Change shortcuts and use a foot pedal

All shortcuts are under Settings›General›Shortcuts. Click the Shortcuts row to open it. In the Help menu, Change shortcuts takes you straight there.

The shortcuts

The Edit selected text by instruction row has no key of its own. It reminds you that the dictation key also changes selected text. Edit text by voice explains this.

Other shortcuts are on their own pages: the scratchpad on the Scratchpad page, the commands and the Edit key on the Commands page.

Set another key

Cancel keeps the old key. When a key differs from the default, Default appears next to it. A click on it restores the default.

When two shortcuts get in each other's way, a note shows under the row, for example Same keys as Dictate. Then choose another combination.

Which keys are allowed

A shortcut must not get in the way of normal typing. Dictate accepts:

• Combinations with Ctrl, Alt or Win, on a Mac with Control, Option, Command or Fn
• Single special keys: F1 to F24, Pause, Scroll Lock, the operator keys of the number pad such as Num+, and media, volume and browser keys

Dictate refuses a combination with Shift only, or a single letter key. It then shows:

Cancel dictation has another rule: one key such as Esc or F12, or a combination with Ctrl or Alt. The key works only while a dictation runs. At other times it stays free for your programs.

Hold or tap

Under Behaviour you choose how the Dictate key works:

• Hold to talk: Dictate listens while you hold the keys. A brief tap starts a hands-free dictation.
• Tap to start and stop: the first press starts, the second one stops.

Foot pedals and dictation microphones

Devices that send a key work directly. You need no driver from MediSync.

If the pedal sends the key for as long as it is down, Hold to talk dictates for exactly that long. If it only sends a short key press, choose Tap to start and stop.

On a Mac

On a Mac, Fn is the dictation key. A foot pedal needs a free key from F13 to F19 there.

For a key to reach Dictate in every program, Dictate needs the Input Monitoring permission. Without it the recorder shows No key arrives. Allow Input Monitoring for MediSync Dictate, then record the key again. Click Allow and record the key again.

A Mac reports a key that is not allowed like this: This key gets in the way of typing. Choose a combination with Control, Option or Command, or a special key such as F13.