Word 2000 and IBM ViaVoice

[wally71]

Have referred to this thread: http://forums.techguy.org/showthread.php?threadid=50611 and am experiencing similar issue.

Have experienced problems with loaded ViaVoice 8.0 onto a Dell Inspiron laptop running Windows 2000 and Office 2000. It's a new load and very clean as far as program load and usuability (we scour them pretty well before releasing to our clients' care). However, after loading ViaVoice, received "Winword.exe has generated errors and will be closed by windows. You will need to restart the program. An error log is being created." when merely trying to start Word. Had uninstalled Office, used Eraser 2000 and then reloaded Office...this worked great. Reloaded ViaVoice and the problem returned.

Can find no support from IBM or Microsoft. Anybody have any hints?

 

[Anne Troy]

Have you used the corrective service release mentioned at:

http://www-4.ibm.com/software/speech/support/us/vvr8_index.html

See the FAQs on that page as well for some further information on using it with Word.

I apologize if you've already checked out the ViaVoice site, but you said you couldn't find any support. Looks like you can email them too.

The only other thing I can think is that it could be the order in which they're installed. So:

If Word was installed last, try reinstalling ViaVoice.
If ViaVoice was installed last, with both programs closed, rename any normal.dot files on the hard drive to abnormal.dot and if that doesn't work, then hit Start-->Run and type:

winword.exe /regserver

If you get an error when you run that, you may need to include the path to winword.exe, such as:

C:\program files\microsoft office\office\winword.exe /regserver

Then try using it again.

 

[wally71]

Thanks for the response.

Patch had already been tried. Checked install sequence, ran the /regserver switch. Now Word starts, cycles for 5 seconds, then quits with no error message.

As for email, this is what I have from IBM:

"Some printers' drivers treat the fonts in a document as objects, and this can cause problems for Via Voice.

To test if this is the case, please try the following suggestion:

1. Close all programs, including the Via Voice bar at the top of the screen. Click Start, Settings, Printers, double-left click Add New Printer.
2. If asked to choose whether you want to install a local or network printer, choose local and click Next. Under manufacturer, choose Generic and click Next.
3. Choose LPT1 as the port, and click Next
4. Choose this printer as the Windows default printer and click Next.
5. Choose not to print a test page and click Finish.

This will have set up a generic text printer in the Printers window. With this printer set as default in Windows, your printer drivers will not be in use when you open Word. Open Word and see if the same error occurs. If not, then try updating your printer drivers, set your original printer as the default Windows printer, open Word and see if the same error occurs (to reset your original printer as the default Windows printer, right click on the icon for your printer in the Printers window and left click Set As Default). If no printer updates are available, as a workaround, you can set the generic text printer as default when using Word for dictation and change back to your original printer when you want to print."

Now, the generic printer concept works, unfortunately the drivers for the printer (HP LJ 1100) are as current as can be. So, I either have a decent workaround that the user is somewhat comfortable with, or at least I am at a standstill.

 

[Anne Troy]

Ahhhh! Did you get Word to run again?

The workaround:

I used to have to switch printers a lot. Just record two macros and give them Text toolbar buttons. Make the toolbar buttons read "ViaVoice On" and "ViaVoice Off". Switch the printers when you record the macro. That way, you can have them use the generic printer by clicking ViaVoice On and running a macro. Save the macro in their normal.dot.

Alternatively, you can record a macro and save it in a template called ViaVoice.dot. Edit the macro to be called Sub Document_New(). Save and close the template. Whenever the user wants to dictate, just have them hit File-New and double-click Viavoice.

 

[RHurlburt]

Old thread but maybe it can be revived for my question.

We have set up a recorder to record our meetings. This application records to the computer.

Would like to take that recorded file and turn it into a document.

IE
Using an Olympus Digital Wave Recorder. It has both external and internal microphone and is plugged into an USB slot when recording the wave file that can be played back. Want to turn that into a MSWord document.

Any suggestions? And we can't afford the expensive Dragon software and not sure that would even work.

Thanks