Sensory Boards

User Guide & Documentation

Create communication boards in Open Board Format (OBF/OBZ)

Getting Started

Quick Start (Pre-built Bundles)

If the symbol and annotation bundles have already been built:

  1. Double-click index.html to open in your web browser.
  2. The application will load with symbols and annotations ready to use.
  3. No internet connection or web server required!

Using the Application

Home Screen

Three primary options are available upon launch:

  • Create New: Start a new communication board.
  • Load Board: Open a previously saved board or import OBF/OBZ files.
  • Manage: Organize and delete your saved boards.

Creating a New Board

  1. Click Create New on the home screen.
  2. Enter a name for your board.
  3. Choose the grid size (columns x rows).
  4. Click Create.

Editing Cells

Click any cell on your board to open the editor. Features include:

  • Add a Label: Text that appears on the cell.
  • Add a Symbol: Search library or upload an image.
  • Change Colors: Customize background and text.
  • Add Annotations: Small overlay images (requires a symbol first).
  • Set Actions: Configure what happens on press.

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Ctrl/Cmd + Z Undo
  • Ctrl/Cmd + Y Redo
  • Escape Close Editor
  • Arrows Navigate Cells

File Formats

Import/Export: OBF (Single) & OBZ (Packages).

Symbols: ZIP files containing PNG, JPG, SVG, GIF, or WebP.

Pro Tip: Hold Shift and click multiple cells to edit them together (Batch Edit)!

Troubleshooting

Symbols not loading

  • Ensure bundles are built via BUILD_INSTRUCTIONS.rtf.
  • Check Settings to manually load a symbol ZIP file.

Board not saving

  • Ensure browser allows local storage.
  • Chrome or Firefox are highly recommended.