Using fields with Auto-text commands

You can add fields to the content of an Auto-text command to hold the place of information that varies from one document to another. Later, when you use this Auto-text command, you'll need to insert a specific value for each field.

Some examples:

• Mailing labels that use fields for each element of the address you're entering
• Form letters that use a field for the name of the person you're writing to
• Routine notices that use fields to specify important upcoming events or deadlines
• Invoices that use fields to specify cost breakdowns and penalty surcharges.

Setting up your fields

In your Auto-text content, enter square brackets to indicate a text field.

Text field	Example
Blank text field – empty brackets noting a text field to be filled in	Dear [],
Named text field – brackets containing a placeholder describing the text field	Dear [name],
Default text – brackets containing a default value for the text field	Dear [customer],

Navigating fields and specifying their values

When you insert your Auto-text into a document, you will see your text fields marked by brackets.

Example:

[first] [last]
[street]
[city], [state] [Zip]
[United States]

To fill in the text fields

• Say Next / previous input field to select text fields.
• Say First input field to jump to the first text field.

The contents of the text field, including the brackets, will be highlighted. Do one of the following:

• Dictate the text you want to enter in its place.

  Example: With [first] selected, say James.

• Say Accept default to use the default value entered.

Example: With [United States] selected, say Accept default.

The text field will be replaced with what you dictated (or the default text), and Dragon will no longer consider it an input field. When you are done, the example Auto-text will look something like this:

James Smith
123 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01111
United States