We all know certain words seem to often follow standard things. For instance, "EKG changes." Here are a few examples I find helpful:

psal = PSA level
hivd = HIV disease
hivp = HIV-positive
ekgc = EKG changes
b12l = B₁₂ level
b12af = B₁₂ and folate
b12afl = B₁₂ and folate levels

Very good point, Harrie. You know, this is one of the places where IT pays you back for its somewhat steep learning curve. Compiling glossaries from a collection of completed work and using marker keys and continuations will give you a lot of this kind of thing automatically--not that you can't always think of a few good additions to put in by hand.

This is true, Sheila, and that's where that program grabs me!!

Here's another few I ran across today:

ldlc = LDL cholesterol
hdlc = HDL cholesterol
tshl = TSH level

tcho = total cholesterol
tchol = total cholesterol level
tchow = total cholesterol was
tcholw = total cholesterol level was
tchoi = total cholesterol is
tcholi = total cholesterol level is
ldl = LDL
hdl = HDL
ldli = LDL is
ldlw = LDL was
hdli = HDL is
hdllw = HDL level was
ldlli = LDL level is
ldllw = LDL level was
hdlli = HDL level is
hdllw = HDL level was
trig = triglycerides
trigl = triglycerides level
trigw = triglycerides were
triglw = triglycerides level was
ldlci = LDL cholesterol is
hdlci = HDL cholesterol is
tshli = TSH level is
ldlcw = LDL cholesterol was
hdlcw = HDL cholesterol was
tshlw = TSH level was

More of yours to add in! Thank you, Georg! Did I tell you the temp ones with degrees and degrees Fahrenheit are awesome?!

You know, these type, that you just posted, are helpful to me. They don't look like much, but I know I have buni for BUN is, wbci for WBC is, little things like that - cpki for CPK is, and I do utilize them. They are good. So, thanks for more!

A quick question - do you all add these types of lists to your main glossary? I'm still struggling with trying to pare mine down, and you all keep offering all these fabulous lists. How do you keep your glossaries to a manageable size?

-sono_io

Sono, is there a particular reason this worries you, though? I'm all for paring down when it comes to perhaps duplicates or entries that are "dangerous" or otherwise bothersome, but I personally really don't feel you have to worry about the size of your glossaries in IT. Mine are manageable and quick and I'd have to say they're stuffed! Are you having a slow down with your computer, or something else? I'd like to help.

As far as the best ways to pare down, I think the IT forum folks are your best bet for giving great advice on optimal ways to do it!

PS: I never answered your question! Yes, generally I add everything to my main glossary now. I have several linked together (includes), but nowadays, I add most everything to my main glossary, unless they are special entries, like commands or something. Depending on work type factors, though, you might want to add them to particular glossaries. That used to mean a lot more to me than it does now because my work has changed somewhat.

Harrie-
Thanks! I guess I'm a still little intimidated by IT. I'm still a new IT user (and a new MT), and I sometimes feel like I work on my glossaries more than transcribing reports! Of course that's a bit exaggerated, but I am hoping that all this work upfront will help me to be more productive later. I'm experimenting with IT to find the best "system" for me. I don't notice any problems with my system yet- I just want to avoid problems if I can. I'd love to use all the lists on this forum, but I was afraid I might blow up my IT or something! I feel like a 16-year-old driver getting behind the wheel for the very first time, in a Lamborghini! Yikes!

One thing about IT, though, is that it is pretty darn forgiving! It's easy to copy and manipulate glossaries, so there is no *real* reason for my fear - just something I need to get over! Plus with people like you and Tonks and Cheryl and the other members here, I have a really great resource to rely on!

Thanks again!!
sono_io

Well, sono, I can understand that feeling, I really can. And I think it'll just fade away as you add more and more and see that it doesn't blow up! In fact, if IT blows up on you, I invite you to sue me! That's how confident I am!

You know, lists are wonderful or I sure wouldn't bother posting them, and we've been getting great ones from the members here lately, too. What I love about them also is, getting other people's ideas for how they name their shorts. Sometimes it's like.....wow, I never thought of that! But in spite of lists, I still think the best thing for anybody is to go through their own reports and get the best ones they need from that. Boy, does it pay! And then, there's compiling with IT, OMG! LOL!

Whether you use one main glossary or break them up and use Includes depends on the individual and how you work. Don't worry about blowing up IT. The glossaries are plain text files and can hold thousands and thousands of entries. What you might notice with one huge glossary is that it will take a few nano-seconds more to load. You may also have to show more advisory lines. IT does not load duplicates, so you don't have to worry about that. You might want to set up one "lists" glossary and Include it with the glossary(ies) you have created with the Compile feature. Then all these wonderful lists are always available regardless of the main glossary in use.

At the risk of sounding really dumb, please tell me what IT is?

IT is simply our way of shortening Instant Text when talking about it, Kathy! There are links to Instant Text, Smartype, and Shorthand in the Productivity Links forum if you're interested. These are the "big three" MT expander programs, not that there aren't many others, of course!

IT = Instant Text (text expansion program)

http://www.fitaly.com/

There's even an IT forum here on Productivity Talk. Look for it on the main page. Hope this helps!

sono_io

Ok, now I get it. I thought perhaps it was some sort of word expander but wasn't sure. I have Stedman's Smartype, to answer your earlier question. I like it well enough, but one can't use numbers (would have loved to use the degrees) in setting it up, at least not that I can see yet. As I said, I'm still a bit new to using it. I need to spend a day or two working on it, though I do add as I go.

Kathy

Can't use numbers to start abbreviations with IT, either. I do love that feature! Shorthand has it! I still put in some of the degrees Fahrenheit entries posted here, though; I just put df in front!

You can do this with many in the opposite manner, as well - one letter before the main abbreviation. As in:

ncpap = nasal CPAP
ecpk = elevated CPK

Etc.

When you use huge glossaries in Instant Text, you may want to optimize the Glossary reloads by checking the box under Options/Usage to avoid the nano-seconds that it might take otherwise

This option has some consequences one of which I like: when you edit an entry in an included glossary and get out of the Glossary Viewer, your current glossary stays current. No need to switch back.

I am not sure this is an intentional consequence, but I really like it

Marianne
Textware Solutions

I like that consequence too, Marianne! And thanks for pointing it out. I checked off that feature long ago, but really rather forgot about it!

Two more I had yesterday:

icec = ICE chemotherapy
eshapc = ESHAP chemotherapy

piccl = PICC line