C-Print Pro is constantly being improved.  This was recently brought home to me in a big way when I had the opportunity to work with a version of C-Print that pre-dated C-Print Pro. I was relieved to get back to C-Print Pro! The system is getting better with every new version!

If you have been captioning awhile and purchase a new copy of the software, or work at an institution that has, there are some changes worth noting in the newest dictionary.

Vowel Rules
The new dictionary does away with internal vowels.  Gone is the focus on stressed versus unstressed or long versus short vowels.  Here are a few abbreviation examples:
 

Get the idea?   Once you get the hang of not having to remember any vowel rules, this new dictionary is a joy to use!
 
New Expansion options
There are more expansion options for identical abbreviations than were available previously.  While this may be confusing at first to those of us who are not familiar with it, it can be wonderful to have so many choices that were not available before.  So many words that had to break the previous rules because of abbreviation conflicts are now in the dictionary using the abbreviation rule you would expect.  Below are some examples.
 

As you may notice, the original (former) C-Print expansion may not be the “default” or first expansion in the new dictionary pick list.  There is always the option of going in and re-arranging the order of words in the pick list to the order you prefer.

Q as a phonetic abbreviation
The new dictionary does away with using the letter q for expanding syllables such as "ink" "ank" etc.  So, thq no longer expands to the word think. (Think is now thnk.)  Lqn no longer expands to the word Lincoln.  (Lincoln is now lnkn.)  A little more intuitive for most of us!

Another difference
Another interesting difference to notice – cp now has 2 possible expansions.  The FIRST option listed in the pick list is "cheap" and C-Print is now the SECOND option.  Remember this if you do a C-Print demo using the new dictionary!
 

Some Exciting Changes

New State Abbreviations
U.S. state abbreviations have been changed from ending in a dash to ending in a slash.  This makes typing states much easier ergonomically.  Captionists in Geography classes are grateful!  For example, the abbreviation for Maryland is no longer md-; it is now md/.

Note: * al/ doesn't currently expand as it should to Alabama.  This will be fixed when C-Print Pro 2.0 comes out.  I have successfully added al/ to a colleague’s dictionary, but have not been able to do this on my laptop.  So give it a try and see if you can put al/ in your dictionary.  If not, don’t worry—it will be updated with the new version of C-Print Pro.

Contractions
Contractions are now in the dictionary!  All you do is type out the letters in the contraction without any apostrophe, and the dictionary puts in the apostrophe for you!  No more “don'the”!  And no more having our speakers sound like Mr. Spock!

There are a few contractions that may not have made it into the new dictionary.  When you run across one, just add it in, using the full word without the apostrophe as the abbreviation, and the word with the apostrophe as the expansion.

Dictionary Options

Backing up and Selecting Dictionaries
One way around all this change is to backup your current dictionary onto a disk and import it into the new software. It might be a good idea to keep a current copy of your own dictionary with you on a disk, in case you get paired up with a new co-captionist or have to use a new laptop.

To backup your dictionary in C-Print Pro, go to the Dictionary menu and select Backup.  You will need to select which dictionary you want to backup, then select where you would like to backup to (i.e., a floppy disk).

To import your dictionary in C-Print Pro, go to the Dictionary menu and select Import/Restore.  Locate your dictionary by clicking on Browse.  For example, if it is stored on a floppy disk, insert it into the laptop and go to the A drive.

Once the dictionary is imported, you can choose which dictionary you want to use by going Dictionary/Select Dictionaries and checking either your old faithful version, or BOTH the old and the new version. With the latter, you have the added advantage of having access to both dictionaries simultaneously. This would give you a choice, for example, as to whether you use a slash or a dash for the state abbreviations.  Either would work in this case.

As you become familiar with the new abbreviation rules, you may find yourself using them more frequently.  By checking both your old and your new dictionary simultaneously, you would have access to either expansion.  The ability to combine the characteristics of the new dictionary with the old familiar one is a boon to established C-Print Captionists!