TI-Nspire For Dummies
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Before purchasing TI-Nspire Computer Software, download a free 30-day trial of the TI-Nspire Student Software from TI’s website. Click the Downloads & Activities drop-down menu, and choose Apps, Software & Updates. Two more drop-down menus appear. For Technology, choose TI-Nspire, and for View, choose Math & Science Computer Software (click the Find button to submit).

To install a purchased version of TI-Nspire Computer Software from a CD, insert the CD, and follow the prompts. Select the default options that pop up during the installation process. A shortcut is automatically placed on your computer desktop, unless you deselect the check box for this during the installation process. It is important to be connected to the Internet during the installation process.

Here are two ways to launch TI-Nspire Computer Software:

  • Create a new document: Double-click the TI-Nspire Computer Software icon to launch TI-Nspire Computer Software.

  • Open an existing document: To open an existing TI-Nspire document, locate the file on your computer and double-click it.

    The Welcome screen allows you to quickly access all applications and recently opened documents. A great feature about the Welcome screen is the large preview window in the lower-left part of the screen.

    If you hover over the name of a recent document, the preview window shows you the first page of that document. Or, if you hover over an application icon, the preview window shows you an example of that application as well as a short description of what the application does.

    If you get to a point that you don’t feel like you need to see the Welcome screen every time you open your TI-Nspire Computer Software, a fix is available. Just deselect the Always Show This at Startup check box in the lower-left corner.

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The Welcome screen on TI-Nspire Teacher Software includes three additional options. You can see the View Content, Manage Handhelds, and Transfer Documents options directly from the Welcome screen.

Here is a typical TI-Nspire Computer application screen with annotations describing its various components.

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The .tns extension convention

All TI-Nspire files are identified by a .tns file extension. This extension is only viewable if the file resides on your computer and cannot be seen in the My Documents view on your handheld device.

While browsing for files on your computer, consider using the Detail view. By clicking the Type heading, all files are sorted by type, allowing you to quickly spot those that have a .tns extension.

Where to get your .tns files

Here are four ways that a .tns file may end up on your computer:

  • You transfer a file from a handheld device to your computer using TI-Nspire Computer Software.

  • You create a file using TI-Nspire Computer Software and save it to your computer.

  • You mine the Internet for .tns files created by someone else and download them to your computer. Why do the work if someone else has already done it?

  • A friend or colleague e-mails a .tns file to you as an attachment.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Jeff McCalla teaches Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis. He is a T3 instructor for Texas Instruments and co- founder of the TI-Nspire SuperUser group. Steve Ouellette wrote the first edition of TI-Nspire For Dummies as well as CliffsNotes® Guide to TI-Nspire.

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