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The Commands Manager

The Commands Manager allows you to view built-in commands and add your own.

Commands may be modified, created, activated or deactivated, and deleted.

To open the Commands Manager

  • Click the Dragon menu icon in the menu bar and select Manage Commands...

You will see a window like this one:

Commands Manager

Context panel

The Context panel is on the left side of the window. It allows you to filter the commands shown based on the context in which they are available (globally or in a specific application).

What you can do in the Context panel

  • Click the name of the context in the list to select a context.
  • Click the Add Context icon at the bottom of the panel to add a context.

You may want to add a context if you want to create commands for a context that is not included, such as an application not included in the built-in commands.

  • Click the Action menu icon and select Delete Context to delete a context.

You can't delete any of Dragon's pre-existing contexts, such as Global or Finder.

The last context in the list is Auto-text. Select the Auto-text context to add Auto-text commands, or click the Dragon menu icon in the menu bar and select Add New Auto-Text. See Auto-text commands for more on creating and using Auto-texts.

Commands list panel

In the middle panel, you will see a list of all commands available in the selected context. For example, in the window above, Global is selected in the Context panel, so all the commands listed are available globally.

The symbol to the left of each command indicates how it was created:

  • The Built-in Command icon indicates a built-in command.
  • The User Defined command icon indicates a user-defined command.

At the top of the middle panel, click All, Built-in, or User Defined to show the selected command type.

What you can do in the Commands list panel

  • Click the checkbox to the left of the command's name to activate or deactivate it.

A deactivated command still exists, but it is not listed in the Available Commands window, and you cannot issue the command. Deactivating unused commands can be useful if you're certain you don’t need them.

  • Click the Add Command button at the bottom of the panel to create a new command.

  • See Create a command for more on creating custom commands.

  • Click the Action menu icon at the bottom of the list and select Duplicate Command to duplicate the selected command.
  • Duplicating a command can be useful if you want to use an existing command as a template for a new one.

  • Press the Delete key or click the Action menu icon and select Delete Command to delete the selected command.

You can't delete a built-in command.

Details panel

The details panel on the right side of the screen shows information about the currently selected command, including:

  • Command name: What you say to access the command
  • 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.

  • Command description: A brief description of what the command does
  • Context: When the command is available (see Context panel above)
  • Type: The type of command:
    • AppleScript
    • Application
    • Bookmark
    • File or Folder
    • Menu item
    • Shell script
    • Automator workflow
    • Keystroke

You will also see a detailed description of the command; the exact content will vary depending on the command type.

What you can do in the Details panel

  • Select a custom command, then modify its contents in the Details panel.

You can't edit a built-in command.

  • See Create a command for detailed instructions on how to create a custom command.

When you close the Commands Manager, you will be prompted to save any changes you made. Click Save, or to discard all changes you made while using the Command Manager, click Don't Save. Click Cancel to stay in the Commands Manager.