General Preferences Pane

Dictation Startup Mode

Sets the default mode for Dragon Dictate each time you launch it.

Startup Actions

Select Check for Updates if you want Dragon Dictate to automatically download and install updates. You can also check for updates manually by choosing Dictate > Check for Updates.

Check Show Profiles Window if you want Dragon Dictate to pause and display the Profiles window at launch time; the main reason for doing this would be so that you can select a profile as the active profile. If unchecked, Dragon Dictate will automatically activate the profile you were using previously.

Check Show Status Window if you want the Status window to be visible at launch time.

When Activating a Profile

Check Open a New Note Pad Window if you want a new empty Note Pad window to open when a profile is activated. This includes opening a Note Pad window at launch time, because a profile is always activated at launch time.

Feedback

Check Show Recognized Text if you want the Status window to display the text of each phrase that Dragon Dictate understands you to have uttered.