More than likely, you will be using a word processor to
produce your ASCII text files in. This is because they offer
spell checking and auto-text features vital to efficient
transcribing. However, it is possible to use a text editor
program with external spell checking and auto-text programs.
DO NOT USE WORD PERFECT VERSION 5.1 FOR DOS to save ASCII text
files. The text-file saving routine in WP 5.1 automatically
inserts carriage returns at the end of every single visual line
in your report. You do not want this. Use a Windows word
processor to save your file as "text only" without line
breaks.
Note that the following formatting becomes unavailable with
ASCII text:
1. Bolds
2. Underlines
3. Italics
4. Indents
5. Forced page breaks
6. Multiple fonts
7. Misc. word processor-only formatting
Don't get too discouraged. It is not only possible to do highly
readable transcription (pleasing to a client) with ASCII text, it
is preferable due to the simplification of the format and less
typing that a transcriptionist will have to do to in order to
transcribe a report. Here are some examples on-line. An HTML formatted version (which
faithfully reproduces an ASCII text file). Or download an actual ASCII text file
of a sample report (you may need to click on this link with your
right mouse button and save the "target" to disk in
order to download the file).
You will need to work with your client in order to come up with a
mutually agreeable report format that is reproducible in ASCII
text.
If you print out transcription to be delivered to a client as
paper, then page breaks will not be an issue. You can still use
the forced page break command in your word processor if you need
to and then immediately print the report--thereby preserving your
page break. However, if you open the report later for correction
and then want to print it, you will need to re-insert the page
break.
If you are a larger organization and have a need to batch print
reports, it is recommended that you put together a utility to
batch print ASCII text files. This utility could automatically
insert page breaks where they need to be as well as automatically
preventing paragraph widows. ASMART offers a utility that anyone,
large or small, can use to batch print ASCII text files while
performing automatic formatting. This utility is free and can be
downloaded from this web site.
*Note that wherever ASCII text is used, it also refers to ANSI
(windows) text files also.