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Express Scribe Software Development Kit

This is the Software Development Kit (SDK) for programmers to integrate Express Scribe as part of other software or larger systems. It is intended for programmers only.

At the moment Express Scribe is controlled using the command line. Functionality includes opening and closing files, dispatching files, deleting files and bringing Express Scribe to the front or back. The full specification of the command line options are set out below.

If you are developing a dictation management system you should also consider integrating the dictation end, Express Dictate with the Express Dictate API and Etools to work with and manage dct files.

Express Scribe Command Line Usage

Express Scribe exe is located at "C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Scribe\scribe.exe". You can run command lines programmatically with the Win32 API call WinExec. See the Windows documentation for more. You should test your commands with the command line prompt if they are not working.

These options apply to Express Scribe version 4.00 and above.

Argument Description

-exit Forces Express Scribe to Close

-back Minimize Express Scribe

-front Restore Express Scribe

-delete Delete the current selected file(s)

-done Close the current selected file(s) and move to done list

-dispatch Dispatch the current selected file(s)

-deletefile "[OriginalFilePath]" Delete the file that was loaded from the orginal path

-donefile "[OriginalFilePath]" Mark as done the file that was loaded from the orginal path

-dispatchfile "[OriginalFilePath]" Dispatch the file that was loaded from the orginal path

-selectfile "[OriginalFilePath]" Dispatch the file that was loaded from the orginal path

"[LoadFilePath]" Loads the specified file. You must specify the full path of the file. You should enclose the path in inverted commas.

Command Line Examples

"C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Scribe\scribe.exe" "C:\My Documents\MyDictation.dct"
- opens the file "C:\My Documents\MyDictation.dct" with Express Scribe

"C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Scribe\scribe.exe" -front
- opens the Express Scribe window

"C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Scribe\scribe.exe" -donefile "C:\My Documents\MyDictation.dct"
- assuming the file "C:\My Documents\MyDictation.dct" was previously opened, closes the file and marks it as done

Changing Express Scribe Settings

Express Scribe settings are contained in the file "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\NCH Swift Sound\Scribe\settings.ini". Open the file with Notepad to view the 'raw' settings. To change these settings from within your program using the Windows 32 API command WritePrivateProfileString.

Adding other functions to Express Scribe Command Line

If you need to be able to control other functions of Express Scribe from within your program, you can retain us to add the feature for you. Costs start from around $US150 depending on complexity. To request a quote, please submit it through www.nch.com.au/development.

Other Information

We also offer corporate software development services if you want us to do the development for you or if you need more substancial changes to Express Scribe. To request a quote, please submit it through www.nch.com.au/development.

We can also rebrand Express Scribe with your logo and details for a small fee (see www.nch.com.au/reseller for more information).

You can distribute the Express Scribe install file with your software (but you may not attempt to modify it or hide its help file).


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