Have you ever calculated how many keystrokes you make a day as a medical transcriptionist? Most probably you would have if you’re on a productivity based payroll. Okay let’s try working it out as simple mathematics if anyone has not yet. Suppose you type 1000 lines a day. A standard line is 65 characters including free spaces; even for a free space you have to press the spacebar once, isn’t it? So for producing 1000 lines a day, you make 65000 keystrokes on your keyword if you are not using any auto text or text expander. Here comes the advantage of auto-text software. For those who are using word expanders already, I do not have to explain all its advantages. For the rest, newbies or who disabled it thinking it as an annoying experience, please beware of its advantages like reducing keystrokes, saving time, increasing productivity, hence good for your hands and fingers! Many times you save typing paragraphs and paragraphs with just a couple of keystrokes on your keyboard. Currently I am using the inbuilt AutoText and AutoCorrect options available in MS Word for inserting normal reports, normal paragraphs and repetitive sentences and phrases, but I have been a longtime user of the paid version of Textware Solutions’ Instant Text. In continuance with our earlier posts on free online typing tutors and free audio file players, in this post, let’s search the Internet for all the auto text word expander softwares for medical transcription available for free download. I’m skipping the sharewares and paid versions as I’m interested only on freewares and GNU Public Licensed ones.
AutoText
AutoText is an “auto typing” Windows program that stores shortcuts to your common text fragments (email signatures, text snippets, frequently used sentences, common phrases, templates) and quickly inserts them into your documents. It is an auto-complete/auto-replace MS Word feature, often referred as “AutoText.” Since AutoText feature comes inbuilt with MS Word, you may need it only if you’re using any other word processor than Microsoft Word. By using Auto Text you can:
- Insert commonly used boilerplate text with ease.
- Eliminate repetitive typing of the same text over and over again.
- Work quicker and more accurately.
- Increase efficiency by avoiding repetitive typing.
- Streamline your workflow and save valuable time.
- Eliminate typing mistakes.
The advantage of AutoText Typing Assistant is that it provides this functionality system-wide, so that all your applications instantly become autocorrect-enabled. AutoText works in all email programs including Outlook, Thunderbird, Lotus Notes and text editors such as WordPerfect, OpenOffice. AutoText works with any Internet browser including Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera. AutoText auto-completes your frequently used words and phrases anywhere. It makes typing faster and more intelligent. Find more details, installation instructions and download link at the homepage of AutoText.
PhraseExpress
PhraseExpress is the full-fledged, professional, free text expansion software solution from the makers of the same, aforementioned AutoText. PhraseExpress manages your frequently used text snippets in customizable categories for quick access. Phrase Express saves hours of typing by expanding text abbreviations into full phrases for you. PhraseExpress recognizes repetitive text input automatically and offers to auto-complete full sentences on the fly. With PhraseExpress you can:
- Organize frequently used text snippets.
- Expand abbreviations as you type.
- Launch programs with text shortcuts.
- Auto-complete repetitive phrases.
- Quick access to the Windows Clipboard History.
- Correct spelling mistakes in any application.
PhraseExpress reduces the risk of suffering from repetitive stress injury and carpal tunnel syndrome as it helps to significantly reduce amount of time spent using a keyboard. However, this program is free only for personal use without feature limitations. Have more detailed information and download link from the homepage of PhraseExpress.
PS: The license reminder keeps popping up if used for medical transcription.
AutoHotKey
Auto Hot Key is a free (GNU General Public License), open-source utility for Windows. With it, you can:
- Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder.
- Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey.
- Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing “btw” can automatically produce “by the way”.
- Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
AutoHotKey unleashes the full potential of your keyboard, joystick, and mouse. For example, in addition to the typical Control, Alt, and Shift modifiers, you can use the Windows key and the Capslock key as modifiers. Get more detailed information and download link from the homepage of AutoHotKey.
Speed Typing
With Speed Typing, you can type frequently used text quickly and easily. You just type a word, and Speed Typing will automatically replace it with a line or a paragraph. Speed Typing is useful for fast typing standard phrases and frequently used sentences. The program will work with any text editor. Find further details and download link at the homepage of Speed Typing.
Quick Input
Quick Input software is used to speed up the typing of frequently repeated words and word combinations in all applications. Quick Input software can be installed on your computer in order to considerably reduce the time required to type text! Following data entry into an application, Quick Input memorizes the data and on each subsequent occasion when the first letters are entered, a drop-down hint list of words is made available. The whole word will no longer have to be typed – just select the necessary word and press ‘Enter.’ The program will automatically type the selected word and even a whole sentence! Quick Input software is free of charge for home users for non-commercial use! Find more details and download link at Softpedia.
Texter
Text substitution application, Texter, saves you countless keystrokes by replacing abbreviations with commonly used phrases you define. Unlike software-specific text replacement features, Texter runs in the Windows system tray and works in any application you’re typing in. By entering your most commonly-typed snippets of text into Texter, you can save countless keystrokes in the course of the day. Find details, installation and tuning up instructions, and download link of the Windows version of this text substitution appliance from Lifehacker at the homepage of Texter.
That’s all about what I’m aware of the free word expanders that can be tried for medical transcription. I haven’t tested and tried all of these and the available features may vary from software to software but I do not see the basic functionality and our requirement, i.e., expanding abbreviations to whole sentences or paragraphs or pages do not vary mostly, and hence can be tried depending up on the needs and word processors you are working with, after all they are free downloads!
Other than these free text expanding softwares, do you know any freeware?
Thank you for mentioning PhraseExpress. By the way, we are preparing a special edition for medical transcriptionists that will provide enhanced features to meet the requirements by MT. Stay tuned. :-)
Michael
PhraseExpress Team
http://www.phraseexpress.com
Please let me know once it is available. I will blog about it and bring it to the attention of medical transcription community. Special thanks to your effort in developing a special edition of word expander exclusively for medical transcriptionists. Hope it too will be free! ;)
A very useful post indeed ! I personally use FastFox Typing Expander
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Statistics show that using some type of text expander improves productivity by 60%. Who doesn’t want this type of wage increase?
You may also want to be aware that some MTSOs require the use of a specific text expander. If you are searching for a job, it may be best to hold off on purchasing one on your own. The features in MS Word work really well, so give them a try first.
If you take the time to continually work on your expander, I believe you will find that the rewards are well worth it.
Correct me if I’m mistaken, but many of them are only free for home or non-commercial use – I would expect this doesn’t cover working as a paid transcriptionist whether medical or otherwise?
I couldn’t find any such licensing terms on any of the text expander sites mentioned above other than GNU General Public License. Did you find any such restricting licensing terms on word expanders mentioned above?
AutoText and AutoCorrent utilities of MS Word have limitation to the size of the files (65KB) and are open to getting corrupted. Therefore, a backup program of the same is of great utility.
Phrase Express is free only for non-commercial/non-profit use. When the software becomes aware of it being used for profit, it will hang. Again, it is not suited for medical transcription but rather for messaging or writing emails.
Philip Kidder has expressed valid apprehensions “One problem I see with all these methods is remembering the abbreviations. Memorizing hundreds of shortcuts can be confusing and mean that many are forgotten.” To solve the same comes in Instant Text Pro V that gives a listing of the words and phrases as you type. Unlike AutoCorrect and AutoText there is no limitation as to the number and size of files.
I have always wanted to use Instant Text Pro V. However, my 15″ monitors limits my usage of the same as it takes a good of 1/3 of the typing screen. When it is time to change the monitor, I will look for a 19″ vertical LCD monitor to accomodate Instant Text.
“AutoText and AutoCorrect utilities of MS Word have limitation to the size of the files (65KB)”
That’s a new information. However, when I looked into my normal.dot, its size is 1.9 mb. Additionally, I’m saving my AutoText entries in a separate global template named RajAutoText.dot and its size is 432 kb. So why is the size limitation not applicable to me?
Michael of PhraseExpress has promised a similar free tool absolutely for medical transcription alone, I think it will solve all your apprehensions.
I’m fairly new in the medical transcription field and need help with productivity. I just downloaded Phrase Express to help me. Please forgive my ignorance, but is this considered commercial use? Will my Phrase Express just stop working? What are my best options (and free) to help me boost productivity? Should I just go back to using autotext in Word?
http://www.phraseexpress.com/freeware.htm
What is considered “commercial use”?
PhraseExpress is free for non-commercial user only. Any activity where the user receives financial benefit from that task (salary, wages, commission, revenue, etc.) is considered commercial use. This includes educational and/or charity organizations if the actual user is being paid for the task.
PhraseExpress recognizes if the computer being used is connected to a corporate network or if the user is selecting phrases that are used in a commercial context. In such a case, a license reminder dialog is randomly triggered. This check is done internally within the program by using an internal word list. No data is transmitted to us or anywhere else for this task.
It is understood that phrases such as “Your order”, “Dear Customer” or “Thank you for purchasing…” clearly indicate commercial activities. We kindly ask for your understanding that we are not able to publish the complete list of phrases and PhraseExpress also checks other parameters to determine commercial use.
I just started using Phrase Express on my second computer which is a backup computer for my MT job. I downloaded Phrase Express and started testing it on this computer yesterday and already am constantly getting triggers that it is being used for commercial use. I don’t mind paying the $30, but not for both computers. Phrase Express seems good enough for me as I cannot get AutoCorrect to work on my new computer in Word 2003 (BTW, it is making me crazy!).
I think working as an MT would disqualify us for the free version. They should make an exception for students or allow a one-month trial period before the triggers start. Choosing a word expansion program is a big decision in this industry as the set up is very time consuming.
Wendy
Our apologies for the trouble you may have experienced.
We have added a grace period of trial usage before the commercial detection kicks in.
This information is all very helpful. The use of word expanders has greatly improved the efficiency of our transcriptionists to the point where we depend on them heavily.
One piece of software which has not been mentioned is a freeware expander on sourceforge called ‘Expander.’ It can be found here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/expander/
Thanks Kathy for including one more free resource.
The best is to use Instant Text Pro V which is available for free in India at least. We MTs in India use only free softwares as we earn in paisas and not US dollars for the work we do. HBMT earnings are the worst because of low volumes and the crappiest dictations given to us. Download it at http://gops4me.web.officelive.com/mtsoft.aspx and then you forget all these Phrase Expresses, AutoText, etc. etc.
hello, i think your link for downloading IT pro V is broken. can you share a working link for it?
Thanks in advance
Similar to PhraseExpress by Bartels Media GmbH there is now WordExpander for FREE at http://www.wordexpander.net version 1.5.15 and suitable for Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8. You can use for FREE for both personal and commercial use. Read their interesting FAQ as to Why it is Free at http://www.wordexpander.net/faq.htm
Thank you Gurmeet for sharing this information for the benefit of all of our medical transcriptionist friends.
WordExpander is a free PhraseExpander Alternative. Get WordExpander version 1.5.14 at http://www.wordexpander.net/.
System Requirements
• Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8
• Microsoft .NET (installation will be offered if missing) 4.0 182 MB
• Imaging component (x86)