MTips E-Zine

Newsletter for MT’s using MS Word

Vol 1 No 8 June 28, 2001

Laura Bryan Editor

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Table of Contents:

1. Feature Article: Can You Repeat That Line?

2. QuickTakes-Keyboarding Tips: cc: AutoText

3. Technical Advice: Don’t Sneeze on My Computer

4. Bloopers

5. Other Sites To See

Can You Repeat That Line?

Have you discovered AutoText? AutoText is perfect for memorizing standards, normals and addresses as well as phrases and sentences. AutoText will store fields, graphics, tables—almost anything! Whereas AutoCorrect is always invoked and always available, you can choose when and how to insert an AutoText entry. AutoText can be stored in template files so they are only available while using that template. Storing AutoText entries in separate templates helps organize your entries and also keeps your Normal.dot file as "lean" as possible to avoid performance problems. In addition, you can create a naming convention for your standards and cut down on memorization. For example, each template can have an AutoText entry named "HP" for the History and Physical boilerplate specific to that doctor/clinic.

You use the AutoText "name" to insert your entries, and there are several ways to do this—the easiest of which is the Enter key or the F3 key. When you create an AutoText, you can accept the default name, which is the first few letters/words of the AutoText entry, or you can give it any other name you prefer. To assign an entry to a specific template, open a document based on that template. To create the entry, type the text and then select it. Access the AutoText dialogue box through Tools/AutoCorrect/AutoText tab or use the hand/keyboard icon on the AutoText toolbar. In the AutoText dialogue box select the template name in the "Look in" box. (Be sure to return the "Look in" box to "All active templates" before resuming regular typing.)

To insert the entry, begin typing the name. After typing the first 1-2 characters, you can insert the entry using the F3 key. Alternatively, you can continue typing the name and after the fourth character is typed, a suggestion box will appear. While the suggestion box is on the screen, you can press Enter to insert your text.

Next time, we will troubleshoot some common problems with AutoText.

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INTRODUCING

The Make It Your Own

The perfect companion to the

"Make It Your Own" Manual

13 audiovisual demonstrations to show you how to

Special Combination Price

Book and CD

$39.95

CD alone $9.95

Note: The CD does not replace the book, but is a companion to the book.

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QuickTakes-Keyboarding Tips

While the AutoCorrect features can be real timesavers, sometimes they backfire! For example, typing "cc:" at the end of a letter should be simple, but AutoCorrect wants to immediately change it to "Cc:" Use AutoText to get around this: Type cc: along with the tab. Select the entry (including the tab but not the paragraph mark) and open the AutoText quick-entry box using ALT+F3. Change the name to "c" and click OK. To insert, type c then hit F3. AutoCorrect will not override the AutoText format.

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Want to Give Yourself a Raise?

The best way to give yourself a raise is to increase your production while working the same amount of hours. This is possible when you let Word do the work FOR you.

For example: Increasing your line count from 150 to 200 lines an hour at 8.5 cents per line would give you an additional $680 a month or $8500 a year!* Is it worth $90 and one day for the increased potential?

Come to the

"Make It Your Own" Seminar

July 14, 2001

Mesquite, TX

9am to 5 pm

Can you AFFORD to miss this?

*numbers are for the sake of example only. There is no implied standard for counts or line rate.

Comments from the last seminar:

"That one tip alone just saved me eight hours a week!"

"That idea just paid for my seminar! I could leave now and still get my money’s worth."

"It was worth the cost and the hassle of getting there."

"Is it really that easy? I just spent hours trying to figure that out!"

"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation. I love your book, too. I am so excited about learning all these new tricks."

Although MTWerks cannot guarantee a production increase, we do guarantee your satisfaction. If you do not feel you received your money’s worth for the seminar or the book, you may receive a full refund (less shipping charges).

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Technical Advice

From Bob’s PCWerks

Don’t Sneeze on My Computer

One of my least favorite jobs as an information specialist is trying to eradicate a virus from a computer. Today's viruses do not die easily. They often shut down a computer or affect an entire network. I recently spent over ten hours cleaning a new and especially stubborn virus from a large network. It was introduced by an e-mail message stating that the sender had a virus! (Who do you throttle?) With over 500 new viruses discovered each week, it is not enough just to have a virus scanner installed. It must be updated at least every two weeks with the most current virus identification information (called definitions). Most virus scanners (McAffee, Norton, others) will do a great job if updated regularly, and most offer free definition updates.

My advice.... Buy and install only the virus scanning products from McAffee, Norton, or others. Skip the bells and whistles. Other utilities often ship with virus products, but unless you are at risk, do not load these other utilities. They are invasive and may change the way your computer does business. If you type for a living, you do not want a computer with "ADD" (Application Distracted Device).

Though many viruses come through a network or Internet (called worms), the majority of viruses are spread through E-mail. Below are some detection and prevention tips.

1 Do not open attachments from strangers.

2 Verify attachments from friends before opening (today's biggest source of spread!)

3 Always save an attachment to the hard drive before opening (gives your virus checker two chances to catch it).

4 Do not forward chain E-mails or spam.

5 Confirm source before downloading files, and then download to floppy or protected drive.

6 Update virus definitions often.

7 Back up critical data often in case of total loss.

8 Do not send E-mail to your friends and employers to tell them you have a virus!! Call them on the telephone or email them after you have fixed the problem.

This Week’s Bloopers:

In a letter: "Enclosed is the patient's most recent urine."

"I repeated his urinalysis, which in our hands, was normal."

Other Sites to See:

MTWerks is your resource for using MSWord for Medical Transcription.

We hope you enjoy your subscription to MTips E-Zine. If you like the information here, check out our book "Make It Your Own-Productivity Manual for MS Word" which is full of ideas for working faster and smarter! Great for "Newbies" and Veterans, alike. To learn more about the book or the "Make It Your Own Productivity Seminar", see

1-877-320-1241

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