Manual for Saida

Saida is a word prediction and autocorrection program that suggests and corrects words as you type. With a single keystroke, you can insert a word from a list of suggestions given by the program. It can also be used in autocorrection. This means that, when possible, a spelling error is automatically corrected when you press space.

When installed Saida works in all text windows. It can be used in many applications, e.g. Microsoft Word, when typing text for internet searches or in web-based word processing programs.

Saida is helpful for those who have difficulty using the keyboard due to mobility impairments, those who want to speed up their typing or those who are unsure of spelling. It can also be used with text-to-speech so that suggestions and example sentences are read out loud.

Saida is able to suggest words, even if you misspelled the beginning of the word, e.g. kemi.. can give the suggestion chemist.

Saida includes a built-in support function, which signals when you write a word that is similar to others, e.g. right or write. Such words are shown in example sentences so you can check that you have written the correct word.

The software offers many options to personalise wordlists, presentation and spelling help.

Install

To install Saida double-click on the Saida installation file.
Follow the instructions until installation is complete.
The installer creates a shortcut that is placed on the computer desktop.

Writing with Saida

To use Saida, you must start both the Saida program and the program you want to write in, e.g. Microsoft Word.

Start Saida by double-clicking the icon shortcut, which is located on your computer desktop. Alternatively, go to Search and search for Saida and click on Saida’s icon.
Start the program Saida will work with (e.g. Microsoft Word).
Then just start writing and you will receive word suggestions based on the letters you type.
Word-prediction is the default mode, but you can chose autocorrection mode if you prefer.
In autocorrection mode misspelled words are corrected automatically, if possible, when you press space.
Customise settings and functionality to suit your needs. The settings are accessed by right-clicking, either on the Saida window or on the Saida icon in the Taskbar. See Settings.
There are options to import specialist word-lists and to add your own personal words or abbreviations, and to export lists of the words that have been corrected.

Insert words from the Saida window

Saida’s word predictor provides up to nine different word suggestions as you type. To insert a word from the suggestion list, click on the number in front of the word. This insertion method is the default from the beginning (but can be changed in the settings).

Audio-image word prediction

Saida uses audio-image word prediction. This means that in many cases you can spell a word as it sounds, e.g. jonrer (genre), sinama (cinema) and Saida will give correct word suggestions. The audio-image suggestions are presented as red by default.

Confusable words and example sentences

Some words have a small green arrow behind them. This means that it is an easily-confused word that can sometimes be misspelled, e.g. the word which can sometimes be confused with witch. Double-click on the green arrow to see the example sentences to help decide what spelling it should be in your particular context. To insert a word from an example sentence, double-click the word.

Autocorrection

With the autocorrection option turned on, Saida will correct many spelling errors automatically after you press the spacebar.

If the Saida predictor window is open, the autocorrect choice will be highlighted in gray. Autocorrection also works when the Saida window is minimised; you do not see the suggestion alternatives but the autocorrection is made when you press space.

If Saida autocorrects a word which isn’t the word you were trying to write, for example a name spelled in a particular way, you can add that word to your own wordlist. Then it will not be autocorrected. To do this click the small green plus sign after your word in the Saida window, or type it directly into My Lists > Personal wordlist.

If Saida cannot make an autocorrection, the word you typed will be left for later checking and correcting.

Add words to your personal wordlist

Saida’s wordlists contain hundreds of thousands of words, but some more unusual spellings of e.g. names and addresses may not be included. If you have written such a word and want to add it, click on the green plus sign after the word in the suggestion list. Your personal word list can be edited under My lists > Personal wordlist which you can access by right-clicking on the Saida window.

Minimise or pause Saida

Saida will suggest words as long as the program is active. You have the options to:

Minimise Saida: Click the minimise button at the bottom right of the Saida window. The Saida window disappears, but the autocorrection still works.
Pause Saida: Word prediction and autocorrection are now turned off, but the Saida window is still visible. You can pause and resume by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+P.
If you want to close Saida, click the X in the Saida window.

Saida and several languages

Saida is able to operate several different languages. In settings you can choose to have word prediction and autocorrection for Swedish, English (UK or US), Danish, German, Norwegian – Nynorsk and Norwegian – Bokmål. Read more about this under the heading Main window tab.

Using text-to-speech

In many places in Saida, you can have text read aloud, provided you have speech synthesis on your computer -see Text-to-Speech tab. Some speech synthesizers must be started separately.

To have a word or sentence read out loud, highlight the text and press the small speaker icon (circled in the image). Saida will also read the inserted words out loud.

Wordlists in Saida

Saida has a large and a small wordlist for each language. The large wordlist is standard after installation. Saida’s words are sorted into commonly-used and less-commonly used words. The small wordlist contains only the commonly-used words. You can change wordlists under Settings – Wordlists.

Settings

To go to Settings, start Saida and right-click on the small Saida icon in the taskbar. You can also right-click anywhere in the Saida window and then select Settings. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+I.

Main window tab

Language

Under Language, select which language Saida should work with. Choose from English (UK or US), Swedish, Danish, German, Norwegian – Nynorsk and Norwegian – Bokmål.

Activate autocorrection

To enable or disable autocorrection, click the Activate autocorrection. The autocorrection works even when the Saida window is minimised, but not when Saida is paused.

Wordlist

Here you choose which wordlist Saida should work with. The program has a large and small wordlist. The words you add yourself constitute what is called your Personal wordlist in the program.

Additional wordlists

Here you can choose if you want to add additional wordlists such as medical words. More wordlists will be available soon.

Ways to select words

You can decide how to insert word suggestions: with the standard number keys, with the number keys on the numeric keypad or with Alt + (1-9). You can always choose to insert a word by double-clicking on the desired word in the suggestion list.

Start Saida when computer starts

If you want Saida to start automatically every time you start your computer, check this box.

Presentation tab

Here you set how Saida should present the word suggestions and some other functions for display.

The Saida window follows the cursor

Ticked box means that the Saida window always follows the cursor. If you prefer, the Saida window can be fixed in one place on the screen. In this case, the box should be unchecked.

Resizing windows based on word length

The Saida window will resize depending on whether you type long or short words.

Add space after selected word

Check this box if Saida should insert a space after the selected word. Otherwise, you add a space yourself after the selected word.

Maximum number of words

You can set how many word suggestions Saida should display in the word suggestion window – at least one, at most nine words.

Font and size

Set the desired font, style and size under this button.

Color – background, regular prediction and sound image-like prediction

Set the desired color for background, regular prediction and sound image prediction.

Reset

Resets your changes to Sadia’s default values.

Text to speech tab

If you have a speech synthesis installed in your computer, most of the text in Saida can be read aloud. Under the Text-to-speech tab, there are settings for text-to-speech use. Text-to-speech can be of two different types.

Text-to-speech that works via clipboard

If you want to work with speech synthesis via clipboard, the box Use text-to-speech via clipboard should be checked. All settings for text-to-speech are made in the text-to-speech program and can not be controlled via Saida.

Speech synthesis that is SAPI-compatible

Examples of this type of speech synthesis are ClaroRead Plus. The settings for SAPI text-to-speech are accessible from Saida. In the image above, this type of text-to-speech is highlighted in the Use SAPI text-to-speech. If you have both types of text-to-speech software on your computer, both variants will be selectable from Saida.

About

Under this tab you will find information about version and license. You can also get access to Saida’s manual.

My lists

Under My lists, which you can find by right-clicking on the Saida window or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+L, you can access all your own wordlists. This is also where you can edit the lists in different ways.

Personal wordlist

In the Personal wordlist are all words that you have added via the word prediction window through the green plus sign. You can also enter words directly into your wordlist and click Add. If you want to delete a specific word, select it and click Delete. You can also delete a previously-added word directly in the Saida window through a red minus sign.

Add words from text documents

Saida can learn all new words from an entire text; something that can be practical for those who write about very special topics and use unusual technical terms. Note that the text used to teach Saida new words must be a plain text file. If you want to use a Word text, you must first save an extra copy of the text in text format or RTF format (* .txt or * .rtf).

Export and Import

The Export button allows you to export your wordlists by generating a file. If you then want to import the wordlist (if you change computers, for example), do this via Import.

Corrections

Words that Saida has autocorrected can be found under Corrections. To display this list, right-click on the Saida window and select Corrections.

To save the list as a text file (.txt), click Save. If you want to print the list, click Print.

Keyboard shortcuts

Settings window: Ctrl+Alt+I
My lists window: Ctrl+Alt+L
Pause and resume: Ctrl+Alt+P
Add own autocorrections: F2

Uninstall

Select Settings > Apps > Apps and features. Locate Saida and click on the three dots and select Uninstall.

License terms and support

Saida is a registered trademark and the program is protected under copyright law. It is illegal and punishable to copy the program for reasons other than making your own backup. Support for Saida is provided by Oribi AB in Lund, tel +46 46-32 30 12 or by e-mail support@oribi.se.