Hello,

I work in ChartScript, which comes with the Control A abbreviation expander. I was wondering if there is a website or a place to get more in-depth info on the expander's capabilities. I've figured out a lot on my own, simply by trial and error, and also by reading the wonderful tips & tricks on this very cool website, but I can't help but wonder if it's capable of doing more. If anybody knows if a manual of any kind exists, I'd really be interested. My two abbreviation expander choices are the Control A expander which comes with ChartScript, and Autocorrect. Any additional info on Autocorrect would be greatly appreciated too! I just have this feeling that there's more I could do, if I only had the right info. I have asked my manager for more info, and I didn't get much help, so I decided to do some digging on my own.

I'd really like to thank everybody for all the really great reading material on this website. It's truly amazing how much knowledge is shared here. Very cool for us transcriptionists8-)

Hi, lw2day. So glad to have posters here, always.

Trying to find in-depth information on ChartScript's expander on the net, or the likes of a manual, is really just........not happening! I wish it were and I've never understood that. But you know, your employer should be able to provide you with a SoftMed/ChartScript instruction booklet. We got one when my hospital first went with them and they had a training session. If your supervisor/manager doesn't have any, I'm sure SoftMed would be able to send it if requested.

Also, somewhere in Help there should be a lot of information on expander features. I know there is, in fact. I just can't remember where and I don't work on it anymore or have access to it. Might be the Help you go to from a certain screen. We were once sent some printouts from it. Maybe another member can help with this?

That said, it's a pretty "basic" expander. I seriously doubt you are missing features if you've already studied up on it. Same for AutoCorrect. (Basic doesn't always equal "bad," - just, basic.)

You asked for additional info on AutoCorrect. Here's a thread with AutoCorrect tricks you probably know, but just in case, it's here Some people run into troubles when using AutoCorrect with the ChartScript expander, but others don't and apparently you don't. Another AutoCorrect trick is that you can actually have a space in your abbreviation; you could have en ter for enteric. Also, we have macros here, if you are allowed to install Word macros, that can really speed things up and are quite nice, see this thread Often there is a resounding "NO" when you ask permission to install macros in ChartScript Word, though.

Hi, lw2day and Harrie.

I have been working with CS for several years now. I had many of the same questions as you do, lw2day, and I was having a difficult time getting the info I needed. I did some "snooping" in the program and found the manual (which I had never been given when I started using CS). To get to it, if you are set up the same as me, when I sign onto CS with my name/password, I get a screen with several boxes, i.e. ChartFact Locator, Chart Reserve, ....ChartScript, etc. To get into CS, I usually just hit the ChartScript box or type "S". AFTER you hit the "S" and are at the screen where you can "add", "edit", "report gen", etc. go to "Help" and click on "ChartScript Library". This opens up a document in Adobe Reader. Click on the part of the manual you want to check, i.e. "management guide", "user's guide", etc. I learned a lot of new stuff just by browsing through these guides. Of course, I am not set up to be able to access some of this, but it was very interesting seeing what this program can do.

Hope this helps!

Happy typing!

Cheers, Chrissy. Sure do appreciate this reply for lw2day.