RobiNZ CAD Blog

ActiveWord for Wolfram|Alpha

This ActiveWord will query the new Wolfram|Alpha Computational Knowledge Engine. Execute the ActiveWord and this dialog appears, enter the search term, ActiveWords will launch your browser with the query entered in Wolfram|Alpha. It's early days for my use but so far just the city & date searches have been very useful.

Create a "Navigate ActiveWord" with this URL in the action field:

"http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=<INPUTBOX:"Ask Wolfram|Alpha:":Ask Wolfram|Alpha>"

UPDATE 2009-05-22: I've added the missing "|" to Wolfram|Alpha in the code but not updated the images

Tags: Wolfram|Alpha

A Date with ISO 8601, and ActiveWords

Until I read Phil's post I didn't realise the eminently sensible Year, Month, Day (YYYY-MM-DD) format had official status.  

Hot Dating Tips for Marketers | Phil Couling
Why aren’t more marketers using ISO 8601, the international standard for date and time formats?
Everyone with a marketing role has a need to eliminate ambiguity from their communication, and this is such a simple thing to fix that I am always surprised to see highly localized and ambiguous formats for dates used in materials being designed for international and multi-cultural audiences...

I use it, and suspect most do, for file naming because computers will sort it sensibly and it's "embedded" in the name so won't change, like properties can, if a file is copied. In fact "date" is one of my most used ActiveWords as it enters the current date, in my preferred format, wherever I happen to need it.

ISO 8601 format ActiveWords dates

If you have the inplace functions loaded* ActiveWords will enter current dates & times, and more, with a few keystrokes. Some applications will do this but ActiveWords does it anywhere you can type: File/Folder naming, text editors, web forms, even a command line.

To get the ISO 8601 date format in ActiveWords set the InPlace - Set Date Format ActiveWord to %Y-%m-%d. Then just type date, hit the ActiveWords key and the current date is entered: 2009-03-02. If "date" is too much typing just edit the InPlace - Date Stamp ActiveWord to whatever you want: even "d"!

 

AM/PM, why bother?

While doing that also set the time to, so sensible why isn't it the only one used, 24 hour time format. It beats me why people still bother with 12 hours times and AM/PM when there is no need for such silliness. In ActiveWords set the InPlace - Set Time Format to %H:%M:$S. Type time, then hit the ActiveWords key to get the current time: 23:18:19. The ActiveWord date time returns 2009-03-02 @ 23:18:48 showing it took 29 seconds to think and type this last bit

What time is it? Local time!

One other bit of time date related sense caught my eye this week. Mindjet sent out a web meeting advisory and had the grace to include a variety of local times & dates in addition to the actual US PST time.

Saved me using tzn, my ActiveWord which navigates to a time zone converter site, which is often needed when you live in the future.

A daytime meeting in the US or U.K. usually means a late night or early morning, the next day, for me so it's useful to get the time right!

If you're arranging international meetings it's nice to include a few other regions in your advisory if your meeting system doesn't do it automatically.

* If not already installed ActiveWords Plus or Enterprise users can download Inplace functions free from: http://www.activewords.com/applications.html (look for ActiveWords Agents INPLACE)

** Observant readers may have noticed TypePad doesn't quite support the ISO date format. The default preferences have the YMD OK but only offer "." as a delimiter.

ActiveWords for Twitter Search

Since I'm new to Twitter I just made an ActiveWord for http://search.twitter.com/. Now I type, or ink, "tws" then initiate ActiveWords. A dialog appears (below), enter the search term and my browser launches (if not running) with the results. Simple. Because ActiveWords works everywhere it's not application specific like a browser add-in.

To it set up get ActiveWords (free trial), create a new Scripting ActiveWord, assign whatever ActiveWord code you'd like (mine is tws), then copy/paste this string into the action box:

<"http://search.twitter.com/search?q=<INPUTBOX:Search Twitter>">

Buzz Bruggeman shares how he transcends time

Given this is, occasionally, a CAD blog I suspect you use design software. But in addition to that do you use Outlook, do you send email, do you have contacts and business relationships to mange, or quick presentations to give? Would you like to learn how to do this better, from an expert?

I first “encountered” Buzz Bruggeman when he sent me an email suggesting I try ActiveWords. That happened within minutes of me commenting on a post about Microsoft Search on a, sadly now extinct, MindManager related blog . It was the first I'd heard of ActiveWords and after a week or so of using the free trial I'd purchased it.

But this isn't about ActiveWords, it's how a CEO of a company created a connection with someone who'd never heard of his product within minutes. You might think that’s rather special, and it is, but Buzz has “about 13,000” contacts in his Outlook and somehow manages to engage them all.

"Living in Outlook is not where I had planned to spend my life, but having resolved to build the best relationships for ActiveWords that I can, I have resolved to master Outlook"

This self described “Geek wanna be, ActiveWords evangelist, and small town Minnesota boy” shares some of his techniques, and tools, in a conversation with Robert Scoble. Rather than a single solution you see how a combination approaches can literally create free time by saving you the drudgery of performing repetitive tasks. Put aside some time to watch it, you'll get it back later!

Managing Your Mind With the CEO of ActiveWords | FastCompany.TV
Buzz Bruggeman is one of the world’s best networkers that I’ve ever met and also runs ActiveWords, which is a cool utility that helps you get more things done through programming your keystrokes, but that isn’t what excited me about Buzz. He’s one of the world’s top users of Mind Mapping Software and we’ll talk about that, and other things that have his attention.

ActiveWords update v1.95

ActiveWords have released an update (Version 1.95) which adds Windows Language features. It also adopts the standard Windows protocol for user settings (...Documents and Settings\LOGON\Application Data\ActiveWords) which means they are captured if you backup/move your profile.

The install was painless and manages the migration of your existing wordbase to the new folder. I've found a few other refinements, like date incremented naming for manual wordbase backups, and had no problems since upgrading a couple of weeks ago.

What's new in ActiveWords Version 1.95?

• You can now create text substitutions in any Windows Language and have ActiveWords that are in any Windows Language.
• The ActiveWords Monitor is now designed to handle all Windows Language Settings, accurately passing through all characters to the underlying context regardless of the active character set.

This is a free update for all licensed ActiveWords users. A free 60 day trial is available for previous and new trial users.

Get it from www.activewords.com

A Cuil ActiveWord?

Shaan laments the death of spelling and I think I agree. I’m also not sure how good (note I resisted using the word cool here!) the new search engine Cuil is but it’s worth an ActiveWord. This one will pop up “Search using Cuil” dialog, enter any term and it will launch your browser with the cool kewl Cuil search results;

Just create a new “Navigate” ActiveWord and use the URL below (it’s long so be sure to copy it all);

"http://www.cuil.com/search?q=<INPUTBOX:"Search Cuil for:":Search Using Cuil>&sl=long"

Tags: cuil

The paradox of ActiveWords

Today, wanting to find some info on an application, I tapped 3dmn into my computer. To my annoyance my browser did not launch, it did not navigate to the Autodesk 3ds Max site ready for action.

The reason was rather obvious… until recently I only used Viz so hadn’t set up any ActiveWords for Max yet!

That could be fixed in a few seconds. I got the permalink* – http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax – from the Autodesk site (source these links from the alphabetical product list), made a “Navigate” ActiveWord. While I was there I made a “3ds Max” word, 3dmf, and that permalink is just 3dmu. I’ll never type “3ds Max”, manually browse to the Max site or have to find & copy/paste that URL ever again!

Tonight I came across a link to this post, by Martin L. Korn MD, on how this “simple little program” transforms your computing experience. ActiveWords is so integral to mine I only notice when it’s not there!

ActiveWords – A Paradox of Excellence – Systems11 Consulting

“In the exploding information age, all professions and businesses are faced with the task of accessing and integrating as much data and information as quickly as possible. ActiveWords clearly can help enormously in this regard.”

Via buzznovation

* The only reason I had to copy paste the Autodesk URL is they never use it on their site. The permalinks alway link to a regional content management URL which can change when the site changes.

Microsoft Research WorldWide Telescope, breathtaking!

This is what made Robert Scoble cry and Buzz Bruggeman, CEO of ActiveWords, called "the best thing he’s seen in years from Microsoft" a couple of weeks ago.

Science educator Roy Gould and Microsoft's Curtis Wong introduce the Worldwide Telescope at TED:

From:  The Worldwide Telescope - www.worldwidetelescope.org/

"The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is a rich visualization environment that functions as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from the best ground and space telescopes in the world for a seamless, guided exploration of the universe"

Buzz Bruggeman & Robert Scoble see something remarkable at Microsoft

If it impresses Buzz and Robert I can’t wait to see what it is...

Microsoft researchers make me cry « Scobleizer — Tech geek blogger

• It’s not often that I see software that really changes my world. It’s even rarer that I see software that I know will change the world my sons live in. I can count those times pretty easily.


• Yesterday was one of those days


• If I told you today what they were doing, without showing you the video we’ll have up on March 3, you’d tell me “that’s lame Scoble.” But when you see it face-to-face everyone I know who’s seen it say they’ve had an emotional reaction to it. Buzz Bruggeman, CEO of ActiveWords, was the first to tell me about it and said it was the best thing he’s seen in years from Microsoft…

Doh! Why not use an ActiveWords script for blog comment forms?

Sometimes the obvious isn’t very obvious. Following thousands of blogs means I’m often leaving comments. Even responding to comments on my own blog requires the same process as readers use. It’s standard to require name, email, and optionally site URL, when commenting so I set up ActiveWords for each of  those. Now I just type a few ActiveWords (rcf, @b, rbu) to enter all the details. 

It was only today that I realised nearly all blogs request these details in the same order. It took only a few seconds to create this simple ActiveWords script;

<RCF><TAB><WORD:@b><TAB><RBU><TAB>

• Like the ActiveWord below @b has “Confirmation Flag” ticked. This means it requires confirmation with the ActiveWords Key to activate. This type of ActiveWord is called in scripts with <WORD:#> format rather than the normal <#>.
• You could just enter the name etc directly in the script but calling ActiveWords means if something changes, say my blog email, editing one ActiveWord updates it everywhere it’s nested.

Now it’s just “rbc” to leave a comment. That’s 59 potentially error ridden keystrokes without ActiveWords reduced to 3 and no chance for a mistake. Now it’s done it seems so obvious. So why, I wonder, did it take so long to think of?

Screenshot created with SnagIt 8, Animated Gif with Camtasia 4, Magic with ActiveWords

Click for post related Disclosure Statement

Google ActiveWords for New Zealand, and this blog

Here’s a couple of ActiveWords I should have made long ago. Paste these strings in the URL section of the Navigate to Wizard to get an input box followed by New Zealand, or just this blog, specific search results.

Search Google for New Zealand sites;

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=<INPUTBOX:"Search NZ using Google for:":Search NZ Using Google>&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ

Search this wonderful site - http://rcd.typepad.com/

http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=<INPUTBOX:"Search RobiNZ Blog using Google for:":Search RobiNZ Blog Using Google>+site:rcd%2etypepad%2ecom

I realise the audience for this is small but you can tweak the code for other sites/countries…

Faultless typing in live demonstrations?

• If you’ve watched a demonstration you’ve probably seen this!
• If you’ve presented you’ve done probably this!

Demo shows Notepad with the ActiveWords Bar visible, it’s normally docked at the screen top or totally hidden.

Disclosure: 6 month trial screencast.com account provided by TechSmith

Autodesk Web Permalinks and some CAD ActiveWords research...

Some of my most used ActiveWords substitute names & URL’s, launch applications or navigate to websites related to the CAD applications I use. For example these are my AutoCAD Architecture ActiveWords:

• Typing “acaf” results in “AutoCAD Architecture”
• Typing “acau” results in “http://www.autodesk.com/autocadarchitecture”
• Typing “acan” launches my web browser (if not open) and navigates to the AutoCAD Architecture website.
• Typing “acal” launches AutoCAD Architecture.

Create an ActiveWord once and it works in any application, in fact anywhere you can type (even Notepad!). They can substitute text, navigate to websites, launch or interact with applications, open documents/folders or perform any scripted action possible with keystrokes.

I already have similar ActiveWords for AutoCAD, DWF, Revit and Viz and other applications I use but wonder if there is a demand for more?

Two resources have become available which will make it easier to create and distribute a CAD related ActiveWords database. The ActiveWords team have given me access to a developer tool and Shaan has posted a resource of “permalinks” for the Autodesk product range/site.

I was considering this last year but found out about the impending “2008” renaming. I wonder if there is any demand to extend this to other products – Civil 3D, Inventor etc – so am looking for some feedback.

• Do you use, or would this encourage you to try, ActiveWords?
• What CAD related applications and sites do you use/visit often?
• Would a CAD ActiveWords database be of interest?

Leave a comment on this post or use email me to respond.

Autodesk “Permalinks: Between the Lines: autodesk.com and MURLs

Learn more about, or get a free trial of, ActiveWords

It will never be IE& or ie7 again

I’ve typing IE7 a fair bit recently. In fact most times I hold the Shift Key too long & type IE& or not at all & type ie7 but it doesn’t matter!

ActiveWords to the rescue!

The Mindjet Labs have a Blog'splosion

Mindjet Labs have launched a new look website and bunch of new blogs. Mindjet have had a “Corporate Blog” for a long time but these are more personal blogs from Mindjet’s established bloggers and some new ones. 

Michael explains the history and changes to Mindjet Labs in this post on his new blog. It also brings the return of Hobie Swan to blogging with Hobart's Mindjet Blog II. I was sad when he closed his former TypePad hosted blog. It was memorable for me as it’s where I first encountered ActiveWords which I rate as highly as MindManager in the “Life Changing Software you just have to try” category.

If you are a MindManager user visit and participate in the new labs community, if not check out the site & blogs, download a trial and see what you are missing!

The Mindjet Labs
You've got MindManager, now how do you use it more effectively?
The Mindjet Labs has evolved from a place where MindManager experts and partners went to find solution possibilities to a place where customers go to find out how to make their usage of MindManager most effective…

The Mindjet Labs - Blogs

• Synergist - Michael Scherotter
• Hobart's Mindjet Blog II - Hobart Swan
• Vivek's Mind - Vivek Vishist
• Really Blossom - Tom Blossom

The Mindjet Labs - Video Tour

Tags: Mindjet+Labs

Auckland AutoCAD User Group Meeting - 13th September 2006

Demonstration & discussion of MindManager, Blogs, RSS Subscription and ActiveWords UI automation to assist with CAD related work, support, documentation and training.

18:30, 13th September 2006, Northcote, Auckland - If you are interested in attending email me for details.

Flying Blind with ActiveWords

After 451 days I decided it’s time to stop using ActiveWords in VFR mode and set the ActiveWords Monitor Bar to auto-hide. After more than a year of seeing this…

It’s a little strange not seeing it. Now ActiveWords magic just happens on a conventional looking PC.

At least it’s not far away if I need it, just mouse up to the top of the screen and it slides out…

Which is good ‘cause I kinda miss Mr I Beam’s antics

Sky TV (NZ) Searching with ActiveWords

When is the Formula One on? I tap “skyf1n”, the browser launches, navigates to Sky TV and returns all channel content that mentions “formula one”. If you are in New Zealand & have Sky you can save an ActiveWord to search for any content. It’s great for live events, like F1, that have variable start times. I have similar searches for Rally, MotoGp, and Indy car and one that allows any term to be entered.

skyf1n uses “Navigate To” ActiveWord with this link (it’s in a scrollbox as is long!):

http://www.skytv.co.nz/index.cfm?index.cfm&pageid=517&script=search&search=channel&searchtext=formula%20one&sr=1

For other Sky TV searches just create an “Navigate To” ActiveWord with the code below. It pops up a dialog, enter the search term and it opens the site with the search results presented.

The same principle can be used with most website search features, find the format by actually doing a webpage search, copy the link and that search is just an ActiveWord away.

 “Navigate To” Sky TV NZ Search Code

"http://www.skytv.co.nz/index.cfm?index.cfm&pageid=517&script=search&search=channel&searchtext=<inputbox:Sky TV NZ Search:Sky TV Search>&sr=1"

Update 22–07–2006: Added search dialog code.

Nobody needs ActiveWords, until they use it...

In an off-line conversation this comment struck a chord;

“…I have looked at activewords...just doesn't seem like it's something I need right now.”

I responded:  “Nobody needs ActiveWords, until they use it - then you can't use a PC without it.”

ActiveWords + MailWasher

What is MailWasher? I use MailWasher to deal to spam. It allows you to view your in-box at the ISP mail server before you download it, then blitz spam there, only down-loading the mail you actually want. It’s a nice feeling watching the junk mail disappear before it gets to your local in-box.

Doesn’t your ISP filter spam, why not use that? I do use my ISP’s spam tools but only have it tag suspects as [spam]. I don’t use their option to delete it.

Why? Occasionally I would loose emails I actually wanted. I have found about 2% of my messages are incorrectly tagged as spam at the ISP. I have a MailWasher rule to select these [spam] for deletion, 98% are right, but can do a quick visual check and rescue the few I need before they disappear off the mail server forever.

Doesn’t that mean looking at all the messages anyway? MailWasher applies rules to incoming emails and maintains “friends” & “blacklist” lists so 99% of the mail is correctly handled with no user intervention. It previews text so you can see the message and also allows you to deal to those annoying spams which only use images (for text), they show [Image ignored] in the preview.

So why ActiveWords for MailWasher? Since MailWasher requires a repetitive process – launch, check mail, scan, process (delete spam), receive mail –  it’s a candidate for ActiveWords control. This set of ActiveWords actions/scripts combines commands in MailWasher and ActiveWords control of Windows and Outlook to provide total control, even launching the application, with a few short keyboard commands.

Most of the actions are possible within MailWasher using keyboard shortcuts, exploited by the ActiveWords scripts, but ActiveWords also allows control of the applications to be scripted. MailWasher and Outlook windows appear, minimise/maximise, as I need without touching the mouse. The last few don’t control the application but allow me to visit the MailWasher website, type it’s URL and even correctly format MailWasher every time, & everywhere, I type it.

Both applications offer free trial periods. The codes are in the extended post if you want to try them.

MailWasher – http://www.firetrust.com/firetrustpro.html

ActiveWords – http://www.activewords.com/

ActiveWords don't always work

Today I found a flaw with ActiveWords. Normally it runs in the background, or maybe it’s foreground, intercepting every keystroke ready to leap into action to perform a myriad of actions when one of the magic key combinations, or “ActiveWords”, is entered.

I was installing some software which required shutting down all other applications. I’d just completed the installation when an extremely important activity took me away from the PC… OK I’ll admit it was coffee time!

Upon returning I tried to open Outlook. I typed “in” but Outlook didn’t start up and the in-box didn’t display. Puzzled I tried some other applications but “docl” start Word and RSS Bandit did not respond to “rssl”. I even tried browsing to the ActiveWords site in search of an answer but “awn” didn’t launch Internet Explorer then navigate to the ActiveWords site.

I started I.E. (yes, I still use it) manually, you actually grab the mouse then move the cursor over the little blue  thing and click the left button, which was a novel experience as I haven’t done that for ages. I then clicked into the address line and entered “awu” but it wasn’t substituted with http://www.activewords.com/ (which just happened when I typed this in BlogJet) and was about to type the whole “www.activewords.com” address, what a hassle, when I realised the problem. The magic ActiveWords  was not showing in the system tray.

When the ActiveWords application is not running…

ActiveWords aren’t….              active!

ActiveWords and Mindjet: Two of the best get together

Finally I can reveal that a couple of my favourite applications have got all friendly. ActiveWords have posted an add-on for MindJet MindManager. Buzz shares the tale of how it all happened in this post on his blog.

ActiveWords works with any program but this word-base adds ActiveWords specifically for creating and using MindManager maps & content. As an example a few of the view commands are shown in the ActiveWords browser screen-shot. I’ve been using a preview of this for a while and it’s great.

If you already use either ActiveWords or MindManager alone try the combination, it’s compelling. If not and you want to try them both companies offer free trial downloads. One warning, both are addictive!

ActiveWords for MindJet MindManager (inc video demos) - ActiveWords.com.

MindManager Pro 6 – Mindjet.com

Blogging Tools & Process

I read a couple of posts, at Notes, links and conversation & What Is New, asking how people create and manage blog content. I thought I’d share how I use a combination of tools for this.

 

Revision 26–02–2006: Added map to the extended post

Tablet PC demo video at jkOnTheRun

James Kendrick shares an awesome Tablet PC demo. I think my next PC has to be a tablet…

jkOnTheRun Audio Edition #11- Tablet PC demo video

The video was recorded totally on-screen using Camtasia Studio. Programs shown in the order of appearance in the video (WMV format, 1024x768, 17.6 MB, 14.5 minutes):

• Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005
• Sticky Notes
• ActiveWords Pro (with InkPad)
• Outlook (ink email)
• OneNote
• MindManager Pro
• JVC Gantt 2
• PowerPoint
• Journal
• Ink Art (Experience Pack)
• Internet Explorer
• Send to OneNote 2003 (Education Pack)
• InkGestures

Hooked on ActiveWords

Trevor Claiborne has posted a great ActiveWords Overview on The Student Tablet PC Blog.

After AU - ActiveWords?

I have some time in Orlando after AU. A chance to do… well, whatever you do in Orlando.

I actually have another software related “event” planned. A few months ago I didn’t know anyone in Orlando and didn’t know I’d be going there…

In one of those small world coincidences I connected with Buzz Bruggeman & Peter Weldon of ActiveWords earlier this year after discovering their product and blogging about my experiences with it.

Knowing Buzz isn’t that remarkable as he seems to be everywhere and know everyone!

It is remarkable that ActiveWords are based in Orlando and I will soon be able to meet both Buzz & Peter in person!

I learnt of ActiveWords via Hobie of Mindjet (MindManager). There is another small world story there…

24.88% ActiveWords

This is my ActiveWords Report from work. 24.88 % less typing, priceless

From 10/6/2005 to 11/22/2005	47 days
Substitutions
Total user Keystrokes typed including ActiveWords:	456705
Total Keystrokes substituted by ActiveWords less ActiveWords typed:	151259
Total Content Entered:	607964
Percent of Total Content saved by ActiveWords that substitute and transform text:	24.88%
Commands
Total ActiveWord Commands used to navigate:	177
Total ActiveWord Commands used for Multi-Step processes:	886
Total Steps saved based on actual ActiveWord Command usage: (1 step per Navigation Command + number of steps per Multi-Step Commands)	1063

Local Amazon Searching with ActiveWords

Buzz shared an ActiveWords script for searching Amazon.com in his post Searching in Context.

Although I’m in New Zealand I often buy from Amazon U.K. rather than Amazon.com. The crazy English comedies I like, especially one about a local shop, don’t make it to the .com site for months/years after U.K. release, if at all.

With a bit of very simple tweaking you can localise the .com script Buzz shared:

<"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?index=blended&field-keywords=<INPUTBOX:Amazon Generic Search>">

Just alter the site URL to the one you want and the INPUTBOX string for the search dialog display. To search Amazon UK make these changes;

 <"http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?index=blended&field-keywords=<INPUTBOX:Amazon UK Generic Search>">

“It’s a local search for local people, you’ll find lots of precious things to buy”.

You can also find lots of ActiveWords hints, user support and scripts like this on the excellent ActiveWords Forums

AutoCAD Fields as ActiveWords

An awesome use for ActiveWords is creating AutoCAD Fields within text objects. AutoCAD Fields are "live text" which show properties like date, filename etc but are actually entered as text strings.

E.G.: If you want AutoCAD to show the filename for the current file. You launch the text command then:

• Use the Insert menu or right click to choose Insert>Field
• Browse through a dialog to select the Field variable you want to insert and configure it (usually a few clicks)
• When you OK the dialog generates a Field Expression text string and enters it in the text editor. The result is a “live” display of the filename the text object is in.

(Click on the thumbnails for full view of the dialogs.)

The AutoCAD Field dialog shows the Field Expression text string and allows you to copy/paste it. The filename string is %<\AcVar Filename \f "%tc3%fn2">% so I created an ActiveWord using a Substitute Text action entering the Field Expression as the Action text.

Now to have AutoCAD to show the filename for the current file I just start the text command then;

• Enter "affn" (my short code for AutoCAD Field FileName) and press space twice.This prompts ActiveWords to substitute the Field Expression... Done
• No right-click, no menu, no dialog, no browse and pick, no OK….

Creating custom combinations of text and fields is very easy. I use this multi-line “stamp” for consultant files which come in with no title block. Just enter afpsm in the text command and it’s done, ready to plot. Better than a plot stamp as you can choose where it’s located and have several formats. (The fields are grey in the screen-shot below).

I also have single and two line versions each with its own ActiveWord. You can create any combination of text and fields you like, assign an ActiveWord, and it’s only a few key strokes away.

The ActiveWords codes mentioned are shown in the extended post. Easy to include because ActiveWords works everywhere. It’s just as happy entering them into BlogJet, my blog post editor, as the AutoCAD text editor. Of course BlogJet and TypePad don’t know what the AutoCAD codes are so just show text!  

DemoFall 2005: Podcast with Buzz Bruggeman - Founder Activewords

Buzz Bruggeman recently demo’d ActiveWords and the new ActiveWords Inkpad at DemoFall 2005. This short post demo podcast will take about 18 minutes of your time but it’s worth the investment. Buzz comes up with a few gems on client/staff engagement and marketing that are applicable to anyone, any industry.

Oh yeah, there is the occasional mention of ActiveWords 

DemoFall 2005: Buzz Bruggeman - Founder Activewords - Podtech.net: InfoTalk Podcast Series

ActiveWords gets Ink

ActiveWords excels at increasing productivity by using short keycodes to perform a series of actions. Text substitution, web browsing, application launch, folder/file access, outlook contact access, email checking, google searching and more can all be achieved with a few keystrokes.

Tablet PC’s can now benefit from this thanks to a new ActiveWords InkPad extension. There is a video demo at the ActiveWords site which shows it in action and it looks pretty slick. Even better, it’s currently available free to ActiveWords PLUS and ActiveWords ENTERPRISE users.

I’d love to report how wonderful this is but I don’t have a Tablet PC. These people do so you can read their reports;

• Des Paroz On The Go
• Cameron Reilly
• Eric Mack Online
• Life on the wicked stage Act 2
• www.tabletpcbuzz.com
• Rob Bushway - Tablet PC MVP
• Robert Scoble

I now have another reason to get at Tablet PC, only a couple of thou$and reasons why I don’t already have one!

ActiveWords and Wikipedia....

Buzz posted a cool script which allows rapid searching of Wikipedia. It uses ActiveWords to enter the search term into the Wikipedia search engine for immediate results.

buzznovation: ActiveWords and Wikipedia....

The fastest way to find out what a smoot is….

Isn't this a CAD blog?

It may appear that this “CAD Blog” has been taken over by an ActiveWords meme.

The articles started as one short post. Over time the draft grew to be too large for a single post so I decided to break it up. I was going to release them over a few days/weeks but decided to get them all posted to tell the full story.

I like ActiveWords so much it goes into the “Life Changing Software List” and even earns a category of it’s own on the side-bar. There is a 60 day free trial, I purchased after 14 days and now couldn’t work without it.

Normal CAD related posts will resume shortly although some may be infected with the ActiveWords meme.

PS: If you see posts with strange text strings like “dwff from adtf posted to tpf using bjf. dwfc” you’ll know I haven’t got ActiveWords running!

* AW on it would be: “Design Web Format (DWF) from Autodesk Architectural Desktop posted to TypePad using BlogJet. Design Web Format (DWF) files can be viewed and printed with DWF Viewer available free from http://www.autodesk.com/dwfviewer-download ”

 

More for less with ActiveWords - Part 5 - The Results

Continued from ActiveWords Part 4

So far ActiveWords has saved me about 3.7 hours work in 78 days.

How do I know?

ActiveWords keeps a log of it’s use and gives a productivity report. Maybe 3.7 hours doesn’t sound a huge amount but this is while I learnt the product & changed my habits to use it more. It’s not hard to use but does take some time to bed in as you un-learn the hard way you used to do things.

• Imagine sitting down for nearly four hours solid of typing and mousing.
• Imagine achieving the same, or better, results in while eliminating that redundant time.
• ActiveWords costs about $50
• Avoiding effort and better results: Priceless

Here are the numbers!

ActiveWords Productivity Report for Robin Capper from 5/24/2005 to 8/10/2005 (78 days)

• Time Savings;
• Savings from use of ActiveWords that substitute and transform text: 2.52 Hours
• Savings from ActiveWords that navigate and perform Multi-Step processes: 1.18 Hours
• Combined total savings from ActiveWords usage: 3.70 hours
• Keystrokes Saved
• Total user Keystrokes typed including ActiveWords: 313792
• Total Keystrokes substituted by ActiveWords less ActiveWords typed: 22774
• Total Content Entered: 336566
• Percent of Total Content saved by ActiveWords that substitute and transform text: 6.77%

More for less with ActiveWords - Part 4 - Living with words that are active

Continued from ActiveWords Part 3

ActiveWords watches your actions and prompts you to create an active word for repetitive tasks. It means your productivity increases as your wordbase grows. Using ActiveWords soon becomes so effortless that you really miss not having it available. It’s a good thing that the ActiveWords Pro licence allows you to run it on three other computers you use (e.g. work, home, laptop).

It’s easy to move the database between machines. My ActiveWords database travels between home & work on my USB Drive (it’s about 6 Mb). You transfer by making a copy on the primary machine. This copy gets merged with the database on the second machine. The transfer back is a repeat of the copy/merge process. Item “Merge” rather than “file replace” means you can never loose an ActiveWord during the transfer.

Anything that bugs me?

Nothing major. I’ve had no application errors from ActiveWords itself or in other applications because of it. Impressive when you consider it’s operating all the time and interacting with every application I use. I have found a few things to note but these are minor compared to the benefits (more about them later)

• Slows Windows start up a little: Not much but it’s yet another application to get running as Windows starts up. Of course it speeds up your PC use once running!
• AutoCAD Oddity: I find the AutoCAD command line sometimes “cloaks” the first character.
• e.g. With the cursor on the command line type “actwd” (my ActiveWord for ActiveWords!) and sometimes only “ctwd” will be detected by ActiveWords.
• The solution is to click away from the command window, say in the drawing editor, then it’s fine.I suspect this is something to do with AutoCAD’s rather unique command line/command entry system as haven’t seen it in another application.
• Other inputs in AutoCAD via the properties palette, editor or dialogs are perfectly OK.
• Database Merge can cause duplicates: ActiveWords ability to handle multiple entries for one trigger word creates an occasional need to delete edited entries after a database merge. An existing entry edited in the second location (maybe to correct a typo) will be imported as a unique new entry during the next merge. This is because the edited item is seen as a new entry.
• Occasional Action Lag: Occasionally an ActiveWords initiated action (launch or navigate rather than substitute) will be slow. I have only had this a few times and can’t pin down the cause. The action does happen after a short delay but it’s not as rapid as usual which is quicker than mouse navigating to achieve the same result.

UPDATE 14–08–05 ~ ACTION DELAY ELIMINATED AFER SOME HOUSEKEEPING  
From ActiveWords Support:
The periodic delays you mention may relate to the "Learn & Train Agent" (Autosensing). Performance may improve if you delete all items in your "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Recent" folder (it may also be called, "My Recent Documents"). The L&T agent (autosensing) scans this folder to determine what actions to take. Typically, this folder accumulates hundreds of old files and scanning can slow down performance. Items contained in the "Recent" folder are all Shortcuts, not the actual files, so deleting them is safe.
Regards, ActiveWords Support.

These are trivial compared to the real productivity gain and sheer satisfaction watching ActiveWords in action. It’s a great application and after a bit of use you can see how hard it’s working for you.

More for less with ActiveWords - Part 5 - The Results

More for less with ActiveWords - Part 3 - The learning process and some configuration tips

Continued from ActiveWords – Part Two

I didn’t take up Buzz’s offer of a personal tour mainly because I’ve been too slack to get set up for Skype. It’s on the urgent to-do list right after procrastination. Anyway it gave me the chance to experience same introduction that any user can get just by using the trial.

Not long after getting ActiveWords installed & running (painless) an email arrived. I presume everyone gets these and they arrive every few days for the first few of weeks. They are not “buy ActiveWords” spam but gentle suggestions;

• Did you know…?
• You can do….?
• Try this….
• Extend ActiveWords with…

They are not annoying but prompt you to improve your use. Some suggest downloading free add-ins to integrate ActiveWords with other applications or extend it’s abilities.

One powerful example is an Outlook add-in that creates ActiveWords for all your contacts and allows easy actions (send email, search contacts etc) with Outlook. Another allows easy transformation of numbers ($50) to words (fifty dollars) or common actions in MS Windows (Minimise, Maximise etc). If you use Google there is an add-in for their Desktop Search, Gmail, and Map.

One irony: One of the add-ins integrates ActiveWords with MSN Desktop Search which is about where all this started for me!

You could argue that these should be part of the application but having separate add-ins allows you to choose which you use. I prefer this as I’ll never require US ABA Litigation Code or c++ ActiveWords so I won’t install them!

I made extensive use of auto correct/auto text in Microsoft Office and have transfered my list to ActiveWords Substitute list. This is one aspect that could be improved as there is no simple “import Autocorrect”. I found a macro that exported the autocorrect entry list to a text file then loaded them. One unexpected task was finding all the “auto help” options in various applications to turn them off!

Choosing your ActiveWords  – Some planning pays off

One thing to think about is how you set up ActiveWords to make them consistent and easy to use. I use a standard abbreviation and then the last letter as action.

• *f (f = full) substitutes the long format name.
• *u substitutes a URL as text.
• *n starts browser and navigates.
• *l launches the application.

For most applications I use the file extension as find it easiest to remember

• docl – Launches Microsoft Word
• cdrl – Launches CorelDRAW
• xlsl – Launches Microsoft Excel etc

You can also have multiple associations for a single ActiveWord. In this case you are presented with a list of options to choose from. I have more than a few email signatures with quotes all assigned to one active word. Pick one and the signature inserted

Regards,
Robin Capper
“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”
Albert Einstein

 Part 4 - Living with words that are active

More for less with ActiveWords - Part 2 - So what does it do?

Continued from ActiveWords - Part 1

Well, I downloaded and installed the trial version of ActiveWords and started to use it. It runs for 60 days in trial mode to give you a good chance to see if it works for you.

So what does it do?
Imagine tapping a short code or full word into the keyboard with the mouse or cursor anywhere and having one of these things happen:

It’s hard to show the program actions actions on the blog but the feature I use most is Substitute Text.
You are probably familiar with AutoCorrect, AutoText or AutoReplace from other applications. ActiveWords Substitute Text is like having that feature everywhere you can type with only one list to manage. No duplication, no hassle, no thinking what template is holding the corrections. If ActiveWords is running anywhere you can type you can do this:

• rcbf substitutes my blog name – RobiNZ CAD Blog


• rcbfd substitutes the name and description – RobiNZ CAD Blog: CAD, Design, IT & Web Stuff


• rcbu substitutes my blog URL –  http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/


• acad substitutes – AutoCAD


• mmf substitutes – MindManager


• name substitutes – Robin Capper


• date substitutes – 10 August, 2005 (well today it does)


• time substitutes –   nearly bedtime ~ actually it substitutes the current time which is 23:56:28


• cubic substitutes – ³ as in m³


• f1dms substitutes – Michael Schumacher (see it’s not just for work!)


• f1drs substitutes – Ralf Schumacher

Text Substitution seen above in Notepad applies to Word, AutoCAD, MindManager, Quicken, Command Line, Explorer, Messaging everything!

As an example of actions:

• rcbn launches default browser and navigates to my blog url http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/


• docl launches Microsoft Word (I use the extn + l to launch applications)


• Highlighting a word or phrase and pressing the ActiveWords key opens Google with the words selected as the search term.


• Type a <First>, <Last>, <First Last>, or <Company> name and be presented with the contact or contacts that match that word. I have three contacts with “robin” so see this list:

How do you interact with ActiveWords?
ActiveWords has a slim monitor bar that gives feedback and access to it’s tools. Normally it’s docked top or bottom of the screen. If you value screen real estate it can be set to auto-hide or turned off.

Is it hard to configure?
No!  Many ActiveWords are supplied ready to use and it’s smart enough to help you create your own!
If you do something often like open a document, application, web page or folder ActiveWords will notice and suggest you set up an active word. It’s painless and eases you into using the software. There is a wizard that steps through the set-up of your ActiveWords and the dialogs make them easy to edit.

Here is the set-up dialog for rcbf text substitute:
The rcbn Navigate set-up is similar:

ActiveWords also has a scripting engine which is used for interaction with other applications. This is documented to allow users to create their own complex actions if desired.

ActiveWords Part 3: The learning process and some configuration tips

More for less with ActiveWords - Part 1 - How I discovered ActiveWords

Hobie (the Gnomedex 5 star from MindManager) blogged about some software called ActiveWords. He said it’s the best thing since MindManager as it can run applications, navigate the web, search and more just by typing keywords. I think MindManager is the best thing since… well it’s just the best thing… so I think ActiveWords might be pretty good.

I’d just installed MSN Desktop Search & noticed  that it can run applications, navigate the web, search and more just by clicking in the tool-bar field typing a few words. I mentioned this in a comment on Hobies post and Trevor, from the excellent Student Tablet PC Blog, commented that ActiveWords is better than MSN:

“ActiveWords has a clear edge over MSN in that it allows you to use your ActiveWords in any context. I can type an ActiveWord in DOS, on a website, or even where there is nowhere to type. No use of the mouse is required.”

By now I’m thinking this ActiveWords must be good.

Then I get this email from Buzz Bruggeman. If you don’t know Buzz chances are you soon will as he seems to be everywhere spreading the ActiveWords message*!

Hi Robin: 
Saw your comment on Hobies blog. There is no question that you can go to the MSN Search Toolbar and type things that will launch Microsoft apps. But we think ActiveWords is much more powerful because we work in any context at any time, and the naming conventions are yours, not Microsoft. 
Would love to have you try our product, http://www.activewords.com/plus_download.html and tell me what you think. Let me know if you have any questions/comments about ActiveWords and I will do my best to get you answers. Also, let me know if you think having a guided tour would enhance your understanding of ActiveWords.

Regards, 
Buzz

So I thought I’ll try it…

 

ActiveWords Part 2: Trial Installation, What does it do?

 

* Buzz tells an interesting tale of how ActiveWords is being promoted without conventional marketing in this IT Conversation –  Networks and Sales Presentation