How to get “smart punctuation” with word prediction/completion

This AutoHotkey script is a way to make punctuating more efficient when using word prediction or completion with automatic spacing enabled. Using this script, you don’t have to backspace in order to punctuate after predicting a word. When you press the punctuation, the script will backspace for you, insert the mark, then space. That’s the first part. The second part accounts for times you may type an unknown word or otherwise not choose a prediction, so there would be no trailing space. This part specifies that if a letter appears before the punctuation, the script will only insert the mark, then space. I left the quotation mark alone because of the different inside/outside punctuation rules. OpusApp restricts it to Word.

#IfWinActive ahk_class OpusApp

#Hotstring *
::.::
Send, {bs}. `
return

::,::
Send, {bs}, `
return

::?::
Send, {bs}? `
return

::!::
Send, {bs}{!} `
return

::)::
Send, {bs})
return

#Hotstring ? *
::.::
Send, . `
return

::,::
Send, , `
return

::?::
Send, ? `
return

::!::
Send, {!} `
return

How to “edit” the Turbo Type prediction dictionary

If you’re using TurboType in the US and a word you want is behind several British spellings, it can take a while for your word to move up a level. However, if you really use that word often, you can trick the dictionary (a.k.a. lexicon) into bumping it up a level or so. In my case, the word was “programs” — it was behind “programme” and “programmes” so that I had to type the whole word before it appeared. But now, “programs” appears third after typing p-r-o-g. Much better. To speed the prediction process, I did the following (after typing “programs” many times and getting tired):

1. Click the TurboType icon and choose Add New Word.

2. Type the word you want to move up (or bury, as the case may be). It’s not technically a new word, but that doesn’t matter.

3. Pick a frequency number — but don’t overdo it! To bury a word you don’t use, set it to 1. To accelerate a word you want, 2 is safest to start.  (If it turns out you over- or underestimated the number, you can go to TurboType’s program file, edit that entry in the custom_words file and save the change.)

This is the closest thing to editing the dictionary and/or getting unused predictions out of the way. I also want to remind you that certain phrases are found by typing inward a little, especially if you’re predicting with a 2-letter threshold. For example, typing n-o offers “now,” but the phrase “now that” appears only after typing n-o-w. “Because of” appears after typing b-e-c-a. Experiment.

TurboType update: numbered

So I am using the new version of TurboType, which now numbers the word list from 1 to 3 for instant completion…not even a week after the suggestion. Responsive programmers continue to surprise me. In terms of basic prediction functionality, TurboType now rivals Penfriend in my opinion, and surpasses it in speed. What it doesn’t do I can do with AutoHotKey macros, which I’m working on.

Once again I have to say: what gives? Why don’t the less expensive options get more mentions — especially if they have fewer bugs and faster support? A program doesn’t have to cost $100+ for it to be good assistive technology. If it has the functions you need, what’s the problem? And if you only need the core, you’re not paying for features you don’t use. Sounds like something that deserves mention to me.

Turbo Type review: good word prediction, low cost

NOTE: Please see comments 10 and 11 for an explanation of how Turbo Type orders and learns suggestions. It may not be what you’re used to. SEE ALSO: How to edit the TurboType dictionary.

I think I have a new favorite program. I was looking for an alternative to Typing Assistant because the USB version is conflicting badly with some network setting or other. I could contact IT, but the point of a portable program is to avoid that. So, I went looking for something a little more compatible and found TurboType, which borders on a true word prediction program, not just a completion program. At any rate, it has shades of one, and for $20. (I recommend the paid version for work as well as home use because it learns word frequency and enables new words, starts at bootup if you choose, and has no session timer; you don’t need to restart after 2 hours.) You can install to a flash drive, though it will want to create a start menu folder anyway.

The dictionary is composed of core words (and phrases!) only, with a maximum of three choices per guess. Since the dictionary is so small, there is a greater chance the right word will be on it. If it isn’t, you can keep typing until it shows up, then accept automatically or choose with arrows or numbers. When the word you want is highlighted, you can press Space, Enter or Tab (you can select all of those options at one time, enabling completion from any area of the keyboard) and the program will insert it instantly, along with a space if you choose. The suggestion window is transparent and even the Normal font setting is large by default, which is WONDERFUL. I didn’t like peering at the Typing Assistant list all the time; even its large font is kind of small.

So, for example, I type “so” (the prediction requires at least 2 letters) and am offered “so,” “some,” and “something.” All very likely candidates, and no extraneous suggestions. On my keyboard it is easiest to accept the first choice with Space. If none of the choices work, press Escape.

You can add words or phrases either individually or in bulk. To add a single entry, click the taskbar icon (there is unfortunately no keyboard shortcut yet, so either use Mouse Keys or Windows Key — Escape — Tab — Tab to get the tray focus, then press the arrows until the icon is focused and press Enter. On the menu, choose Add New Word and follow the prompt. To add a list, enter it in Notepad or a similar text editor and copy it. Then go to where you installed the program and open Custom Words. Paste the list and put commas after the words, immediately followed by a “frequency of use” number from 1 to 3 — rarely, sometimes and often respectively. Choose carefully because this will affect how your suggestions are ordered.

If you don’t want TurboType to suggest words in certain programs, there IS a filter — the PC World reviewer was mistaken. Choose Customize from the menu, and a checkbox saying “Do NOT suggest” is right there. Just add the process you want it to ignore, e.g. _firefox.exe. Simple.

You can create abbreviations, but you need to press Control Space to expand them. Therefore, I would save abbreviations for sentences or very specific information, instead of for shortening single words — the prediction works so well that you don’t need to do that.

In sum, this program has promise — so much, in fact, that it could rival big names like Soothsayer and Penfriend, which are more expensive but, ironically, much slower and potentially more bloated. Please support the developer so that Turbo Type can keep improving — $20 beats $100+.

Typing Assistant 4.2

Typing Assistant is now 99% perfect — the makers are good listeners. Version 4.2 is now totally keyboard accessible, and everything else in my previous review still applies. Thank you programmers!

Typing Assistant review: excellent multipurpose program

I gladly let my trial of TypeBooster run out because it was too glitchy for me. When I went looking for a comparable program, I found Typing Assistant 4.1, tried it out, and snapped it right up. If you want to buy it, it’s slightly more expensive than TypeBooster at $35, but definitely worth it. Even though the program’s name sounds generic, it’s actually extremely functional.

First of all, this program really is universal — it’s not just limited to the newer programs. Even I, still clinging to Microsoft Word XP, can use it. Big plus right there. Second, the programmers have actually fixed that seemingly omnipresent bug that all word prediction programs seem to have — for a change, this program does not suddenly quit working in the middle of a word. Third, it works with both physical and virtual keystrokes.

The gist of Typing Assistant is similar to most others — using either the number or function keys (or pointing device) to select word suggestions from a list. You can adjust the letter threshold. You have the option of telling the program to insert a character after words are predicted, such as a space, period, or comma. Since this character will appear after every word you select, the space seems to be the most logical option if you decide to do this. Most importantly, Typing Assistant immediately begins ordering your selections by frequency of use.

Where Typing Assistant differs from other programs is first of all its treatment of the shorthand feature, which I like very much. When you enter your shorthand and its corresponding replacement text, it becomes part of the prediction, meaning that you select from the same numbered list. Helpfully, when you begin to type your shorthand, the suggestion list actually gives you the text it stands for, so you don’t have to keep remembering your replacements. Whatever settings you applied to the prediction will also apply to the shorthand. For example, if you have told Typing Assistant to insert a space after predictions, your shorthand result will also have a space after it. I like this feature because it was occasionally fatiguing for me to have to keep using the spacebar in order to expand my shorthand in programs like Writer. (I like to reduce movement as much as possible.) Additionally, you can use both capital and lowercase letters for your shorthand, and give them separate values. For example, in my list “X” will give me the suggestion “whether,” and “x” will suggest “if.” You have more options for your shorthand here, because it will not expand unless you tell it to. So, if you have used the letters “me” to stand for something, you don’t have to sacrifice using the pronoun “me” — just ignore the suggestion list and keep typing.

Another feature I find myself using is the clipboard extender. Normally when you copy something, you can only do one thing at a time because the next item wipes out the previous. Typing Assistant takes whatever you’ve copied and puts it into its own “clipboard prediction dictionary,” which can also appear in the general suggestion list if you want it to. If you just want to see the clipboard, just press Alt-Right arrow. This way, if you’re putting multiple links in your blog post for example, it’s a lot faster. Another feature, which I have not used much, is the Auto Launcher, which will create hotkeys to launch your favorite programs.

Although Typing Assistant has hotkeys to bring up its control panel and its separate dictionaries, its only drawback at the moment is that its menus are not accessible by keyboard. To make choices like OK, Add, or Delete, you have to actually move the cursor to the button and click it, either with Mouse Keys or pointing device. However, it turns out Typing Assistant has excellent technical support. I wrote to the programmers and suggested adding the ability to use the Tab and Enter keys to navigate, and they answered that they hadn’t thought of that while making 4.1, but would consider it for the next version. They even offered to tell me when they added it. How cool is that?

TypeBooster and on-screen keyboards

Bugger it — now it only works with physical keystrokes, not virtual. It recognizes neither the Windows on-screen keyboard nor the Click-N-Type. If you want word completion with an on-screen keyboard, stick with Click-N-Type and edit the prediction dictionary to include phrases.

TypeBooster and Word update

I mentioned that the TypeBooster word completion/expansion program doesn’t work with Word XP or OpenOffice.org Writer 2.4. It still doesn’t. However, I was informed that it will in fact work with Word 2007. So, if you can stomach it…go to. Off to edit previous review…

Portable Apps: Portable word completion

Unfortunately, public computers are not great (yet) at being accessible to those with physical disabilities. Most often, the barrier is money. Open source software may eventually change some of that, but for now a lot of network folks still need to be convinced that these programs are even worth installing.Until then, you have at least one option — how well it works will depend on your other hardware or software needs and whether you can bring them with you also. If you’re in a public place like a library that only gives you a set amount of time on a machine, and you need word completion or shorthand in order to work efficiently, I suggest downloading the portable version of Open Office from Portable Apps. Portable Apps will install programs like Open Office onto any flash drive you have, provided you have enough space — your flash drive doesn’t have to be U3. The catch is that once Open Office is on the flash drive, you will have to program your shorthand into the AutoCorrect replacement table again, the instructions for which are here. Once you have done that, however, you can load your flash drive into any public computer, run the program, and type with both abbreviation expansion and word completion enabled.

If for some reason you cannot use a flash drive, there is another more roundabout solution. If the public computer is running Microsoft Word, you will be out of luck if you want word completion, but your shorthand might still be of some good to you. When you are typing, simply use your shorthand as you normally would. It will not expand — it will be entered as it is. Before your time on the computer is up, save the document (in 97/XP/2003 format) and e-mail it to yourself. When you get home, open the attachment in Writer. Then, go to the Format menu and look under AutoFormat. If “while typing” is checked, uncheck it. Then, go under AutoFormat again and click Apply. Your shorthand should expand. If it doesn’t, you might have to go under Tools — AutoCorrect Options– Options and make sure the box for “use replacement table” is checked for M (modifying existing text). Also note that you will only run the replacement once. After you’re done, you can go back to AutoFormat and check “while typing” again, and go into the AutoCorrect replacement table and check T (while typing).

Portable Apps has Firefox also, so you can have Mouseless Browsing or whatever add-ons already set up. It also offers an onscreen keyboard. Unfortunately, it’s only the Windows “lite” version, which most public PCs have already. I wish they’d make a portable Click-N-Type.

OpenOffice word completion

I was thrilled to discover OpenOffice, specifically Writer. I was stunned when I went into the language options and discovered that Writer had built word completion capability into the program. It is refreshable, meaning that you have to load pre-existing documents first and then close them, which puts all the words into memory so Writer can predict them in your new document. Its threshold is 10,000 words, and the minimum for how long a word has to be for Writer to predict it is five letters. Writer offers a choice after typing the third letter. Its choices are single and alphabetical, so that if you have words alphabetically close together you continue typing until you reach the one you want, then press enter. The program also automatically inserts a space after the word if you choose.

To activate word completion:

• Tools
• AutoCorrect
• Word Completion
• Enable word completion
• Append space (optional)
• Collect words — when closing a document, save the list for later use with other documents