Beginner's Guide: Get Started with Plover

This guide explains how to get started with Plover. Plover is free-of-charge stenography software, and the learning resources listed below are also available free-of-charge.

Overview

The main steps are:

1. Install Plover software.
2. Connect a compatible keyboard or stenography (steno) machine, or use your standard keyboard.
3. Confirm it's working.
4. Practice and learn stenography using Plover.

Install Plover

There are versions of Plover for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

• Download and install the latest release.
• See the installation guide for more information.

Configuring Plover on macOS

Note: Plover 3.1.0 only supports macOS 10.10+. Plover 3.0.0 only supports macOS 10.9+. Older versions must use Plover 2.5.8

On macOS, you need to enable Assistive Device Permissions after you have installed Plover, and following any Plover software updates.

1. Select System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility.
2. Click the lock icon in the lower left corner of the window, and enter an admin account and password when prompted.
3. In the list of apps, select the checkbox next to Plover.

Note: Other "keyboard helper"-type applications (e.g. Karabiner Elements and text expanders) may interfere with Plover.

Connect a compatible keyboard or stenography machine

Use a standard QWERTY keyboard

You can use Plover with a standard keyboard, but there are some important limitations. Stenography often requires you to press five or six keys at once, and sometimes as many as 16. Unfortunately, most keyboards only recognize up to six keys at once. When you need to press more than six keys at once, you have to use a technique called "arpeggiating". See "How it Works" for more information on arpeggiating .

Note: To write quickly, you'll need a keyboard with N-key rollover (NKRO), a machine designed for use with Plover, or a professional stenography machine.

Use an N-key rollover (NKRO) QWERTY keyboard

An N-key rollover (NKRO) keyboard is specially designed to allow pressing many keys at once. Some gaming or mechanical keyboards have NKRO.

Which NKRO keyboard should I get?

Warning: Be wary of false advertising; some keyboards are advertised as NKRO or anti-ghosting, but are limited to certain combinations. Check reviews to get confirmation before making a purchase. Some keyboards might only support full-NKRO over a PS/2 connector (the old-style plug.)

Full NKRO over USB is possible. Many keyboards do it well, and will work with Plover.

• See the Supported Hardware page for a list of supported keyboards.
• See also: Which type of key switch should I choose?

Adapt a keyboard for steno use

Most keyboards have the keys in staggered rows, which can make it difficult to press two keys in a column with a single finger. To adapt a keyboard for steno, you can use:

• Keytoppers
• Keycaps

You can also use a keyboard with an ortholinear layout.

Use a machine designed for use with Plover

Various steno enthusiasts are making and selling machines designed for use with Plover:

• Stenomod*
• SOFT/HRUF*
• Stenoboard*

(* = External link)

More information: Dedicated machines designed for use with Plover.

Use a professional stenography machine

Some professional stenography machines are compatible with Plover. You can find used steno machines on eBay at reasonable prices.

See the Supported Hardware page for a list of supported professional stenography machines.

Confirm it's working

Initially, Plover is set up to use your computer keyboard as a steno machine. If you have a professional stenography machine or the Stenomod, you'll need to configure Plover to look for your machine.

Keyboard

By default, Plover will use your keyboard as its input device.

1. Run Plover.
2. Click the Output: Enable radio button.

You may like to go into Plover's Configure > Display settings and turn on either the stroke display or the suggestions window.

Practice sentences

You can practice sentences that (mostly) only need two keys at once, on the StenoJig website.

Write "Hello World"

To write "Hello, world." into a text editor with Plover, using a QWERTY keyboard:

1. Run Plover.
2. Click the Enable radio button.
3. Open a text editor.
4. Simultaneously press R, N, and O (left index finger on R, right thumb on N, and right ring finger on O), and then lift your fingers off the keys.

• Hel appears.

1. Simultaneously press R, F, and V (left index finger between 'R' and 'F', and left thumb on 'V'), and then lift your fingers off the keys.

• lo appears.

1. Simultaneously press J, K, L, and ; (right index finger on J, right middle finger on K, right ring finger on L, and right little (pinky) finger on ;), and then lift your fingers off the keys.

• , appears.

1. Simultaneously press D, V, J, O, and [ (left middle finger on D, left thumb on V, right index finger on J, right ring finger on O, and right little (pinky) finger on [), and then lift your fingers off the keys.

• world appears.

1. Simultaneously press U, I, O, and P (right index finger on U, right middle finger on I, right ring finger on O, right little (pinky) finger on P), and then lift your fingers off the keys.

• . appears.

Use the correct body posture and finger placement

Your fingers should be curled slightly, so you press the keys using the tips of your fingers.

On a QWERTY keyboard, you move your hands half an inch up so that your left thumb is resting on the cracks between the C and V keys and your right thumb is resting between the N and M keys. The rest should fall into place.

QWERTY layout	Maps to steno layout
QWER TY UIOP[	STPH ** FPLTD
ASDF GH JKL;	SKWR ** RBGSZ
CV NM	AO EU

See also:

• Basic Hand Posture on the Steno Machine
• Basic Body Position for Steno Students and Pros

Stenography machine

Plover supports several protocols that are in use by various professional stenography machines. To configure Plover to the protocol your machine uses:

1. Run Plover and click the Enable radio button.
2. Click the Configure button on the Plover Dialog screen. The Plover configuration screen appears.
3. On the Machine tab, select the protocol your machine uses.
4. Click Save.

See Supported protocols for more information.

Practice and learn

• Start learning stenography for free with Learn Plover!

• Practice the Learn Plover (and other stenography) exercises with Steno Jig.

• See also Learning Resources and the old steno practice page.

Which steno theory should you learn?

There are many steno theories on the best way of using the steno keyboard.

All English language steno theories are derived from the original Stenotype theory devised by Ward Ireland. They all share the same keyboard design and basic method of representing the sounds. They differ mostly in the details of how they brief words, and how many briefs they use. Some theories are focused on raw speed and efficiency, but require a lot of memorization. Others focus more on consistency and logical rules to reduce the amount of memorization and "on-the-job" mental gymnastics required.

We recommend you start with Plover's StenEd-based theory, and the dictionary that is supplied with the Plover software. After 6 months, you'll have a better understanding of stenography, and you could then start experimenting with different theories. Everyone ends up adapting them and forming a personal style anyway. So you don't need to worry about the different steno theories until you hit 100 WPM or so.

We don't recommend spending money on a theory before you're certain you like stenography.