Contents
KanjiCan 2.0 Help Contents

The Contents lists Help topics available for KanjiCan.  Use the scroll bar to see entries not currently visible in the Help window. To learn how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.

Introduction

KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form

Popup SearchForm

Flashcard Form

Kanjidic Interface Form

Program Settings Form

Flashcard Setup Form

Database Maintenance


Introduction

Welcome to KANJICAN 2.0, Copyright © 1998 by KanjiSoft Systems.

This program was written to enhance and facilitate the memorization of kanji.  The method employed does so by breaking the kanji down into their component pieces, assigning easily visualized symbols to these components, and then rebuilding the kanji in the form of an image or story based on these symbols.  For a more complete description of this technique, see "Remembering the Kanji, Volume I" by James W. Heisig.

Stories are offered together with this program as an additional aid for memorization. All of the stories (except where noted) were written by the author. They are provided for licensed users only, and are not authorized for publication or replication in any way shape or form. All rights are reserved.

Best of luck to you in your kanji studies!  Please address any comments, questions, or suggestions to kanjisoft@xensei.com.


MainForm
KanjiCan 2.0 Main Form

The KanjiCan 2.0 Main Form displays the main story, the pronunciation story, a graphic of the kanji, the ON and kun readings, and other information relevant to the kanji being displayed. It also provides access to other portions of the program via command keys and menu commands.

The fields and functions on the Main Form can be logically categorized into four categories, as follows:

Modifiable Fields

Display Only Fields

Command Keys

Menus


Modifiable
Main Form - Modifiable Fields

There are four modifiable fields in the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.

Story

This field contains a mnemonic to help memorize the kanji.  Also included are a keyword which identifies the kanji (Heisig Keyword), the romaji for the pronunciations, and the stroke count (the stroke count is preceded by the @ sign for easier location in a text search).

Pronunciation Story

Provides a story to help memorize the ON readings of the kanji.  Stories for kun-yomi are not provided.

Flash ID

Used to input a string which identifies the kanji as part of a grouping for flashcard review.  For example, if you assign all the kanji you would like to review  a Flash ID of "ch1", and then specify "ch1" as the FlashID Selector string on the Program Settings Form, then only those kanji will be displayed in the subsequent flashcard run.

Mark Reviewed

Check this field to exclude the current kanji from the subsequent flashcard run. In other words, even if this kanji fits into the current flashcard setting parameters, it will not be displayed when this box is checked off.


DisplayOnly
Main Form - Display Only Fields

There are three "display-only" fields on the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form, as follows:

Kanji

Displays a graphic image of the kanji.

Kanji Reference Number

Displays the reference number for the kanji based on the user-specified Default Ordering Scheme .

Stroke Count

Displays the stroke count of the kanji.


MainFormCommandKeys
Main Form - Command Keys

Popup Search Command Key

Displays the Popup SearchForm.

Show Kana Command Key

Displays the readings for the kanji in kana (as opposed to romaji).

Reset Command Key

Terminates the current flashcard run and returns to the first kanji of the current Default Ordering Scheme.

Left and Right Arrow Command Keys

Moves to the next or previous kanji respectively.

Close Command Key

Exit the program.


MainFormMenus
Main Form - Menus

Aside from standard windows menu items, such as cut and paste, the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form provides several program-specific menus, as follows:

Commands Menu

Flashcard Printout Menu

Layout Menu

Program Options Menu


MainFormCommandsMenu
Main Form - Commands Menu

The Main Form Commands Menu provides for the excecution of several important commands, as follows:

Flashcard

Initiates the display of a series of kanji in a randomized sequence, in accordance with user specified parameters; this will be referred to as a flashcard run.  See the Flashcard Form for more information.

Kanjidic

Displays the  Kanjidic Interface Form, an interface to Kanjidic, a comprehenseive electronic kanji reference file available over the internet.

Clear All Reviewed

Uncheck all kanji which have been marked as reviewed. See a description of the Mark Reviewed field for further information.


MainFormFlascardPrintoutMenu
Main Form  Flashcard Printout Menu

The Main Form Flashcard Printout Menu provides for the printing out of flashcards.  To minimize the effort involved in creating the actual flashcards, it was decided to have two separate printouts, one for either side of the flashcard.  This allows you to print one side of the flashcard (16 to a page), and then turn the page over and print on the opposite side.  Important note: It is highly advisable to print one or two pages at first, to ensure proper alignment.

If the thickness of the paper or cardboard on which the flashcard can be printed not satisfactory, an alternative approach would be to print out each side on a separate page, and then cut out and paste the flashcards to either side of an index card.  This would obviously involve more effort.

For printing the reverse (kanji) side of the flashcards, two options are available - Normal or  Reverse orientation.  This allows for the reverse side of the flashcard to be either right side up, or upside-down, as compared to the front (story) side of the kanii.

When the print option is selected, it is actually brought up in Print Preview mode.  This allows you to view how the printed page will look before it actually prints out.  It also allows you to change the printout parameters to adjust to a particular paper size, and to limit the number of sheets you are going to print.  This last item is particularly important, since it allows you to print as little as one page at a time. The default printout configuration is tailored for printout on a standard 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper.

Print Flashcards Story Side

Displays a print preview of the side of the flashcard printout on which the story is displayed.

Print Flashcards Kanji Side Normal Orientation

Displays a print preview of the side of the flashcard printout on which the kanji is displayed.  The  printout is sequenced such that the resulting flashcard must be flipped from side to side (not top to bottom).

Print Flashcards Kanji Side Reverse Orientation

Displays a print preview of the side of the flashcard printout on which the kanji is displayed.  The  printout is sequenced such that the resulting flashcard must be flipped from top to bottom (not side to side) to view the result.


MainFormLayoutMenu
Main Form -  Layout Menu

The Main Form Layout Menu provides several selections for customizing the the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.

Modify Font

Modify the font used in the story fields on the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.

Modify Kanji Size

Modify the size of the kanji displayed on the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.

Modify Story Size

Modify the size of the Story and Pronunciation Story fields on KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.

Modify Form Color

Modify the background color of the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.


MainFormProgramOptionsMenu
Main Form - Program Options Menu

Program and Flashcard Settings

Displays the Program Settings Form, which allows for the setting of program and certain flashcard parameters.

Flashcard Setup

Displays the Flashcard Setup Form, which provides for  the creation, maintenance, and deletion of flashcard display specifications.

Re-import Kanjidic

Select this to re-import  a downloaded version of Kanjidic from Dos/Windows. Normally, this option will not be needed, but is provided for in the eventuality that a significantly updated version is released.


Popup Search Form

The Popup Search Form provides a variety of ways to look up a kanji.  These include lookups by pronunciation (both ON and kun-yomi), keyword, reference number, and multiple text string searches with and/or capablility.

More complete information is provided via the links shown below.

Dropdown List Searches

Text Searches

Popup Form Controls


DropdownLists
Popup Search Form - Dropdown List Lookup Fields

Pronunciation Lookup List

This lookup list enables you to find a given kanji by clicking on its pronunciation.  The list is in alphabetic order by romaji.  Both ON-yomi and kun-yomi are shown.

Keyword Lookup List

This lookup list enables you to find a given kanji by clicking on its keyword.  The keyword is a single word chosen to identify the kanji. The keywords are as represented in the kanji study guide, "Remembering the Kanji Volume I", by James W. Heisig.

Kanji Reference Number

This drop down list provides the ability to locate a kanji by choosing its related number from the list.  The number provided in this list depends on the option selected in the Program Settings Form


TextSearchFields
Popup Search Form - Text Search Fields and Controls

These fields and controls are used to search for a particular string or strings in the Story Field and the Pronunciation Story Field,as described below.

Search For Fields

Enter the desired text in one or more of these fields.

And Command Key

This brings up a list of any kanji which contain text which matches ALL of the text strings entered in the Search For Fields.

Or Command Key

This brings up a list of any kanji which contain text which matches ANY of the text strings entered in the Search For Fields.


PopupControls
Popup Search Form - Text Search Fields and Controls

The fields on the lower portion of this form search through the Story and the Pronunciation Story

Clear Command Key

Clears the Search For Fields

Close Command Key

Minimizes the Popup SearchForm

Note that the form is not closed, but rather minimized when this key is used.This is to allow a quicker response time when displaying this form the next time.


Flashcard Form

The Flashcard Form displays the kanji in a random sequence during a flashcard run..  The fields displayed, as well as the time between consecutive displays, are controlled by the currently active Flashcard Setup.

This form is essentially a copy of he KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form.  The primary difference, aside from those discussed above, is the command keys.

Suspend/Resume Command Key

This key appears only when the AutoAdvance option is in effect for the current Flashcard Setup . It acts as a toggle to stop and re-start the current flashcard run.

Next Seq. Command Key

This key appears only when the AutoAdvance option is NOT in effect for the current Flashcard Setup .  When pressed, it manually advances to the next Sequence Number  of the current Flashcard Setup .

Reset Command Key

The Reset Command Key exits the flashcard run.


KanjidicForm
Kanjidic Interface Form

The Kanjidic Interface Form displays information about the kanji from the file "kanjidic", a kanji reference file compiled by Jim Breen which can be found at the internet browser address "ftp://ftp.cc.monash.edu.au/pub/nihongo".

Kanjidic is not sold, but rather distributed with Kanjican.  This is a free file.

Information regarding Kanjidic and its fields can be found in the document  "Kanjidic.doc", which accompanies this distribution.

Finding a kanji in Kanjidic

Sorting Kanjidic by a Reference Number

Non-displayed Kanjidic reference numbers

Displaying Japanese Characters in Kanjidic


LocateSortKanji
Finding and Sorting in Kanjidic

Finding a Kanji in Kanjidic

To locate a particular kanji in Kanjidic, click on the display box containing the desired kanji number.  Then, from the menu, select "Edit", then "Find".  Then fill in the ensuing search dialogue box.

Sorting by Kanji Reference Number in Kanjidic

To sort the file by a kanji number in Kanjidic, click on the display box of the number being sorted.  Then, from the menu, select "Records", then "Quick Sort". Then choose the desired sorting sequence.


KanjidicMisc
Kanjidic Miscellaneous Notes

Disappearing/Reappearing Fields

If a kanji found in Kanjidic does not have a value for a kanji reference, the field pertaining to that kanji number is set to non-display for that kanji.  This is to prevent the display of previously empty fields which were filled with high values on the load procedure.

It was decided to non-display the fields to ensure that the high-values were not misinterpreted as actual kanji numbers.

The reason high values were inserted initially is to prevent them from sorting in before the first kanji of a given kanji numbering scheme; i.e. to ensure the initial kanji of the chosen sequence is the first to appear in the sorting sequence.

Displaying the JIS fonts

Since the kanji and pronunciations are in JIS format in Kanjidic, they will appear garbled if viewed with a standard configuration.  However, if viewed in conjunction with the appropriate software, the characters are properly displayed.  An excellent program for this purpose is "NJSTAR", available at  www.njstar.com.


ProgramSettings
Program Settings Form

The Program Settings Form allows for the setting of four program parameters, including three flashcard-related fields.

Click here for some relevant notes regarding the Program Settings Form.

Default Ordering Scheme

This field determines which kanji numbering system will be used as Kanji Reference Number in the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form and the Popup Search Form.

A note regarding the stories and graphics for primitives, i.e., portions or components of  kanji which do not in and of themselves represent a commonly used kanji:  these primitiives are displayed only if the Heisig numbering system is selected.  This is due to the fact that the index numbers assigned to the primitives have no correlation to indexes other than the Heisig index.   However, if you wish to see the story for a particular primitive, just switch to the Heisig index using this control, lookup up the primitive in the Popup Search Form, and then switch back to your desired indexing scheme.

Starting and Ending Flash Number

These fields apply to the Flashcard Form. They limit the kanji displayed in a flashcard run to Kanji Reference Number values greater than or equal to the Starting Flash Number and less than or equal to the Ending Flash Number.

FlashID Selector

Click here for a description of FlashID Selector.

Flash Countdown Seconds

Sets the number of seconds used by the Flash Countdown Screen.


ProgramSettingsNotes
Program Settings Form Notes

Here are a couple of useful points regarding the Program Settings Form.

Note 1: The flashcard fields in this form control WHICH kanji are displayed in a flashcard run. This is as opposed the flashcard fields in the Flashcard Setup Form, which control HOW the kanji are displayed in a flashcard run.

Note 2: Depending on the Default Ordering Scheme selected, all the numbers in the chosen ordering sequence may or may not be included in the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form display.  This is due to the variety of kanji included in the various numbering systems.  Naturally, a complete set of stories for all the standard use Jouyou Kanji is included with this program, which should be sufficient for most beginner and intermediate level students.  See the Kanjidic Interface Form for instructions on how to locate additional information for both standard and non-standard use kanji.


FlashIDSelector
Program Settings Form - FlashID Selector

FlashID Selector

This field, found on the Program Settings Form, interacts with the FlashID field of the KanjiCan 2.0 - Main Form during a flashcard run.  It limits the kanji displayed during the flashcard run to those kanji with a FlashID equal to the current value of the FlashID Selector.

For example, if you want to review kanji from the first chapter of your kanji study guide, you could enter "ch1" as the FlashID for each of the related kanji.  Then, enter "ch1" as the FlashID Selector in the Program Settings Form. The subsequent flashcard run will display only those kanji with "ch1" in the FlashID field.

Notice that an asterisk ("*") in this field acts as a wildcard.  For example, entering "ch*" here  would result in any kanji with "ch" as the first two characters in the FlashID field to be displayed in the ensuing flashcard run.


FlashcardSetup
Flashcard Setup Form

The Flashcard Setup Form interacts with the Flashcard Form to allow a highly customizable display for flashcarding exercises.

The Flashcard Setup Form can logically be divided into three categories - those which apply to the Flashcard Setup as a whole (Header fields),  those which apply to a sequence number within the Flashcard Setup (Detail fields), and Command Keys.

Flashcard Setup Header Fields

Flashcard Setup Detail Fields

Flashcard Setup Command Keys

Click here for a quick summary of Flashcard Setup Capabilities .

Click here for an simple example an example of Flashcard Setup: How it works .


FlashcardSetupCapabilities
Flashcard Setup Form Capabilities

Flashcarding in KanjiCan 2.0 includes the following capabilities:

- Turn on/off the display of the fields of your choice.

- Create multiple displays per kanji, i.e., to "flip" the flashcard.

- Automatically or manually advance to the next sequence.

- Specify the delay between sequences.

- Suspend/resume the flashcard run.

- Add, change, save, and delete flashcard setup specifications.

- Control the range of kanji which are displayed by Kanji Reference Number.

- Control which kanji are displayed by specifying a matching string.

- Exclude a given kanji from a flashcard run.


FlashCardSetupExpained
Flash Card Setup: How it works

As an example, say you would like to display the fields in this sequence:

1) Display only the kanji keyword.

2) Display only the kanji picture.

3) Display the kanji keyword and picture together.

On the Flashcard Setup Form form, the specification would look something like the following:

Seq. No.    Show Keyword      Show Kanji

     1	  X                                                  displays only the Keyword

     2	  	     X                      displays only the Kanji

     3	  X	     X                      displays both the Keyword and the Kanji


Flashcard Setup Header Fields

For an explanation of Flashcard Setup, click here: Flashcard Setup: How it works.

Select Flashcard Setup

Selects a previously created Flashcard Setup for review or modification.

Setup Name

Allows for the display and entry of the name of the Flashcard Setup.

Flashcard Setup Description

An optional description field for the current Flashcard Setup.

Auto Advance

Click here for a description of the Auto Advance field.

Activate Flashcard Setup

Click here for a description of the Activate Flashcard Setup field.


FlashcardSetupOtherFields
Flashcard Setup - Auto Advance and Activate Fields

Auto Advance

If this field is checked off, the Flashcard Form will automatically advance from one Sequence Number to the next during the subsequent flashcard run.  The Suspend/Resume Command Key will be also be displayed on the Flashcard Form.

If not checked off, the Next Seq. Command Key is displayed on the Flashcard Form (instead of the Suspend/Resume Command Key) during the subsequent flashcard run.  Additionally, the Flashcard Form will advance to the next Sequence Number only when the Next Seq.Command Key is selected.

Activate Flashcard Setup

This field sets the current Flashcard Setup as the one to be used in the subsequent flashcard run.  Only one Flashcard Setup at a time may be activated.  If a given Flashcard Setup is activated, all other Flashcard Setups are automatically set to inactive.


FlashcardSetupDetailFields
Flashcard Detail Fields

Record Selector

The Record Selector a small, square box to the left of  Sequence Number.  A right-pointing triangle here indicates the current Sequence Number.  The asterisk (*) at the last Record Selector indicates the location at which a new Sequence Number may be added.

To ADD a Sequence Number and its related fields, click on the Sequence Number with an asterisk (*) next to it.  The default number 1 will appear. Enter the desired number in the Sequence Number.  Then click on Secs. Delay.  Here, a default number of 2 will appear.  Enter the desired number of seconds.  Then click on the each of the fields you wish to be displayed with this Sequence Number.

To MODIFY a Sequence Number and its related fields, simply click here and specify the fields to be displayed or non-displayed.

To DELETE a Sequence Number from the Flashcard Setup, click on this box, then press the delete key; or select edit, then delete from the menu.

Sequence Number

The Sequence Number determines the order in which its specified fields are displayed on the Flashcard Form.

If this field is empty, clicking on it will cause a default value of 1 to be placed in the field.

Secs. Delay

This field determines the number of seconds to wait before advancing to the next Sequence Number. If this field empty, clicking on it will cause a default value of 2 to be placed in the field.

Show Fields

Click on the fields which you want to be displayed with a particular Sequence Number.


Flashcard Setup Command Keys

Previous Setup Command Key

Move to the previous Flashcard Setup.

Next Setup Command Key

Move to the next Flashcard Setup.

New Setup Command Key

Create a new Flashcard Setup.

Delete Setup Command Key.

Delete the current Flashcard Setup.

Close Command Key

Close the current form, and return to the calling form.


Repairing and Compacting
Database Maintenance

KanjiCan stores its data in the Microsoft Jet Engine relational database.  Occasionally, the database may need to be compacted or repaired.  Details on how to do so are shown below.

Repairing the Database

If the program terminates abnormally, upon restarting the program, you may receive a prompt asking to repair to the database.  Just answer yes, and the database will be repaired automatically.

Compacting the Database

It is highly advisable to occasionally run the Repair / Compact  utility provided with KanjiCan.

This reorganizes the database and can considerably enhance response time.