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Do you find it faster to use the mouse - or the ridiculous shortcuts?

Posted: Dec 04, 2011

I know the "push" is to use the shortcuts but it takes me twice as long to remove my hands from the keyboard to reach the arrow keys and alt+shift or ctrl+shift than to just click where I want to go with the mouse.

I was just wondering if it's worth it to retrain myself to use those particular shortcuts. I tried creating my own but they will not work in our system. The other ones we have are fine but the cursor ones stink.

I agree - CB

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree. When I started working on M-Modal, I couldn't believe such a popular platform calls for constantly reaching for the Ctrl and arrow keys. I read some tips from M-Modal and they actually say you should change your home row keys and keep your left hand on the Shift + Ctrl + Alt and your right on the arrows. It makes no sense to me. I ended up re-creating the shortcuts and "magic" keys that were part of Dictaphone Extext (much more efficient - your hands stay on the home keys) and use them in M-Modal. I don't have to use the arrow keys at all. I honestly believe there's no way I'd be able to get my speed up without them. I was editing 500 lph on InstantText and still hoping one day I can reach that on M-Modal. I made shortcuts using two programs: I downloaded the free AutoHotKeys program, and use those the most. I also have InstantText. Since it works within all VR platforms, maybe you can use that to program the short cuts?

go ahead and use it - speedyMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I use the mouse as little as possible, what I use are the arrow keys. You can zip along with the arrow keys with your right hand and still have your left hand free to add a comma or period, enter, delete. I know, it's awkward and probably a bad habit, but either way, when you need to add a word or change a word you still need to find the keys.

Even if the "shortcuts" worked (which they don't), - they wouldnt help me because - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm ambidextrous. So for things that would require their "shortcuts", I mouse with one hand and keyboard with the other. (Or write with the other, if I'm doing my work log). Or eat if I'm hungry.

They should leave us alone and just let us do what works best for US.

Thanks for the replies - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I've noticed that the shortcuts don't always work as well. I've also noticed since I posted this question that on reports that require a lot of editing, the cursor placement shortcuts are better than the mouse but on reports that don't require a lot of editing, the mouse is quicker.

OP, definitely dump the mouse, learn to use shortcuts, - and MAKE YOUR OWN SHORTCUTS

[ In Reply To ..]
for theirs. No Ctrl +alt + whatever to turn on numbering: rename it OO. F to toggle a letter from lower to upper case and vice versa, a short version of whatever collection of 3 keys they assigned. My shortcut for bouncing the cursor back to the dictation is AA. QQ jumps the dictation to wherever the cursor is. I don't even remember what keys they are short forms for, but both were pure muscle memory after a very little practice.

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