Word.
 You can include the diagram at the top of the document if you
choose
 To hear the icons and what they are you can enable sound. To
do so go to Utility, Preferences, Audio, Talking Interface
 As you move around the screen, you will hear the voice
explaining the tools.
 To hear a symbol read, click on the symbol and then click the
Listen icon
How do I…?
Change the color of
the boxes?
Change the font?
Write on the
Arrows?
Check my spelling?
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Print?
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Click on a box to select it and handlebars will appear.
Click on the Effect menu and choose either Fill Patterns or Fill
Color. To select a new look click on it.
Click on the Edit menu and choose Select All.
Click on the Format menu and then choose the Font, Size or
Style menus to make changes to text.
To select a new look click on it.
Click on an arrow and a text box will appear.
Type
Click on Spell Check button and a window will open.
Click Start to begin checking.
To make choices about how Inspiration prints out, click on the
File menu and then on Print Options.
The default is Fit to One Page. This takes the whole outline or
diagram and shrinks it so that it can be printed on one page.
Print Normal-Smart Page Breaks spreads diagram out over
several pages making sure that the symbols don’t get split.
Print Normal- Full Size prints the diagram as it appears on the
screen.
Inspiration Toolbars
Diagram Toolbar
Outline Toolbar
Drawing Toolbar
Symbol Palette
Shortcut
Keys
Ctrl + A
Ctrl + B
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + E
Ctrl + I
Ctrl + M
Ctrl + N
Ctrl + O
Ctrl + P
Ctrl + Q
Ctrl + R
Ctrl + S
Ctrl + T
Ctrl + U
Ctrl + V
Ctrl + W
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + Y
Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + ;
Ctrl + \
F1
Ctrl +
Shift + 6
Ctrl + 7
Ctrl + 8
Inspiration Shortcut Keystrokes
What the Shortcuts Do
Select AllSelects everything in on your diagram or outline.
Changes text to bold style.
Copies the selected item to the Clipboard and leaves it in the
document.
Fit to windowReduces the view of the diagram so it fits in the
window.
Changes text to italic.
Minimizes the open file
Opens the Inspiration Starter screen
Allows you to scroll and find a file to Open.
Prints the current document.
Exits Inspiration and returns to the desktop.
Start Rapid Fire
Allows you to Save the current document.
Switches from Diagram View to Outline View and vice versa.
Changes text to underlined.
Pastes the contents of the clipboard into the document.
Closes the active window.
Cuts the selected item and places it on the clipboard.
Add or Write Note
Undoreverses the last action.
Print PreviewDisplays how a document will appear when
printed.
Link symbols
Inspiration HelpDisplays the Help menu.
Insert Hyperlink
Arrange symbols
Shows or hides symbol palette in Diagram View.