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For those who use Shortcut expansion program...

Posted By: MT on 2008-10-16
In Reply to:

I have been a ShortHand user for the past 2 years and prior to that Smartype. I need to try ShortCut to see if I can get it to work in CS.net (Chartscript) since my Shorthand does not. But before I download the trial version, I wanted to find out: Does it also offer a "suggestion window" like Shorthand...like a preview window to see that the expansions are as you type? I relied on that with Shorthand (and Smartype) and hate to give that feature up. (I can't afford Instant Text)


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Just wondering which expansion program you use? *nm*
*nm*
Pros & Cons of ESP word expansion program?
Does this work pretty well? (I have Word 2002)  I'd like not to have to buy any software.  Any opinions on ESP?  Any other Word-compatible programs that work well, also?
Get a decent word expansion program like PRD or Shorthand sm
autocorrect is very limited.  If you want to make money, your really need a good expander.
If you don't have an expansion program, you can put stuff in Word in your AutoCorrect/AutoText un
s
Is there another shortcut program
that you are working with inside Word? Because that may override your autocorrect entries, I found out the hard way using esp and then adding autocorrect because it is the better program
It's only when I use an expansion
at the beginning of the sentence that I can't get it to automatically capitalize the first letter. I have the auto-cap option checked and it works for regular typing. I have been planning on getting Instant Text forever now and just keep putting it off. Probably going to do it soon because this is driving me crazy. Thanks.
expansion, expansion, expansion
Use your expansion tools. I have just about every acronym under the sun set up into my expansions. It really helps.
Expansion help
I have a great primary account, make usually more than 2000 lines a day, and I have several of the same docs who say the same things repeatedly, so I have their "normal" ROS or PE set up as an expansion.  I make sure to proof those really well for changes.  And I have any phrase that is three words long as an expansion.  Like ctax for clear to auscultation, rrrx for regular rate and rhythm, etc.  And if a word is long, like hepatosplenomegaly, I make an expansion for it with hsmx.  You just need to play around and see what you come up with...
Not for what it does besides just text expansion.
xx
word expansion
By MS Word expander, I guess you mean the one built into Word. In addition to this, I make my own "normals" and just copy and paste them into a Word document to retrieve when I need them.
I don't use DocQscribe nor do I know what the expansion

formula looks like, but if you can open it up in Notepad and manipulate the formula to look like this, tp=the patient, then you can import them into EXText.  I don't have my EXText in front of me so this is from rough memory.  Once you have your expansions in the above formula, save them in Notepad on your desktop.  In EXtext click on Options, Import file from Text(?), in the drop down box click on Desktop, click on your saved list, put an = sign in the delimiter box, click on Ok or import or whatever the next step is (lol...told you it was from rough memory).  Once these are imported you'll need to save your ESP list.  It is really simple to import once you have your expansions in the right formula.  I'll check back here in a little bit and answer any questions I can.  I'll be working tonight and may be able to give better step-by-step instructions once I have the actual program up and running.


CW


In the box where you would normally put your expansion text. n/m
.
text expansion?
I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good text Expander program. I have never used one before, and there are so many out there, I am just looking for some advice as to what might be a good one, easy to use, for a person who has no experience with text expansion. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
I go to alt-E and bring up the expansion menu sm
then I add a new header in there. That way, the new header created will be saved and usable in future reports. Maybe there is a better way - I do not claim to be a DQS genius, but this does work for me
Word Expansion Programs
I am trying to get a general idea of the best/worst Word Expansion programs available.  What do you use and how does it compare to others?  I know of Shorthand, PRD+, MedBrain, and good ol' Auto Correct.  Please give me your opinions.  Thank you very much ~
Normals in Expansion File
Just be aware that your company may have set a size limit for individual expansions to prevent transcriptionists from making "normals" that are not really normal, that is, not always exactly what the doctor says.
Why not add them to your expansion software with different endings? Like
s
Should expand when using the period after an expansion - sm
Shorthand should expand when you use the period after an expansion. For example... I have "tpi" as "the patient is" -- and if I type "tpi." I will get the patient is. (including the period)
Newbie expansion software help

Yikes! I need expansion software help. Can someone tell me how Instant Text works? Do I need to enter words into the program to in order to use it? I have downloaded a free trial of ShortHand for Windows, but it doesn't come with very many words. How does a newbie MT use expansion software if it doesn't have any words in the glossary?


Sorry, I know this is very basic. Unfortunately my MT program has not covered this, and I'm not trying to figure it out!


Thanks in advance!


 


Word Expansion Suggestion
I was wondering what is the best to different in expansions between laparoscopy, laparoscope, laparoscopic, arthroscope, arthroscopy, arthroscopic. Does anyone has any suggestions? I use the Expander in Word. Thanks so much!
Better yet, if it's REALLY good, make an expansion for it. sm
Especially with op notes ... once you get a feel for a dictator's normal patter, whether that be an operative procedure, ROS, PE section, closing, or whatever, make a shortcut/expansion for it ...

I do the same thing for letter addresses, since the same addressees seem to keep popping up over and over (i.e., docsmitha would bring up all of the Smiths I have saved with a first name starting with an A) -- saves a lot of time in the long run.

Wow, getting far afield from the original question here; I must need that first cup of coffee.
I have never found a program shorthand does not work with, it works outside the program (I think tha
nm
ctrl+space will prevent expansion.

A bunch, can't really guess. But don't use something just for expansion. You need it to preven
s
I use an expansion that puts the numbers and stop
x
I find Ctrl/X stops the expansion. nm
s
Google xyz method of expansion use. Easy
x
PRD is a DOS program. I don't think it work with Word, a Window's program.
x
It will count everything if you go in the settings and program it to. Good program!
Sylcount is an awesome and accurate counting program also. That will count everything if you "tell it to".
I've just started using SH, where do I set expansion with normal punc...nm
x
go into expansion and delete "phantom space" by backspacing....
nm
I had all those dang ages in my auto correct before. The whole 90-year-old expansion. nm
x
macro to import expansion list into MSWord Autocorrect

Here is my macro that will import your expansions into MSWord.  Your list needs to be in the following format for this macro to work:


tp=the patient


copd=COPD


chf=CHF



There needs to be a hard return at the end of each entry.  If you have any expansions that contain an equal sign or a hard return, you will need to enter those into your autocorrect manually.  Here is the macro:


Sub Add2AutoCorrectList()
Dim AddName, AddValue As String
Dim W, C, A, L, Y, T, N As Long
Dim CountWords As Boolean
Selection.WholeStory: Selection.Collapse
N = ActiveDocument.Words.Count: C = 0: A = 0: T = 0
ScreenUpdating = False
While N > 0
x = Selection.MoveEndUntil(cset:=("=), Count:=wdForward)
    If x = 0 Then
        End
    End If
Selection.MoveEndUntil cset:=("=), Count:=wdForward
AddName = Trim(Selection.Text)
L = Selection.Words.Count
With Selection
    .Delete: .Delete
    .MoveEndUntil cset:=Chr$(13), Count:=wdForward
End With
AddValue = Trim(Selection.Text)
Y = Selection.Words.Count
AutoCorrect.Entries.Add (AddName), Value:=(AddValue)
Selection.Delete , Count:=2
T = L + 2
N = N - T
C = C + 1
A = A + 1
If N < 1000 Then
ScreenUpdating = True
N = ActiveDocument.Words.Count
End If


If A = 100 Then
Application.ScreenRefresh
'ScreenUpdating = True
StatusBar = N & " " & C & " " & " entries processed!"
A = 0
End If
Wend


  
End Sub


One word of warning:  When I posted a line counting macro here some time ago, I could not get a quote mark in the code to post, so the macro as posted would not work, and I had to followup with a post explaining how to correct that.  This macro is a bit more complicated than the other one was, and although I will look at the code as soon as this posts, if it doesn't come through perfectly, and you don't understand my corrections, you can e-mail and I will send it to you.


Also, I wrote a companion macro that will list your autocorrect into a document so that you can import it into another computer or just keep it as a backup in case you lose your normal.dot.


 


You can use Shorthand in ANY program, it works outside your program
I have never found a platform it did not work with and I have worked on several different versions of Meditech. Just start using it.
I use shortcut
but this has happened to me with it and I was told to always make sure you open your expansion program behind the document you are working in.
Shortcut

What are "Shortcuts" and "Windows" expanders?  I don't like the Expander I have and I can't use the one I bought about five years ago.


No shortcut!
Notice all these products say somewhere in fine print (even on commercials) something like "works best with a sensible diet and exercise." Proper diet and exercise the ONLY answer to losing weight.
Another ? Has anyone used PRD and ShortCut?

I'm having to switch Expanders too and have used PRD.  While researching it seems that ShortCut is very similar to PRD.   Does anyone know if you can import Expander word list from Dos to Windows?


I use every shortcut I can
That is the way to make money
Shortcut
I think these only work if the software has it written into it.

Try Control plus "+" to enlarge and Control plus "-" to decrease the viewing size of the characters.

Otherwise, you could go into your software's "view" option and see if there is a shortcut there.
Here's a shortcut for you.
Using the information given to you below on how to write the formula, you can copy the formula(s) to a many rows below by doing the following:
Left mouse click in the first cell that contains the formula to be copied. Hold down that mouse button to highlight the cell(s) containing the formula(a) you want to copy and all the cells by dragging the mouse across them (still holding down that mouse button). When you get to the last cell you want to highlight, let go of the mouse button and hit Ctrl+D. This will copy the formula(s) into their respective columns, changing all cell references accordingly.
(Please post if you don't understand this and I'll try to re-explain.)
Here's another shortcut
If you have to have multiple apps open at once: i made a macro and assigned to an F key - so to switch back and forth I only have to hit one key.

Also did the same with block and copy - one stroke on an F key.
ShortCut
LOVE ShortCut and have used it for years with success on virtually every platform I have ever used
I use Shortcut
This one is really simple to use/edit. I've been using it for years but I can't rate it against anything else because I've never used anything else. If you're using a platform that doesn't work well with the expander, there is a way to load the Expander entries into the autotext function and it will expand the same way.

As for the entries themselves, here's what I usually do:

I'd enter "chff" for congestive heart failure, using the extra "f" because there are times when a client only wants the abbrev. This way I can type "CHF" without it expanding every time.
Shortcut
Have used shortcut for years, when I changed jobs, the tech people were able to do it, there is also an 800 number to call the company that distributes shortcut and they will walk you thru it when you first purchase - also I think their web site had directions. I currently work in Chartscript so don't know if it is the same.
ShortCut
I went to the website for ShortCut but still have some questions (there's not much info about it out there, like on Productivity Talk). Does it have a preview window like ShortHand and the old SmartType? Can you import your word list from other Expander programs into it?
shortcut

There is a book Saving Keystrokes that can be purchased on the internet that of great help for some commonly used phrases and words.  I did find this website for downloading shortcuts, but I have not actually gone in and done it so not sure what is there, but probably not much for medical shortcuts  I just typed in autocorrect shortcut in the address box and there are several sites you might check also.


http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1043808.html


You can figure out from each of your doctors what they use a lot and make your own, and put them in autocorrect perhaps under the doctor's ID number and then something you will remember. 


Most of these shortcuts are your personal phrases and what your doctors use on a regular basis, so will have to be done individually and in ways that you remember. 


I'm looking for a keyboard shortcut
to type the date, 10/13/05, using the microsoft word 97 program.  I'm sure I read somewhere that there is one. 
thanks to all for shortcut ideas
This is wonderful.  Thanks to all of you for sharing.  I really appreciate and will pass it on to my friends as well. 
Shortcut programs?
Which shortcut program is easier to use?  Shortcut for Windows, Smartype, or InstanText?  I need to start building a good shortcut list so I can build up my line count?
RE: Shortcut programs
I really like Shortcut.  I just upped my version.