Dragon NaturallySpeaking includes a number of command and control macros which can be used to control NatSpeak and format your text.  In the Personal and Preferred Editions, these macros are hard coded.  They include such things as "Go to Bottom of Document", "Set Font Arial 14" and "Move Down 4 Lines".  Each of these macros sends a series of keystrokes to Dragon NaturallySpeaking (or other Windows applications).

In the Personal and Preferred Editions, the set of macros cannot be changed.  However, with the Deluxe Edition of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, users can both edit the built-in command and control macros and create their own macros.

Macros can either type keystrokes or execute a script written in the Dragon scripting language.  The Dragon scripting language used in Dragon NaturallySpeaking is very similar to the scripting language which was used in DragonDictate for Windows.  The scripting language is a subset of BASIC; it includes a number of commands which control the operation of Dragon NaturallySpeaking as well as some logic and operators.

Macros usually consist of a phrase with optional lists.  For example the command "Move Down 4 Lines" is implemented with two lists.  As coded in Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the command is actually "Move <DirUpDown> <2To20> Lines".  Both "DirUpDown" and "2To20" are lists which contain words or phrases which can be substituted in the command.  The script for the macro can then use the words which were recognized from the lists as arguments to various operators in the language.

To assist in the creation of new command and control macros, the Deluxe Edition features two wizards: the New Command Wizard and the Edit Command Wizard.  The New Command Wizard allows you to select which application needs to be active in order for your command to work, and steps you through the process of creating a command which either types keystrokes or executes a Dragon script.  The Edit Command Wizard allows you to change a command which you have previously written.

All macros created with the Deluxe Edition are saved along with your user files.  Thus, macros become user specific.  However, advanced users can exchange macros by copying the macro source between users.  This process will be described elsewhere.

User created macros is one of the most powerful features of the Deluxe Edition.  With macros, you can completely speech enable applications.  For example, you can write macros for your e-mail program like "Check for New Mail", and "Send Message to Joel".