Date: Wed, 16 Mar 1994 23:59:06 EST From: Gary Karp <72212.3240@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Sword Software I have just started using a very interesting program called "The Sword" which is an abbreviation tool which reduces keystrokes for you. For instance, to get the previous sentence I typed: I vjstarted usja very interestjprogram called "The Sword" wcis an abbreviqtool wcreduces keystrokes fu. Here is the principle. Most characters represent a word. "v" is "have," "t" is "the," "p" is "people," "wc" is "which" and so on. A number of word endings are included such as "ing," "ation," and others. Two spaces are automatically placed after a sentence, one after a comma, and very often a space is included with a word. And then there are forty custom slots for you to enter your own words, like "Onsight Technology Education Services," my business name which I get by typing "zt". It also automatically capitalizes new sentences, and is easily turned on and off as you work. I'm still getting used to it, but can tell that it will be a big help in saving keystrokes to help prevent flareups of my tendonitis. If you would like information on the program, contact The Sword, P.O. Box 176, Comptche, CA 95427. I would also be glad to discuss my experience more on Sorehand if you please. Gary Karp .sig Gotta go ice my elbows. Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 17:36:34 EST From: Gary Karp <72212.3240@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: More on The Sword Sorry to have rushed my first message. The Sword is for the Macintosh. It comes with 150 abbreviations built in. Some of them require a space, some are automatic. There are a few that I would like to see added, but I think the choices they made are good ones. It is an interesting shift in thinking to not enter every letter. I think most of us are accustomed to thinking each letter as we type, so this is awkward at first, but after just a day with it, I can tell I will get used to it. Other features: You never need to type a "u" after a "q". Automatically capitalizes the first letter of a new sentence. Prints out "seven" when you type "7", etc. There is no way to defeat the two extra spaces at the end of a sentence when it is the end of a paragraph. I find I am doing more deleting of spaces which deletes some of the benefit. A minor irritant, really. The documentation is not great, but I made my own list and have it hanging next to my screen at this very moment. This was written by one of those heroic lone programmer types, so I forgive him for a less than professional job on the packaging. Get the difference here. No modifier keys to deal with. No alt or command or control keys to remember. What I like is that you just keep typing. In fact, now that I think of it, here is the whole list: about also and and the are aren't ation ational ations been but can could count dollar each electronic even every for for the from from the give good had has have haven't ing ings just keep know large last last month last week last year late least less less than letter life light like little live long look love made make many maybe meet ment ments middle might minute money month more more than morning most move much must name near necessary need never next month next next week next year night noon not not the note number of the ologic only other over people people's percent person quarter question said says sion some take talk than thank that the their them then there these they thing think this month this this week this year those though time tion tion tions today tomorrow want was wasn't week were what when where which while whom whose will with the with without would year yesterday you you' your So there it is, friends. There is a demo version available that I could post if I get motivated (or enough people say, "Do it!") Date: Sat, 28 Jan 1995 22:23:27 -0800 From: Gary Karp Subject: Re: Macro/Word Prediction Software >Does anyone have favorite macro/word prediction software they >use on a PC? I'm looking to save keystrokes.. > >--John I am a pleased user of The Sword, an abbreviation routine which I have mentioned before on Sorehand. It saves a considerable amount of keying. Briefly, there are 100 preset abbreviations which involve one or two characters to initiate. For instance, "d-space" is "and," "t-space" is "the,"th" is "there,"j-space" is the suffix "ing," "v-space" is the suffix "tion" and so on. It does an automatic single-space after a comma, single or double-space after a period. After a period the next character is an automatic cap. There are also forty slots to enter customized abbreviations. It is much better than trying to do something like this with a macro utility such as QuicKeys/ProKeys - which I also use and value. You don't have to reach for any modifier keys - Command, Alt, etc. - you just do it on the fly as you type. At first it is a bit odd to not type the whole word. Most of us spell in our minds as we type, but Pavlov was really right. I have rehabituated to it, and probably save up to a third of keystroking, depending what I am typing. Last I heard it ran on Macintosh and DOS. Contact C.U.S.P. at 707/937-4298. For information on word prediction software - it guesses at what you are trying to type and puts up a list of words to choose from - contact Don Johnston Incorporated about their Co:Writer software. They have a neat catalog with products for disabled computer users, including switches. ------------- Gary Karp Onsight Technology Education Services Ergonomics consulting/evaluation/tools 1510 Eddy Street, Suite 1511, San Francisco, CA 94115-4185 415/749-1983, gkarp@sirius.com