If you get a nice, clean transcript from the court reporter to import into TrialDirector that’s pretty sweet and easy but what about if you have to create one yourself? Here are the steps you would take to format a transcript to use in the TimeCoder function of TrialDirector to create your own transcript.
- Create the transcript in Microsoft Word
- The transcript MUST be final. Do all of your edits in Word. You will not be able to edit or redact the transcript in TrialDirector.
- To properly format each speaker, insert Make a hard return between speakers
- Double-space the entire transcript
- Save as Plain Text (.txt) file
- Open Trial Director
- Go to TOOLS – TIMECODER
- Click Cancel
- Go to TOOLS – APPLY WORD FORMATTING
- Open the text (.txt) file you created.
- Word Wrap Lines over 65 characters
- Check remove leading whitespace over 8 characters
- Save the file
- Go to TOOLS – APPLY PAGE/LINE FORMATTING
- Browse to the text (.txt) file you saved in step 9.
- Take the defaults.
- Re-save the file overwriting the previous version.
- Go to FILE – CREATE A NEW DIGITAL VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
- Browse for your formatted transcript
- Go to MULTIMEDIA – MULTIMEDIA MANAGER
- Add the media file that you will link with the transcript.
- Synchronize the transcript – press record button, then play
- Press SPACEBAR to enter the timecode. (See the shortcut key box in the upper left corner in TimeCoder)
- Press Record button again when you have completed
- Export the DVT to TrialDirector Case file (*.cms)
- Import into TrialDirector
- Click on TRANSCRIPT MANAGER tab
- Go to TRANSCRIPTS – Import Transcript(s) from – Synchronized Transcript
- Your synchronized transcript should now be in your Case Library. Expand the TRANSCRIPTS folder.
- To add a trial exhibit number
- Go to TRANSCRIPT MANAGER
- Right click on VIRTUAL CLIP – PROPERTIES – EXTENDED
- Set preferences on how you want to scroll the synchronized transcript in presentation preferences
You won’t find these instructions or how to do this in any of the TrialDirector manuals. Hopefully this will help you in creating your transcripts. Good luck.
