Getting Started with RealeWriter

Follow the Steps here to remind you how to create a RealeBook. If you need more help, try the RealeBook Starter Series Books 1 to 3 (click on the Templates button on the Welcome Window) for a series of increasingly sophisticated hand holding experiences with all the powerful features of RealeWriter.

Start RealeWriter. Use the Welcome Window popup menus to enjoy the RealeBooks others have made.
Decide on the audience for your RealeBook project. Book writing is most rewarding when it is personal. You’ll write different books for your pals than for your grandmother.
Decide on your purpose — what you wish to accomplish for that person (or group) you selected as your audience. Sharing love? Laughing? Showcasing your own expertise? You decide. You can be a real contributor to those you care about.
Click the “New RealeBook” button in the Welcome Window. It will open in an untitled Writer window. There is also a Reader window to show how your RealeBook is developing.
Click the “Describe” tab and enter a Title for your RealeBook. Enter your name in the “Author” field. Put your name and date in the “Copyright” field. Write a one sentence description of your book in the “Description” field.
Save your RealeBook frequently — choose “Save As...” from the “File” menu to save for the first time. You should organize your RealeBooks in a folder so you can find them later. After your RealeBook has been saved for the first time, you can save your work by choosing “Save” from the “File” menu. Windows users can use the ctrl-S keyboard shortcut. Mac users can use the cmd-S keyboard shortcut.

A yellow circle in the upper right hand corner of the Writer window signals that changes have not yet been saved. Green means they have been saved.
The “Create” tab is where you compose your RealeBook. Click on the “Create” tab. Then select “Add Media...” from then “Media” menu. Use the “Add Media” window to collect the images and sounds you want to use. Images and sounds may also be dragged from directories and even web pages and dropped onto the “Media Organizer” or RealeBook pages.
Once added, thumbnails of your images will appear in the “Media Organizer”. Sound icons represent each sound. All of your images and sounds will appear in the “Media Organizer”. Click, drag, and drop those images and sounds onto pages. To change an image or sound for a page, just drop another one over the current one. Each page may have one image and one sound.
Draft text for each page of your RealeBook to complement and enrich the meaning of the pictures. Enter text on top of the images or on a page alone. Use the “Text” tool panel controls to change the text color, font, size, and justification. Other tool panels change the image and text position and create page frames.
Highlight an image thumbnail or page and choose “Edit Image...” from the “Media” menu to alter, rotate and crop selected images.
With the “Sound” tool panel, you can help the automatic text to speech reader in your computer pronounce text on your page correctly. Type your page text phonetically (the way it sounds) in the “Autospeak Hint” field.
Click the “Sequence” tab periodically. It shows your layout and general design. Add, insert, or delete page pairs with “+”, “^”, and “—” buttons, move page-pair positions, swap pages within a page pair, and change images if you like.
Back on the “Create” panel, use the tools in the “Layout”, “Image”, “Text”, “Background”, “Frame”, and “Link” tool panels to make things look just like you want them to. Add page numbers by using the “Numbering” tool panel. There are lots of choices. Make time to explore and play with them.
The “Reader” window provides an immersive experience for reading your RealeBook. Choose “Reader” from the “File” menu. The “Reader” window will prepair your RealeBook for viewing, then present the cover. As you read through your RealeBook, you can have the “Reader” replay sounds or read text for you using the buttons at the top right of the window.

You can read your RealeBook full screen by choosing “Full Screen” from the “Window” menu. Choose that menu item again to go back to windowed mode.

You can switch back to the “Writer” window by choosing “Writer” from the “File” menu. As you finish your RealeBook, use the “Reader” window to review your story for spelling, grammar, and other conventions prior to sharing or publishing.
Select “Collage Maker...” from the “File” menu put several images on a page, rotate or skew an image, or to make a new collage image for your RealeBook.
Create pages at the end of your RealeBook for index, photo credits, author’s notes / bio, directions for parents or other references. Use the Back Cover to showcase your family or organization crest or logo, or to celebrate your printing sponsor’s contribution!
You can share your RealeBook through email or through a RealeLibrary using the “Share” panel. Click the “Share” tab. Buttons on the top left present your sharing options.

Click the “Send RealeBook” button. Enter recipient addresses, a subject, and a message to your friends. Your RealeBook will be packaged and sent to our server for distribution by email. Your recipients will be able to read your RealeBook in their web browsers.
You can print your RealeBook in several sizes or have us print it for you using the “Publish” panel. Click the “Publish” tab. Buttons on the top left present your publishing options.

If you would like to print your own RealeBook, click the “Print RealeBook” button. If you’re using the free RealeWriter, choose “Standard” from the “RealeBook Size” popup menu. If you’re using RealeWriter Pro, the “Classic” size is the most popular. Click the “Print...” button at the bottom right of the panel. Printing works best if you have a color duplex (prints both sides automatically) laser printer.