Tammy,
Just another user here.
I have used dictation in Excel.
I enter data into a cell using dictation, but haven't yet used dictation to move to other cells, etc.
(Dictation is not meant to be the same as "voice commands, so please remember that.)
I'm using it to enter barcodes that can't be scanned.
My dictation consists of reading the number off the package, so that it is placed in the cell.
I can keep my eyes on the barcode and use my finger to move along the barcode number on the package so I don't miss digits, all without looking at or touching my computer.
Please know that I've only "tinkered with dictation in Excel", and so I think there are more things that can be done which I just have not discovered yet.
How I dictate a number into a cell:
- Start dictation (WIN+H)
- Move Excel's cursor box to the intended cell.
- Speak your cell contents.
- Press enter/tab/arrow to move to another cell.
- Click on the microphone icon in the dictate bar to dictate another cell entry.
Some notes from my experience:
After a momentary delay, the spoken data gets placed in the cell all at once.
So, when I speak 13 digits in a row, nothing happens until I'm done speaking. Then, after a brief pause, the entire number gets "pasted" into the cell. Each number does not appear "as you speak it."
A number will be entered as digits, not the spelled out number.
I was clicking in the cell to begin editing (same as F2), but I've been successful just moving to another cell and dictating another number without going into the edit mode.
Dictation (goes to sleep?) as soon as you use your mouse or keyboard to move to another cell.
Just press the microphone icon in the dictate bar to "reawaken it", and start speaking the contents of the new cell.
IF YOU SWITCH FROM EXCEL TO ANY OTHER APPLICATION, then when you switch back to Excel, although the dictate bar is still there, it seems furbar'd. So I click the X to close the dictation bar and press WIN+H to restart it. That's all you need to do. And that's only if you switch to something besides Excel.
HTH,
~spamster