Making sure that I can save all my autocorrect entries...

Hello all....My new computer is on its way, and I will be taking my Word 2003 off of the old computer and putting it on the new one.  I am not the most computer savy person out there, so I am asking you to help me with making sure that my Autocorrect entries that I have stored in there will make the transition to a new computer.  Do I have to do anything special to save them, or will they automatically just be there when I load Word to the new computer?  Also, what is the best way to transfer files that I have saved on my desktop over to the new one?  This is where I keep all my sample copies of doctor dictation, and templates.

Again, thank you for your help.  It is MUCH appreciated!     

• Making sure that I can save all my autocorrect entries... - JH
  • You do have to transfer the files... - CrankyBeach
    • Thank you very much for your help!... - JH

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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.  

I've been Googling it and there is some info about going from WordPerfect to Word, but I can't find anything about importing them from Word to WordPerfect.

I just got really screwy account where we have to transcribe the reports in WordPerfect to get the line count, then save them in Word to send to the client. 

Unfortunately, some proprietary platforms seem to run two instances of MSword (as best as I can tell) which prevents you from saving your normal dot.  My post was addressed specifically to those who are encountering that problem.  An Autoclose/AutoExit macro should save the normal dot for you, and may be the ONLY way you can save it, even if you have selected the prompt for normal save on your options toolbar.

In any case, autoclose and/or autoexit macro that saves your normal dot will ensure that most, if not all of your recent autocorrect/autotext/macros present in your normal dot are saved, should you have an unexpected power failure or crash, or if you are using a template that is provided to you by an employer -- a template which may have been programmed in such a way as to prevent your normal dot from being when you exit word.

In any case, whether or not the "prompt to save normal template" is selected really shouldn't affect whether or not the normal is saved, the normal should automatically be saved as you exit MsWord.   The fact that normal.dot doesn't always save is, or worse vanishes entirely, is just one of these weird idiosyncracies which sometimes makes word (which really is a pretty wonderful program) so frustrating to use. (Hint, back up your normal.dot -- frequently!)

In my experience, the only time that a template reliably does not save is if you are writing macros (as opposed to recording macros) and if you fail to manually save your changes inside your Editor before exiting word.  

I have had the experience more than once of opening word to find that my newly programmed template is gone -- sometimes representing many hours of work  -- and that is where "the prompt to save" toolbar option really can be useful.

In short, I am fully aware of the "prompt to save normal" in the options toolbar (and mine is selected to prompt) and if I had thought this was best solution for the professional medical transcriptionist, I would not have bothered posting this information in the first place. 

So to make a long post short:  The best solution to make absolutely sure your normal dot is saved is to use autoclose and/or autoexit macros that instruct word to save your normal template, and don't just depend on the "save normal prompt" on your toolbar.  Regard it as an extra precaution, which is what it really is, don't depend on it, it can get unselected, and poof your normal.dot is gone!

For someone who just writes an occasional letter or term paper on with MSword the occasional loss of the normal.dot, albeit aggravating, probably isn't all that serious, but for the MT who depends on her paycheck to support her family, losing her normal dot and its 37,954 autocorrect entries is a real economic hardship.  She just might appreciate knowing that there is something she can do to prevent this from happening, even though you happen to think it is "complicated."

Isn't this forum here to provide fellow MTs with useful information they can use or not as they please?  Medical transcription after all, isn't a game or a hobby, it is real grown-up work, and it is prudent to take the time do real grown up things to maintain the tools of the trade.

Unlike some posts I have seen, particularly on the word-help forum that just make me want to scream, I will not post useless or wrong information -- even if it is "complicated" -- after all it's just information.  Writing autoclose/autoexit macros to save your normal dot are not pointless or useless exercises; and in any case you can disregard my posts, or not, as you please.  

I use a program called iType.  When I add an autotext entry it is there until I shut down and open program again.  I know that I have to add autotext entries outside of the actual iType program - I open word and add them there but they are being deleted somehow.  Any help would be appreciated.  Oh, I use Word 2003. 

Thank you.

Anyone know how to print up all the entries in the dictionary?

TIA!

Sunny

The file should be located here:

c:documents and settings<your name>application datamicrosoft emplates

There are a couple of other "critical" files that you should also back up. One is CUSTOM.DIC - (this is your dictionary)
c:documents and settings<your name>application datamicrosoftproof

and the other is MSO1033.acl (AutoCorrect entries)
c:documents and settings<your name>application datamicrosoftoffice

If someone knows how, let me know!  I know I have at least 300 if not more and I'm like you, I add to every single day.  I use ESP only and the normals function in EXText for anything too big to fit in ESP.

I'm not sure why someone would use both autocorrect and ESP.  I think it would just get confusing and heaven knows I doesn't take much to confuse me!  I do good to remember all the ESP entries I have.  I have a system I've been using back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I used PRD+.  I remember when I first started using an expander, the PRD, I was completely lost as far as where to begin.  It just took years of trial and error before I found a system that worked for me.

In case any one is interested, here's how organize my expansions:

For headings that are bolded, I put an "x" in front of the abbreviation.  Example:  xhpi=HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS:

For doctor specific normal blurbs, exams, etc. I put "$" in front of the abbreviation.  Example:  $smithpe= HEENT:  Pupils equal round reactive to light.  NECK:  Supple.  CHEST:  Clear.  etc.  Putting the "$" at the begining of your expansion, puts all your normals at the top of your list if your list is sorted by abbreviation.

Then for generic expansion, I just do it normal.  wnl=within normal limits, etc.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. 

Whenever you need to insert a special key for a function, such as the combination key for bolding, underlining, etc., do it the "easy way"

In the shorthand dictionary screen, where  you are entering the expansion of your term, just press control+K

A cute little box will show up and tell you that the next key you press will be put into the shorthand box.  So, press control+b and a screen pops up to verify if you want it to be control+b, ALT+b, or shift+b.   It works with all other special combinations, as well. 

I've been using Autocorrect for years and just recently started using Shorthand.  Autocorrect is so easy to use and to add entries to.  In Autocorrect, you can type up a whole page or template or whatever, highlight it, then go into Autocorrect and just choose which abbreviation you want to use for it.  All the formatting stays, bold and everything.  When I try to do that with Shorthand, it copies the template into Shorthand, but none of the bold and formatting is there.

I'm sure there must be a way to add templates into Shorthand, but I have no idea what that is and it seems like it would be complicated.

I've been looking at Smart Type and it looks pretty good, but I'm wondering if it will be the same as ShortHand as far as adding long entries or templates.  I love Autocorrect because of this feature, it makes it soooo easy.  Can anyone tell me which Expander is similar to Autocorrect in this fashion?  Thank you!

I'm going from DocQScribe to an Ex-Text platform and I have to reinput the phrases in one-by-one.   Should I do this as the phrases come up?  Is it preferable to just make some time to re-type the whole list at multiple settings? 

Directly after announcing the first winner, the second hunt began.  There is indeed an I FOUND IT message posted and will be awarded over the weekend. 

GOOD LUCK!

I agree, I love AutoCorrect. I use ShortKeys for clients that have a word processing platform that does not include AutoCorrect. ShortKeys is good, but it has a few glitches.

Everyone seems to love ShortHand. If someone can tell me how to use ShortHand the same way you do AutoCorrect (without having to use Alt or Ctrl or other keys which take your hand off the main part of the keyboard), I would really appreciate it. I tried ShortHand but I couldn't get it to work that way.

I would really appreciate some help in this. 

Thank you so much!