A Closer Look at the DragonBar in NaturallySpeaking
The DragonBar is docked at the top of the screen. If you prefer, you can change the placement by clicking on the Dragon icon on the left. From here you can also invoke the QuickStart option by choosing Tray Icon Only.
This minimizes the DragonBar and places a microphone icon in your system tray. Right-click the icon to see all the same menu options that were available to you when the DragonBar was visible.
To set the option to have QuickStart launch when Windows starts up, go to Tools→Options→Miscellaneous and select the check box for Launch Dragon in QuickStart mode when Windows starts.
Here are the items on the toolbar, as shown.
The Microphone On/Off Button: This is the most critical one for obvious reasons. If your microphone is off, you’ll be doing nothing more than talking to yourself. Your assistant will be waiting to hear from you. To dictate, click this button so the microphone icon is green and standing up, not red and lying down.
Volume Display: The volume display is color coded for easy interpretation. It’s yellow when it doesn’t hear your voice, green when your voice is at a good level, and red if you’re too loud. Adjust your voice accordingly.
The Check Mark Icon: If the check mark is green, you know that all the Full Text Control functions of the application you are in are available and working.
Microphone/Status Window: This window tells you if your microphone is off and will display tips or information about your dictation.
Profile Menu: This is where you manage all the functions related to User Profiles, such as adding new users and backing up a User Profile.
Tools Menu: The tools menu has several important items, including the DragonPad (discussed later in this chapter) and the Administrative settings.
Vocabulary Menu: This menu contains the all-important vocabulary editor and is the place where you go when you want to have your NaturallySpeaking assistant learn more from your documents and e-mails.
Modes Menu: You use several modes when dictating, including the dictation mode and the command mode. When you want to move from one to another, you make the switch here.
Audio Menu: Here you will be able to launch accuracy training along with playback and read.
Help Menu: The Help menu is chock-full of helpful resources and tips. It also includes a link to Nuance.com on the web, where you’ll find more training.
Extras Arrow: This arrow slides out the Extras toolbar extension. When it's extended, it looks like this figure.
Correction Button: Click this button to make corrections and teach your assistant how you say things.
Transcribe: Here’s where you transcribe an audio file you dictated.
Start Playback and Stop Playback: To make this function work, you select text to start or stop hearing your recording of what you dictated. Use the Begin Rewind or Begin Fast Forward button to move to where you want to be in the recording.
When you use these fast movement buttons, your voice will sound high and fast, and you may not be able to find your place. It may be easier to move where you want by either
Saying “Insert before xyz”
Clicking where you want to start playing from
Read: This button enables your NaturallySpeaking assistant to read the text to you in the voice you have chosen.
