SayWhatPro Registered version ($49)

As you probably already know, Naturally Speaking version 6 converted to a new voice command file format. With version 6, Dragon introduced a VBA-compatible scripting language. Advanced Scripting type macros unleash unheard of power in a voice command scripting language. With a little knowledge of object oriented programming models, you can essentially create entire computer programs to be executed with one voice command. Don't think that you need to be a computer programmer to use SayWhatPro because, even for computer programmers, most macros are simple (or complicated) keystroke sequences. SayWhatPro now works with dmcbrowser OR Command Browser. New with version 2.0 is feature set equality with either Dragon browser. New with version 2.1 is updating mapped Legacy dvc files via version 5 Edit Command Wizard.

The registered version of SayWhatPro allows access to updating features (Pro menu). The main updating features are:

Dictate Advanced Scripting macros (in SayWhatPro)

For some technical reasons related to the VBA-compatible module that Dragon purchased and integrated into their macro system, you cannot dictate into the script editing window other than single letters at a time or macros you have written for those Advanced Scripting commands. For people who have little or no ability to keyboard (like me), this is a severe limitation. All that power with no way to get to it. SayWhatPro solves this problem by allowing you to dictate your Advanced Scripting macros in the SayWhatPro editing window and save your changes to the mycmds.dat file. This is not a perfect solution as SayWhatPro at present has no way to syntax check your macro. However, it does not hurt anything to store a syntactically incorrect macro. It will generate an error at execution and you can edit and save it again easily with SayWhatPro. Being able to dictate Advanced Scripting commands alone will make the registered version worthwhile to some users.

Create(!)/ Edit Legacy KEYS and SCRIPT commands (in mycmds.dat)

Some people have become comfortable with the previously existing macro language or are intimidated by the totally new macro facilities; this product can be a bridge for you. Create legacy commands using the familiar KEYS and SCRIPT based macro language you are familiar with while you learn the new ways. Registered users also receive the SayWhatPro.dvc file which contain many macros which can be used to easily dictate all legacy Voice Commands which of course may also be used in Advanced Scripting commands. For more information about Legacy commands, see this. In this version, you must create the Legacy command in a previously existing application and STATE. One bonus due to the fact that all LISTS are essentially Global now (instead of local to a particular STATE), is that you can create Legacy commands with any LIST previously defined, instead of only defined to that STATE.

Clone commands

Another very handy feature is the ability to clone any type of command to the same Program and Scope. Cloning is very useful when I need to create a new command to do something, but I realize that I have an already existing command that performs several of the same actions, but needs only slight modifications to work. Navigate to the macro you want to clone, say "Clone command" and dictate a new name and the macro will be cloned for you. Another use for cloning is where you want to have more than one phrase to issue the same command. (do I need to say "line kill reverse" or "reverse line kill"?; cloning gives you both).

New! - Update commands (and LISTs) in mapped legacy Dvc files (with the Version 5 Edit Command Wizard!!!!). Show graphic

Yet another powerful and unique feature has been added to SayWhatPro. Some people with existing version 5 dvc files found their experience to be better by placing part of their commands in either the systemwide directory or the current user directory. The commands work very reliably there, but suffer from a distinct disadvantage. They are not visible at all in either Dragon browser (although SayWhatPro has always been able to display them). New in version 2.1, SayWhatPro can edit them as easily as any other command. When you say "Save Changes", SayWhatPro brings up the Version 5 Edit Command Wizard and sends keystrokes to it to update the command. As such, the changes are available immediately. Sorry, the New Command Wizard is not available.

You can also Delete commands in mapped dvc files. Again, SayWhatPro uses the Version 5 Edit Command Wizard to perform this action. As in earlier versions, if you clone a mapped dvc command, the cloned command will be placed in mycmds.dat. Also, as before, new legacy dvc commands are placed in mycmds.dat.

For users still running version 5 and hesitant to go to version 6 because of the major command file changes, this way may be the best of the old and still get the benefits of the new. For further details of mapped legacy dvc files, check with this link.

New! - resizing of SayWhatPro window

The single most user requested feature has finally been implemented. You can now drag any edge of the SayWhatPro window for resizing (or even use the Maximize button). Furthermore, the window position is remembered from one execution to the next. Also new, the Description field is now displayed on screen.

Backup feature (formerly called Rollback)

The first time each day that you use SayWhatPro to make a modification to the mycmds.dat file, SayWhatPro makes a backup copy of your mycmds.dat file in a subdirectory with the name of your user in the SayWhatPro installation directory. If for some reason, you need to rollback your mycmds.dat file to an earlier version, this is the command for you. I have never seen SayWhatPro damage my mycmds.dat file (even in my rawest debugging stage). However, the mycmds.dat file for people who would likely use this program is the result of many (sometimes hundreds) of hours of labor. It is simply too valuable to take chances with. Even if you are not a registered user, I urge you to back up this file.

Create LISTs

Simply enter a new LIST name, enter the LIST elements, Save Changes.

Delete commands

You may now delete any command directly from SayWhatPro.

Edit commands with the MyCommands Editor

You may now edit any command with MyCommands Editor. This means that you may essentially use SayWhatPro as a front end to either Dragon browser, using SayWhatPro's more streamlined navigation system to find your macros, then use the Dragon MyCommands Editor to modify them.

Now Edit LISTs!

Due to high user interest, beginning in version 1.5, registered users can Edit LISTs.

Train commands

You may now Train any command directly from SayWhatPro.

New feature comparison chart

If you have any confusion as to what features are available in the different versions of SayWhatPro as well as compared to Dragon, see my new feature comparison chart.

How is SayWhatPro able to create/update new legacy KEYS and SCRIPT type commands?

Actually, anyone can create new legacy commands. It's just that Dragon has made it relatively difficult, so that hardly anyone does. Anyone can use an Ascii text editor and create a command in valid .dvc file format (you know, MENU,STATE, KEYS or SCRIPT and all those matching curly braces) and Import it using the Command Broswer or dmcbrowser. This is exactly what SayWhatPro does. It lets you specify the body of the command (at present in a previously existing STATE) and SayWhatPro creates a valid .dvc file (legacy.dvc in the SayWhatPro directory) essentially using its own only one in its class export function. Then it brings up whichever Dragon browser the user has and/or specifies and sends it keystrokes to Import the command and lets the Dragon browser update the mycmds.dat file. Then SayWhatPro rereads the mycmds.dat file and remains in place at the newly created command (the easier to make more modifications with). Since a Dragon browser has processed the change to the mycmds.dat file, the command is available for immediate execution.

How is SayWhatPro able to create/update Advanced Scripting commands?

For creating, SayWhatPro actually brings up the Dragon MyCommands Editor and automatically sets the type to Advanced Scripting. Create the name, specify Application specific if not Global and say "Save". After returning, SayWhatPro will present you with the newly created command to dictate the command body in a normal Windows text box. When done, click/say "Save Changes". At this point, SayWhatPro does about the same as in the above legacy steps. It writes out the macro to a .dat format file (advanced.dat in the SayWhatPro directory), brings up a Dragon browser and sends keystrokes to Import the macro.

Again, since a Dragon browser processed the update, the command is available for immediate execution. At the present time, SayWhatPro is unable to syntax check the macro (anyone who might know a way of doing this, please let me know!). However, it doesn't really hurt to store a syntactically incorrect macro in mycmds.dat file. You will, of course, get an error when you speak the command. SayWhatPro will still be positioned at your command (unlike the Dragon browsers) ready to keep going for any modifications.

What SayWhatPro is Not.

SayWhatPro is not a complete self-contained macro creation/editing system. For instance, at the present time, it does not edit Text and Graphic, Macro Recorder (even Dragon doesn't edit these), or Step-by-Step commands. It does, however, display them (will even print them out in the pseudo-dvc export command - can you make Dragon do that?). It also does not edit commands that are in one particular mapped dvc file (all others it does). This file contains only MouseGrid and Asleep States. It seems the list of what SayWhatPro is Not is getting shorter all the time.

Who should get the Registered Version($49)?

There are several classes of users who need/want the features of SayWhatPro Registered. The people who need nearly hands free macro creation/editing will probably love SayWhatPro. Written by a nearly hands free user, SayWhatPro puts hands free interface design very high on the list. The Dragon command browsers are not very oriented this way. And of course dictation is not possible at all in the Advanced Scripting code window.

Other likely candidates for the registered version are those intermediate and advanced macro users who have significant numbers of macros to create/edit. IMHO, the Dragon browsers are just too tedious to be efficient. If you like the web-style Command Browser just fine, you are wasting your time here. BTW, what planet are you from anyway?

Another candidate would be those who miss the ability to create legacy type macros.

Now beginning in version 2.1, another candidate is anyone who has mapped dvc files that they want to edit.

Previously, I had thought that SayWhatPro was oriented toward intermediate and advanced users. It is, but now with the added features of the current version, I believe all users who develop macros will benefit because of the combination of streamlined macro navigation and extra added features that the Dragon browsers do not have.

Of course, a candidate can be a combination of these! (I am).

Upgrades

Upgrades will be free for all incremental versions of NaturallySpeaking 6. Version 6.1 is now out and version 2.0 of SayWhatPro (free for existing registered users) now fully supports all of its features using either of the Dragon browsers. I cannot see clearly enough in my crystal ball to tell where things will be with version 7. It could cause me the inability to continue to support and/or upgrade and/or even need the features of SayWhatPro. However, in my opinion, this product fulfills a desperate current need.

One Last Sales Pitch ....

You say $49 is too much money to spend on a specialized product? Well, if you're reading this, you have spent a minimum of $600 and probably a lot more than that (upgrades, microphones, training, sound cards, don't forget that extra few hundred for the latest CPU, memory, etc. so you could go "faster, higher, louder"). If you have done those things to optimize your time and results, $49 for a streamlined, powerful add-on macro system, is just part of the deal. I thank you for your time.

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