Case CATalyst 12 Editing Tips and Tricks

Maximize your Software - Minimize your Edit

Time!

Written and Presented by Sonya Wilcox, RPR

Stenograph Certified Independent Training Agent
www.CaseCATalystHelp.com
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

AUTO LOGIN
If you are the only person using Case CATalyst on your computer, set the user to automatically
login.

From Manage Jobs, select your user icon.

Double click to enter the user.
Go to Tool/Auto Login
Select Always start Case CATalyst with usr: button.

APPEARANCE IS EVERYTHING
One of the ways to make editing a transcript easier and more fun is changing the way it looks.
While in a job, select View.
Normal vs. Page: Normal: View the text in a word processing format. Text formatting
displays, but other formatting features such as page borders, header and footers, and
graphics do not. Press Alt + v, n (View/Normal). To display the text in double space, select
View/Show/Double Space in the Normal view. You can only display text double spaced in
Normal View. Page: View the text as the file would appear when printed. Formatting
features such as text formatting, page borders, headers and footers, and graphics display.
Press Alt + v, p (View/Page). Using the mouse pointer, you can move the ruler markers to
make margins adjustments for the associated item.
Use Zoom to make bigger or smaller or adjust Fit Text or Fit Page
Panes: Select what other items you would like on your monitor besides your transcript text:

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

 Move Panes by clicking and holding on the top bar of the pane with your mouse and dragging
it where you want it to appear. To dock it on a margin (make it stay in one place and not be
on top of your transcript), drag it to the margin you want it at, hover it over the blue diamond
until the entire margin goes blue, and release it. Now it will stay put.
To put a pane back to its default location, double click on its colored title bar.
Change your Display colors
While in transcript, select View/Display/Colors
Either click on the spot on the transcript that you want to change and select the color from
the drop-down menu or select the title from the drop-down menu and select the color from
the drop-down menu.
Suggestions: Make the Q and the A opposing colors. Change the FS in Reveal codes to a
DARK color. Try different background colors to prevent eye fatigue.
Create an Editing Layout
While in transcript, select Format/Modify Layout
Click on Body Text Font
Select Bold, possibly change font size
Scroll down and check the box that says Apply changed measurements and fonts to
multiple paragraph styles.
Select Apply
Select Entire Document
Click on each paragraph style that you use. Select Ok
Close the Layout dialog box
Select Format/Save Layout As, name layout EDITING LAYOUT, Save.
When you are ready to print, Select Format/Apply New Layout, and apply your normal
default layout to save toner.
****Once you have an Editing Layout created, you simply need to go to
Format/Apply New Layout and select it from the list to use it during editing, and
then Format/Apply New Layout to return to your default before printing***
Change Dialog Box size and settings
To Change the Default This is only an option in 12 or higher. If you are below 12,
please go directly to Change individual dialog box settings.
From Manage Jobs, select Tools/Option/Manage Jobs General/Dialog
Change font size. Do NOT go too big all at once or the edges of the box will disappear off
your screen
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

 Adjust transparency
Select default location.
To change individual dialog box settings:
While editing the transcript, bring up the dialog box
Put cursor on the title bar and right click
If you want the box in a different location, select Move and move it with the move tool
rather than dragging it where you want it.
Right click on the title bar again, and select Dialog Settings.
Adjust your size, location, and transparency

Understanding Your Options

Part of cutting down on your editing time is making sure that you have your options set correctly
for translation. From Manage Jobs, Select Tools/Options/Translate. This will bring up the Translate
dialog box:

Options:
Use Update Area This box only needs to be checked if you are sending your D-Defines to
an Update area instead of defining them straight into your personal dictionary. Since Case
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

CAT spell checks entries automatically and alerts on conflicting entries, most people do NOT
need to use the update area, and it just adds an extra step in dictionary maintenance by
causing user to have to merge update area and personal dictionary.
*** RECOMMENDATION: SET D-DEFINES TO GO STRAIGHT TO PERSONAL
DICTIONARY AND LEAVE UNCHECKED**
To set Dictionary Default:
Go to Manage Jobs/Tools/Options/Dictionary/Options
Uncheck D-Defines go to update area.
If you have been using an update area, go merge it with your Personal
Dictionary.

Capitalize All Text This is a style choice. Tip: If you are taking the Certified Realtime
Reporter Examination, you are allowed to use all caps. This eliminates incurring errors for
incorrectly capped or uncapped words.
A/An Resolution This is a translate option for users who steno a and an with the same
stroke. You only need to check this box if that is the way you write. If you have different
steno for a and an this box does NOT need to be checked.
Drag/Drop Analysis - Drag/Drop analysis allows the user to tell Case CATalyst which letters
are commonly dragged (written accidentally into a steno outline) or dropped (missing from a
steno outline.) When CC is translating and it comes across an untranslated word, it will apply
your drag/drop rules. If by either eliminating one of your designated dragged letters from
the outline or adding one of your dropped letters will cause the steno to become a word
that would translate, then CC will translate it to the closest word. For example: If your steno
for the word CAT is KAT, but you have listed R- in your drag list, if you accidentally write
KRAT and it isnt defined as another word in your dictionary, CC will remove the R and
translate the word as CAT. Likewise, if you have listed A- in your drop list, if you steno K-T
and it isnt defined as another word, CC will add the A and translate the word as CAT.
Drag/drop analysis takes priority over Suffix Drag, so I do not recommend
designating keys that you use for suffixes in the Drag/drop boxes.
Check the Drag/Drop Analysis box.
Select Details
Put cursor in the Keys I tend to Drag box.
Click on commonly dragged keys on the steno keyboard
Put cursor on Keys I tend to Drop box
Click on commonly dropped keys on the steno keyboard
*** RECOMMENDED SETTING IS CHECKED AND USED WITHOUT SUFFIX ENDINGS
DESIGNATED***
EZ LINK - When active, Case CATalyst attaches prefixes and suffixes to the root word during
translation applying the rules of spelling in an attempt to correctly spell the combined word. Case
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

CATalyst first checks the Spell Check wordlist for a match. If no match exists then Case CATalyst
attaches the combined root word and suffix without any spelling changes. For example, you write
STOP /-G. The dictionary define for the steno outline STOP is "stop" and G is {Suffix}ing. The
result is "stopping". You must define the prefix and suffix using the {Prefix} and {Suffix}
symbols.
Case CATalyst resolves able/ible and er/or endings. For example, a dictionary entry {Suffix}er
exists. You write the steno stroke for "tract" followed by the stroke for {Suffix}er. The strokes
translate as "tractor" unless a dictionary entry exists as "tracter".
***RECOMMENDED SETTING IS CHECKED AND DEFINE STROKES IN YOUR
DICTIONARY WITH THE PREFIX AND SUFFIX SYMBOLS***
Suffix Drag - Suffix Drag is a Translate option. When active, Case CATalyst translates, by
default, steno outlines accidentally stroked with a dragged letter -G, -S, or -D as a suffix or
suffix letter tucked inside a steno outline. For example, you have "-D" defined as <Suffix>ed
in your dictionary. You normally write the word "stopped" as STOP/-D. During testimony,
however, you accidentally drag the final D into the first stroke, resulting in STOPD. With Suffix
Drag active, Case CATalyst translates the word as "stopped. In another example, you have a
dictionary definition for KHAT with the "-G" defined as <Suffix>ing. You stroke KHAGT. Since "G" is not the last letter of the stroke, Suffix Drag does not apply. With the Tuckable option
active for the steno outline "-G," if Case CATalyst does not find a definition for KHAGT in the
dictionary, KHAGT translates as chatting.
Check the Suffix Drag box
Click on Details
Steno - Type the steno for the suffix that, when written in the same steno outline as the
defined stroke, will translate as the combined word. Multiple characters are allowed, such
as GS or GZ for ings.
Suffix - type the text for the suffix. For example, if the steno is D, you would type ed
(no quotes) for the suffix. If the steno is R, you would type er for the suffix.
Tuckable - Select Yes to have Suffix Drag consider the steno as a suffix, even though it is
not the last character of the steno outline. If No is selected, only suffix characters listed
that are at the end of the steno outline will be considered suffixes. Example, if you steno
TP-EUT for the word FIT, and you have G defined in your dictionary as <suffix>ing, if
you steno TP-EUGT, it will translate as FITTING.
Spellchecked Select Yes to have Suffix Drag check the newly combined word against
Spell Check to confim the word is spelled correctly.
****RECOMMENDED SETTING IS CHECKED WITH ENDINGS DEFINED IN
DICTIONARY WITH <SUFFIX> DESIGNATIONS.
Colloquy + A = THE WITNESS - When you steno your Answer stroke after colloquy, it
appears as <Colloquy>THE WITNESS: You can change that designation, if you choose in the
text box. No recommendation. This is a style choice.
Colloquy + Q = Auto By Line Check this box to automatically have CC insert your speaker
By Line when hitting Q after colloquy. You must have a previously entered a dictionary
defined By Line entry into the transcript for this to work. For example, in your personal
dictionary, you would define DROEX/DROEX as DIRECT EXAMINATION<By Line>BY [EZ
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

SPEAKER 1]. You insert that into your transcript, define your EZ Speaker as MR. JOHNSON.
When you are in colloquy and then strike Q, CC will automatically insert the Mr. Johnson By
Line in the style you have chosen.
Set Auto By Line style:
In Edit, select Tool/Options/By Line Options
Place by line by: Choose before or after the Q
If After, select if you want it to change your Speaker to by line if inserting from speaker
list
Set your preferred format
Select search missing by line options
Parenthetical + Q = Auto By Line If you are choosing to use the Insert Auto By Line after
Colloquy, youll want to check this box, as well.
***RECOMMENDATION: If you are a user who does not have strokes defined in your
dictionary that you routinely use when writing to include your by lines, this is a
useful tool. If you already are stenoing the by line in, this will make a redundant
entry. This choice depends on the writers writing style.
Delete Repeated Q/A/C Unless you have Q/Q, A/A, or C/C defined in your dictionary as a
specific entry, this box should always be checked.
Use Smart Quotes Use Smart Quotes is a Translate option that allows you to use one
dictionary definition to create opening and closing quotes that append to a word. During
translation, Case CATalyst looks for the steno outline in the definition you designated for
quote. If Case CATalyst sees a steno outline for quote, it then looks for another exiting steno
outline for quote that occurs before the one it is currently reading. When no previous steno
outline for quote is found, Case CATalyst automatically creates an opening quote. When a
previous quote is found, Case CATalyst creates a closing quote. For example, you create one
dictionary entry for quotation mark, using the steno outline: KWS defined as " You write
KWS/TKPWAOD/KWS/WORBG during the job. The result is "good" work.
To use the Smart Quote feature, the dictionary definition for quote must contain only the
quote (") symbol. Smart Quote does not apply when text or format symbols exist in the
definition.
****Recommendation: If you dont have an established quote style, you may want
to try this. If you already have an established writing style for your quotes, this
may irritate you. For example, if you are used to writing KWS for open quote
and then KWS/KWS for close quote, if you select this option, its going to think you
are opening a quote, closing a quote, and then opening another quote.
Conflicts
EZ Choice - When active, Case CATalyst resolves conflicts during translation based on
your previous conflict selections when occurring in similar context. When you resolve a
conflict in Edit or realtime, the conflict choice plus the two words preceding the conflict are
entered into the Conflict Database file. EZ Choice then uses the Conflict Database to
determine the conflict resolution in future jobs.
***Recommendation: Always use.
SecondChoice - When this option is active and you select a conflict choice in edit, Case
CATalyst looks in a system file to identify the possible parts of speech for the word before
and after the conflict. Case CATalyst places the conflict choice along with the system file
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

information in the SecondChoice conflict database. When the same parts of speech appear
before and after the same conflict in future translations, Case CATalyst selects the same
conflict choice.
For example, in the conflict "Did you ^ Phillip ^ fill up the car on the way?" you
select the second conflict. The word prior to the conflict is a noun. The word after
the conflict is an article. Case CATalyst records the second choice selection for this
conflict when it occurs between a noun and an article. You can use SecondChoice in
conjunction with EZ Choice. When EZ Choice is active, EZ Choice resolves the
conflict. If no match is found in the EZ Choice conflict database, then SecondChoice
resolves the conflict.
***Recommendation: Always use.

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

 Auto Conflict - When active, Case CATalyst automatically selects the first choice of the
conflict during translation. When writing realtime, this prevents the display of conflicts on
the screen. The conflict will be in a different color, so you will know it IS a conflict, and you
can see the alternate choice in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. If you prefer the
alternate choice, place your cursor in front of the word and press 2 to select the second
conflict.
Recommendation: Some people may prefer to see their conflicts on the screen.
I personally prefer to use this, because I provide realtime to my judge daily, and
I dont want him seeing conflicts, but this is a user preference.
Advanced Translate Options

Digits with words convert with commas up to use the drop down menu to select
whether CC should convert your word numbers to digits and insert commas. For example:
you write WUN/THOU, which would translate as one thousand. This option will change it
to 1,000. NO RECOMMENDATION, USER PREFERENCE
Automatically resolve EZ Choice Conflicts Select yes to have conflicts selected by
EZ Choice automatically confirmed and added to the conflict database.
RECOMMENDATION: USE.
Default Dictionary for Power Define Choose which dictionary you want your Power
Define entries to default to. NO RECOMMENDATION, USER PREFERENCE
Colloquy + Answer + Question = By Line This is usually used for Texas format style.
NO RECOMMENDATION, USER PREFERENCE
Tuck punctuation with quoted words Select Yes to automatically have period,
comma or s automatically placed inside a quoted word or phrase when the punctuation is
written after the quoted word/phrase. For example, Spider Man. This option would
change that to read Spider Man.
RECOMMENDATION: ALWAYS USE

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

 Analyze numbers in a series Select Yes to have numbers written in a row convert to
digits if they are separated by one or more spaces, a comma, dash, slash or the word
and, or, through, or to. For example, if you write two to four things, the result is
2 to 4 things. Display 10 and Under as Words does not apply to digits in a series even if
selected.
NO RECOMMENDATION, USER PREFERENCE
Number Triggers Convert only when preceding a number By default, Number
Trigger commands are active for approximately three paragraphs. Select Yes to only apply
the Number Trigger command if a number, either word or digit, is written immediately
after the Number Trigger Stroke.
RECOMMENDATION: I recommend selecting YES to this choice. If you have
defined something in your dictionary to have a number trigger, the likelihood is
you are EXPECTING a number to immediately follow it. If it does not, you
probably do NOT want some numbers which are spoken that do not correspond
to that number trigger to end up in the specified number trigger format three
paragraphs later.
If you want a number to convert retroactively, I would recommend setting that
up as Number Conversion stroke. An example of that is you steno, We went to
the store at ten forty-five, then hit TIME/TIME which is designed to go
backwards and convert the numbers to digits and insert the colon, so you end
up with We went to the store at 10:45.
Add missing comma after year in {Month} number conversion When using
Automatic Number Conversion {Month} rule, a comma is added before and after the year
when a full date (month day year) is written. Select No, if you do not want the comma
after the year.
With: January 12, 1972,
Without: January 12, 1972
NO RECOMMENDATION, PERSONAL PREFERENCE.
Quick Translate file format name You can change the way the Quick Translate names
the files according to the rules of Case CAT. You can find the rules in the Help List.
Phonetic untranslates display as words To have CATalyst create a spellchecked word
as a result of a phonetic untranslate, select Yes.
RECOMMENDATION: If you DO use phonetic translation, I recommend using this
option. Its much more likely youll get a correct spelling for your phonetic word
than if you do not use it. If you PREFER to see your untranslates in steno, this
choice wont matter whether you select yes or no, because you must have the
basic phonetic translation option selected in order for this to apply.

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

****IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE IGNORE FEATURES ONLY APPLY TO

NUMBER CONVERSION AND NUMBER TRIGGERS*****
Ignore and - Translate Option that applies to number conversion and number trigger
definitions. When active, Case CATalyst ignores the word "and" when it occurs between two
numbers. Numbers before and after the word "and" are considered as one number for number
conversion or number trigger. For example, if you write one hundred and 50 and then write a
dollar number conversion stroke, the result is $150. If Ignore "and" is not active, the result is
one hundred and $50.00. RECOMMENDATION: ALWAYS USE, IF YOU USE NUMBER
TRIGGERS OR NUMBER CONVERSIONS.
Ignore Commas - Translate Option that applies to number conversion and number trigger
definitions. When active, Case CATalyst ignores any commas that separate a set of numbers
and considers them as a group for the conversion or trigger. For example, if you write 303,
503,143 and then write the social security number conversion stroke, the result is 303-503143. If Ignore Commas is not active, the social security number conversion or trigger does
not take action since Case CATalyst considers only the last three numbers for the conversion.
A social security conversion or trigger format requires 9 digits or number words before taking
action. RECOMMENDATION: ALWAYS USE, IF YOU USE NUMBER TRIGGERS OR
NUMBER CONVERSIONS.
Ignore Periods --Translate Option that applies to number conversion and number trigger
definitions. When active, Case CATalyst ignores any commas that separate a set of numbers
and considers them as a group for the conversion or trigger. RECOMMENDATION: ALWAYS
USE, IF YOU USE NUMBER TRIGGERS OR NUMBER CONVERSIONS.
Ignore Word Numbers - Translate Option that applies to number conversion and number
trigger definitions. When active, Case CATalyst ignores words that are numbers for the
conversion. For example, you write "What is your social security number?" Then you write,
"five five five two three four 789". The result is that the number trigger takes no action. If
Ignore Word Numbers is not active, the result is 555-23-4789. RECOMMENDATION: If you
are writing out your numbers or mixing your numbers between writing out and
using the number bar, you will WANT Case CATalyst to treat your word number the
same as it treats your number bar numbers as digits, so do not check this box. If
you have an established system where you ALWAYS use the number bar for digits
Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

and you ALWAYS write out word numbers, then you can check this box.
NOT SURE, I recommend not checking this box.

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

If you are

Squished Defined Numbers -- Translate option. When active, numbers defined in the
dictionary automatically translate with no space between them. For example, definitions exist in
the dictionary for 1, 2, 3, and 4. You write 1234. With Squished Defined Numbers selected, the
result is 1234. Without the option, the result is 1 2 3 4. When Squish Define Numbers is not
active, any defined numbers translate with a space between them. Numbers not defined in a
dictionary always translate with no spaces. RECOMMENDATION: ALWAYS USE

Automatic Number Conversion is a Translate option that converts combinations of numbers and words such
as time, dates, addresses and measurements to a specific format based on keywords and rules in the
NumberConversion.ini file. The Case CATalyst NumberConversion.ini file contains formatting rules based
on word and number combinations. For example, you write 50 dollars. Based on the keyword "dollars" and
the dollar rule in the NumberConversion.ini file, Case CATalyst converts the 50 dollars to $50.
**** I STRONGLY RECOMMEND ALWAYS USING THIS SELECTION****
With Thousand Separators - When selected, Case CATalyst converts digit and words numbers with
commas when the numbers are followed by a measurement keyword. For example, one thousand miles
converts to 1,000 miles. The word "miles" is a measurement keyword.
Display 10 and Under as Words is a Translate option that is available when Automatic Number
Conversion is active. When selected, Case CATalyst converts digits 1 through 10 to words. For example,
if you write "4 boxes", the result is "four boxes". This option only affects numbers 1 through 10 and
does not apply to zero.

No Auto Convert: Use the No Auto Convert format symbol in a dictionary definition to prevent the
Automatic Number Conversion translate option and Display 10 and Under as Words from affecting
numbers within the definition. For example, you write the steno for Global 1 Credit Union with
Display 10 and Under as Words active. The result is Global one Credit. To prevent the conversion to
Global one Credit Union, create the definition, Global<No Auto Convert>1 Credit.

You can also use the No Auto Convert format symbol in a definition by itself. For example, you
create a dictionary definition for <No Auto Convert>. When writing a number, you recognize that
you do not want it to convert in the current context. You write the stroke for No Auto Convert
followed the "keyword" that creates a conversion. No conversion occurs because you wrote the
stroke for <No Auto Convert> in between. Example, define the steno NERT in your dictionary as
<No Auto Convert>. When writing Global 1 Credit, steno GLOBAL/NERT/ONE CREDIT.

Otherwise Display as Digits - When active, Case CATalyst forces all word numbers,
which are not controlled by a another number conversion keyword or rule, to automatically
display as digits without commas. For example, "There were three thousand of them."
translates as "There were 3000 of them." If you also select the With Thousands Separator
option, then numbers, not controlled by a keyword, translate with commas.

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011

 Phonetic Translation - Phonetic Translation is a Case CATalyst Translate option. When

active, Case CATalyst phonetically translates steno outlines when no match is found in any
dictionary used for translation. This prevents the display of untranslates on the captioning
screen. Phonetic translation is based on your selection for the Advanced Translate option,
Phonetic untranslates display as words. You can choose to match steno outlines with the text
equivalent entry in the Phonetic Table or to translate single stroke untranslates using
algorithmic logic for the intended pronunciation, which is the default. RECOMMENATION:
If you are doing realtime and you do not want your untranslates to show up in
steno, I recommend using this function. If you prefer to be able to see your steno,
do not check this box.
Show Translation Statistics and Timers: These boxes just determine whether your Translate
Statistics and Timers start when you begin Translating. If you want to see these when youre
editing, Go to Tools/View/Show and select Translation Statistics or Timers.
For more GREAT information on Case CAT, from Manage Jobs, select Help, there are
Exceptional Extras, Self-Study Guides, and other great tools!

Case Catalyst Help & Consulting 2011