I have been transcribing for the past 12 years on WordPerfect 5.1. I know there's several other word-processing programs out there that are definitely more up to date than mine. Every year I keep saying that I am going to look into it and switch, but I have 10 doctors that I do work for and every time I think of all the new macros and shortcuts that I have to re-do, I chicken out. Now by force I have to do it and was wondering which is the best and easiest word-processing program out there for medical transcribing?

LVG

[LVG - Please don't use uppercase for every word - SOMara, Administrator]

You could upgrade to a newer version of WordPerfect, of course, and in this case you may be able to convert many of your macros. If you have to go to Word, here is a site where you can get help --

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/index.html

and another --

http://www.mtwerks.com./

I don't know anything about the following program, but a lot of people seem very happy with it, and it has neat features like line counting and preparing invoices.

http://www.medpen.net/

HTH

THANK YOU FOR THE INFO....I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO THESE WEB SITES....

LVG

I have always used WP for transcribing. I started 100 years ago with WP 4 - now I am using WP 9. (I have also used Word extensively with other projects over the years.)

I have always preferred WP for transcription because of the macros. But now that I use the word expanding program "Instant Text" - Because it will work with either WP or Word, I don't think I would any longer have any preference between the two.

I love Instant Text and because of several of its features, I prefer it to using Macros. It does all that macros do - and much more - and works just great with either WP or Word.

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But back to your problem. Many times when I upgraded WP, I had to redo my macros. I just bite the bullet and did it. It actually never ended up being as bad a job as I felt it would be. And before long, I had most of them back in and was up and running again.

Good luck!

Carol Jean:

Thanks for the info, my new computer comes loaded with word, but my friend just dropped off WP 9.0, so I guess I will load it too...I am definitely looking into this "instant.text" that everyone is talking about....joining this web-site has been the best source for research I have found to date...

thanks again.

LVG

Hi, I just registered on this site tonight, so this is my first time writing to you all. I have enjoyed reading all of the topics. I too have been addicted to WP and started at WP 4.0. I then stayed at WP 5.1 and then everyone kept telling me to go to Word. I hated it!! Maybe old dogs don't learn new tricks!! It was very hard for me to switch, and now I am looking for a job at home and I might just go back to WP 5.1. I have always loved that program for transcribing. My question: I have Flash Forward in there now and I was wondering about the other one, Instant Text (?). I thought that was the name of it. I would like to hear everyone's opinion on that. I definitely need an abbreviation program and want to purchase one soon. I need advice on this. I also want something that is very user-friendly. Does anyone know the price? Thanks for your time and I love this site!! Susie

Susie,

If you are going to be using WP 5.1 I don't think you can use Instantext--it's only for Windows, I think.

I transcribe at home, having previously worked for services using Word and Medrite. I went back to WP 5.1 when I started working at home. I have Flashforward also. I have used PRD also, which I liked, but it is 4 times the cost of Flash and it's not THAT much better.

I have WP 8 which I use if I need to change fonts, but other than that, I type in WP 5.1. I have a lot of killer macros that no one has been able to tell me how to do them in Word or WP for Windows. I have a "data entry" type macro that jumps to the blanks I need to fill in. I ask people who rave about the other programs how they do that, and they don't have an answer. So until I have a reason, I'm not changing.

I have several friends who work at home using WP 5.1 who have and could use any program and prefer it. I can block, cut, and paste way faster with it than using a mouse.

I guess you can tell I'm from the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school?!??

kkb:
I am so glad that I am not the only one out there that feels the same way about WP 5.1. I switched over to WP-9, and I miss it so bad. I agree with you 100%, I can do things a lot faster on 5.1 than on 9, without the mouse. To me the mouse is just a waste of time. Now they are telling me that Word is much better. I have tried it and I rather use WP. The only thing that is helping me a little is the fact that I customized my keyboard to the 5.1 commands, and that I use Quickwords instead of macros. But I also believe in "why fix something that is not broken". My husband just tells me that I have to cut the umbilical cord off from WP5.1 and get with the new technology. That's easy for him to say, he doesn't transcribe!

LVG