MacSpeech Dictate Global Commands List & Cheat Sheet for 1.2.1

By Ricky Buchanan • December 19, 2008

This entry is part 10 of 22 in the series Speech-to-Text Compilation

MacSpeech Dictate is a great program but learning so many commands at once can be intimidating. I’ve put together two documents to help you learn and remember all the global commands found in Dictate version 1.2.1.

Dictate has two types of commands - global commands and application specific commands. The global commands work in all programs and the application-specific commands work only in a single application, for example Mail or iChat. These documents are only concerned with the global commands, which you’ll need to know best and are likely to do most often. If there’s a demand for similar lists for application specific commands I’ll create these in the future.

These documents aren’t in any way meant to replace the Dictate User’s Manual - every Dictate user really should read the manual, even if you’re not the “manual reading type”. Trust me, you’ll get far better use of Dictate if you have read the manual! But nobody’s memory is perfect, especially for a program with so many commands, so I’ve made these

First there’s a “Global Commands List” which has all of the global commands, arranged according to their functions rather than alphabetically. It also has short explanatory text for the commands whose purpose isn’t obvious, to remind you of their function. The list is 3 pages long - it’s a complicated program! Here are versions in both Pages and PDF format, sized for US and A4 paper:

Second we have a “Globals Cheat Sheet”. This has most of the global commands but not all of them, again grouped by function but with no explanatory text. It’s formatted to fit on a single sheet of paper so you can print it out and use it as a memory aid when you can’t remember the specific words for a command. Here are versions in both Pages and PDF format, sized for US and A4 paper:

I hope people find these useful. I have mine printed out and stuck up beside my computer screen and it’s been a great help. Would you use a version with commands for the separate applications too? Let me know in the comments.

- Ricky Buchanan

If you are going to buy or upgrade any version of MacSpeech Dictate from the USA or UK. stores, please consider using these links in this article. If you do, I'll get a commission - a small percentage of the sale price. It won't cost you anything and it will help to support me and ATMac.

Series Navigation«Voice-Activated Mouse Clicks with MacSpeech DictateMail.app Commands Cheat Sheet for MacSpeech Dictate 1.2.1»

Categories: Information, OS X, Speech to Text, Supporters, Users
Tags: carpal tunnel syndrome, control mouse with your voice, dictation to text, features, free download, minimize typing, mouse, mouse alternative, mouse replacement, overuse, overuse injury, repeditive strain injury, rsi, speech commands, speech recognition, Speech to Text, strain, talk to your mac, tendonitis, tension, voice commands, voice recognition, voice to text

About the Author

Ricky Buchanan

Ricky Buchanan is 34 years old and the founder and main writer for ATMac. She's bedridden with severe CFS/ME or perhaps a primary mitochondrial disorder - the doctors are not sure. When she's not working on ATMac or her other websites she composes music, listens to audio books, does other disability advocacy, watches TV with her flatmate, and enjoys her cat.

11 Comments For “MacSpeech Dictate Global Commands List & Cheat Sheet for 1.2.1”

atmacjournal (Ricky Buchanan) Dec 18th, 2008 at 7:50 pm

New ATMac post: MacSpeech Dictate Global Commands List & Cheat Sheet for 1.2.1 http://is.gd/crX3
atmacjournal (Ricky Buchanan) Dec 19th, 2008 at 3:13 am

New ATMac Post: MacSpeech Dictate Global Commands List & Cheat Sheet http://is.gd/crGj
diane bechtler Dec 20th, 2008 at 3:24 am

Thank you beyond words. I like feel l like I’ve been handed an secret code. I hope you plan to poat these to the Dictate site. Many people will be grateful
Ricky Buchanan Dec 21st, 2008 at 10:48 am

@Diane: Thanks for the compliment, I hope it helps with your dictating!
Phil Danks Jan 17th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Thanks very much for making these memory aids available, Ricky.

I just ordered MacSpeech Dictate this morning and I’m looking forward to getting started. I’m sure your cheat-sheets will be a real help. And yes, for once I’ll make an exception and read the manual (even though I was under the misapprehension that I could give manuals the flick for ever once I converted to Mac…)

One of the things that’s persuaded me to buy the programme now is the comments about release 1.2 I read right here on your blog. Appreciated!

For me the two previously missing functions that 1.2 seems to address - Spelling Mode and Phrase Training - are essential components for voice recognition software.

I’d be interested to learn about users’ experiences with various microphones. From what I’ve read, having the right one is really important.

Cheers
MHB Feb 16th, 2009 at 5:20 am

Hello Ricky,

Thanks so much for all the help you are providing at your website! I finally got the mouseclick process to work. Yay! I’ve also printed your cheat sheet. I, for one, would welcome a commands sheet for the Mail application, and maybe Pages and Numbers. Of those, I suspect mail is used by the most people.

Anyway, thanks again, MHB
Ricky Buchanan Feb 17th, 2009 at 10:18 am

@MHB: I’m glad things are working for you. Mail is the cheat sheet I’m working on next so keep an eye out for it!
Trapper Graves Sep 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm

Hi! The cheat sheets are incredibly helpful! Thank you! Do you know if there are commands to jump to websites? I’ve been setting up a computer for a blind friend of mine, and we’re trying to figure out how she can tell the computer to go to a particular website once she’s opened Safari.

Thanks again,
Trapper
Kevin Briggs Nov 26th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

I just found out about your website through a posting on one of MacSpeech’s user forums. Really great site!

Just wondering if you have an updated version of MacSpeech Dictate Global Commands List (Cheat Sheet)? (The last one that I’m seeing on your site was the Cheat Sheet four 1.2.1 — anything more recent…?)

Thanks!
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