Install Vocola

A combined installer that installs an old version of Vocola 2 along with NatLink and Unimacro is provided by the NatLink project on SourceForge.net. Read on for installation instructions.

Use the following instructions for your first installation of Vocola 2.
Or, see below to upgrade from an earlier version of Vocola 2.

Installing Vocola 2 for the first time

  1. Install Dragon NaturallySpeaking, any edition or version. When creating a user profile with DNS 12[.5], do not use BestMatch V as it is broken in DNS 12, causing unacceptable command latency; instead use BestMatch IV. [You can change the language model when creating a profile by clicking on "advanced".]
  2. Install Python, Pythonwin, and wxPython:
    • Download pythonfornatlink/python2.7.14 (a zip file containing several installers) from SourceForge. (Later versions of these from elsewhere are fine as long as they are compatible with Python 2.7 32-bit; the combined installer does not work with Python 3 or 64 bit versions of Python.)
    • Run the self-extracting executable to unzip the installers to a temporary folder.
    • Install Python (click on python-2.7.14.msi) for all users (the default)
    • Install Pythonwin (click on pywin32-221.win32-py2.7.exe)
    • Install wxPython (click on wxPython3.0-win32-3.0.2.0-py27.exe)
  3. Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1
  4. Install six and future Python packages:
    • Start windows command prompt (search from start menu)
    • cd \Python27\Scripts
    • pip install six
    • pip install future
  5. Download the combined installer, called NatLink version 4.2 from SourceForge, and run it.
    • [not recommended] Alternatively, you can use an earlier version from there.
      • Must be version 4.0 or later
      • For DNS 12 or Vocola 2.8+, you need version 4.1Charlie or later
      • For DNS 13 or Vocola 2.8.1+, you need version 4.1Lima or later
    • We recommend installing in C:\Users\username\NatLink instead of the default C:\NatLink
  6. Download the latest version of Vocola, currently 2.8.8, unzip it, then:
    • if you used the recommended installer destination,
      • remove the files in C:\Users\username\NatLink\NatLink\Vocola\extensions
      • run install-user-dir.bat
    • if you used the default installer destination
      • remove the files in C:\NatLink\NatLink\Vocola\extensions
      • run install.bat
  7. Configure NatLink/Vocola 2/Unimacro:
    • From the start menu, run All Programs > NatLink > Configure NatLink via GUI
      • [Windows 8: start screen > type "natlink" > Configure NatLink via GUI]
    • In the "NatLink" section, click the "Enable" button.
    • In the "Vocola" section, click the "Enable" button.
    • Choose a directory to store your Vocola command files; we recommend [My ]Documents\NatLink\Vocola.
    • Click "Close".
  8. Test Vocola:
    • Start Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
    • Say "Start NotePad" to launch NotePad.
    • Say "Edit Voice Commands". The command file notepad.vcl should be opened using Notepad.
      • If you get an error like "cannot execute application...", follow step 6 below (use Notepad if you want).
    • Dictate the command ‘test command = success;’ by saying "test command equals sign success semicolon".
    • Save the file.
    • Say "Switch to NotePad".
    • Say "test command". The word "success" should appear.
  9. [optional] Select a different program to edit command files than Notepad:
    • Associate the .vcl file extension (used for Vocola command files) with your favorite text editor.
    • You may be able to do this by right clicking on a .vcl file then selecting Open With > Choose Program... and then checking Always use the selected program to open this kind of file and then choosing a program.
      • If you used the recommended install point, then you can find sample .vcl's at C:\Users\username\NatLink\NatLink\Vocola\samples.
    • If/when you start using Vocola include files, you may wish to associate the .vch file extension as well.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of Vocola 2

  1. If you added any custom Vocola extensions, save them elsewhere.
  2. If you already have Vocola 2.8.7 or later installed using combined installer 4.2 you should be able to get away with:
    • Exit Dragon
    • Do step 6 of the installing Vocola 2 for the first time list.
    • Restore your saved custom Vocola extensions if any.
    • Restart Dragon.
  3. Otherwise,
    • Exit Dragon
    • Remove Python, pywin, wxPython, and NatLink (via Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs).
    • Do steps 2 onwards of the installing Vocola 2 for the first time list, except restore your saved custom Vocola extensions if any before step 8.

Using Emacs to open command files instead of Notepad

Emacs 29 users:

  1. Make sure the Emacs bin folder containing runemacs.exe is included in your PATH environment variable.
  2. Associate the .vcl and .vch file extensions with runemacs.exe.
 
Copyright © 2002-2023 Rick Mohr