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Which is better for VR, Instant Text or Shorthand? (nm) - chris

Posted: Oct 16, 2010

Short answer, they're both great. Each offers virtues and functions - Skilled Editor

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the other doesn't have. There's lots of discussion to review here and elsewhere on the web.

Long ago after carefully evaluating the many features of both, I chose SH because it was then more compatible with most systems than IT and because it allowed me to use character keys in abbreviations, greatly increasing the number of short abbreviations I could make, and some other key-to-me reason I can't think of. It's significantly easier and faster to get up to speed on, but I figured IT would be well worth the effort, so I crossed that consideration off my list. IT does build dictionaries automatically for you, something its users love.

Homework time, but if you choose to flip a coin instead you won't lose. :)

I have started my homework (sm) - chris

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I see they both have trials. I didn't really understand your answer though. Which do you use? Apparently SH is easier from what you are saying, but does it "do the job?"

SH and absolutely it does the job. Unless you want the dictionary-building - Skilled Editor

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feature. SH doesn't have that but does in turn has a few things IT doesn't. Nevertheless, people who love IT wouldn't give that feature up.

Trying both trials sounds excellent.

Other way around - Instant Text has features SH does not. - IT Fan

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You can have duplicate short forms with Instant Text. You can compile glossaries from previously saved reports to get the exact words and phrases you will use in a matter of seconds. IT also comes with more than 50 glossaries, including many medical glossaries you can build on so you don't have to start from scratch. IT also has sentence continuations where you expand a short phrase and IT presents you with more options that continue on with that sentence with just one keystroke.

The new version 7 allows you to have numbers and special characters in your short form. You can go to their web site and see all the new features. The ones I love most are the new Launch commands. You can open programs, documents, go to web sites, and go straight to specific folders in Windows Explorer. You can copy the last word typed and go straight to your research site to paste and search with just a couple of keystrokes.

I can compare the two programs because I was a SH user for many years before switching to IT and I have never looked back. Do a thorough research to be sure you are getting what you need from your expander. You want it to do more than just expand words, especially with VR where command entries can combine multiple editing tasks.

I have a copy of SC that I have had since the '90s... - VR Master

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and it has worked great for me mainly using DQS only. If I were starting from scratch, I would probably go for IT, because I like a lot of features.

I also remember the last time I worked in Editscript there seemed to be some problem with SH and I had to import everything into their program, so if you are going to be using Editscript, this might be a concern.

If I were buying now, I might just choose IT also, or not. - Skilled Editor

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--I'd give it that trial first. Lovely to be able to do that. I purchased SH in the 90s also and have never had a single problem in all these years with it, and it's always done everything I needed it to, so I've wouldn't change casually.

VR Master, I worked on EditScript when it was new and had no problem with SH at that time. I certainly didn't need to import anything into their program. It would be surprising, though not impossible I guess, for a new incompatibility problem to pop up with either program now. Y

They both have such great features, but the biggest single reason a lot of people might like to bite the bullet and learn to use IT well is still that it does analyze individual use and create dictionaries from that use. Terrific feature! Especially for those intending to work by making choices from the abbreviation choices window.

I do not use SH's window because I feel I'm well paid (literally) to keep my eyes on the text being edited, so I chose to develop my own naming system that allows me to KNOW what many thousands of short forms are going to be without memorization. I would imagine people can train themselves to do that with IT's naming system, too, though. In my case I'd have to rename all the auto entries, though, because I'm in way too deep to change now. :)

Instant Text can import your Shorthand entries and you can keep your - IT Fan

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same abbreviations if you decided to switch. Same thing with AutoCorrect or AutoText. There's no need to rename anything. I had abbreviations in Shorthand that roll off my fingers without even thinking and I still using those in IT.

Sure, IT Fan, and vice versa. It's just that SH has always - done everything I want very

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reliably, so I'm lacking a reason to change. I'm very happy plugging both when I come here to not just those with no expander at all but particularly those leaning toward a "free" McDonalds toy-type version.

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