Word/Outlook 2024 vs Dragon Professional 16

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[Kathy Stevens]

We have run into a problem dictating text into MS Word 2024 documents using Dragon (Natural Speaking) Professional 16.

We have no problem dictating text into Word Perfect 2021 documents.

In fact, we used Dragon to dictate this text onto the AskWoody site.

But when we use Dragon with MS Office and Business 2024 we get the following error message, “Dictation is not possible or is restricted for the current window due to the Dragon add-in for “MS Word” not being loaded.”

We have searched the Internet for a solution but have only found recommendations for correcting the error in earlier versions of MS Office.

The system we are using is a HP Z2 Tower G9 Workstation running Windows 11 Pro 64-bit Version 24H2.

Apparently, there is a security feature in Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024 that prevents the Dragon add-in from working.

We are using a 64-bit version of Microsoft Word 2024.

Has anyone else run into this problem and is there a simple workaround?

• This topic was modified 2 weeks, 4 days ago by Kathy Stevens.

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If you just started using the 64-bit version of Office, check with Dragon to see if they have a 64-bit add-in.

--Joe

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Kathy Stevens

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Apparently, there is an ongoing incompatibility between Microsoft Office and Dragon.

The Dragon site states the following.

General Dragon issues in Microsoft Word and Outlook

Answer ID 29762   |    Published 08/07/2020 04:30 PM   |    Updated 11/01/2024 09:10 PM

General Dragon issues in Microsoft Word and Outlook

https://nuance.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29762/kw/Microsoft%20Word

Information:

• In Dragon version 15 and higher, Users may experience the following issues when using Microsoft Outlook and/or Word:
  • “natspeak” add-in getting disabled. (Refer to TN 29750)
  • Hanging issues during dictation.
  • Crashing issues when during dictation.
  • Slow dictation issues.
  • Jumping cursor issues during dictation.
• The issues above are usually caused by a factor within the Users environment, not Dragon. Unfortunately, Nuance does not have any diagnostics tools to determine what environmental factors would be causing the issue.
• However environment-specific issues can be caused by some of the following:
  • Faulty or corrupt installation of Dragon. Un-install / Re-install Dragon and advise if the issue occurs.
  • Faulty or corrupt Dragon User Profile or upgraded Dragon User Profile. Create a new Dragon User Profile and advise if the issue occurs.
  • Faulty or corrupt Windows User Account. Create a new Windows User Account and advise if the issue occurs.
  • Faulty or corrupt Windows OS. Repair or reformat the OS and advise if the issue occurs.
  • Custom-based OS images on the computer. Test against a locally installed OS Image and advise if the issue occurs. (NOTE – Mainly applicable to corporate computers, not personal computers)
  • Network / Deployment installations of Dragon and /or MS Office apps. Test against a local install of Dragon and the affected apps (if applicable) and advise if issue occurs.
  • Domain / Group Policies. Have the User log into the computer as a Local Admin and advise if the issue occurs.
  • 3rd-party apps such as Anti-Virus or backup utilities. Temporarily disable Anti-Virus and backup utilities and advise if the issue occurs.
  • 3rd-party add-ins in MS Office apps that conflict with the “natspeak” add-in. Temporarily disable all add-ins EXCEPT for the “natspeak” add-in and advise if the issue occurs.
  • If the issue is specific to MS Outlook or MS Word, Microsoft may have applied an update that is causing the issue. Microsoft would need to be contacted for further assistance.

Microsoft also releases Office updates which have been known to cause issues with Dragon. If the issue started occurring after an Office update, we suggest contacting Microsoft for further assistance.

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The finger pointing is normal. Each vendor blaming the other. Often Microsoft will change an API to close a loophole or fix a security issue that the third-party vendor exploited. It is up to the third-party vendor to properly use the API. Sometimes though it is all Microsoft. Tough to tell.

--Joe

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Kathy Stevens

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Due to the incompatibility between Microsoft Word/Outlook 2024 and Dragon Professional 16 we will be changing our default office suite from Microsoft Office 2024 to WordPerfect Office.

In an effort to make the two apps play together we used Revo Uninstaller to remove both Office and Dragon from one of our workstations and then reinstalled the apps. They are still incomparable.

While it may be possible to make Microsoft Office work with Dragon, my preference is not to lift the hood of our computers and muck around with code.

And WordPerfect Office is already installed on all of our computers.

So after decades of using Microsoft Office as our primary office suite, we will be returning to Corel’s office suite full time.

We used WordPerfect Office during the 1980’s, 90’s and off and on since – so the transition should be straight forward.

In fact, I prefer and number of Word Perfect’s features over those of Microsoft Office.

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