Dragon NaturallySpeaking User Documentation

Dragon NaturallySpeaking User Documentation

Dragon's technical experts and documentation team have created guides, workbooks and videos to help you use Dragon more effectively. Please also see the KnowledgeBase where a wide range of users exchange tips and discuss feature requests.

User Guides

The User Guide, which covers all product editions, provides details on installation, optional settings, voice commands and dictation of different types of text. The guide also includes tips and notes to help you use the software more effectively.

Be sure to also take advantage of our illustrated workbook. For the latest technical details, please see the KnowledgeBase.

Bluetooth Wireless Headset Guides

Dragon Microphones
Calisto Microphones
  • We recommend plugging the Bluetooth microphone’s dongle (wireless adaptor) into your computer before you open Dragon.
  • While the Calisto II's headset is charging, its indicator light glows solid red, but once the headset is fully charged, this light goes off.
  • The headset does not automatically power on. Once the headset is charged and paired to its dongle, you must power it up by holding its button for about 6 seconds (it then emits 4 ascending beeps), then pressing it for 1 second to activate its radio link to its dongle
Title: Using the Calisto II Bluetooth wireless microphone with Dragon

This video includes how to charge and power up the headset, as well as turn on the connection to its USB wireless adapter. It also covers how to check the “recording device” settings in the Windows Control Panel.

Quick Start Cards

The Quick Start Card helps you quickly install and activate Dragon.

For documentation of non-English Dragon products, visit our international web sites.

The User Workbook provides explanations, examples, and illustrations, as well as step-by-step instructions and practice exercises to help you make the most of your investment in Dragon.

 

Command Guides

The Dragon Command Guide provides a two-page list of the most commonly used voice commands so that you can control your PC and individual applications by voice.

DataSheets

Dragon for the PC

Version 13

These free, on-demand videos offer tips and guidance for both new and experienced Dragon users. For more videos, visit our Feature Demos page and our YouTube channel.

  • Title: How to Install Dragon NaturallySpeaking Software Update
  • This video walks you through a software update to Dragon NaturallySpeaking, including milestones during installation and important reminders for the process to be successful. 
  • This video covers the installation process, as the software walks you through a series of screens; this includes activation, a short, anonymous step.  
  • Title: Using the Calisto II Bluetooth wireless microphone with Dragon
  • The Calisto II is a Bluetooth microphone made by Plantronics for use with Dragon. This video includes how to charge and power up the headset, as well as turn on the connection to its USB wireless adapter. It also covers how to check the “recording device” settings in the Windows Control Panel.  
  • Title: Using the "original" Calisto wireless microphone with Dragon
  • NOTE: The Dragon editions that support Bluetooth use editions Premium/Preferred and higher.  
  • Title: Creating a User Profile
  • To keep all the data it needs to best work with each individual, Dragon uses a set of files which together form a User Profile. This video shows how to create a User Profile that best reflects your voice, audio environment, and audio input device(s); it also introduces important tools Dragon can use to quickly learn how to best recognize what you dictate.  
  • Title: Moving the Insertion Point within Editable Text
  • Title: Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking with Email
  • In addition to dictating, Dragon can be used for many email-related actions such as opening, replying to, forwarding and deleting messages. This video includes launching the default email program, checking for new mail, and creating a new message, and uses Microsoft Outlook Express as an example.
    • editionEditions “Professional” and above
  • This video covers the creation of custom commands of the type “Text-and-Graphics”, which lets you pre-define content for Dragon to enter whenever you utter the command. This “boilerplate” can include graphics (logos, maps, signatures…) as well as blank lines and formatting. Simple to create, these commands can quickly add to the benefits of dictating: speed, convenience, consistency... 
  • Note: "Text-and-Graphics" commands are available in editions "Preferred" and higher.

Note: Once the video opens, you can use its menu to jump to particular sections, and its icons at the bottom to pause, maximize the screen, etc.