# Auto-texts

Auto-texts are standard blocks of text that you insert into your document with a short voice command. Using auto-texts reduces the time you need to record and improves the consistency of your documentation.

### Example

- You define an auto-text for your email signature line called 'signature' that contains this information:

Chris Smith

Executive Vice President and Director

Automobile Manufacturing Company

Chris.Smith@AMC.com

- You say the voice command signature to insert the information.

## Working with auto-texts

To display a list of available auto-texts, say what can I say and scroll to the Auto-texts section.

Depending on your system configuration, the app uses a keyword to identify that there is an auto-text to process. To see which keyword your system expects you to use as part of the voice command, say what can I say. For example, if the keyword is insert, you must say the keyword followed by the spoken form insert signature.

### Working with auto-text fields

You can navigate to the fields in auto-texts via voice commands such as next field and go to previous field.

To use the default values and remove the field delimiters of all fields, say accept defaults. To use the default value and remove the field delimiters of the field with the focus, say field complete. If a field contains several values, separated by |, the first value will be used.

Note: After saying accept defaults, pause to ensure that the command is performed before you continue.

### Working with formatted auto-texts

When inserting an auto-text that contains formatting, keep the following in mind:

- Wait until the auto-text is displayed before you continue dictating to make sure that the recognized text is added in the right place. You might need to adjust the auto-text spacing and capitalization before continuing.
- The app you insert the auto-text into must have the window focus as well as the speech focus or the formatting will be lost.
- If the formatting is not displayed correctly and you see unreadable code instead, your app can't process formatted auto-texts. Ask your administrator to disable auto-text formatting for your app.

## Creating auto-texts

All auto-texts that you created are listed in the Manage Auto-texts dialog box. You can edit existing auto-texts and add new ones.

Note: The Manage Auto-texts dialog box might have different buttons for specific actions, depending on the version of Dragon Professional Anywhere you're working with.

To add an auto-text, do the following:

1. Say manage auto-texts or select the menu icon > Manage Auto-texts.
2. Select + or Create and fill in the required fields.
3. Select Apply All or Save.

Important: For security reasons, auto-texts must not contain sensitive information, such as user names or passwords.

### Defining the spoken form

If how the auto-text name is written and how it's pronounced are very different, make sure that the Spoken form (how it's pronounced) reflects this.

When you enter a spoken form, follow these rules:

- Use alphabetic characters and single spaces only. Don't use:

  Digits (for example, use 'twelve' instead of '12') unless they're part of common words (for example, use '3D' instead of 'three D').

  Punctuation marks (for example, ., ", ! or ?).

  Symbols (for example, +, & or $) except for hyphens used in compound words (for example, 'C-spine').

  Double spaces.

- Follow standard capitalization rules (for example, use capital letters for proper names).

- Avoid using capital letters (except for acronyms or if the standard capitalization rules require it, see above).

- For acronyms that are spelled out, use capital letters (for example, CIA); if they're not recognized, separate the capital letters by spaces (for example, C I A).

- For acronyms that are pronounced as words, use lowercase (for example, use 'pet CT' for 'PETCT' or 'pick' for 'PICC').

- Don't use very short names that are acoustically difficult to capture (such as one syllable only).

- Use full words instead of abbreviations (for example, use 'without' instead of 'wo').

- Check for typos.

### Adding fields

Fields are gaps in the auto-text where you can enter specific text, for example, client data. To add a field to an auto-text, enter [ ] in the relevant place of the auto-text's contents; you can enter any text between the field delimiters as default content, for example, Client plea [not guilty]. To automatically apply formatting to the field contents, add the formatting to the field delimiters. When you insert the auto-text, you can decide whether you want to replace the default values with specific text or use the default values.

### Tips

- The alert icon or * means that the auto-text isn't properly filled in. The Apply All or Save button is inactive if any auto-text contains invalid data.
- Select the undo icon or Cancel to revert unsaved changes.
- Select the copy icon or Duplicate to copy an existing auto-text and use it as a template for a new one.
- Select x or Delete to delete an auto-text; select Apply All or Yes, delete to confirm.
- Depending on your version of Dragon Professional Anywhere, you can select and hold (or right-click) an auto-text and select Revert Changes, Copy or Delete to undo changes, copy or delete it.
- By default, fields are indicated by square brackets. You can change the characters used as field delimiters on the General pane of the Options dialog box; any previously defined fields using different delimiters no longer work. Don't use {, } or | as field delimiters.
- Depending on your version of Dragon Professional Anywhere and the settings for your organization, you can create and edit auto-texts with formatting. If you don’t see the Formatted text toggle but want to create formatted auto-texts, contact your administrator.
- Depending on your version of Dragon Professional Anywhere, auto-texts that were created by your administrator can contain formatting that isn't displayed in the Manage Auto-texts dialog box. Any changes to such an auto-text in this dialog box removes all formatting. If you want to make changes and keep the formatting, contact your administrator.