A combined installer that installs Vocola 2 along with NatLink and Unimacro is provided by the NatLink project on SourceForge.net. Read on for installation instructions. Alternatively, if you need to use Vocola 2 with an older or different version of NatLink, see these instructions.

Use the following instructions for your first installation of Vocola 2.
Or, see below to upgrade from an earlier version of Vocola 2.

Installing Vocola 2 for the first time

1. Install Dragon NaturallySpeaking, any edition or version except 12 (a beta-test NatLink installer for DNS 12 is available as of 2/2013, but it may not be entirely ready for prime time; you will likely want to avoid BestMatch V as it has command latency delays).
2. Install Python, Pythonwin, and wxPython:
   • Download pythonfornatlink (a zip file containing several installers) from SourceForge. (You may have to scroll down and choose a version of Python.)
   • Run the self-extracting executable to unzip the installers to a temporary folder.
   • Install Python (click on, e.g., python-2.5.2.msi) for all users (the default)
   • Install Pythonwin (click on, e.g., pywin32-212.win32-py2.5.exe)
   • Install wxPython (click on, e.g., wxPython2.6-win32-ansi-2.6.4.0-py25.exe)
3. Download the combined installer, called NatLink, version 4.0 or later from SourceForge, and run it.
4. Configure NatLink/Vocola 2/Unimacro:
   • From the start menu, run All Programs > NatLink > Configure NatLink via GUI
   • In the "NatLink" section, click the "Enable" button.
   • In the "Vocola" section, click the "Enable" button.
   • Choose a directory to store your Vocola command files; we recommend [My ]Documents\NatLink\Vocola.
   • Click "Close".
5. Test Vocola:
   • Start Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
   • Say "Start WordPad" to launch WordPad.
   • Say "Edit Voice Commands". The command file wordpad.vcl should be opened using Notepad.
   • If you get an error like "cannot execute application...", follow step 6 below (use Notepad if you want).
   • Dictate the command ‘test command = success;’ by saying "test command equals sign success semicolon".
   • Save the file.
   • Say "Switch to WordPad".
   • Say "test command". The word "success" should appear.
6. [optional] Select a different program to edit command files than Notepad:
   • Associate the .vcl file extension (used for Vocola command files) with your favorite text editor.
   • You may be able to do this by right clicking on a .vcl file then selecting Open With > Choose Program... and then checking Always use the selected program to open this kind of file and then choosing a program.
   • If you used the default install point, then you can find sample .vcl's at C:\NatLink\NatLink\Vocola\samples.
   • If/when you start using Vocola include files, you may wish to associate the .vch file extension as well.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of Vocola 2

1. Ensure that you have Python, Pythonwin, and wxPython installed:
   • They should be listed under Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs
   • They all need to be (for the) same major version of Python (e.g., 2.3 vs. 2.4)
   • If you are missing any, see step 2 above and install the missing ones.
2. Download the combined installer, called NatLink, version 4.0 or later from SourceForge.
3. Exit Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
4. Unless you are using a fairly recent version of NatLink, it is probably safest to first uninstall your existing version of NatLink then rename C:[\Program Files]\NatLink if it exists to NatLink.old.
5. Run the combined installer then ensure that NatLink and Vocola 2 are enabled:
   • From the start menu, run All Programs > NatLink > Configure NatLink via GUI
   • If both NatLink and Vocola are not already enabled, see step 4 of the first-time installation instructions above.
   • Click "Close".
6. Start Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
7. If you had any command files in C:\Program Files\NatLink.old[\NatLink]\Vocola\commands (unlikely), copy them to your Vocola User Directory (shown by the configuration GUI).
8. If you were using a different program to edit command files than Notepad, try opening a Vocola command file; if you don't get the editor you wish, see step 6 of the first time installation instructions above.

Using Emacs to open command files instead of Notepad

Emacs 22 users:

1. Make sure the Emacs bin folder containing emacsclientw.exe is included in your PATH environment variable.
2. Associate the .vcl and .vch file extensions with emacsclientw.exe.
3. If you get alert windows when opening command files you can use type to fix your copy of emacsclientw.exe.

Emacs 21 users:

1. Install gnuserv.
2. Make sure the directory containing gnuclientw.exe is included in your PATH environment variable.
3. Associate the .vcl and .vch file extensions with gnuclientw.exe.