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Article ID19
Created On7/22/2009
Modified5/3/2010
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StreamText Connector Overview

StreamText Connector Overview

What is the StreamText.net connector?
The connector is an application developed by StreamText.Net that allows you to transmit text to our servers. It is the bridge between your computer and us.

Installing the connector
Please review the install screen cast it will provide a step by step guide to this process http://support.streamtext.net/KB/a14/installing-streamtextnet-connector.aspx. Below is a step by step guide.

  1. Go to www.streamtext.net/tools/connector
  2. Click on the Virtual Com Ports link under prerequisites and install.
  3. Go back to www.streamtext.net/tools/connector and click the install button (note: it is ok to do this before loading the virtual com ports)
  4. If you do not have the latest Microsoft .Net libraries it will automatically install them and this can take a few minutes. You may need to reboot your computer and then rerun the install process to complete it.
  5. Once you have completed the install you should have a StreamText.net folder in your programs listing. In that folder there should be the StreamText Connector. If this is not the case go to www.streamtext.net/tools/connector and run the install again.

Trouble shooting the install
If you have issues installing the connector please check the following before notifying support.
  • Make sure you are connected to the Internet
  • Check your firewall to make sure it is not blocking the install process or the connector
  • Make sure your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and updates
Running the connector

There are three methods you can use to stream text from your computer to StreamText.Net with the connector application. You will need to choose a method to direct your realtime output to the connector. The com port and local TCP option are preferred over the application window. The application window is used for products that cannot use any other method to redirect realtime output.

Com Port Redirect
The most common is to redirect output through a com port. You will set up your realtime transcription software to output to a com port and the connector will be listening on that com port for the text. There is also a screen cast that outlines this process http://support.streamtext.net/KB/a15/writing-to-streamtextnet-connector-using-com-ports.aspx .

How to use:
  1. First make sure that your realtime transcription software is not running
  2. Start the StreamText Connector
  3. If it prompts you to update make sure you click yes
  4. Select Com Port from the writing source dropdown menu
  5. Verify your connection settings - These will be saved from the previous session
  6. Select a com port this will be the com port that you will direct your realtime transcription software output. This com port option will also be saved once you make a selection the next time you run the connector.
  7. Click on Connect and Write
  8. To verify that you are connected to StreamText the Connected to should be a green True.
    1. If not True you need to check your loggin and password. You can verify that they are correct by login in to www.streamtext.net
    2. If that is not the case make sure your firewall is letting the streamtext connector access the Internet
    3. If that does not work please check your Internet connection
  9. Notice that the COM Port Connected will still be False until you start your realtime transcription software
  10. Start your realtime transcription software
  11. Set your output to the com port you have selected in the StreamText Connector
  12. Also set your output format ie CaseView or ANSI. When you create the event in StreamText make sure you set the parsing format to match.
  13. Start the realtime and you should see COM Port Connected: True.
  14. If this is not true then check your realtime transcription software and make sure it has been assigned the proper ports for output.
  15. You are now ready to stream through StreamText.net. To view your output just set up an event by login in to www.streamtext.net if you have not already



How to use the Local TCP connection option
The local TCP connection option allows you to communicate with the StreamText.Net connector using a TCP instead of redirecting your output to a virtual com port. This is easier to manage than a com port connection and requires less processing overhead than virtual comports. Not all writing software supports this option. If you have this option it will be available where you select the realtime output.

How to use:
  1. Start the StreamText.Net Connector
  2. If it  prompts you to update make sure you click yes
  3. Select Local TCP under writing source
  4. Verify your connection settings
  5. Click on Connect and Write
  6. To verify that you are connected to StreamText the Connected to should be a green True.
    1. If not True you need to check your loggin and password. You can verify that they are correct by login in to www.streamtext.net
    2. If that is not the case make sure your firewall is letting the streamtext connector access the Internet
    3. If that does not work please check your Internet connection
  7. Notice that the Local TCP Connected will still be False until you start your realtime transcription software
  8. Start your realtime transcription software
  9. Set your output to TCP - If you have that option not all writing software does
  10. The IP address is 127.0.0.1 and the port is 4000. You will set these usually after you select the TCP realtime output option in your application
  11. Start your realtime file
  12. If correct the Local TCP Connected will now be True
Application Window
The application window takes any text that is entered and streams that to the StreamText servers. We only recommend this method if you cannot output to a com port with your application. There is also a screen cast that outlines this process http://support.streamtext.net/KB/a16/writing-to-streamtextnet-connector.aspx .

How to use:
  1. Start the StreamText Connector
  2. If it  prompts you to update make sure you click yes
  3. Select 'Window' from the writing source dropdown
  4. Make sure you have the correct sign in under connection settings
  5. Click on Connect and Write
  6. To verify that you are connected the Connected to server should be True
    1. If not True you need to check your login and password. You can verify that they are correct by login in to www.streamtext.net
    2. If that is not the case make sure your firewall is letting the streamtext connector access the Internet
    3. If that does not work check your Internet connection
  7. You can not stream through StreamText.net and to view just set up an event by logging into www.streamtext.net if you have not already.