ShortHand User

[scooby]

I've been using ShortHand for a number of years. The thing I like most is that it works in any Windows-based program, such as Word, WordPerfect, Outlook Express, etc. I've also used it with various transcription platforms, including Bayscribe, EXText, and the one that shall not be named. I've been an MT for more years that I want to say and have literally thousands of word/phrase entries and simply could not face having to start from scratch building such a file in the "built in" expanders that are included with the different platforms.

I know that there are other expanders with more bells and whistles, and I certainly have no quarrel with any of them, but SH works for me.

Then again, maybe I'm just too old and tired to go through the learning curve involved in switching to something new.

scooby

[abrowning]

Is Shorthand in any way similar to PRD? I loved PRD and would like to have a similar expansion program.

[scooby]

I've never used PRD, so I can't really say how similar SH would be. I am pretty sure that SH will convert your PRD list, so that you don't have to start from scratch rebuilding your abbreviation list. Beyond that, I can't really address the issue of similarity. Sorry

[Admin]

I can symphathize, scooby. Although I tirelessly promote Instant Text as the best expander because of its power and versatility, I can completely understand not wanting to go through the inevitable learning curve.

PRD+ was a very basic expander that worked in DOS. Instant Text, like Shorthand, does convert PRD expansions to its format, so that is an option if one has an extensive file and wants to keep building on it. I'm trying to think here what PRD's best features were to imagine what abrowning is looking for.

In addition to allowing one to enter abbreviations and expansions, PRD let one "lift" an existing expansion from the text. The feature I really liked emulated a macro program: one could "record" a series of steps and name them; typing that name in the document started the steps. One could insert some elementary program commands too, like telling the program to pause for data then resume playing the steps when the enter key was used. I loved this and had mine set up to do lab data. It would type white count then pause until I put in data for the white count and hit return; then it would type hemoglobin and wait again. I did the same thing for electrolyltes and some other common test series.

So abrowning, when you read this response, please reply and tell us what features you liked in PRD that you'd like to see in a Windows-based expander; then scooby can better tell you whether Shorthand includes them, and others can talk about Instant Text and how it handles them. Is the main thing that you want to avoid having to learn a lot of new stuff? I think you can use Instant Text right out of the box without having to get into a lot of special features, and I do know that it's compatible with The Platform.

[abrowning]

Joi--you described exactly what I was looking for. The record and pause feature, being able to lift text, etc. And, yes, I really do not want to go through a learning curve. I have downloaded Shorthand, and I am in the process of trying it out now. I am really leaning toward purchasing a license. Technical support has been great. It really works well with my company's platform. Overall I am very pleased with Shorthand. Like scooby said it may not have all the bells and whistles that IT has but it fits my budget and needs very well.

On a side note. thank you so much Joi for all the help you offer here and elsewhere.

[Admin]

You're welcome. In all honesty, trite as it sounds, it is my pleasure. I love learning new techniques, and I like answering the questions that readers raise here.

Would you consider adding a link to the place where you got the Shorthand download? Others will probably want to try it too. What is available via download? Once you've become accustomed to using it, please post and tell us what features it has and how easy it is to work with. I know nothing about Shorthand.

[Harrie]

ShortHand is truly fantastic, in my opinion. I used it for a long time. Although I use IT now, I'll always be a huge ShortHand fan. As Scooby said, it works in absolutely anything, it's just great for that!

I have read that it's pretty similar to PRD in a lot of respects. I suggested ShortHand to a friend who had to change because she was going to Word from 5.1. After reading so many posts by people saying they were similar, I thought that would be best for her. She likes it very much!

ShortHand has bunches of features; more than I even recognized when I was using it. It does have a feature where you can record what you're typing. You'll see a record button when you're in the Dictionary Add dialog. And you can make lots of commands with it! I liked very much that you can start abbreviations in ShortHand with numbers or characters. I do miss that.

[Admin]

Thanks for the info, Harrie. It's always good to hear from The Text Expander Expert!!

Harrie's Productivity Talk for MTs forum:
s3.invisionfree.com/Productivity_Talk/

Joi

[HeatherGirl]

I use ShortHand, as well, and love it. I used to use PRD and it does remind me of PRD. I was able to convert my PRD files over to ShortHand but there was some "housekeeping" and "tweaking" involved, such as redoing the nesting feature of PRD. ShortHand does have a function where you copy straight from your application rather than entering new text directly into ShortHand. Simply highlight the text you want to save in ShortHand, hit Ctrl plus C (to copy). Then hit Ctrl plus Insert, Insert, and voila your text will be transferred into ShortHand. You just then need to name it and save it.

Another thing about ShortHand, supposedly there is no limit to how many entries you can add. A big plus over PRD. Like PRD, you can track your productivity under Help + Statistics. Cool. I work full time for another service, part-time for the company. At my full-time job ShortHand is provided by the service with our platform. There are just so many features to ShortHand that my full-time service actually gives us paid training classes in it to increase our productivity.

[Harrie]

Wow, paid training classes! That's really great, HeatherGirl! If only more services and hospitals would do things like that!

Hey Joi, thanks so much for putting my link! I don't know about that expert business, but it sure is fun to learn everything, I know it!

[abrowning]

Hey HeatherGirl, I just sent you a PM.

[dicon77]

Hello all. I am also a Shorthand fan. I see that "scooby" used it with Bayscribe. I currently use with Bayscribe and was wondering if you lost automatic capitalization using SH in that platform. I have and have not come across anyone who has a fix for that.

Jodi

[lindaqlt]

Hello,

I am a Shorthand user, and love it. It is simple to use. I just don'thave the time to learn on a curve with IT. I'm sure it is a good program. Also Shorthand is similar to PRD, and very easy to use.

Linda