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Learning MSWord - need help

Posted By: Barb on 2006-09-27
In Reply to:

Finally have given in and am switching from WP to MSWord. I work from home. If anyone has any encouraging words about MSWord, I certainly would like to hear them. So far, I am going crazy, i.e., I have put in "gray boxes" but when I enter my autocorrect short cut for the "shell", my cursor goes to the bottom of the page and I have to page up 2-3 times. I am missing something?


Any help would be so very much appreciated


Thank you.... bw...




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About MSWord......
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This is certainly not an answer to your question, but one of my own.  I make samples, too, but I just store them out in the expander, rather than as a document in a file.  Is there any reason you don't do this, or any reason I should not be doing this?  So far it works fine.  I just type in my code words (part of doc's name with let for letter) and it pops onto the screen.
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Okay, a question about using dot doc. Those are Word documents, right? The problem is, I cannot have Word open while I am transcribing, because the platform I use is Word-based and attaches itself to Word. If I try to use Word, then everything locks up.

Right now what I am doing works for me. I have a limited number of cardiology docs (clinic), so my macros are limited, too. If Autocorrect begins to have problems with it, then I will have to try something else - like IT. And if I had a program that wasn't Word based, then I could use Word for storing my macros, too. I agree - trying to edit is not very convenient! And trying to copy from the text into something that is already in Autocorrect usually doesn't work, either; it's a hit-and-miss project, and I have never figured out why sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Anyway, for me right now, it works. If things change, then I will have to re-evaluate what I do. Thanks for all the input.
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Can you help me with MSWord Template? SM

Hi everyone!  I'm working on about 20+ reports by the same doctor.  I have a template that I saved for him under MSOffice, Templates, his name.  In the past, I've been going to explore (right clicking on the start menu) and physically pulling up the template for each and every report.


Is there a way I can just open the template once.  Finish the first report and then automatically when a new Word document opens it will open that template?


Thanks,


Chickadee


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However, someone told me that in WP8 there is a macro that can do this automatically. If true, is there such a thing in Word?


If anyone keeps a separate log, can you tell me how you do it.


Thank you.


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x
MSWord question

is there a way to make a * hard hypen * in Word?


TIA for any help.


An MSWord question

I make normals of my own for reports I do on a company platform.  I save my normals in the My Documents folder under the hospital number. 


Some of my normals are saved in blue letters and some in black letters.  Can anyone tell me what the difference is and how I can make them all black.


Sounds trivial, I know, but.....


TIA


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You can get it at Office Max, etc., it is the full version and costs around $450-500. Getting it in the Suite is much much less expensive (I think about $90-100, it has been a long time) and is all you will ever need for transcription.
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There use to be a way in Word when if you were typing listed items by number, that when you got to #10, you could move one space to the left so the items on the right would be in proper alignment.  Anyone know how to do this.  Thanks.
or another w ay MSWord 2003-
Click VIEW (top on tool bar) Click FULL SCREEN
with 1 job I do, with the other 2 spaces. You can program MSword to do 1 or 2. - nm
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MSWord 2003 problem
Help! I recently purchased a new computer and reloaded my old Word 2003 on it. I have customized some of the settings according to Laura Bryan's MT Werks book that I've used before. I prefer to type using normal view. The status bar at the bottom is NOT showing me the Ln at the bottom; i.e., 6.5, 6.7, etc. unless I switch to print view. So I don't know where I am on the page, doesn't display page breaks, etc. This USED to show up, now it doesn't. I really don't like to type in print view as well. What happened? Any ideas??
The platform I use pulls from my MSWord
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I use QuickCorrect in my MSWord. Used to use expanders but don't need them now (nm)
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Need help on technical board - doing search on MSWord. tks.
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Check your MSWord tutorial and resources before asking for help here.
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The "counter" in MSWord is not accurate. While it is after the fact, (sm)
I highly recommend purchasing Slycount.(http://www.sylvansoftware.com/sylcount.htm).  First and foremost, be honest.  Tell him/her the invoice you submitted is not accurate, and after deciding exactly what and how you wish to charge, send an amended invoice. 
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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
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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.


 


Always looking and learning
What is a marker, is it product specific or would shorthand have it? Sounds great
learning op
Try this book: Stedman's Medical Transcription Skillbuilders: Creating Surgical Reports. (also comes with 2 cds)
Learning radiology.....sm
You should definitely give it a try, but "only" if you let them know up front that you haven't done radiology.  You can say that you feel you have enough experience to adapt to it and hope they'll give you the chance.  After all, the more specialties you have under your belt, the better your chances are of staying in this field.  But I would not take the job without being honest.  The transition is not all that difficult, but it will take some time.  And besides, you always have your former skills to rely on if it doesn't work out.  Good luck.
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I have wireless internet so I can't imagine why I would need a modem. I'm hoping that's something that's just in the manual for people that are still on dial up.

The lady I talked to made it sound like I had to rent the computer, although she quoted a fee of $25 a month. Is it not something I have to rent? Honestly, I don't mind it for right now just because my computer has been doing some crazy things, but when DH gets my computer upgraded I'd much prefer to just use my own computer. I'd rather not use all the other stuff if I don't have to.

Is DQS hard to learn? My training is Thursday and Friday so I assume I'll learn it then but I'm also not the best at remembering every single detail right away. I just want to get through this. I'm excited because they're letting me do acute-care work even though I tested for clinic work. I've been wanting acute-care experience and am thankful to be getting it. I just feel so overwhelmed with these three huge boxes sitting in my living room when I was only expecting one. The enormous DQS manual is also adding to the anxiety.

Thanks again.

Carole
Learning to read...

Yes, that problem brings you right back to the lack of early stimulation, schooling success, etc.  You can offer the world, but just like the "horse to water", you can only do so much in getting people to accept education and work hard at it to be successful.  It is NOT a solution to have people work at McDonalds, and unless they are literate, other options are just not going to work.  I would guess that all states have vocational training in community colleges that provide tuition assistance, scholarships, and financial aid for those in need, but again, the ambition and dedication to finish something like that needs to come from the individual.  Also, chasing down dead beat "fathers" is fine, but maybe young girls/women need to be smarter about taking reproductive chances.  Nobody died not having sex.  Perhaps more education in that arena is something the government could do.  But again, you can only lead a horse to water, and people ultimately have to be responsible.  We need to stop sugar coating the facts in our society in fear of offending somebody.  The facts are that blacks are disproportionately more impoverished in America, but they also have babies at a 70% out-of-wedlock birth rate, and that is a problem.


Could not do without it. Small learning sm
curve, but worth it.
Looking to start learning soon
Hi all,

I found this board doing a Google on a company I hope to join soon. They will train me to work for them. I am excited to be able to finally get into this business.

I stared taking a course twice, but have been battling Diabetes. It was hard to find the motivation and keep the momentum going. Now my Diabetes (type 2) is better under control. I am also tired of working for someone else outside my home.

I have been looking at doing transcription work for 3-4 years now. I have researched positions I can take once I get some experience, and I don't mind trying to hustle up my own accounts.

I am posting here to keep my dream in front of me and keep me looking towards my own business. I plan to join AAMT and my local chapter once I get working. I am so excited!

Thanks for the information your board posted while I was researching the company to make sure it wasn't a scam. I am satisfied it is not and can't wait to start learning!javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',''); Thank you all!
Thank GWB for that. It is all about the testing, not the learning.
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learning word
There is a really good web site called MTwerks.  They also give really good tech support and have a news letter with helpful tips.
Learning the English would be
a big help!  They come here to make money and should learn the language.  Benny Hinn does a great job with the English language when he's asking for money!  so apparently it is doable.
Yes, but I have to use the mouse. But....am learning (sm)
more shortcut keys as I type!! Thanks!
I switched but still learning,too

I used SH for a year. To me, it was like AutoCorrect, which I used to love, but IT does so much more. I've been using IT for about a year. There are so many things you can do with it that you can't do with SH.


As the other poster said, check out the productivity website and you will fiind zillions of ideas.


Some have a different learning curve than others

I had an in-house job for 3 years, hired in off the street, no experience.  Three months later, another girl hired in, same situation.  Paid hourly, no ESL, and we had the opportunity to talk to the doctors in person about any issue.


By the time I left, I was the highest producer in the office.  She was still struggling with the simplest words and phrases, still asking the same questions she asked the week she hired in, still needing help from somebody else all day long. She would cry from frustration because she couldn't get her act together.  Other people that hired in after her got the hang of it much faster and were soon helping her too.  I asked management on many occasions why they just didn't show her the door, and they said I was being harsh and that some people just couldn't learn as fast as others.  I wonder why she didn't just go find a different kind of job instead of hanging around driving herself and everyone else nuts.


learning another language
It isn't that I wouldn't like to learn another language if I had the time. I would. It would be neat to be able to speak another language, but I don't. And it makes me fustrated when immigrants come here and expect me to know their language when they are the ones who came here. They should know proper English. Or just decent English. If I moved to South America I would not expect them to understand me. I would take it upon myself that if I wanted to communicate I need to learn good Spanish. And if I had a job where I did something such as dictating, I would make sure I knew decent English and tried to make myself understandable. Some ESLs act like they don't care if you can understand them or not. There ARE some who try though.
learning steno, et al.
Hi mt,

I looked into closed captioning many years ago here in San Diego, but it was not as good as it sounded with many problems both internally and externly, hard to explain in this forum, but I didn't want to get involved in that mess.

I started court reporting school way back in 1988 when we still had saber tooth tigers running around. I started the program at San Diego's City College. The first semester was learning theory which taught the steno language and the keyboard. We used the old manual machines, which are still available for students. The second semester and thereafter was all about the dreaded speed-building classes. We finished the first semester at 60 words a minute. Speed-building is a very personal matter. It can take years and years or less time, depending on the person. It took me 2 more years to reach 225 words per minute which qualified me to take the California state board test for licensure. I passed the academic portion the first time but not the machine portion. So I took it another 6 times, never passed that damned thing! Nerves got the best of me each and every time, so I could not go into the court reporting field (something I don't regret in hindsight). Instead I opted to enter our wonderful field of MTing.

I'm using my machine to write this message. I really like using the machine a lot. Each stroke produces either one word several words or phrases or parts of words that have many syllables. It all depends on how you have your dictionary defined.

Today's steno machines are electronic and computerized allowing us to interface with any word processing program.

I hope more people learn this skill and start using it for medical reports so we can get rid of this rotten ASR chap which has reduced my income way more than I can live with. I need a firm that will appreciate my skill and recognize its value in this field.

BTW, it would only take about 10 months to a year to become proficient enough on the machine to start using it for MTing, maybe even less time depending on the person. I didn't work during 3 years of my early training as I had financial help at the time (which I had to pay back, of course, $30,000 - it's paid back now).

Dave
It's like learning MT all over again. It takes
nm
There's a learning curve

In time it all gets better.  Usually.  Some people aren't cut out to be MTs, for them it never gets better.  I felt the way you do when I started out in-house (no former training).  But I was stubborn, and I learned, and knew I was getting better.  Then I started working at home - BIG learning curve, had no idea my hospital job was so easy!  But I was stubborn, and I learned and improved.  Next job - more learning.  New accounts with constantly changing specifics - keep learning.  In this job, you learn every day - a new phrase, a new production tip, the fact that you've been spelling something wrong, etc.


Just take a deep breath and realize they are trying to help you.  Thank them for every correction, because its what they need you to do.  Make a lot of notes.  And you can and will improve, if you're stubborn enough to make your investment pay.


coding learning
Both Andrews and M-Tec have coding courses. I had a discussion with Redpen about the possibilities and she thinks it will be at home eventually.
MT, are you just now learning about her needing a
Xanax?
I have been an MT for 10 years and am still learning...
you really do learn something new every day...just hang in there and you will do fine...
I think learning the language
and losing the accent are not quite the same thing... many of the ESL doctors speak English quite well, and may have been studying English for years in school.  After a certain age, the accent is very difficult to lose. Some people have more of a talent for this than others. I know, makes it hard for the MTs.. but part of the job. Not saying they shouldn't try to improve... I study another language, but I am always going to have an American accent.
I think learning the language
and losing the accent are not quite the same thing... many of the ESL doctors speak English quite well, and may have been studying English for years in school.  After a certain age, the accent is very difficult to lose. Some people have more of a talent for this than others. I know, makes it hard for the MTs.. but part of the job. Not saying they shouldn't try to improve... I study another language, but I am always going to have an American accent.
Learning the hard way and my story (sm)
I didn't read all the posts below me, but I must agree with not quitting one job before landing and being even comfortable with the next.

I worked for a national and was VERY happy with everything except I had no benefits. So I sought another job and was offered one for significantly less per line, but I had benefits, mainly insurance which was a trade-off I was willing to accept.

Keep in mind, my current national offered basically no benefits for employees.

My new employer was enthusiastic about me coming aboard. I told him/her that the ONLY reason I was leaving my national was FOR the benefits and nothing else. I was happy with accounts, pay, personnel, etc. where I was.

Now, also keep in mind that I did NOT resign from my first position.

I spent the next weekend working for the new employer and making macros, etc. plus doing work for my national.

Tuesday morning I get a packet welcoming me to my national... the national I already worked for... what? Turns out my national bought out the company I had applied to, the one with the benefits, which meant that had I resigned, I would have been working for over 2 cents a line less and NO benefits still.

Talk about ethics? The "new" employer knew my situation, knew she/he was selling or had already sold his/her company to the national, but STILL let me apply and hire me, knowing I would be screwed big time. I was totally up front with him/her about WHY I was changing jobs. This devastated me to no end, but I was thankful that I had not quit my first job and I am still there (still shell shocked I guess LOL).

You just can't trust anyone.

I thought about learning it as well, but I didn't.

You can actually reset your computer from qwerty to dvorak, then just change out the key locations on the keyboard instead of buying a new keyboard.  I just really don't feel like relearning anything right now.  The fastest typist in the world uses the dvorak keyboard, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. 


I'm learning scoping, and its quite interesting, instead of CR -- nm
xx
Correct and I believe 1 or 2 more years learning
from their signing physician in house. 
At least 6 mos! You'll be learning and looking stuff up every day, all day, before you
s
Virtual Learning Center MT Course

Has anyone done this?  It looks good....but I need to know before I spend the money. 


Thanks.