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Create a command

In this topic, learn how to create custom commands to:

  • Access a website
  • Open a specific files or folders
  • Access menu items in a specific application
  • Use keyboard shortcuts
  • Open an application
  • Perform a variety of more complex actions (scripting knowledge required)

What are custom commands?

Custom commands allow you to make Dragon work better for you. For example, you might create a command to:

  • Access your favorite website.
  • Open a frequently used document.
  • Quickly access a frequently used menu item in an application.
  • Perform a keyboard shortcut in an application.

You can also add Auto-text commands to quickly insert frequently-used text. See Auto-text commands for more.

Creating a custom command

New command panel

  1. Click the Dragon menu icon in the menu bar and select Show Commands…

    2. Or

    Say Show Commands window.

    The Commands window opens.

  2. Select a context from the list.
  3. Click the Add Command button at the top of the window.

    4. The new command panel opens.

  4. Enter the Spoken Phrase you want to use to trigger the command.

    5. Important: To avoid misrecognition and conflicts with existing commands, it is important that you choose a name that is at least two words. Avoid words such as "that," "one," "two," etc.

  5. Optionally, enter a brief command Description.
  6. Select the Context where you want to use the command.

    7. To create a new context:

    1. Click Choose…
    2. Browse to an application on your hard drive and select it.
    3. Click Open.
  7. Select the Type of command you want to create.

The fields you see in the panel vary based on the command type you choose.

Menu Item

A Menu Item command selects a specified item in the menu bar of a specified application.

To create a Menu command:

  1. Select Menu Item in the Type dropdown, even if it is already selected, to load the Select a menu item dropdown with the menu options for the selected context.

    2. Note: If the application you chose as the context is not currently running, the Launch Context… button may appear. Click the button to load the menu options for the application.

  2. Open the dropdown to see the menus of your selected context (application).
  3. Click the menu and submenus (if needed), then select the item.

    4. Your selection appears in the Menu field.

  4. Click Save.
ClosedHere's an example

While using Microsoft Word, saying Add link selects the menu item Hyperlink… in the Insert menu:

Command details: Menu Item

You can access menus in any application by saying Click <menu name> menu. However, you can save time by creating custom Menu Item commands for frequently used items.

Tip: Use Menu Item commands to access iTunes scripts with Dragon. Just select Script from the dropdown menu and find your script in the submenu.

Keystroke

A Keystroke command accesses a keyboard shortcut on your Mac or in a specific application.

To create a Keystroke command:

  1. Select Keystroke in the Type dropdown.

    2. The Keystroke list appears.

  2. Click Add Keystroke to add a keystroke to the list.
  3. To the right of the Keystroke list, type the key you want to use into the Key field, or select a special character from the dropdown.
  4. Select the modifier keys you want to use.
  5. Click Save.
ClosedHere's an example

While using Microsoft Excel, saying New workbook activates ⌘N, the keyboard shortcut for creating a new workbook:

Command details: Keystroke

You can access any keyboard shortcuts using key commands, such as Press the key combo Command N. However, you can save time by creating custom Keystroke commands for frequently used shortcuts.

Bookmark

A Bookmark command jumps to a URL in your default browser.

To create a Bookmark command:

  1. Select Bookmark in the Type dropdown.

    2. The URL field appears.

  2. Paste the URL you want to access into the text field.
  3. Click Save.
ClosedHere's an example

Saying Jump to Nuance opens the URL http://www.nuance.com/index.htm in the default browser:

Command details: Bookmark

You can also create a Bookmark command by saying Create a command for this page while browsing in Safari.

File or Folder

A File or Folder command opens a specified file in its default application, or a folder in the Finder.

To create a File or Folder command:

  1. Select File or Folder in the Type dropdown.

    2. The Target Path field appears.

  2. Click Choose Target

    3. The Open dialog appears.

  3. Select the file or folder, then click Select Target.

    4. The path to the selected file or folder appears in the Target Path field.

  4. Click Save.
ClosedHere's an example

Saying Open Budget file opens a file called Budget2016.xlsx:

Command details: File or Folder

Application

An Application command launches a specified application.

To create an Application command:

  1. Select Application in the Type dropdown.

    2. The Application Name field appears.

  2. Click Choose Application to select an application.

    3. The Open dialog appears.

  3. Select an application and click Select Application.
  4. Click Save.
ClosedHere's an example

Saying Show calculator opens the Calculator application:

Command details: Application

By default, Dragon will generate commands to launch all your applications. However, if you prefer to deselect that option in the Advanced Preferences pane, you can create your own command to access a frequently used application.

Advanced commands

Users with coding knowledge can create more complex custom commands to perform a wide variety of tasks.

ClosedClick for details

AppleScript command

AppleScript

The AppleScript command type is the most flexible, offering users familiar with the scripting language fine control over a wide variety of tasks.

  1. Select AppleScript from the Type dropdown.

    2. An AppleScript script editing environment appears.

  2. Enter your script in the Source field: you can compile and run it right in the Commands Manager.

Many built-in Dragon commands are AppleScript commands. For example, the command to the right is the built-in command to close the current file.

Automator Workflow

If you have an Automator Workflow file, you can create a command to execute it. For example, if you made a workflow to resize photos, you can create a command to trigger that workflow by saying Resize photos.

  1. When you select Automator Workflow in the Type dropdown.

    2. The Workflow location field appears.

  2. Drag the workflow file to the field, or enter the path to its location.

Shell Script

You can use shell script commands to perform a variety of tasks. The script should begin with a "shebang" line (e.g. #!banshee).

  1. Select Shell Script in the Type dropdown.

    2. A Shell Script editing environment appears.

  2. Enter the script you want to execute.

    3. For example, enter open -a safari to create a command that launches Safari.

Running a shell script does not open the Terminal, and there is no means of viewing output. You should generally create and test your shell scripts elsewhere before adding them to Dragon.

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