Shorthand versus Instant Text?

• Shorthand versus Instant Text? - mtmtmtmt
  • Well I've ordered mine! I'm so excited! nm - wannabe faster
  • Have Shorthand, love it SM - Hamamelis
  • Does anyone know if IT offers a trial period? sm - wannabe faster
    • IT comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee - Kristen
    • IT - MT99
  • I love IT. Don't know anything about Shorthand... - IT Fan
    • I agree with ITfan on all counts! (nm) - clhmt
    • Website? - Camdon
      • try www.textware.com NM - IT Fan
    • IT program - mt
    • Love it too - user of IT
      • I haven't ever noticed anything like that. - IT Fan
    • IT - MT99

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I am a ShortHand user considering adding Instant Text, but the IT product literature says it imports other programs' abbreviations as an IT glossary.  Does that mean you can no longer just type your abbreviations like you're used to but have to select them from a list and type a lot of numbers all the time?  Also, if your Shorthand entries contain code (move-around keys, etc.), does IT still play them and their codes out accurately?  Also, I can get 400% productivity increase with my Shorthand expansions.  Does anyone out there get such results from IT?  I really appreciate any advice, as there is no "free trial" with this product as there is with others!!!

Saying ShortHand and Instant Text work about the same way is somewhat incorrect. I would say Instant Text does everything that Shorthand does, but Shorthand does not do everything that Instant Text does.

Some of the unique features are:
IT allows the same short form for different expansions
IT offers abbreviations without memorization
IT compiles a list of words and phrases for each doctor or specialty in seconds from your own transcription
IT includes preexisting glossaries you can use right away
IT expands pages of text instantaneously
etc.

You can be happy with either one of these expanders, it all depends on what you are comfortable with and which one makes you the most productive. You have to measure the return on your investment whether it is $100 or $200.

I'm curious to see what the reactions were from those that went from SH to IT versus IT to SH.  I'm getting ready to switch from IT to SH and really need some input from you well seasoned professionals! 

I truly appreciate your time and help!

I'm curious to see what the reactions were from those that went from IT to SH.  Were you glad or did you go back?  Please, help.  I'm seriously contemplating a  switch from IT to SH and really need some input from you well seasoned professionals! 

I truly appreciate your time and help!

Terminology is so important here.  A macro is a function usually designed in the word processing program (Word, Word Perfect, etc.) and unless using the old DOS system, is usually used for making shortcuts for commands.  It can be used for documents, but is a little cumbersome to do it.

Expanders are just that.  They convert a series of Keystrokes into whatever has been defined for those keystrokes.  It can be a word, phrase, sentence, even a whole document.  But sometimes it can be a little slow if it is a long entry. 

The easiest and fastest way I have found to insert my "normals" or "canned dictations", even those I made myself in either Word or Word Perfect is to use an import function.  It is much easier to revise the normal, too, and easier to copy.  

In Word, establish the file location where documents will be stored.  I usually set mine to the name of the account I am working on (and change that data in the settings on Word - options/ file locations - when I change accounts.)   I store all my normals, whether created by the hospital or by me, in that file.  (By the way, I use a different shorthand dictionary for each account by using links.)   I give the document a logical name, and then create an import link in Shorthand.

So, my account is Onion Hospital.  My file location is set to C:onion.  My document is a physical by Dr. Celery, which I named as celerypx.    My Shorthand dictionary is onionhosp.

My command to retrieve this is: 

{@KEYDOWN Alt}il{@PAUSE}{@KEYUP Alt}celerypx.doc{@KEY Enter}

When Dr. Celery dictates his hp, I get to the physical and type celerypx and the document is imported instantly.

This is even more helpful with op reports, where you have rather routine dictations for things like cataracts, foot surgeries, etc., and need to change from left or right or bilateral. 

It is easier to copy the "normal" document and create one for each instance - left, right, or bilateral, that it is to pull up another command to search and replace the right, left, or bilateral, and change the verb tenses if it is bilateral. 

So, Dr. Corn does a lot of cataract extractions.  I have

corncatrt.doc

corncatlt.doc

corncatbil.doc (never heard of bilateral cataracts, but just an example).

My command in shorthand reflects each one.

{@KEYDOWN Alt}il{@PAUSE}{@KEYUP Alt}corncatrt.doc{@KEY Enter}

(It is also easier to see if I do have a canned report for a doctor in shorthand this way.  I just pull up shorthand (Ctrl F10) and type corn in the screen.  It will show me all the entries I have for Dr. Corn. 

IT V Pro is an expander program that works with almost all word-based programs running on any Windows platform.

You can import abbreviation files from other programs (such as AutoCorrect) and it also comes with 55 built-in glossaries to help get you started.

For more information on IT V Pro, please see the link below.

I can give you some info on Instant Text V Pro if you'd like.

The most popular features of IT V Pro include the Importer, the Compilation feature, the Includes feature and Continuations.

The Importer takes abbreviation lists from other sources, such as AutoCorrect, and imports them into IT so you can continue using them without having to start creating a new list from scratch.

The Compilation feature is used to create personalized glossaries by scanning saved documents on your computer and pulling out the most frequently used phrases and words to instantly compile a customized glossary in seconds.

The Includes feature allows you to use more than one glossary at a time.

And the Continuations feature is a feature that brings up what you are likely to type next in your sentence. So for example, if you were to type "The patient", IT will then suggest what you are likely to type next based on what you've typed in the past.

For more information on IT, please see the link below for a short product presentation.

Instant Text V Pro can import your dictionary files so you can continue using the abbreviations that you are used to.

IT works with all Windows-based word-processing programs so you can continue using IT even if you switch jobs or computers, etc.

Please see the link below for more information on IT V Pro.

Instant Text V Pro will work with MS Word and WordPerfect. You can import your WordPerfect list into Instant Text so you can continue using your current abbreviations. IT also comes with 55 built-in glossaries to help get you started.

IT is virtually limitless so you never have to worry about over-loading it. You can have one large glossary (abbreviation list) or you can have several small customized glossaries which you can use all at the same time using the Includes feature.

You can expand a word, phrase, paragraph, a full page or more and you can also expand templates of your reports. You expand in Instant Text using keystrokes. You can choose from a long list of Expander keys, including the spacebar. You can also click to expand but it is faster to use the expander keys so you don’t have to take your hands off the keyboard.

Instant Text V Pro is an Expander program that works with Meditech. You can import your abbreviation lists from other programs into Instant Text so you can continue using the abbreviations that you are familiar with.

Please see the link below for more information.

With Instant Text, you do not need to buy the program twice. The license agreement is based on a per-user basis, rather than a per-machine basis so you can install it on more than one computer as long as you are the only one using it.

You would not need to set up your expansions twice either. The Instant Text glossaries are simply text files that can be copied onto your other computer. You can also import any abbreviation lists you have created in other programs, such as AutoCorrect, into Instant Text so you can continue using the expansions that you are used to.

Please see the link below for more information on IT V Pro.

Instant Text V Pro is compatible with Vianeta.

Please see the link below for more information.

Go to:

www.textware.com

IT V Pro works with most Windows-based word-processors including Beyond Text.

For more information, please see the link below:

what are your thoughts on this program? Does it seem to help a lot ?

Thanks....I appreciate it.

IT V Pro works with the Meditech program and you can choose from a large selection of Expander options so you will not have to worry about interference.

You can also import your SH list into IT so you can continue using the expansions you are most familiar with.

Instant Text comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk free for one month. If you should decide that the program is not for you, you can return it for a full refund of the purchase price.

To learn more about IT V Pro, please see the link below:

Did you know that you can hide the "pop-up windows" in Instant Text?

Instant Text's Importer converts PRD lists with a few clicks, and Instant Text V Pro can be set up very close to the way PRD worked. 

Just FYI

I used ShortHand for a few years but my friend recently turned me on to IT.  I ABSOLUTELY love it.  There is no guesswork in remembering your abbreviations for your expansions.  I love how you can ask it to go through your files and it makes expansions based on how frequent you use something.  Now that I have tried both I don't think I would go back to shorthand.  Instant Text is WONDERFUL!!

It works great with EXText and does the 2 spaces after a period and colon thing, too.