Using the Dictation Box. Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12.0

Dragon 12 Installation and User Guide

Using the Dictation Box

This section contains the following topics:

Using the Dictation Box

Using Dictation Box in unsupported applications

Turning off the Dictation Box

Unsupported applications

Transferring your text

The Full Text Control Indicator

Dictating in unknown text fields

Editing text in unknown text fields

Defining how the Dictation Box works in different applications

Unexpected behavior or text in the Dictation Box

Dictation Box Settings

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Using the Dictation Box

Normally you can dictate and use Dragon voice commands in any text window of any application. However, you may occasionally find an application or a specific window in an application where you cannot dictate and/or where some voice commands won’t work or won't work consistently. These exceptions are called "unsupported applications" or unknown text fields.

Using Dictation Box in unsupported applications

The Dictation Box opens automatically if Dragon notices that you are trying to dictate in an unsupported application or window within an unsupported application.

Turning off the Dictation Box

If you don't want Dragon to display the Dictation Box in unsupported applications

1. On the DragonBar, select Tools > Options > Miscellaneous.

2. Click or say "Use the Dictation Box for Unsupported Applications" to clear the checkmark from the box.

3. Click OK to apply your changes to the current session. When you save your user profile, the settings will be saved for future dictation sessions.

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Chapter 4: Dictating Text

Unsupported applications

Some examples of unsupported applications would be presentation or page layout or graphics design software like Adobe Photoshop. Here are some examples of known issues in unsupported applications: n

Dictating into a complex Lotus Notes document sometimes makes

Dragon hang or exhibit other abnormal behavior.

n

Some Microsoft Outlook users may find that the Full Text Control editing capability does not always work.

n

Some applications, such as Netscape, are not supported for Full Text Control editing at all.

Transferring your text

When you are ready to move your dictation from the Dictation Box to the unsupported application, say "Transfer" or click the Transfer button to transfer the text into that application.

Note:

The Dictation Box works for all applications that can accept standard keyboard shortcuts for Windows Clipboard operations. In some applications that do not accept these commands, your text may be lost or changed when you transfer text in and out of the Dictation Box. Test your application before you start and, if you lose text when you try to transfer text to the application, try different selections under the Copy and Paste options (see

Dictation Box

Settings) .

The Dictation Box can transfer text in plain or Rich Text Format (RTF). For more information on using fonts in the Dictation Box, refer to Using Fonts in

Dictation Box in the Dragon Help.

Note:

You cannot transfer the audio that corresponds to the text from the

Dictation Box to another application. The audio is available only while the

Dictation Box is open and only before you dictate the "Transfer" voice command.

The Full Text Control Indicator

The Dragon bar includes a Full Text Control indicator that turns green when you are in an application or window where all of Dragon’s functionality is supported.

When you are in an unknown text field, the Full Text Control indicator goes out, indicating that you may have some difficulty selecting and editing dictated text. Also, when you start dictating into an unknown text field, the

Dragon Bar will display a message saying "Unknown text field; consider using

'show Dictation Box' - See Help.'"

The commands that quote text from the screen (select <xyz>, correct <xyz>, insert after <xyz>…) work thanks to a functionality called Full Text Control.

This functionality depends on Dragon’s ability to constantly obtain information

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from the text field about its content—for instance, in order to know where words and sentences begin and end, so Dragon can apply spacing between words and capitalization at the beginning of sentences. Most standard text fields allow full Full Text Control capabilities.

If you have difficulty in dictating or correcting in one of these unknown text fields, use the Dictation Box.

For more information, see

The Full Text Control Indicator .

Dictating in unknown text fields

1. Place you cursor where you want to put the text

2. Start the Dictation Box in one of several ways: n

Say "Show Dictation Box" n

Select Tools > Dictation Box from the Dragon Bar n

Use CTRL + SHIFT + D. To change the default hot key(see the

Dragon Options dialog box.

3. When the Dictation Box displays, you can dictate and edit text inside the Dictation Box using all of Dragon's commands.

4. Once you have finished dictating and editing the text, say or click "Transfer."

The text you dictated in the Dictation Box is transferred to the application.

The Dictation Box then closes.

Editing text in unknown text fields

To edit text already in the unknown text field:

1. Select the text in the unknown text field using voice commands or your keyboard and mouse.

2. Copy the text to the Dictation Box for editing in one of these ways: n

Say "Edit Selection" n

Say "Show Dictation Box"

Note:

To copy all the text in an application into the Dictation

Box for editing say "Edit All" n

Select Tools > Dictation Box from the Dragon Bar n

Use CTRL + SHIFT + D. To change the default hot key, see The

Options dialog box.

3. The selected text displays in the Dictation Box.

4. Once you have finished dictating and editing the text, say or click "Transfer."

The text you dictated in the Dictation Box is transferred to the application.

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Chapter 4: Dictating Text

Defining how the Dictation Box works in different applications

You can define how the Dictation Box copies and pastes text for each application where it's needed. For example, you can have different copy and paste settings for Microsoft PowerPoint and Corel WordPerfect.

To define how the Dictation Box works in a specific application:

1. Start the application or specific window and place your cursor in the application.

2. Start the Dictation Box

3. Click the "Settings..." button in the Dictation Box.

The Dictation Box Settings dialog box displays a section named "Settings for application <application name>" where the <application name> is the name of the current application.

For more information, see

Dictation Box Settings

.

Unexpected behavior or text in the Dictation Box

Sometimes the Dictation Box misunderstands the context of what you're working on and it displays text you didn't dictate, and that you can't edit. This can happen when the focus of the application you're using is on a field you can't edit and: n you intentionally open the Dictation Box, or n you speak into your microphone, prompting the Dictation box to open automatically

For example, if you have your e-mail application open with an item in your message list selected, the Dictation Box may display the header text of that message.

If this happens, just go to the Dictation Box and say or click "Cancel" to close it.

Dictation Box Settings

You open the Dictation Box by selecting Tools > Dictation Box on the

DragonBar.

In the Settings dialog box of the Dictation Box, you can define how the

Dictation Box copies text from and pastes text into each application where you plan to use the Dictation Box.

For example, you can have different copy and paste settings for Microsoft

PowerPoint and Corel WordPerfect.

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To open the Settings dialog box, you click the Settings button inside the

Dictation Box.

Note: 

You can have multiple Dictation Boxes open at one time and can have different settings for using the Dictation Box with each application you use.

Font

The Font setting lets you change the font used for the contents of the Dictation

Box. To change the font:

1. Click "Change Font..."

2. Set the font, style, and size under Font, Font style, and Size.

3. Under Effects, you can choose a color from the drop-down list and/or choose

Strikeout or Underline.

4. Click OK to save the font change.

Notes:

n

To set the font to the default, click "Default Font" and the font type and size change to Arial 10-point.

n

When you copy text into the text box, it displays in the same font as the originating application.

Window Position  

You can define where the Dictation Box appears: n

Anchor:

Choosing anchor causes the Dictation Box to appear at the location where it was last closed. If you drag the Dictation Box to a new location and then close it, it will display at that location when you restart the

Dictation Box.

n

Automatically position the Dictation Box near the cursor:

This option causes the Dictation Box to appear as close to the cursor location as is practical.

Settings for application <application name>

You can define how the Dictation Box copies and pastes text in each application where it's used. For example, you can have different copy and paste settings for Microsoft PowerPoint and Corel WordPerfect.

The Dictation Box works for all applications that can accept standard keyboard shortcuts for Windows Clipboard operations. In some applications that do not accept these commands, your text may be lost or changed when you transfer text in and out of the Dictation Box.

The Copy options define what kind of copied text the Dictation Box can receive from an application. 

The Paste options define how the Dictation Box pastes text in each application where you use it.

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Test your application before you start and, if you lose text when you try to transfer text to the application, try different selections under the Copy and

Paste options, detailed below:

Copy

n

Do not copy:

Does not copy any text from the application when the Dictation Box is started.

n

Type keys <Ctrl+C>:

Uses Ctrl+C to copy text from the application.

n

Use Windows Copy Command:

Uses the Windows copy command to copy text from the application.

Paste

n

Type keys <Ctrl+V>:

Uses Ctrl+V to copy text from the Dictation Box to the application.

n

Use Windows Paste Command:

Uses the Windows Paste Command to copy text from the Dictation Box to the application.

n

Simulate keystrokes:

Sends keystrokes from the Dictation Box to the application. Use "Simulate keystrokes" if the other methods of pasting text do not work.

Show character count

Select this check box to have the character count display the number of characters in the Dictation Box.

Keep transferred text in clipboard when the Dictation Box is closed

Check this option to have Dragon hold the text dictated into the Dictation Box in the Windows clipboard either after you transfer the text unsuccessfully

(paste fails) or after you have closed the Dictation Box (should any text remain in the Dictation Box).

As long as you have chosen

Type Keys <Ctrl+V>

 or

Use Windows Paste

Command

under

Paste options,

checking this check box protects you from losing any text when: n

You've transferred with the "Transfer" voice command and it fails to paste into the application where you have placed the cursor n

Text still remains in the Dictation Box when you close it

If you do not select this option, the text dictated into the Dictation Box that has not been transferred will be lost when you close the Dictation Box.

When you have selected this check box, if the transfer fails, you do not lose the text, because the text is stored temporarily in the Windows clipboard. If the application you tried to transfer the text to fails to receive the text, you can open another application and try using the Windows paste command to paste the text from the clipboard.

Restore Defaults

This option restores all Dictation Box settings to their defaults.

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