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do you have a good expander? nm

Posted By: JK on 2008-04-09
In Reply to: Am I nuts - CRAZY

nm


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No, MSW AC is not as good as expander (sm)

One major reason being that it ^*^will^*^ crash on you at some point if you have over 2000 entries.


If you liked PRD+, then you should buy Instant Text because you can import your old PRD glossary directly.  A lot of people don't like the way IT works because if you use it with the marker method recommended in the manual, it will take forever to get used to and get your line counts up.  Just use it in the "classic expander" emulation mode, and you'll lose no time at all.


Why do I like IT?  A couple of reasons:  1) It works with pretty much EVERY transcription platform currently used, even weird ones like the wonderful company I work for uses, so I never have to worry about redoing my abbreviations if I should change companies.  2) It will compile glossaries for you.  3) It's really easy to add new abbvs on the fly.  4) You can edit the glossary using Wordpad, so if you get a new account that does headers in a different way, you can use global search and replace to fix the format without having to go in and change every entry.


Feel free to email with questions.  Yes, IT is a bit of an investment, but I'd be surprised if you didn't earn it back in less then 2 weeks.


Need a good expander.
Any suggestions compatible with Word.
Good. I Don't Like the Expander, though

Their Expander (ESP) is kind of like AutoCorrect but worse.  Your shorts will not expand with punctuation, only a space.  But, I use Instant Text so it's not a huge problem.


Other than that, piece of cake platform!


anyone know of a good expander...
that will work with Emdat InScribe.  I currently own SmartType which works wtih nothing else.  I just got a new IC job that uses this platform and I really really like the work, just not the platform.  Any suggestsions would be great.  Thank you.
Good for you! May I ask what kind of expander you went with?
x
Does I-chart have a good expander?
Anyone familiar with Dictaphone I-chart.  I'm thinking of working for a company that uses this.  Is it good for productivity.  I have Word 2000.  Is it compatible?  Thanks in advance!
What good expander do you suggest and
do you have to remember what you want to call up or how does 1 work? I know in ShortHand I put in Tp and it comes up the patient. Does an Expander work identical to that?
Need help finding a good expander program
I work on DocQscribe and I use Instant Text.  Does anybody out there work on a different shorthand program that is compatible with DocQscribe?  Instant Text is okay but I am wondering if there is another program I would like more.
new at this... how do I choose a good expander program?
Which is best Expander program?  anyway to get a free trial to check out how these things work?
Get a good word expander for starts - sm
I started with ShortHand but then bought Stedmans Smartype which I love; and also a good spellchecker (again I use Stedmans). I don't know how I did it before w/o these. It is like night and day. They help out tremendously do save lots of time. So if you don't already have either of these, I'd highly advise getting them; very necessary to help speed up production, etc.
Good word expander reasonably priced??
I would like to purchase a good word Expander that is reasonably priced, but I can't afford to pay $100 - $200.  Does anyone know of one that is good, but is lower priced?
A good expander pays for itself in no time at all.
Word files corrupt too easily so be sure to keep a backup for when you've lost all your shortcuts.

Also remember that you can only use autotext in Word and you're working "harder not smarter." JMHO.
Looking for a good word expander to go along with MSWord. Does anyone have any suggestions??

Hi all!!!  I am currently using MSWord and would like to purchase a word expander.  I have done some research, but am still not certain which one to buy.  I wish not purchase one that will drain my bank account, but do want one with the capability to have the ability to add an indefinite amount of shortcuts, etc.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!!!!


It is only easy if everything falls into place, i.e. good docs, repetition, macros/expander -sm
This is not the norm. I average 130-175 lph, so it would take me a bit longer than 3 hours to make $100 (I am only PT now so I don't make much more than $50 a day) , and as she would be starting out fresh at a new job, probably with a national doing nothing but ESL the odds are she won't be making $100 in 3 hours.
I'm going to type an acct at home for local group. What is a good word expander for

things to know on doing tapes from an office?  Is it best just to give them a disk and let them print it out at the office like they want to? 


Anybody doing an acct like this?  Thanks.


POLL: Productivity gain using your expander and what expander you use.
Guess I need to make it work harder.
The shortcuts expander works with the Bayscribe expander as well.
All at the same time.
Word Expander Programs - Are there any expander programs that are easy to use and learn
that are similar to the MS Word expander?  I prefer something very simple.  I like MS Word expander; however I have gone over my limits and cannot add any more shortcuts so I need a program that will hold a larger amount of shortcuts.   Many thanks.
That is a good offer. Pay is not that good at UIMC. Good luck! nm
x
expander
I have been transcribing for 10 years, 4 at home.  I have never used expanders, do they really help, how hard are they to learn and use?
oh yes! must have an expander! I really

like shorthand and they have a free trial period. I've gotten so that I can't type without it. I abbreviate everthing from phases to everyday words. on average it saves me 3-4 hours of typing a day  (according to the stats it gives you).


shorthand and speedtype are the same except shorthand is cheaper because it only has email support rather than phone support. very, very easy to start and learn....highly recommend  


expander
Shorthand and ABCZ by Jon Knowles. Together they rock.
What expander do you have...most can be ...
recovered.  You just need to know what the files are named and find the right folder...
expander
I type directly into a hospital system. I use S/H and Jon Knowle's word program. About a $120.00 investment has increased my productivity by about 32% last time I check. I type rad reports - get paid by report. Words you type all the time - group together

Ti=there is
tin=there is no
tine=there is no evidence
tineo=there is no evidence of

I used to jot this down and input later but now I do it as I type.

I also browse www.productivitytalk.com very helpful in shortcuts. Give you good ideas.
expander
http://www.pcshorthand.com

That's the webside to check out. It's Shorthand. And my supplement word Expander is ABCZ Typing (i.e. osab=osseous abnormality)
mamm=mammogram
sugg=suggesting

website http://home.earthlink.net/agjon/abczrule.htm or
www.productivitytalk.com


DQS has its own expander, which is okay. SM
You'll get instructions on how to change your expansions over to the DQS program. Good luck on your line count. It will plunge wildly. Mine did. Best wishes to you.
No; expander, expander, expander.
I start out at a higher lph rate and then dwindle down, so the last couple of hours of my sessions are at much lower lph.

I have good and bad dictators, ESLs, and mainly Op Notes. Probably average around 7 to 9 minutes per report.

I cannot stress the Expander enough. I rarely type out anything - have it in my expander.

Mainly, stick to it for 2 hours, take a break; 2 hours, take a break, 2 hours, break, 1 hour. Then I take off 2-3 hours and hit another session of 6 hours which are SLOWER than my first session. I start out doing pretty good and break every 2 hours and am pretty slow (for me) by the time it is over.
DQS has an expander and then
CTS (Spheris software that I use) has Shorthand.
What expander do you use, and
how do you remember them all?
Expander most like DQS

When I worked for MQ, I liked their expansion program - it was simple and I added them as I thought of them.  What expansion program is the most like it?  I'm finding Instant Text to be too cumbersome.


Expander
Instant Text is my all time favorite.  It's not cheap but it is well worth the price.
expander
It is WELL worth the price.  I wouldn't be without it.  I have tried others and this one does the most.
expander

It only takes a couple of days to get used to it.  In my opinion, it is much easier than the other expanders.  But like I said, that's my opinion. 


WP expander
I use Instant Text with WP and it works great. Hope this helps.
expander
I do have a word expander, and familiar accounts, but it seems like I just can't get past $600 or $700 a week, no matter how hard I try. I do have small school-age children, which takes up a lot of time (which is my first priority), but it just seems like I'm always at my computer, when I'm not doing "mom" things, and still can't make the good money that I know is out there.
expander
Thanks I will check it out!
Expander
I use ShortHand have for about 10 years, I like the flexibility, ease of use, unlimited size. I have different directories for different facilities that have different job specifications. Right now I have version 9.0.
Expander
I agree, Instant Text is great!
Expander
Have you used this program, the Instant Text. Someone had mentioned "Shorthand" Program to me. Any idea which is better? Thanks for the feedback.
It would help us to know the name of your expander.
x
Which expander are you using??
For some of the Expanders you can find lists that you can just download and add to your dictionary.  Productivitytalk.com is one that has some for ShortHand and some others.  Use Google to try and find lists to download that are already set up for the Expander you use.  This will save you the time of trying to set up the lists yourself.  Good luck and welcom to the fun....
Boy, me, too -- why pay for an expander - sm
just remember to back them up!  I've got years of stuff in mine--I back it up at least once a week. 
expander
SpeedType works like that.
http://www.speedtype.com/
expander
No, it's actually Smartype, which is a different product. The others I know are Instant Text and ShortHand, but I know there are a few more out there. I use Smartype, and I think that they have a pretty good dictionary loaded into it. I know a lot of people prefer Instant Text, but it takes a little longer to learn to use, from my experience. I've never used Short Hand. Not sure of the costs, because we got them some time ago. Instant text also lists suggestions, but I don't believe you can float the bar near the cursor like on Smart Type. I've never used ShortHand, so maybe someone else can answer that.
What expander do you use? NM
What Expander do you use? NM
What expander do you use and
is it compatible with word?  Sorry, but I do not know anything about them yet.  How much do they run?  Thx.
expander
how and where do i get an expander. is it something i have to buy online. Thanks
expander?
What is SH8 ? I am trying to decide on an Expander to start using, just starting to work at home again after 5 years in office. Things are so different.
Why would you not use an expander? If you only

have to do a certain number of lines and not work an 8 hour shift and you can do 1200 lines in 6 hours, you could easily do it in 5 hours with an Expander and then you could work an extra hour to stockpile some money or if you have a family have an extra hour to spend with them.


 


 


VR expander
The odds of VR making a mistake on one of your expansions are slim to none.
Expander sm
There are several types out there. If you are using autocorrect or autotext you are aware of the principle of an expander, but you are still working too hard.

With all your time in as an MT (I have half of what you do) you and I both are aware of the fact that the pay has, in no way, kept pace even with the cost of living. Expanders are an answer to this problem and make it so that one can make over $25 an hour, which is almost a living wage if you ask me.

To give you an idea, my Expander has something close to 20,000 entries in it. They are put in on the basis of system of coding for how entries are entered and typed out. I don't honestly have my expansion codes memorized and I certainly have never made at an attempt to do so. What I know well is the coding framework and I think in those codes rather than memorizing the individual expansions.

What I would tell you is that with what you are using, you are probably able to transcribe more lines, more quickly and better than I am with all my expansions! It is a matter of experience on your part. I will freely admit to being a rather poor typist, fast, but not smooth and highly accurate for sure and it is only the expander that allows me to do well with this. You might not actually benefit from an expander at this stage, so using one is up to you.