Definitely keyboard + expander macros. SM
Posted By: MsIndigo on 2009-07-28
In Reply to: Taking a poll about VR - TTer2
Mouse absolutely as little as possible. Maximal creation of macros (or more realistically, aiming for) to perform those corrections that come up all the time. BTW, those macros I create on my Expander belong to me. Most MTs so far don't have this skill to offer, making me faster and better than most. That'll change someday, in big part due to posts like this, but until then, or until tech changes make this skill obsolete, it definitely works to my monetary advantage. Try it.
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using your own macros expander file
I am looking for a part-time job and have a huge ShortHand file which I do not want to rebuild. Which companies will allow you to use your own macro expander? Thanks!
macros, macros, macros.
put diseases, fractures, syndromes, etc. in macros, name them syndrome1, syndrome2, disease1, disease2, when you hear something unfamiliar put it in a macro, if the name is something you may not remember, something odd, then name it; for example, I have macro syndrome1, which expands to Guillain-Barr, then I also have it under gui macro; then syndrome2 (which is Turner's syndrome), etc., do the same with disease or fracture, such as fracture1, Salter-Harris II, fracture 2 is Bucket-handle fracture, etc.
Lots of macros
Don't forget to macro your English phrases - wtp=with the patient, adtth=admitted to the hospital, etc. I have thousands of these.
Make up a system of that works for you - and don't be afraid to put a word or phrase in 2 or 3 different ways in your Expander - i.e., give it 3 different names.
I have found that some terms that I can't remember I just type phonetically and left the macro do the spelling for me. This is especially helpful with the syndromes and diseases that are rather rare. I use tooey for Tuohy needle.
Also, use the expander for all your drugs; that way you will never to worry about whether they are generic (not capitalized0 or brand (capitalized). Just type them in lower case and your expander will take of the capitalization.
Terms and drugs that are hyphenated or have capital letters in their names should be in macros as well. Any time you have to reach to use the Shift key, it disrupts your rhythm and costs you money.
Concentrate on one thing at a time and soon you will have a huge macro file to work from. First week, do your drugs, next week, syndromes/disease, etc.
create macros...
i created macros in Word that i used in the beginning to enlarge it to 150 and at the end to reduce it back 100... of course you still have to remember, but with the macros, at least you can use Keystrokes and it becomes part of the routine. hope this helps!
If it is macros that you yourself made, then
I would just straight type instead of using them, if you can retrain yourself.
macros, shorthand, IT
I used macros on TWS, but I thought we were told we couldn't keep using TWS macros on CUE. I was a late convert to SH and I hated it. I didn't even know we could use IT (I don't have any experience with it).
You can't. TWS macros converted to
nm
Are those macros that YOU make and use? I never heard of it and
nm
Forbidden to use expanders, macros, etc! SM
We were told informed today that we are absolutely forbidden to use any type of word expanders, shortcuts, normals, macros, templates, etc. The client complained about the quality of the work. I would think QA is the one who needs to pay more attention to what is getting through. I've been doing this for 23 years with no complaints....not recently anyway. How is a person supposed to make enough to survive being when paid by production and not allowed to make use of their productivity tools? There's no way! 
Messing with the margins is cheating. Use macros.
nm
I get paid per gross line. I utilize normals and macros
as much as possible, though I could do more than I do. I also type 100+ wpm. I don' t have demographics to fill in, just patient's name and I type in straight WP5.1, so no cumbersome formats. I download via FTP and I batch my work insteading of having save each individual report. I make 8 cpl per gross line.
Keyboard
Some info for you on main board, maybe 2nd or 3rd page.
keyboard
OK...call me dummy...what do you mean external keyboard??? Just signed out from work at 7 a.m...still not functioning, not thinking....
NN is passed out at the keyboard
 with empty bags of Cheetos strewn around, Cheeto powder all over the keys, guess she'll have to call in sick today.
Contour keyboard
Has anyone here tried the Kinesis Contour Keyboard? The two sides of the keyboard letters are split far apart to opposite sides of the keyboard platform, farther apart than the standard ergonomic keyboards. I just wondered if it's hard to get used to and if it helped with wrist pain.
Keyboard Template
Send an e-mail to Info@N2NTrans.Com and I will send you a copy of the Meditech keyboard template. Jeff Smith
standard keyboard
welcome aboard
Silent keyboard
Does anybody have a recommendation for a keyboard that is almost silent? Mine is so noisy it hinders my ability to hear words correctly. Thanks!
Nobody held your hands to the keyboard
Go away!!
Thanks, I don't have the foot pedal, had to do it with keyboard. SM
YUCK! NOT FUN!
keyboard sticking .. thus the errors!!
My apologies .. I am going to buy a modem and will get a new keyboard as well .. probably need an eye appt. too!!
You plug in a keyboard just like you would on a desktop and
use that keyboard instead of the one on the laptop. Keyboard doesn't have to be USB, can use an adapter if your keyboard is PS/2, although older laptops do have a plug for PS/2.
The PC check also messed with my keyboard,
could not use some shortcut buttons, had to reinstall the keyboard driver CD that came with it and then it worked fine again, hopefully you have one for yours, otherwise you can most likely find the driver for it on the web somewhere. Haven't noticed any problems otherwise from the PC check program.
you can download typewriter/keyboard sm
sounds for free from the internet. I had to do that because it also helps me by hearing the typos. You can turn the sounds of the keyboard up or down but it doesn't affect the sound of your dictator. I think its called Sound Pilot.
DocQ audio from keyboard
CTRL + SPACEBAR to toggle on and off for play, CTRL + comma and CTRL + period for rewind and fast forward. Once you've tried it for a half a shift, you'll never want to see your footpedal again!
I use both a wireless mouse and keyboard
and love it! I've used both the Microsoft 7000 wireless keyboard and mouse as well as the Logitech wave wireless keyboard and have no problems with either one keeping up with fast keystrokes.
Don't want to have to use keyboard to type test reports. Anyone know (sm)
of companies that just do the verbal testing or a company that you can do the test reports using the same foot pedal control we use with Medquist?
They do supply standard, but I have connected my IBM keyboard.
xx
Keyboard. Using the mouse is too hard on my hands. nm
.
Hate using keyboard for testing ? co. test can use MQ footpedal? nm)
.
You can plug in a USB keyboard into a laptop or use a docking station.
NM
DocQ, hmmm, how to play audio from keyboard??
Can you share. Didn't know, worked on platform twice and nobody ever said this.??? Can you share?
I use keyboard only....move along with the voice with my arrow keys, then...
my mouse is right where the voice is when I have to make a correction. Couldn't do it any other way.
I use the Microsoft wireless 4000 comfort keyboard
and had no trouble switching to it from my split keyboard. It is curved, so has a similar feel. I love being wireless. I use it with my laptop and work on it all day. I think I've been working wireless for about 2 years now and couldn't go back. I work with my keyboard in my lap, so the wireless is great.
I work on a lap top. I plug in an external monitor and keyboard at home, and
nm
not gott.... GOTTA (I hate my laptop keyboard..fingers are too fat)
I wish Logitech made a wireless ergonomic/split keyboard.
nm
Axolotl employees....Is the computer keyboard they supply ergonomic or standard?
I am scheduled to start in about a month and am trying to prepare. Thanks!
Expander
As long as it will work with Windows-based programs then whatever expander you use should work in Merit. I use Shorthand with no problems but have no experience with the one you mentioned.
expander?
I worked for a small local company, and only did proofreading, no transcripton, so I'm embarassed to say I don't even know what an expander is.
Expander
As long as your Expander is Windows-based it will work with the Merit platform.
I only use my expander, AUT.
dfsdsd
expander
I'm not a window person but their window program is easy, easy, easy. I use ShortHand as an Expander because it is not limited except by the size of your hard drive - autocorrect is limited, so rather than have everything going on at once, I disabled autocorrect and stayed strictly with Shorthand and made my own custom dict. This is truly a great company but don't play around with your schedule. If you commit to a certain time, be there. They need to know they can depend on you for TAT. I've never had a problem with them. They are great, but they do have standards like not abusing QA because you don't want to take the time to check it out yourself. Otherwise, go for it.
expander
Can you use an Expander with it?
Anyone out here with JLG, what expander do you use? (sm)
I have one that I use to help me with DQS on my full time job, but find it doesn't work that well for me with JLG and I don't want to take the chance of having it set up for JLG and then screw up my FT job. I also haven't been able to figure JLG's out (don't laugh!) correctly and I'm looking for something else to supplement it/replace it so I can get my line count up higher (only working there part time). What Expander works for you??? 
expander
The one I use is ShortHand 8.60v. Having enough money to eat is my motivator I guess!
What expander do you use?
Do you use shorthand?
expander
when people talk about extext and they use ShortHand and the built in esp, are they referring to shorthand as their own shortcuts or something different? I don't want to sound stupid but just wanting to make sure I understand! Thank you for your help!
expander
The platform I am on uses Instant Text ...
I don't use an expander.
It is just a really, really easy ER account with tons of work.
Expander.
I came from a company that used word perfect and honestly I loved it because I was used to it. Setting up and using macros was easy for me and came naturally after all that time. I have tried some free demo Expanders and have a hard time getting used to the automatic additions but I'm getting there. I have not been impressed with the demos and can't see spending the money on the ones I've tried. I have since been using the word auto correct and auto text.
I'm thinking about trying Instant Text from the reviews on here and other forums, but the price tag is a little put offish for me. I don't mind putting the money into if it gives me the money in return, obviously. Has anybody tried this and regretted the purchase? Being Christmas time and having 3 kids and a large extended family to think about the coming month, I don't want to put this kind of money into myself, aah, y'all know what I mean.
Shortly, is it totally worth it to buy for myself at this time of the year???
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