Backing up Shorthand

• Backing up Shorthand - Olive Oyl
  • Right click on "start" at the bottom right of - Bonnie
    • Question...regarding your message - Olive Oyl

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I am wondering if you somehow got yourself deleted as a user of the computer???  Don't know much about that.  But if your daughter's stuff is still there, then it would seem the computer is working okay (just a layperson here guessing).

I bought an external hard drive and I keep a copy of everything on that.  If the computer goes out, I can use that on another one.  Don't know how to get program files on there yet though. 

I let the shop do anything with the program files as I don't trust my limited knowledge.  They cloned my C drive (with the programs) and made me an F drive on the hard drive in the computer so that if C goes down, I can use the programs from F.  Don't ask me how to do this -- have absolutely NO idea but they do and and I know they can get me up and running.

I also use CDs for backup but they won't last as long as a hard drive will so keep that in mind.  But it's just more protection.  Like you, the neighbor has a copy of my Expander program. 

I wish you luck.  I'd suggest System Restore as well.

I'd like to make a backup copy of all my abbreviations on Word Expander.  I use Bayscribe for my work.  Does anybody know how I can go about backing these up?  I'm concerned that all it would take would be a virus or something funky to happen to my PC, and I'd lose all those abbreviations.  I have stored over 2,000 my own abbreviations for a total of over 60,000 characters and would really regret all that work if something happened.  Thanks. 

pro MQ posters and funny thing, they have all the same style of writing, emphasizing their thoughts with CAPITAL LETTERS.  Could this be one MQ manager working overtime to make it appear there are lots of posters who think MQ is the greatest and anyone who doesn't like MQ has a bad attitude?  I don't know but it looks fishy to me.  Those CAPITAL LETTERS are a big give-away that one poster is assuming multiple personalities to defend MQ but isn't smart enough to change style of posting.  

Just sayin.............

If I understand your post correctly, you are looking for a way to easily back up your current work environment so that you can copy it onto another computer?  There is actually a very easy way to back up and restore your AutoCorrect entries.  If you go to the Microsoft web site at this link; http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=73dbead3-b37a-425a-9ae8-dd3593b5675b&displayLang=en, you can download the Macro.exe file.  After you download the file onto your computer, click on Macro.exe, which will walk you through a few steps.  When you are prompted to extract the files into the C:Sample folder, instead choose a folder that you can find easily later.  When the Macro.exe file has finished running, you will then see a Macros9.dot file in the folder you chose to save in.  This file is a Macro written by Microsoft to back up and/or restore your AutoCorrect entries.  To back up or restore your entries, just click on the Macros9.dot file, and follow the steps for AutoCorrect entries.  Note:  If you have created any AutoCorrect entries that have a space afterward, it will cause an error when you are installing (restoring) them on a computer.  However, you will still be able to back up your entries, and you can fix the problem by opening up the backed up copy and removing the extra space at the end of each entry.  When amending the backed up AutoCorrect list, be careful not to accidentally expand out any of the entries, as they will install on the new computer in that manner.  The backed up copy of the AutoCorrect entries is a Word document, so it is easy to amend and re-save. 

In my experience, there is no way to easily incorporate your AutoCorrect entries into a brand-name text Expander program, but then again, I have only worked with a few expander programs over the years, as AutoCorrect and Macros have always covered all of my needs.

Another easier way to back up your work environment is by using the Microsoft Save My Settings Wizard, which can be found under Start, All Programs, Microsoft Office Tools (the Microsoft Office Tools folder is sometimes stored within another Microsoft folder under the program menu).  The first thing you would need to do is back up your work environment on the computer that has all of the settings that you want to keep (just run the Save My Settings Wizard and follow the prompts).  After you have backed up the settings, save the file in a folder on your desktop, which can then be sent to yourself through email.  Download the file you sent yourself through email onto the computer that you want to set up, and run the Microsoft Save My Settings Wizard to Restore the settings, which will automatically set Word up with the same environment as that of the other computer, including your AutoCorrect entries, AutoText entries, personal user dictionary, Word environment settings (Normal.dot file), and Macros.  Of course, if your Macros are currently stored on the company computer, you will not be able to back them up, unless you have access to that computer through the server.  The normal way that you back up Macros is by opening Word, and pressing Alt F11 to enter the VBE screen.  On the left side, you should see a folder Labeled "Normal," inside of which there should be another folder labeled "Modules."  If you double-click on the Modules folder, you should have a file inside labeled NewMacros.  Highlight the NewMacros file, and right-click your mouse, choosing Export.  You can then export the file to save it in a folder on the desktop, transferring the backed up file to the other computer via email.  To Import the file into the other computer, open Word, and go to the VBE screen.  Highlight Normal in the left column, right-click your mouse, and choose Import.  Find the folder in which you saved the NewMacros.bas file, and click to import it.  You should then see a NewMacros file inside of the Modules folder.  Note:  If you open the VBE screen and do not see anything in the left column, you need to click on the top toolbar, View, Project Explorer.  If you do not see the Macro code after it has been imported, click on View, Code.

I hope some of this information helps.  Back in the day when I had to set up a new computer at home, I had to learn all of this stuff the hard way.  As I am sure all of us know, there always seems to come a time when our computers die unexpectedly, so it is really nice being able to back up our work environment in case the worst should happen.  I not only back up my work environment on a monthly basis to make sure the information is up to date, but I also save copies of everything on CD and send copies to store in my email folder.  In the past, I have had my computer crash to where I could not get my backed up copies, which made it impossible to set up my alternative computer quickly in a pinch.  Saving the information onto CD is handy, but I do not rely on them heavily because they can become corrupt easily and/or break.  By sending the backed up files to myself through email and saving them in an email folder, I have everything handy if I need to set up another computer quickly.  

;yo = -year-old

;py= -pack-year

etc...

It is very compatible.  You can set it up so that you can see a hint window while you type.  I tried using the built in Expander in DQS, and you have to have a great memory, because there is no hint window or suggestion window, like Smartype.  I also know that Instant Text is compatible with DQS, also; but I prefer Shorthand.  I hear so many great things about Smartype and wish I could learn it, but it won't work with DQS; however, there is a way you can get around that.  You can use Smartype and transcribe in Word, set your font size to 14 and save your file in Rich Text Format, then copy and paste into the DQS platform.  Then select all and hit Ctrl 5 to get the spacing right.  It sounds like a lot of steps and you will also lose your place as far as leaving any QA markers, so I personally don't care for the hassle, but I know of some MTs that do it that way, so you can try it.

Hope this helps. 

Is there a way you can import addresses into ShortHand all at once, instead of one by one?

Thanks in advance!

I worked for 25+ years in WP for DOS and used PRD.  I loved it.  This year I changed to WORD and was able to use ShortHand from the first day.  The file conversion from my PRD to ShortHand was quick and easy.  One thing I really like is that the length of the short form is not limited, sometimes with PRD I wanted "just one more letter." 

I have not learned how to write the neat macros I had in WP5.1 that would switch from document 1 to document 2, search and copy, and then paste.  I will do anything to keep from using the mouse.  Like I said before, it's all new to me this year, but I am learning.  One reason I held off the switch to WORD for so long was that I would not stop using my beloved PRD. 

Anyway, as far as I can tell, in ShortHand there is NO LIMIT to the number of abbreviations you can have in a directory, and no limit to the number of directories you can have.  So you could have one dedicated to surgeries, and another for discharge summaries, and it's easy to switch them. 

And after all these years, I found WORD was not really that technical or difficult to learn.  Whichever Expander you choose, I hope it works out for you like it did for me. 

Would you mind telling me your experience (good or bad) with PC ShortHand for Windows?  I'm considering buying it but want to know some opinions from people who have actually used it. Thanks!

Love it, couldn't make any money without it.....

Karen

ShortHand 8 is out now, I think.  They will let you download it for a 30-day trial.  Most will give a trial, so you could check them out before you buy too.  GL!

Can anyone tell me how to ipunt bold in my ShortHand files, i.e. I want PMH to be bolded when I type in my shortcut for it.  If I am on the wrong board, please direct me.

Thanks 

Is there a simple way to BOLD in Shorthand.

Is there a way to insert a backspace when adding a new abbreviation?  For example, so that year-old types out as #-year-old and not #(space)-year-old.

TIA!