Importing Platform Expansions

[CurleyDeb2]

I have IT on the way. I understand they will import my expansions from the Platform. Where is the user.aco file or files located?

Thanks.

DebbieR

[Admin]

CurleyDeb2 said:

I have IT on the way. I understand they will import my expansions from the Platform. Where is the user.aco file or files located?

Thanks.

DebbieR

The user.aco file is located in this directory:

C:\WINDOWS\WebCorrect\Cache\USER PROFILES\##### <--- 5-digit company number used for log in

This post explains how to navigate to that file. Scroll down -- you want my response, the third post in that thread.

Once you find the file, right click on the file name and choose Send To --> Mail Recipient from the menu that pops up. If you have your email program configured correctly, an email window should pop up. Address the email to [e-mail]. Click here to see the relevant post on the Instant Text Forum.

Let us know how it goes, Deb.

Joi

[CurleyDeb2]

Thanks ever so much, Joi. I will be sure to let you know how I manage.

DebbieR

[beachlovingmom]

I too have just received IT. Their tech support people have already converted my user.aco file and emailed it back, but I am overwhelmed!! Which program in Importer do I use to import it? Autocorrect? PRD+(that is what it was before (DQ*). Any and all help is appreciated. I am sure this is a great program, but right now, wow, I am blown away. I have always used my space bar and it appears better to train myself to get used to the semi-colon; not sure this old dog can learn new tricks.

Thanks!

[olywakim]

Not that I have a ton of experience..but did they send the user.aco back as a .txt file?

If so (per p 74 of my manual), "You can create an Instant Text glossary by importing entries contained in a text file, one per line." Open the Importer by right clicking on the gray 'Phrases' bar and choosing importer, it should be the first option, then choosing 'Text File'. From there you just locate the file they sent you and you're off!

Now, it won't keep your abbreviations (as far as I know), instead it will convert them to IT's way of abbreviating using the first letter of each word.

Unless they sent it to you with short form = expansion!
You may want to open the file and see what it looks like...It would make sense for them to send it as a text file for importing using the 'Formulas' option in the importer. Then all your abbreviations stay just the way you are used to them. Or is it already a .glo? Yep, I need more info or I'm gonna be sending you off in the wrong direction.

Take a look at the file you got and post back if you'd like a little more guidance - the manual is great, but I have to take it in very small doses. Lots of new terms.

I've used the 'Formulas' thingy and it's great. It's the way you will import all those fabulous formulas from Harrie's productivity board.
www.productivitytalk.com/forums/index.php

Post back if I can help you out. The IT forum is great too.

textware.com/board/itmainforum/index.html

Good luck and have fun!

[Marianne]

The Importer of Instant Text is designed to convert previously used abbreviation lists like PRD, AutoCorrect, Shorthand lists and others. For each one you see the corresponding button in the Importer. In the next release there will be a "Platform" button as well -

What the Importer does is create an Instant Text glossary file that has the .glo format with all the entries from the original list and their abbreviations so you can use them in Instant Text.

The newly imported Instant Text glossary is saved in the Glossary folder. To be used in Instant Text, you just need to add it to the active Glossary list of Instant Text.

When you receive a glossary via email, you do not need to use the Importer as we have done the conversion for you. An .aco file that we convert for you into a .glo file can be copied directly into the C:\InstText\Glossary folder and then you can add it to the Glossary list.

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to copy a file into the Glossary folder:

- Go to My Computer and find the glossary file to be copied
- Right-click on the file and select "Copy"
- Double-click on the "C" drive
- Double-click on the "InstText" folder
- Double-click on the "Glossary" folder
- Inside the Glossary Folder window, right-click and
select "Paste".

You should now see the file in the Glossary folder (it will appear at the bottom of all the glossary files).

How to add the glossary to the active Glossary list in
Instant Text:

- Right-click on the Glossary list and go to Glossary/Open
- Double-click on the imported glossary
(Make sure you are in the Glossary folder)

It is now highlighted in the Glossary list and ready to be used.

Don't forget to save the Glossary list (right-click on the Glossary list and click on Save active glossary list)

Marianne
Textware Solutions

[Admin]

Thank you so much, Marianne, for those very useful directions.

All of you at Textware Solutions do a great job in communicating with MTs to help them use your product.

It's so great to be able to recommend like a program like Instant Text to MTs, knowing that not only is the program perfectly suited to their work but that the software company provides excellent customer service and cares that users have a good experience with the program. One only wishes certain other companies (cough, cough) would be as attentive to their product users!

Other new IT users -- how are you doing?

I started out simply using IT to imitate my old expander, using the space bar to expand the abbreviations. I've had to jump right into using IT as I recently started a new part-time account using Word. I knew I didn't want to rely on Word's AutoCorrect as an expander, since, unlike The Platform version of AutoCorrect, it is not designed to work as an expander; the files are prone to corruption when there are lots of entries.

Now that I'm getting more comfortable with the new account, I'm starting to explore using IT the way it's meant to be used, using separate marker keys for phrases and words. I found the advice written by Cheryl Flanders in the IT manual to be quite helpful: by following her advice I'm able to focus on power use of IT for repeated brief sessions during my work day. This way I don't get overwhelmed while learning the program, and I keep my lines per hour in a decent range.

Since I already have a huge glossary of expansions named according to conventions that I can use without memorizing them, I'm curious to see what gains in productivity I can achieve the IT way by compiling glossaries from files of reports by my most prolific dictators.

Even if MTs don't want to get into the more powerful IT functions of compliations and continuations, I still encourage them to purchase IT as soon as they can afford it. They can use IT to emulate their previous expander while still gaining portability -- the glossaries they create can be used with any word processing program and the majority of transcription platforms used by hospitals and MT services. That's handy to have since once never knows when one might decide to change MT companies or pick up additional work on the side.

I'm going to start a thread here labeled "Easing into IT," relating my journey as I begin to use IT's advanced features while still preserving my overall productivity, and thus my paycheck. I'd love it if some of you other new IT users would start similar threads. Each one who describes the process of incorporating IT into his/her work will make it easier for others to start using this valuable product.

[CurleyDeb2]

I am still in infancy with IT, continuing to be on the bottle, not yet venturing to the real food. I am using the glossaries provided at this point with many additions of my own. My imported AutoCorrect was difficult to use as a glossary in IT because of the way I had the AutoCorrect set up, so I have chosen, for this time anyway, to use my AutoCorrect in conjunction with IT. Even though taking baby steps with IT at this point, I remain encouraged in its use. I only employ it for a part of my work day in order to keep my counts up. Inasmuch as I am beginning to remember where "things are" without looking has helped too. At some point I will venture beyond the crawl and begin taking steps, at which point I will post again.

Now Joi has thrown another challenge into the ring, and I am so intrigued, I feel I must take the challenge. I have missed my WordPerfect macros (no, I am not a Word person, but I have had to become one), and it does appear that the new thing goes far beyond replicating a WordPerfect macro!

On to the next thing -- Debbie R