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27 MacSpeech DictateChapter 6 — Controlling Your Mac
In this chapter, we will look at how MacSpeech Dictate can
control a Macintosh. It can open files, type keys, press buttons,
and click the mouse.
Will MacSpeech Dictate completely replace your keyboard
and mouse? Probably not – it’s still faster to do some things
the old-fashioned way. Think of MacSpeech Dictate as a
“third hand” to click a button without raising your hands from
the keyboard, or open a file without digging through folders.
As you work with it, you will figure out what tasks are right for
you to accomplish by voice, keyboard, and mouse.
Using Command Mode
Command mode is used when you want to have MacSpeech
Dictate focus on only executing commands. While all
commands are also available in Dictation mode, dictation is
ignored when you are in Command mode, making it easier for
MacSpeech Dictate to understand that what you say should
be interpreted as a command.
Here are some tips for using Command mode:
• Makesureyousee“Command”inthe
MacSpeech Dictate Status window before you
begin speaking the command.
• Toseewhichcommandsareavailable,keep
the “Available Commands” window open.
• Don’tpauseinthemiddleofsayinga
command. If you say “Close <pause> Window”
instead of “Close Window,” MacSpeech Dictate
may not understand what you want it to do.
Switching To Command Mode
To switch to Command mode, do one of the following:
• Say“CommandMode”
• Select“Command”fromMacSpeechDictate’s
Speech menu
• Pressthekeyboardshortcutforswitching
modes.
You can tell MacSpeech Dictate is in Command Mode because
“Command” appears in the Status window, as in Figure 6-1.
Figure 6-1
The available commands can be seen in the Available
Commands window. The list will change depending on
what you are doing, and what application you are using.
MacSpeech Dictate tracks what application is active, and
automatically loads any commands it has available for the
front-most program, as shown in Figure 6-2.
Figure 6-2
Launching Applications
MacSpeech Dictate already knows the names of all the ap-
plications on your hard drive and allows you to open any of
them by voice. Here’s how:
Say “Open [application name].”
That’s it! When you install or update applications, MacSpeech
Dictate will already know how to open them by voice as well.
Chapter 6:
Controllin Your Mac