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32 MacSpeech DictateChapter 6 — Controlling Your Mac
In this chapter, we will look at some ways MacSpeech Dictate
can control a Macintosh. It can open files or applications, type
keyboard commands, and press buttons.
MacSpeech Dictate is not likely to replace your keyboard and
mouse completely. Think of MacSpeech Dictate as a “third
hand” to click a button without raising your hands from the
keyboard, or to 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/or mouse.
Using Command Mode
Command mode is used when you want to have MacSpeech
Dictate focus only on executing commands. While all
commands are also available in Dictation mode, dictation
commands are ignored when you are in Command mode.
This makes it easier for MacSpeech Dictate to understand
the commands.
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.
• Don’tpauseinthemiddleofsayingacom-
mand. If you say “Close <pause> Window” in-
stead of “Close Window,” MacSpeech Dictate
may not understand what you want it to do.
• Toseewhichcommandsareavailable,keep
the Available Commands window open.
You can open this window by saying “Show
Available Commands Window”. Hover your
cursor over a command to see a brief descrip-
tion of what it does.
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 (Figure 6-2). The list will change
depending on what you are doing, and which application you
are using Dictate to control. MacSpeech Dictate tracks which
application is active, and automatically loads any commands
it has available for this application.
Figure 6-2
Launching Applications
MacSpeech Dictate already knows the names of applications
on your hard drive and allows you to open any of them by
voice. Here’s how:
Say “Open [application name].”
Make sure in your Preferences for MacSpeech Dictate that the
box is checked for Generate Application Launch Commands.
You will find this under Command in the Preferences (in the
Dictate menu). Then when you install or update applications,
MacSpeech Dictate can learn how to open them by voice as
well.
NOTE: You can’t launch MacSpeech Dictate by voice, because
it has to be running before it can interpret your speech. If you
Chapter 6: Controllin Your Mac