Creating your own commands

Creating your own commands

Your computer comes with built-in speakable commands that you can use to tell your computer what to do. You can also create your own speech commands by adding items to the Speakable Items folder.

Open the Speakable Items folder for me.

Note: Your computer only recognizes commands spoken in English.

You can create global and application-specific commands. Global commands (at the root level of the folder) can be spoken when any application is open. Application-specific items (in individual folders) can be spoken when the application is active.

To create a global speakable command:

• Drag a file into the Speakable Items folder.

You can drag any type of file, including aliases, documents, folders, applications, and AppleScripts to this folder.

To create an application-specific speakable command:

1 Turn on Speakable Items.

2 While in the application, say "Make this application speakable."

This creates a folder for the application in the Speakable Items folder. Items you drag to this folder can be used as spoken commands.

3 Create a script that uses the application command that you'd like to give as a spoken command.

You can use AppleScript to create this script. For example, if you want to be able to save documents using a spoken command, create a script that saves a document.

4 Drag your script to the application speakable items folder in the Speakable Items folder.

To delete a speakable command:

• Drag the file out of the Speakable Items folder.

Tips for creating commands

• Give each command a name that doesn't sound like other names in the folder.

• Long command names are better.

• In filenames, separate each letter of an abbreviation with a space. (Write "A R A Notes" instead of "ARA Notes.")

• Don't use numerals in filenames.

The computer doesn't distinguish between the names "HyperCard 1.5" and "HyperCard," but does distinguish between "HyperCard one point five" and "HyperCard."

• You can change the names of files in the Speakable Items folder to edit the commands you speak.

• Be sure not to give an application command the same name that you've given a global command. (Application-specific commands override global commands.)

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