MTips E-Zine

Newsletter for MT’s using MS Word

Vol 2 No 2 February 11, 2002

Laura Bryan Editor

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Table of Contents:

1. Feature Article: Table Tips for Troubling Times, Part II

2. QuickTakes-Keyboarding Tips: Make Your Own Table Shortcuts

3. Technical Advice: Keyboard Trouble in Disguise

4. Bloopers Our jobs are still safe.

5. Other Sites to See: See here for some useful reference sites.

Don't miss the Calendar of Events. MTWerks is on the road in 2002 with workshops and symposiums from East to West!

Table Tips for Troubling Times

Part II

In the last newsletter, I introduced tables and mentioned some of the formatting challenges that can be overcome by taking advantage of them. This edition will demonstrate the use of tables in a very common report format: the SOAP note. Although this appears to be a simple format, it is often frustrating to get it right the first time! I have found that tables work quite well for this application. Also, these simple tables will convert to WordPerfect 5.1 format and maintain their formatting.

To create the report as below, use the hanging indent command (CTL+T) to format the Subjective and Objective paragraphs. Be sure to use a tab (not spaces) to separate S: and O: from the text so the second line of indented text will line up correctly under the first. Next, create two tables for the Assessment and Plan portions of the report.

To remove the borders, right click on the table, choose "Borders and Shading" and choose "None" on the tab labeled "Borders". After removing borders, your report will look like this:

To make your work go even faster, create the table with one or two rows (to start) and then select the column containing the numbers. Click the numbering icon on your toolbar. This will format the column to insert the appropriate line number each time a new row is created. (Remember, you can add more rows "on the fly" by simply pressing the tab key when the cursor is in the last column, last row.)

Introducing

the

to accompany the

The perfect companion for those who would like a structured approach to learning

MS Word for medical transcription.

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Test materials available for teachers/facilitators.

For more information, see

QuickTakes-Keyboarding Tips

Make Your Own Table Shortcuts

When editing tables, you must distinguish between the text within the table and the table itself. For example, to remove the text from a table row, simply select the text using the Shift key along with the Arrow keys and then press "Delete". If you need to delete the row itself (along with any text that may appear in that row), you must use the TableDeleteRow command. This can be accomplished using the Table menu, but it is time consuming. Word has a specific command for deleting rows, but it does not have a shortcut key assigned to it. To assign your own shortcut key, right click on any toolbar and choose "Customize". Click the "Keyboard" button. Under "Category", select "Table" and then under "Commands" select "TableDeleteRow". Place the cursor in the "Assign new shortcut key" box and type a shortcut key starting with either the CTL key or the ALT key. You can repeat the same procedure with the TableDeleteColumn command.

Technical Advice

From Bob’s PCWerks

THE PROBLEM:

Have you ever seen this error when typing in Word or when you click AutoCorrect on the Tools menu?

This problem may occur if you are using a third-party Windows keyboard driver. It could also be caused by some virus scanners. If the problem occurred after replacing your keyboard, use the following fix. If the problem occurred after installing or updating your virus scanner, check with the manufacturer of the virus scanner.

THE FIX:

Reset the keyboard driver back to the default driver.

HOW:

Click Start/Run and type "System.ini" (no quotation marks) in the box and click OK. This will open the Windows System start up file, System.ini. Scroll down till you reach the [boot] section then look for the line that sets the keyboard driver. It should say:

keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv

If it refers to a different driver (i.e. keyboard.drv=kb123.drv), type a semicolon (;) at the beginning of the keyboard.drv line. Now, insert a new line just after the existing keyboard.drv line and type:

keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv

Click Save on the File menu, close Notepad and then restart your computer. If the change does not fix the problem, or if the change creates other undesirable effects, repeat the procedure. This time remove the semicolon (;) from the original line and place it in front of the line you added. Save, close Notepad and reboot.

If you still have the problem after checking the keyboard driver, then you probably have an issue with your virus scanner. Check with the virus scanner vendor to see if they have a "fix".

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This 4-hour workshop is the "best deal in town". MS Word users on ALL levels will learn new tips and tricks for taking control of MS Word and getting their work done faster and smarter. Topics include options and settings for making Word "MT friendly", shortcuts and keystrokes to reduce "mousing" and increase efficiency; and using template files.

Come learn how you can work less, earn more!

This workshop is sponsored by the California Association of Medical Transcription. Students, members and nonmembers are all invited to attend. HIM supervisors–don't forget to sign up your transcription staff, too!

Click here for contact information and the registration form.

Not in California? MTWerks might be coming YOUR way, too!

More workshops and symposiums are scheduled throughout 2002.

Click here for the MTWerks Calendar of Events.

This Month's Blooper:

Technology can make a tremendous difference in the quantity and quality of our work, but there is still no substitution for the most incredible word processor of all: the human brain! Voice Recognition is making advances, and I wouldn't give up my spell checker, but as you can see, our jobs are definitely safe!

Thanks Linda for forwarding this month's blooper.

Other Sites to See

Here are a few sites you may find quite useful:

MTWerks is your resource for using MS Word 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

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Private consultations, company training sessions, and speaking engagements also available.