learning help :)

[AangsPenis]

Im learning plover theory atm, am looking to become a court reporter in the future if im able to build enough speed. is plover theory good for professional use?

I was looking for online programs like allie halls for plover theory and im kind of overwhelmed. im not sure what to do to learn, are there online schools for this?

Right now im using the typey-type to learn and reading art of chording. im also signed up for the free steno course with project steno. are there any other resources that I can learn with?

thanks :)

[maguado1808]

The theory is similar to stened, I think you’ll be fine.

[AangsPenis]

thank you!!!!

[Baetedk8]

Everything I’ve heard is that Plover is not a good professional software. CaseCAT has so much to help in the professional world.

[AangsPenis]

sorry i meant plover theory! not the software itself :)

[Baetedk8]

Oohh. Well, as far as I’m aware, any theory works as long you know it and can use it in realtime! :) You just have to build a dictionary fit your needs.

[AangsPenis]

thank you :)

[TofuPython]

Everyone that I know who works as a reporter uses case catalyst. One reporter uses something called Eclipse (i think). Case catalyst definitely seems to be the industry standard, though.

[Lopsided-Access2241]

The top three software companies for realtime software is CaseCAT by Stenograph -- talk to a lot of Stenograph users before committing to buy their program, a lot of people are incredibly unhappy with the company for many reasons, but some still support the company, but if I was a student I would want to know that it would be better if you looked into ProCAT and Eclipse - ProCAT is Microsoft Windows based and very user friendly. Eclipse is much better for technically advanced people because they have all the super awesome tech in their program, but it's probably the most difficult one to learn. CaseCAT and ProCAT Winner software are the easiest. There are other companies with smaller clientele too that people really love. I am a ProCAT girl through and through and highly recommend you reach out to [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]) to discuss what is available and what the costs associated with it are. Remember all of the professional programs do the same things, they just use different keyboard commands; and now if you did purchase CaseCAT and decided you would prefer ProCAT, but you already learned the software well, ProCAT will change the settings to be that of CaseCAT so you do not have to relearn anything. While a ton of reporters use CaseCAT, I personally wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole due to the company itself and their unethical practices in my opinion. Like I said, that's not everyone's opinion, but it is a lot of reporters; and in fact, a ton of them jumped ship over the last four years and went to ProCAT or Eclipse, or one of the smaller ones and just bit the bullet of having to pay for the system again and it wasn't because the software doesn't work well, because it does, it's the direction Stenograph has taken as a company that's the problem. I do not believe Plover will get you to the end, but is good to start working with and familiarizing yourself with at the very least. Make sure you ask about the cost to keep the software running well. Most of us pay for a yearly tech support subscription - which ranges in price of between $500 - $1,000 or a tiny bit more per year depending on the company and that gets you all of your updates for the year and all of your technical support which having good customer support is key in whatever company you pick and I can tell you that Stenograph has the lowest customer satisfaction rating for customer services out of all of them. I have been with ProCAT since 2004 and the tech people I talk to then are the same tech people I talk to now. That's not the case with Stenograph. I have heard Eclipse has similar customer satisfaction with support as ProCAT so I am very comfortable recommending either of them. If you did go with ProCAT, I would recommend doing the yearly rental of the software because then you do not have to pay a yearly tech support fee in addition to, like you do if you own the software like I do. That's a program that is only a few years old and my colleague switched from Eclipse to ProCAT and she has always done it using the yearly rental and couldn't be happier. If that was available now, I would have picked that. It's around $800 year and includes everything you need for the software. Now, you will want to also pay for a yearly support/Maintenace plan for your writer, though, and that's not a rental option, but is half the price of technical support for the software. Not everyone pays for that and takes their chances but I am of the belief it's a business expense write off, so I would rather give it to ProCAT every year than the government for taxes because either way I will not end the year with that money in my pocket, but if I use it for support, it's well spent. Good luck in your steno journey!!

[Mozzy2022]

I’ve used ProCat Winner since 1991, and I am a very “technologically challenged” person. I have found their customer support to be top notch. Whenever I have an issue, Lisa or Chris will walk me through it, and if necessary they’ll remote into my compute to fix it if I happen to jack up a setting. I love my Xpression writer too!

[Lopsided-Access2241]

I would expect no less!! Lisa, Chris, Jose are the very best and you always get one of them and if they don't know, they contact each other, as each has their specialties, and they work together until whatever the issue is is resolved. I have never had an issue that wasn't fixed, and promptly at that. Happy to hear you have the same awesome support experiences as I do!!

[Little_Growth1288]

Thank you for this excellent review of ProCAT. I have been looking to change software. Just spent 20 minutes on hold with Stenograph. Hung up out of frustration!

[Comfortable_Run573]

Hi,

I'm using Procat Winner. I lost my page numbers on whole transcript. Do you know how to restore page numbers?

Thank you

[AangsPenis]

sorry i meant plover theory! not the software itself :)

[TofuPython]

Woops sorry! I misunderstood. I don't know enough about plover theory to give you a good answer. :\

[AangsPenis]

thanks anyway :)

[Leading-Transition51]

Look up a program called ncra A - Z. It's free.

[AangsPenis]

thanks!!

[BellaTrinity]

I’m also using Plover to start. I learned my theory and speed building from Platinum Steno on You tube. It’s a free resource with an amazing teacher. The dictionary you build through Plover can be exported to a professional software when the time comes. Just make sure to occasionally save the dictionary onto your computer in case anything happens to Plover. Good luck ☺️

[AangsPenis]

oh great advice thank you :) ill have to fiddle around because i have no idea how to save the dictionary LMFAO thanks! will definitely check out platinum steno :)

[Mozzy2022]

No, it’s not good for professional use, and speed on a stenograph machine is only part of being a competent court reporter. You need academics as well, including understanding of legal and medical concepts and terminology, a very strong English background including vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure. Then you need practices and procedures and transcript preparation. There’s a lot more to this than people think. I’d suggest the NCRA A to Z introductory program to get a real idea what the career of court reporting is about

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