Changes from V2

Vocola 3 is a ground-up rewrite of Vocola 2, sharing no code. Features formerly inherited from Dragon NaturallySpeaking or NatLink are now native, such as dictation, the function library, and keystroke parsing. Differences from Vocola 2 are listed below, in three categories:

• Incompatible changes
• Features which address WSR limitations
• Features which improve on Vocola 2

Incompatible changes from Vocola 2

Vocola 3 has three incompatible syntax changes. You can use the Command File Converter to automatically convert Vocola 2 command files to Vocola 3 syntax.

• Context Statements now use $if ... $end syntax, and window title fragments containing a space character must be quoted.
• Include Statements now use $include instead of include, and environment variables in file names are supported using function calls rather than special syntax.
• The characters < and > must be quoted when appearing in a keystroke sequence.

In addition, these changes are important to know about:

• Vocola 2's "built-in functions" (from the Dragon Macro Language) have been replaced by the Vocola Function Library. The important capabilities of the Dragon functions are well-supported by the function library, but some lesser-used functions and capabilities are not currently supported. The DragonLegacy class supports many Vocola 2 functions, or you can convert calls to their recommended Vocola 3 analogs using the Command File Converter.
• The primary global command file is now _global.vcl instead of _vocola.vcl, to avoid confusion with the application-specific command file for the Vocola application, Vocola.vcl. The command file converter handles this change.

Features which address WSR limitations

Vocola 3 has several features which address limitations of Windows Speech Recognition:

• Dictate to any application using Vocola dictation.
• Modify the just-dictated phrase using built-in dictation commands like "Cap That".
• Correct the just-dictated phrase using the Vocola Correction Panel.
• Disable dictation for particular applications or windows.
• Create dictionary words with different spoken and written forms using the Dictation Shortcuts panel.
• Avoid mistakenly invoking buttons, menus, and hyperlinks by choosing the option to require saying "Click" before the name of a clickable item.

Features which improve on Vocola 2

User interface

• Invoke Vocola menu options via the Vocola tray icon.
• See errors, activity, and diagnostics in the Log Window.
• Customize Vocola behavior using the Options Panel.
• Create dictionary words with different spoken and written forms using the Dictation Shortcuts panel.

Built-in commands

• Insert keystrokes in the proper syntax when writing voice commands.
• Locate the command source code which caused an error by saying "Show Error".
• Disable or modify built-in commands if necessary (all built-in commands are written in Vocola).

Usability

• Installs easily (no third-party components needed).
• Changing a header file automatically reloads command files which include it.
• Command sequences work, and you can speak global and application-specific commands in the same sequence.

Language

• Use rich alternative sets, e.g. (<key> | Left | Right).
• Perform actions conditionally using the If() special form.
• Write context statements with multiple branches using $if ... $elseif ... $else ... $end.
• Comment a block of lines using #| ... |#.
• Invoke actions automatically when a command file is loaded, by defining an onLoad function.
• Reference a user-defined function before its definition in a command file.
• Use accented characters in command words and keystrokes.

Keystrokes

• Click mouse buttons using keystroke syntax (e.g. {RightButton}, {LeftButton_2}, {Shift+LeftButton}, {WheelUp}).
• Use the full set of key names supported by Windows (e.g. {VolumeMute}, {BrowserBack}).
• Use "Windows" modifier key (e.g. {Win+d} to clear the desktop).

Function library

• Call useful functions from a variety of classes in the Vocola Function Library.
• Use familiar DragonLegacy functions.
• Control Windows features directly (e.g. TaskBar.SwitchToButtonNumber, Window.MoveToScreenEdge, Clipboard.ConvertToPlainText).
• Control the mouse pointer (e.g. Pointer.MoveTo).
• Manipulate text using String functions.
• Omit class names with the $using statement or base using set.

Extensions

• Write extensions in C#, VB.NET etc. and call the functions directly from Vocola commands.
• Leverage extensive .NET libraries.
• Interact with Vocola internals via the Vocola API.
• Learn from sample extensions, including source code for the function library.