Instant Text
Suggestions that worked for me.

Posted by Patty on Tue, 11/28/2000

In Reply to: Need encouragement! SM posted by KT on 11/27/2000

I could not afford to be slowed way down while learning. I did not use the other products you mention though.

What I did was compile a glossary and get set up initially, but then I only used the IT on for 5 to 15 minutes per hour for the first day or two, then longer fractions of an hour the next day or two, and so on. By a week later, I found myself using it most of the time.

I have Microsoft Word, and I was already making heavy use of autocorrect feature and the AutoText feature. I never stopped using those. By continuing with those, I managed to not lose much speed while getting accostomed to Instant Text. Pretty soon some of the abbrevs in autocorrect were easier with IT. Some, but not all. I still use all 3 speed helps.

I also started with about 8 advisory lines, and ended up decreasing that to 5.

Linking onto the document with ALT and . (period symbol) helps with speed, too.

I felt that for me, getting accostomed gradually over a 2 to 4 week period paid off in the long run, kept my work on schedule with the deadlines, and kept me from stressing out. It was well worth it.

Patty A.

Followups