New Users & General Questions

Print Page | Close Window

Auto hide?

Printed From: MSSpeech-Forum
Category: Windows™ Speech Recognition Forums
Forum Name: New Users & General Questions
Forum Description: Ask questions, give and get answers.
URL: https://www.msspeech-forum.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=261
Printed Date: 18/Dec/2024 at 10:19am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.02 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Auto hide?

Posted By: gemnfert
Subject: Auto hide?
Date Posted: 24/Oct/2011 at 12:31pm

I have purchased a tablet to do professional art. Thus, I am using a pen-based screen with no keyboard. I am wanting to use Windows Speech Recognition in lieu of keyboard shortcuts and right mouse button control.

My first hurdle to doing this is Windows Speech Recognition itself, hogging screen space. I am hoping that it is possible to have WSS start as a background process (hidden or minimised) rather than sitting on top of everything.

My second hurdle is macros. I would LIKE to be able to open Photoshop, and say "undo" and have the computer press the equivalent of undo (Control Z) rather than saying "Press Control plus Z" One of the benefits to keyboard shortcuts is you can just press them. With speech recognition, just saying the keys or shortcuts you want done will make things far easier. I have noticed that there are macro programmes available, are there any that I can use to make my own macros easily, based on keyboard shortcuts?

Also, I need to be able to access the right mouse button. The easiest way would be to say "right button" or "right mouse button" and use the pen (mouse) to click on the relevant area. Is that possible? In OSX, you can press Control and click, and it is the same as right clicking. There must me something that can trigger Windows to see a click as a right click, even without the right mouse button to click with.

Considering just how much easier Speech Recognition would make working with graphics on a keyboard-free machine, I am somewhat surprised that other graphics artists aren't making themselves known here.

Replies:

Posted By: mmarkoe_admin
Date Posted: 24/Oct/2011 at 5:09pm

gemnfert wrote:

My first hurdle to doing this is Windows Speech Recognition itself, hogging screen space. I am hoping that it is possible to have WSS start as a background process (hidden or minimised) rather than sitting on top of everything.

WSR opens with the Speech Bar. Just minimize it and it runs from the Taskbar. If you want to start it minimzed you could try finding the file sapisvr.exe, create a shortcut, change property to start up minimized and put it in the Startup folder.

My second hurdle is macros. I would LIKE to be able to open Photoshop, and say "undo" and have the computer press the equivalent of undo (Control Z) rather than saying "Press Control plus Z" One of the benefits to keyboard shortcuts is you can just press them. With speech recognition, just saying the keys or shortcuts you want done will make things far easier. I have noticed that there are macro programmes available, are there any that I can use to make my own macros easily, based on keyboard shortcuts?

WSR knows undo, it just worked here. The easiest way to create macros is to use the http://www.emicrophones.com/p-3033-wsrtoolkit-v2.aspx - WSRToolkit .

Also, I need to be able to access the right mouse button. The easiest way would be to say "right button" or "right mouse button" and use the pen (mouse) to click on the relevant area. Is that possible? In OSX, you can press Control and click, and it is the same as right clicking. There must me something that can trigger Windows to see a click as a right click, even without the right mouse button to click with.

I just said, "Right Click Mouse," and the context menu popped up.

Considering just how much easier Speech Recognition would make working with graphics on a keyboard-free machine, I am somewhat surprised that other graphics artists aren't making themselves known here.

So far you are it.

Try saying, "Show Numbers." You may find that command helpful.

Marty

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 24/Oct/2011 at 9:42pm

Thank you for your help :) I've not played with settings on executables in a good long time, so, if I come across any issues when I try it, I may have to be walked through step by step ;)

I was wondering if undo would work as undo in other software, it just wasn't responding to me. I'll try again once I've sorted out the starting minimised issue.

I'm intrigued by your suggestion of trying "Show Numbers" - I will definitely try it!

Sam

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 25/Oct/2011 at 12:51am

I managed to make a shortcut of the spisvr.exe file easily enough, as well as copying that shortcut to the Startup folder, and even setting it to minimise on startup... however, the file itself doesn't seem to open Speech Recognition? I have two copies on my machine (One in Windows\Speech\Common and one in a long-winded directory name) and tried opening both, neither seemed to do anything. Any ideas?

Posted By: mmarkoe_admin
Date Posted: 25/Oct/2011 at 8:17am

Sam,

Sorry, I thought that was the WSR startup file. Have no idea what else it could be.

Marty

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 25/Oct/2011 at 4:30pm

It was worth trying. I've sent an email to someone at Microsoft asking which is the corret file - but they haven't helped much so far, since this particular version of Windows came with the new tablet... I've been on OSX for years and was just now looking at switching back, so had to buy a new machine... and it's just more convenient to get the operating system with the hardware.

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 25/Oct/2011 at 11:51pm

I've been doing more research. It looks like it is the file, but apparently I need to give the shortcut administrator rights in order for it to run, or something... and even though I am logged in with admin rights, it refuses to let me change that. Anyone able to help get past this, please? :D

Posted By: mmarkoe_admin
Date Posted: 26/Oct/2011 at 12:10am

When the shortcut is on the Desktop, right click and you should see Run as Administrator.

Marty

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 26/Oct/2011 at 4:05pm

I mustn't have pressed send with my previous post before my browser crashed :(

Thanks for the help so far... currently, nothing it getting this thing to open directly. It will open through going to Control Panel... but no other way. I suspect that it may need a command string when started, but be darned if I have a clue as to what that command string may be, or if it is even that it needs to be started in/attached to a different directory. Any further ideas to try would be most definitely appreciated :)

Sam

Posted By: andy t
Date Posted: 29/Oct/2011 at 4:24am

gemnfert wrote:

I have purchased a tablet to do professional art. Thus, I am using a pen-based screen with no keyboard. I am wanting to use Windows Speech Recognition in lieu of keyboard shortcuts and right mouse button control.

My first hurdle to doing this is Windows Speech Recognition itself, hogging screen space. I am hoping that it is possible to have WSS start as a background process (hidden or minimised) rather than sitting on top of everything.

Hi Sam,

Just echoing Marty's advise but with some alternatives that may be useful to you.

You obviously know that you can have Windows speech recognition start-up automatically when you start up your computer. I honestly believe you do not need to mess around with the 'sapisvr.exe' because more often than not, there are speech commands you can use to perform the functions you want. If you want to use WSR, you should get into the habit of speaking the commands along with your dictation, thus being hands-free. After all, that's what it was invented for.

For your first problem, when Windows first starts up and the WSR speech meter is showing on the screen, to hide it yet still have it in use, you can simply say "Hide Speech Recognition." The speech meter will then disappear and put WSR on the taskbar. WSR will still be working from the taskbar but hides the cumbersome speech meter so then you have a full screen to play with. If for any reason you want the speech meter back showing again, you just say "Show Speech Recognition" and it will reappear again.

As Marty says, the "Undo" command already exists within WSR for most select-and-say word processor applications. Just say, "Undo," and it will undo the last piece of work or text you dictated. Sometimes, when you say that command, the undo symbol within Microsoft Word will have the 'Show Numbers' flash on it. If this happens, you simply just choose the number that coincides with the undo symbol and then say OK.

I'm not too familiar with Photoshop so I am not sure if "Undo" works in this application. If it does not, I'm sure you can make a macro so it does.

For making speech macros, two free programs are available to download from the web that Microsoft offer. They are, "Windows Speech Recognition Macros" and the "Windows Speech Recognition Profile Tool." Then as Marty says, for a modest price, I would purchase the WSR toolkit as this manages and compliments WSRMacros and makes things much easier to make speech macros.

There are a few commands equivalent to right clicking an item in WSR along with Marty's suggestions.

When on the item you want to right click, just simply say "Context Menu." This should bring up the context menu (equivalent to right clicking an item). When the context menu is open, you can use the "Show Numbers" command and say the number you want that corresponds with the context menu option you want. Another way is, when a context menu is open, you can also say, go down 1, go down 2 etc. and once the number of the option you choose is highlighted, you then just say, "Enter" to activate the option.

Already mentioned you can say, "Show Numbers." Normally, you would say the number you want that corresponds with the item on the screen you want. This simulates a "left click." To simulate a right click using Show Numbers, you can say "Show Numbers" and then say, "Right Click" and then the number of the item on-screen you want. "Right Click 1," Right Click 2" etc. This will then bring up the context menu for that item.

There are several ways to skin a cat so try out some of the commands mentioned above and see what is comfortable with you.

Hope this helps.

andy t

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 15/Nov/2011 at 2:54pm

Sorry for the delay, I've been dealing with Microsoft support, and haven't been on much while trying to get a few things sorted.

Thank you Andy,

I've been talking wit˙ Microsoft about an auto hide as well, but it seems that it isn't able to be done, so I'll need to load WSR first, and then minimise before touching any of the other software.

My next issue (macros) I've been waiting until I have the money to buy the toolkit. That came in this morning, so I'll be purchasing that today, and will hopefully be able tø ©et in touch with the manufacturers about some questions and suggestions about the toolkit software. I got the impression the developers for the toolkit were active on this forum, is that right?

Posted By: antihadron
Date Posted: 17/Nov/2011 at 11:24pm

Hi Sam,

Yes some of the developers are (moderately) active on the forum or at least try to be. :-) I'd be happy to answer any questions you have on the Toolkit.

Nathaniel

Posted By: gemnfert
Date Posted: 19/Nov/2011 at 12:03am

Thanks Nathaniel :)

I've been so run off my feet I still have to look where to download it from so I can put the key in :D Once it's loaded, I'll be able to figure out exactly where I'm having trouble!

Sam

Posted By: mmarkoe_admin
Date Posted: 19/Nov/2011 at 12:33am

> I still have to look where to download it from so I can put the key in :D

We have no idea what this means? When you purchased the product you received an order notification E-mail. In this E-mail was the link to download the WSRToolkit. At the end of the WSRToolkit installation are instructions to download 2 Microsoft programs (WSRMacros and the Profile Management Tool). These instructions are also in the Help menu and the Readme file. The first time you start the WSRToolkit, you place the License Key and will be able to use the software from then on.

Marty