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VoiceAttack Changelog

What's new in VoiceAttack 1.3.7

May 29, 2013
  • Improvements:
  • Text to speech now supports multiple voices. If you have more than one voice installed on your machine, you can select a different voice for each spoken statement.
  • You can now enable/disable keyboard shortcut hotkeys with a command. These command actions are found on the, 'Other stuff' screen.
  • Also, you can enable/disable keyboard shortcuts on the main screen with the new, 'Shortcuts On / Off' button. Toggles just like the, Listening' button.
  • With the addition of the new button, the option screen is now accessible thru the little wrench icon on the top bar.
  • Added a few command line functions for testing.
  • Changed the way the keys are labeled in the key press screen. Previously, in DirectX mode, you would see (for example), 'Num 7 Home' when pressing the numeric pad, '7' key. This will now display, 'Num 7'. This is because VoiceAttack is a Windows application, and, is picking up key presses that are applicable to Windows. The DirectX api only has one scan code for 'Home', and, does not differentiate between the numeric pad home key and the central cluster home key. This more accurately represents what is going on and will save some confusion going forward.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Work done on the keyboard shortcut enable/disable code in an attempt to make enabling/disabling shortcuts a little more reliable.
  • Fixed issue in Windows 8 where resuming from sleep mode would cause the speech engine to double up recognized commands.
  • Removed horizontal scrollbar from log view that would occasionally pop up.

New in VoiceAttack 1.3.6 (May 29, 2013)

  • Improvements:
  • Added, 'Mouse Click Duration' feature that allows you to control the amount of time between a mouse down and mouse up action (for both single and double-clicks). This was created to allow a little more time for DirectX games to detect a mouse click. The default value for this is 0.1 second.
  • Added Move mouse left/right/up/down x number of pixels from current position.
  • Removed restriction of import commands for the trial version. The only gotcha is that there is still a maximum of 20 commands.
  • Added command line argument, '-default' that basically does what the 'Reset to Defaults' button does on the Options page. This is for more than rare instances where an option has gotten corrupted (or manually tampered) and the application will not launch.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Modifier keys that are down are now released when commands are stopped.
  • To be a better neighbor, VoiceAttack will attempt to key up any modifiers that are down on application exit.
  • Prevent Win + up arrow from maximizing screens.
  • Fixed issue when superceding key down commands were still executed (for example, if you have a key-up macro that is, say, CTRL + SHIFT + X' and another that is just, 'CTRL + X', when you press 'CTRL + SHIFT + X', 'CTRL + X' should not execute at the same time).
  • Fixed issue of input mode not being saved on edit of key press when key down or key up was selected.
  • Fixed issue with profile overrides that required app restart for changes to take effect.
  • Removed time delay when releasing a modifier key when using a key-up assigned macro.

New in VoiceAttack 1.3.5 (May 29, 2013)

  • Improvements:
  • You can now execute the macros you set up for voice commands with keyboard shortcuts. On the command screen, you now have two checkboxes : 'When I say...', and, 'When I press...'. You can indicate either or both which also has the nice side-effect of being able to enable/disable commands). What makes this fun is that you can have macros with a plain, old keyboard (and, if you have a keyboard with macro software, the ability to assign macros to keys other than ones designated). There is also an option to only allow for the command to be invoked on key up. Kind of handy if you have pairs of macros that you execute all the time (one macro on the key down, one on the key up).
  • Added, 'Command Weight' feature to the, 'Options' screen. The higher the value, the more likely VoiceAttack is going to make a, 'best guess' as to what you said. This feature will make the recognition of your commands way more reliable overall, and, will help with certain commands that the speech engine just_will_not_handle. Example... if the value of Command Weight is 100, and, you say, 'flag', and you have no command called, 'flag', but, you have a command called, 'bag', bag' will be executed. A high value is (probably) not desirable if you have listening turned on all of the time, since just about everything you say will get executed somehow. A high value would be most helpful for those that use, 'push-to-talk (listen)'. Default value is 50 and can be adjusted up to 100.
  • NOTE : THIS FEATURE IS *NOT* AVAILABLE IN WINDOWS XP.
  • Keypress recorder now available on the, 'Command' screen. This replaces the, 'Quick Input' screen since it can do everything the, 'Quick Input' screen could do and more).
  • Updated the, 'Other Stuff' screen to use a drop down list instead of radio buttons to select the action. The screen was getting entirely too long, and there are more features coming :)
  • Totally for fun, you can now override VoiceAttack not listening with a command prefix. For instance, if you have VoiceAttack's listening turned off, you have a command called, 'Launch My Game' and a command prefix of, 'Computer', you can say, 'Computer, Launch My Game' and the command will execute (as if listening was turned on). Note that you don't actually have to have listening turned off... works just as well turned on. This is for my Trekkie friends :) This is located in the, 'Profile Options' screen, right off the profile.
  • Setting speech delays in options no longer requires a restart (this will make tweaking a lot quicker).
  • Allow other commands to run at the same time' asynchronous commands) is now on by default for new installs.
  • Windows Game (DirectX) is now the default selected input mode for new installs.
  • Added a subtle bit of gradient to the background of all the main forms... the previous flat color tended to make the forms hard to distinguish when overlapped.
  • Shined up the mic level indicator on the main screen. No longer a standard progress bar (bleh).
  • With keyboard shortcuts enabled, I decided it was a bad idea to kill VoiceAttack when it starts up and there is no default audio device (or headset/mic not plugged in). You just get a warning box now with the option of not showing the box any more a log message always appears with this warning). An added benefit is that now you can configure VoiceAttack without having to have your headset/mic hooked up (actually, you could always do this, since the popup message was never modal).
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Introduced bug with working directory that stops all shell commands from working. This has been fixed.
  • Left Shift/Alt/Ctrl keys not working in DirextX mode fixed (doh).
  • Known issues that will be fixed in the next release :
  • Issue with profile overrides that requires app restart for changes to take effect.
  • Win + up arrow maximizes every window.

New in VoiceAttack 1.3.4 (May 29, 2013)

  • Improvements:
  • Added option to turn off adaptive recognition.
  • This is for those that may be experiencing trouble in noisy environments.
  • NOTE - This feature is only available to Windows 7 and Vista users. XP users can change this value in the speech configuration applet in the control panel.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Export profile screen no longer has a delay when stretching the form.
  • Less aggressive means of setting top window may help with Windows Explorer issues.
  • Fixed an issue with the registration crashing VoiceAttack under certain conditions.

New in VoiceAttack 1.3.2 (May 26, 2012)

  • Bug Fixes:
  • Fixed introduced issue where keypress duration only works with alpha keyboard numbers. This is the main reason for the release.
  • 95% less squirrel in the profile screen (position is maintained a little better after delete or searching by typing).

New in VoiceAttack 1.3 (May 8, 2012)

  • Improvements:
  • Recognition global hotkey is no longer just toggle. You can now also hold to listen, or, hold to ignore. This can be overridden at the profile level, so, each game/app can have its own hotkey. Hotkey is no longer limited to a dropdown of shortcuts. Key selection works like the keypress screen, so, if your app can support the keys, you can select them.
  • Mouse push-to-talk and global stop command can now be overridden at the profile level.
  • Stop command is no longer limited to a dropdown selection (just like the global recognition hotkey).
  • Extended key support in the keypress screen. Clicking on the mini keyboard shows a popup with all of the keys you can select (in case your keyboard does not have keys such as, 'next track', 'prev track', 'volume up', etc).
  • Keypress screen no longer complains if a key is not supported in DirectX when switching from standard to DirectX mode.
  • Added working directory to app launch command.
  • You can now drag and drop a file name onto the 'Run application' and 'Play sound' text boxes on the, 'Other Stuff' screen.
  • Updated the keypress screen (and option screen hotkey popups) with some new graphics.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Fixed a bug where nested asynchronous commands were no longer asynchronous.
  • Startup issue in XP identified and fixed.

New in VoiceAttack 1.2.9 (Feb 29, 2012)

  • Improvements:
  • Added 'Unrecognized Speech Delay' option in the options screen. This is the amount of time VoiceAttack takes before rejecting an ambigous speech stream. Most will recognize this as the amount of time you have to hold your breath after talking before issuing an actual command :) I'll probably
  • explain this more on the forums. I think it's an important piece that I have neglected for a long time.
  • As a result of the above option, 'Recognition Delay' has been renamed to 'Recognized Speech Delay'.
  • Removed read-only restriction on the Run Application text box on the, 'Other Stuff' screen (no longer required to browse for a file). This is so you can take advantage of things like shell commands.
  • Added Category and Description to the Commands. This will help with organization. The columns for Category and Description will only be visible if you actually have data in at least one command. Otherwise, the columns are hidden (might make this a configuration later).
  • Since we now have up to four columns visible on the Profile screen, we can now reorder the columns.
  • Updated Export to HTML to also include the new Category and Description. Column order is now configurable, as well as sorting. You can now choose which columns to export.
  • Enabled Help from most screens. Hit, 'F1' to be taken to online help.
  • 'Include Enter' press at end of Quick Input.
  • Added 'Reset Defaults' button to options page. This reverts all settings back to, 'factory' values (things like screen positions, column order, hotkeys, etc). Profile data is *not* touched.
  • Ultra-minor, but, worth mentioning - Double-clicking the gear icon on the main page closes VoiceAttack (finally). Easter egg - Holding down control + double-clicking on said icon changes VoiceAttack to, 'camo' mode.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Screen handling after disabling monitors in a multi-monitor configuration updated.

New in VoiceAttack 1.2.6 (Sep 19, 2011)

  • Improvements:
  • Added Mouse Actions to commands. You can now add mouse left/right/middle click (mouse down and then up), double-click, down, and up to your command macros.
  • The scroll wheel can be scrolled forward or backward.
  • The mouse location can be captured in your games by pressing a user-defined hotkey (hotkey is defined in Options).
  • Current mouse position can be saved and then recalled.
  • Bug Fixes:
  • Fixed a bug where setting the duration of a keypress would allow users to hit, 'OK' even though no key was selected.

New in VoiceAttack 1.2.4 (Dec 27, 2010)

  • Fixed introduced bug where editing a command that launches with a parameter does not save the parameter.
  • New Tips screen would sometimes lose its mind. Less broken now.
  • Minor cosmetic updates.

New in VoiceAttack 1.2.3 (Oct 14, 2010)

  • Bug fixes:
  • Widened some text areas to display better in XP.
  • Added 'Tips' screen that pops up on first use. Just to help those that have never tried this before not be completely lost.

New in VoiceAttack 1.2.2 (Oct 14, 2010)

  • Bug fixes
  • Profile find action by keypress works a little better.
  • Registration no longer cares about email letter case.
  • In the Keypress window, 'Method A' is now, 'Standard'.
  • 'Method B' is now, 'Windows Game (DirectX)'.

New in VoiceAttack 1.2.1 (May 11, 2010)

  • First pass at nested commands. This will allow for calling other commands by name within a command. You will find this option on the 'Other Stuff' screen. Note that there is code in place to prevent you from creating a loop (crossing fingers), since the final goal is to create repeating commands.
  • Optimized speech engine initializer to speed up profile loading.
  • Added copy (ctrl+c), paste (ctrl+v), move (ctrl + up/down arrows) and delete via keyboard to command action list (all of this is also available via right-click menu).

New in VoiceAttack 1.2 (Apr 23, 2010)

  • Added 'This command allows other commands to run at the same time' feature to the add/edit command window. This is a first pass at 'multi-threaded' commands that is at the top of everybody's list
  • The 'Stop Macro' button has been replaced with a 'Stop Commands' button. What this does now is it is basically a panic button to indicate to all running macros that they need to stop.
  • Added global hotkey to stop command processing.
  • Added 'stop command processing' as a command (so you can issue voice commands to stop command processing). Note - this feature only works if your commands are set up to be asynchronous (that is, your commands can be executed at the same time)... more on this in the help file.
  • Reduced CPU usage of macros.
  • Profiles can now be switched via command. This is available on the 'Other stuff' screen and is accessible only to registered users (since the unregistered version only allows one profile).
  • Quick input now has an input mode for each keypress, a 'hold down for x seconds' and a, 'pause between each keypress'. Each of these is 'sticky' (that is, they default to the last value that you set each time you come back).
  • KeyPress hold key duration is now 'sticky'.
  • 'Start Minimized' feature added to options page.
  • When adding a command action, the new action will appear after where the cursor is located (not just added to the end of the list).
  • First pass at a command action quick reference list. This list is currently only available in html format and is generated by clicking the 'export' button and selecting 'html' as the file type. Note that this is only available in the registered version.
  • Bug fixes:
  • Case-sensitivity issue between VoiceAttack commands and the speech engine.
  • Worked in a little more effort to make sure the main screen is visible at launch.
  • Typos... always with the typos.
  • Screen scaling issues with large font sizes have been fixed... fixed by preventing VoiceAttack from scaling at all
  • Blank commands are now omitted. Blank commands were possible through the add command screen for a brief period, due to introduced code. This has caused VoiceAttack to get upset. Also, a blank command in an imported profile would do the same thing.
  • Sometimes VoiceAttack would not have the proper command selected when the command was double-clicked in the command list. This has been fixed.

New in VoiceAttack 1.1.8 (Mar 19, 2010)

  • Added exporting and importing of single profiles. An exported profile can contain any or all of its associated commands (available on the main screen).
  • Added the ability to import commands from an exported profile (in the add/edit profile screen).
  • Fixed a bug where right/double clicking on log entry would show incorrect command name in add/edit command screen.