Susan online help
Author: T Street
Help version 1.5
For Susan version: 1.1.0.42 or newer.
CONTENTS:
Setting the news and weather feeds
Changing where Susan stores my data
Susan is a personal digital assistant. Type commands directly into the blue bar.
Susan will suggest commands in the space below. Use the cursor keys to highlight one of the suggestions and use the up/down keys to select.
Separate multiple commands with a semi-colon.
To open an online resource simply type the full URI.
For example:
http://www.superdecadegames.com
www.superdecadegames.com
You can also use the Google or Bing search engines.
For example:
google cat pictures
Susan will search the web for any input that doesn’t make sense to her.
For example:
cat pictures
You can change the default search engine to either Google, or Bing, using the commands ‘google’ or ‘bing’ respectively. This will NOT affect your default search engine in your browser.
Susan gets the news and weather from RSS feeds. By default these are set to the BBC in the UK. You can change these with the following commands.
setNewsfeed
setWeatherfeed
setPrimaryfeed
Type the command followed by a valid RSS feed. For example to set the news feed to BBC technology news:
setNewsfeed http://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/technology/rss.xml?edition=uk
The news and primary feed are displayed on Susan’s main page and update regularly. The weather feed is accessed through the ‘weather’ command.
By default Susan stores your data in your documents folder. It may be that you want to store this data onto OneDrive or another cloud syncing folder so you can use multiple instances of Susan on different devices.
Making Susan save to OneDrive:
1. Create a new file called exactly “userpath.dat” and save this is the same folder as the Susan executable file.
2. Edit this file in Notepad so that there is only line that is the path you want to use for saving. For example:
c:\users\username\onedrive\susanSaveFile\
3. Press return so that there is a new blank line below this line and save the file.
4. Susan will now look in the folder you specified for her save data.
If you place the Susan executable into your OneDrive folder, she will save user data locally to your documents folder. To change this so your settings are synchronised across your devices follow these steps.
1. Create a new file called exactly “userpath.dat” and save this is the same folder in OneDrive as the Susan executable file.
2. Edit this file in Notepad so that it contains exactly:
none
3. Press return so that there is a new blank line below this line and save the file.
4. Susan will now look in your OneDrive folder for save data.
The previous methods will work in DropBox and Google Drive as well, provided you have the desktop apps installed.
Macros are sequences of commands that can be bound to the function keys F2 through F10. It is not possible to bind a macro to F1 as this is reserved for ‘help’ (this file).
To record a macro type:
macro N <command> ; <command list >
Where N is a number between 2 and 10 inclusive, and <command> is a valid Susan Command, or a chain of semi-colon separated commands.
For example, to set a Macro that sends an email to myself:
macro 2 mail me@myemail / important
To create a macro that tells me the current date, time, news and weather:
macro 3 time; date; news; weather
To run a previously recorded macro, just press the corresponding function key.
To get information on a macro, type:
viewMacro 3
Susan can run commands from a text file rather than the keyboard. Create a text file with a list of commands separated by semi-colons.
To load and run a script file, use the ‘exec’ command.
Use the ‘say’ command followed by the text you want Susan to say.
You can open any resource on your machine with the ‘open’ command.
For example:
open c:\users\me\docs\cat3.jpg
To open your Windows file explorer window use the command ‘files’.
You can compose an email using Susan’s ‘mail’ command.
For example:
Mail someone@somewhere
Mail someone@somewhere / subject
Mail someone@somewhere / subject / message body
All of these commands will open your default mail program before sending.
Type a mathematical expression followed by an equals (=) symbol.
For example:
5 + 6 / 3 =
You should return the answer ‘7’.
You can set variables to be used in expressions by using the equals sign before a value or expression.
For example:
X = 5.72
mass = 0.0234
y = 4 + 5
Variables can be used as placeholders in expressions.
For example:
y = <x> + 23
Variable identifiers cannot be numeric, however they can have spaces.
You can assign an expression to a variable. For example, if you want y to be a function of x, use:
y := <x> * 2
+ Addition.
- Subtraction.
* Multiplication.
/ Division.
^ Raise to power.
div Integer division.
mod Remainder of division.
and Bitwise logical AND operation.
or Bitwise logical OR operation.
eor Bitwise logical EXCLUSIVE OR operation.
abs A function which returns the absolute value of its numeric argument.
acs A function which returns, in radians, the arc-cosine of its numeric argument. The permitted range of the argument is –1 to +1.
asn A function which returns, in radians, the arc sine of its numeric argument. The permitted range of the argument is –1 to +1.
atn A function which returns, in radians, the arc tangent of its numeric argument. The permitted range of the argument is from minus infinity to plus infinity.
cos A function giving the cosine of its radian argument.
deg A function which converts radians to degrees.
exp A function returning 'e' to the power of the argument.
int A function truncating a real number to the lower integer.
inv A function which returns the inverse 1/x of the argument.
ln This function gives the logarithm to the base 'e' of its argument. The 'natural' number, 'e', is approximately 2.71828183.
log A function giving the base-10 logarithm of its argument.
not A function return the opposite boolean value to its argument. All +ve/-ve numbers evaluate as -1 (true). Zero evaluates as 0 (false)
rad A function which converts degrees to radians.
rnd A function which returns a random number. The type and range of the number returned depends upon the optional parameter.
sgn A function returning –1 for negative argument, 0 for zero argument and +1 for positive argument.
sin This function returns the sine of an angle. The angle must be expressed in radians, not degrees.
sqr A function returning the square root of its argument.
tan This function returns the tangent of an angle. The angle must be expressed in radians, not degrees.
Susan can store values as strings. Simply append the variable identifier with a dollar sign.
For example:
$my address = 23 Meteor Street
$name = John
You can use a variable in any command expression. Use angle brackets to identify the variable.
For example:
google <$my address>
Opens account pictures folder if available.
Opens add programs folder if available.
Opens add/remove programs folder if available.
Opens Windows admin tools if available.
Open the appData folder if available.
Opens the Windows applications folder if available.
Open the Windows applications shortcuts folder if available.
Open the Windows app updates folder if available.
Set Susan’s default search engine to Bing. This does not affect the default search in your browser.
Opens your blogger dashboard if available.
Opens windows net cache folder if available.
Sets the name Susan will use to address you. Eg callMe John
Opens the Windows camera roll folder if available.
Opens the Windows cd burning folder if available.
Opens Chatbot.
Opens the Windows clock if available.
Opens Windows control panel
Opens Windows cookies folder if available.
Copies Susan’s output to the Windows clipboard.
Opens Cortana if available.
Opens the windows control panel.
Displays the current date.
Opens Windows desktop folder.
Loads the superdecade dictionary.
Opens your my documents folder.
Opens you downloads folder.
Opens Google drive in your browser
Opens DropBox in your browser.
Runs a text file containing Susan commands separated by semi-colons.
Opens facebook.
Opens you favourites folder.
Opens a specific file. Eg file c:\users\username\mystuff.docx
Opens your file explorer window
Displays the available space on a drive. Default is drive C:
Opens you Google Plus page.
Opens Windows games folder if available.
Sets default search engine to Google. This does not affect the default search engine in your browser.
Loads this help file.
Opens the history folder if available.
Opens the superdecade homepage.
Opens your home group folder.
Open a URI
Opens Instagram
Opens Windows internet folder.
Opens you Windows Libraries folder.
Opens your Windows links folder
Assign a macro to function key 2 through 10 inclusive. See: Running Macros.
Opens magnify tool if available.
Opens you default email app. See also Sending email
Opens your default maps app.
Opens you my computer folder.
Finds the lastest headline from the news RSS feed.
Opens Windows Notepad if available
Opens OneDrive
Opens Microsoft OneNote if available.
Open a specific resource. See also file.
Opens MS-paint if available.
Opens Windows password wizard.
Pauses Susan for one second.
To pauses Susan for a specified number of centi-seconds, use pause N. For example. Pause 300, will pause Susan for 3 seconds.
Opens Windows Pictures folder.
Opens your Pinterest homepage.
Displays the current power settings.
Opens programs folder.
Opens quicklaunch folder if available.
Exits Susan.
Opens recycle bin folder.
Changes the title bar of Susan’s output window.
Stops Susan and reboots.
Restarts your computer.
Forces Susan to say the text specified.
Opens your screenshots folder if available.
Opens send to folder. If available.
Opens Windows set date dialog,
changes the new feed RSS
changes the user defined RSS feed.
Opens Windows set time dialog.
Opens Windows settings if available.
Sets the voice pitch. Pitch can have a value of between -10 to 10 inclusive.
Sets the voice speed. Speed can have a value of between -10 to 10 inclusive.
Changes the RSS weather feed. Provide a valid RSS feed. The default is BBC UK.
Run a Windows 10 shell command.
Turns off your computer.
Starts the timer.
Stop the timer.
Opens Windows start menu folder if available.
Returns status of Susan including current RSS feeds.
Opens sticky notes if available.
Opens task manager.
Displays the current time.
Forces Susan to stay on top of other windows.
Opens your tumblr dashboard.
Opens your twitter feed.
Displays your current Windows session username.
Displays the current version number of Susan.
Opens you videos folder.
Displays the code for macros 2-10.
Turns Susan’s voice off.
Turns Susan’s voice on.
Displays the current weather information.
Sets search engine to Wikipedia. Try ‘wiki <article>’
Displays your computer name.
Displays your current verison of Windows.