TextExpander 1.4.2
By Harry (doc) Babad
Smile On My Mac [SOMM] http://www.smileonmymac.com/textexpander/index.html Available in English, German, French, Japanese and Italian. Released: 6 March.2007 $30 USD, Education Discount $21 USD Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or later; Universal Binary. Note: TextExpander 1.3.1 is still available for Mac OS X 10.3.9 |
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for the Average User for wannabe programmers or web designers. |
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Strengths: Easy to use means of adding routinely used information into documents, emails and forms. Weaknesses: Lack of a detailed and current manual limit’s the ability of a user to gain access to all of the software’s more sophisticated features. For a 30 day full feature demo of this product: http://www.smileonmymac.com/textexpander/download.html Copyright Notice: Product and company names and logos in this review may be registered trademarks of their respective companies. |
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Introduction
I am torn between alternative modes (paradigms) for accessing and inserting both text and images into my documents. The method I’ve been now using adds these snippets to a multiple function clipboard (shadowClipboard, now version 3.0.5) that lives in my menubar. See my October 2006 macC review (4.5 macCs) for details. The other, exemplified by SmileOnMyMac’s [SOMM] TextExpander relies on creating system-wide text shortcuts that can be used as broadly as shadowClipboard.
Although I had previously glanced at various text-expansion tools, I’d never actually taken the time to work with them. A short list of such Macintosh tools for OS X, other than TextExpander, includes:
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Okay, what’s the difference? TextExpander is a system-wide preference pane, accessible from the menu bar that enables you to type efficiently and correctly by creating a library for frequently used text strings and image snippets with their associated user defined abbreviations. It focuses on using the keyboard for entering the information you’ve stored; thingies called snippets.
With shadowClipboard and related multi-clip software you create sets of clippings that you access from the menubar when needed. In such software everything you cut or copy ends up in an ever-changing systems clipboard list. Items you wan to keep, can be moved to permanent project specific clipboards.
In TextExpander, when you type an abbreviation (or select a snippet from the menu bar) TextExpander automatically inserts the snippet. By typing a simple abbreviation you can expand and insert long snippets, saving time and thousands of keystrokes. Essentially, TextExpander functions as an enhanced customizable key stroke logger, so when you type an abbreviation one you’ve setup, it expands the longer text (or image) snippet for you.
Which suits me better? I have no idea yet, so I’ll work with both until I know which suits my computing style. Keeping these two tools with their content parallel is no big deal, although shadowClipboard is easier to load.
Getting Started
TextExpander installs easily. Just click on the program and it automatically installs itself. Then, open System Preferences, open the Universal Access pane and enable access for assistive devices. [This is a critical step.] Finally, open TextExpander’s preference pane and start TextExpander by checking the Enable TextExpander checkbox.
Note: TextExpander is installed in your Users > Your Name > Library > Application Support >TextExpander folder. To preserve your snippets I suggest you back it up.
TextExpander’s icon will now appear on your Menubar, in every application you launch, even those in which it will not easily work (e.g., Adobe Acrobat or GraphicConverter.)
In addition to being located on the menubar, it is also added to the Services menu. In that location the only option you have is to create a new snippet, which alas is grayed out.
To add a new snippet, or TextExpander action, click on its menubar button. It then opens a window showing your snippets at the top and other items below. Next, click on the first line in the drop-down menu that is called TextExpander Preferences. The TextExpander window opens.
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To add a new snipped click on the + at the bottom and go from there. You have a choice of plain text, formatted text, or pictures, or a combination. It’s all pretty intuitive. In the content box you add what you want to spell out and at the abbreviation box at the bottom you type on the abbreviation.
If after some use, you no longer want that snippet you can delete it by clicking on the - at the bottom of the list. You also can edit a snippet to make it look right (e.g., changing formatting or content.)
[I suggest you check your content for both accuracy and spelling before committing to that snippet, but that’s your choice.] Close the window and the new snippet is ready to use.
According to the developer, snippets can be accessed either form the keyboard (typing predefined string of letters or characters) or from the TextExpander list in your menubar. Remember, you trigger snippet expansions automatically by either
(1) typing the abbreviations you specify, or by
(2) using any one of over 30 delimiter characters as a trigger. You can then simply position your cursor wherever you want in an expanded snippet and keep working. You can even choose whether a unique delimiter character itself gets kept as part of your text insert or is abandoned (deleted).
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Smart Abbreviations — One real issue with TextExpander is figuring out how best to use abbreviations to trigger snippets. Some are easy such as 2540 to insert my to automatically insert my street address, but others for variation of snippet contents are not so obvious.
A method I read about [Mainline Macintosh Users Group for dealing with multiple address of email footers is to use the abbreviations ad1, ad2, ad3 or ef1, ef2, ef3… Now all you need to remember is which is which. There is a great deal of information with examples in that review some of it manual quality. Check it out. Look for the TextExpander review on their site: http://www.mlmug.org/SoMM.html . There’s lots of good manual quality tips there.
In creating a snipped that reads Harry {doc} Babad I was faced with using the abbreviation {doc} or {dc}. The later works fine. I’m not likely to use it my accident as I might DC. Remember, a good abbreviation is: short - easy to remember - unlikely to be typed by accident - unique.
Delimiters and their Use — I found much of the discussion of delimiters and their use, in the 15 page manual, unjustifiably abstruse and confusing. Examples would have helped! For example, the mini-manual explains, that typical delimiters include [Space], [Tab], and [Return]. But I use these >delimiters all the time in typing. Then, in a discussion of TextExpander version 1.1 (see the manual) I found the following information:
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So far, my control of snippets is entirely based on simple abbreviations. My head spins when I think of having to modify snippets with %+, %- or %|. So for now I’m avoiding trying to create advanced snippets, the kind needed by web developers or programmers.
Using the Software
The following is a list with comments of the way I used the product, based on vendor claims
Use different email signatures or message footers? – Easily insert a customized signature with a few keystrokes. Keep it simple or use as many variation as you need. You can even include a photo or logo! [Hmm — Consultant, macC contributor, Folk Music Columnist… yes they all work (e.g., ad1, ad2, ad3… or ef1, ef2, ef3…)]
Need easy access to boilerplate paragraphs? – Add them to your snippet library and insert them into your emails and contracts, forms or correspondence by typing a short abbreviation. Include standard greetings or content that includes formatted text and pictures. [I transferred a number of pieces of boiler plate from shadowClipboard, gave them a suitable abbreviation. They all worked.]
Filling out forms? – Make it easy on yourself by adding: your address, email, phone and fax numbers to your snippet library! [This is especially useful when I am using Firefox since that browser does not have an auto-fill feature.]
Keep making the same typos? – Add common typos as triggers – TextExpander automatically replaces them with the correct spelling! Free! TextExpander AutoCorrect Snippet File with over 100 common misspellings is available on the SOMM website. .
[Tip: When creating snippets, which are done through its preference pane, I created the shortcut option-command-shift N to speed me to the input window.]
Need to insert the current date or time? – TextExpander comes with date and
time snippets that you can format the way you want! [So far I’ve not tried this but it seems straightforward.]
Need a Special Character or Symbol? Type special characters without having to launch a special characters palette! [No way, I still prefer and will continue to use PopChar, reviewed in the March ‘07 months.]
Routinely need to add an image? – Click; add your photo, your logo or your scanned signature. [Sure thing, no sweat but make sure your images are sized correctly to fit their end use and location. This is especially true with scanned signatures.]
Want to Switch to TextExpander? — But you have snippet collections elsewhere. Export and import snippets from other typing utilities including Textpander, TypeIt4Me and Typinator. [Did not test.]
Special but repeated advanced snippet type needs?
• Create case-dependent snippets [a use I’ve not yet needed.]
• Create nested snippets. [Untested]
• Make editor-independent code templates, which is useful for programmers. [Untested]
• Reposition cursor on expansion of snippet, which is useful for writing HTML) [Untested]
Discomforts
I Need a Real Manual — Unlike disclabel with its elegant and accurate 80 page manual, TextExpander has a skimpy difficult to use 15 page manual. Now that SOMM has acquired Textpander, it’s time for a real manual with examples.
Snippets An Endless Pulldown Menu List — I am uncomfortable with the way TextExpander deals with its snippets lists. I’d like an easier way to access the shortcuts as I continue add more items to TextExpander. I expect to reach the point shortly that I’ll have more items than I want to memorize or in a senior moment, remember. This is a >primary need other reviewers have also noted. PostIt notes on the edge of my monitor just don’t cut it. In perhaps an initial bad move; I do type with two fingers, I added the >autocorrect snippet file to TextExpander. Now my list, when I manually for an item search is now 100 items longer than what I started with.
The good new is that so far my new items such as the street address are at the top of the abbreviations list. The bad news is that I don’t know whether this will always be so.
Now I realize I can sort snippets by content, abbreviation, date created or by date modified. But to do so I have to return to its preference pane. For now, that doesn’t really help.
A reasonable solution to this user problem is to be able to create folders, or a way to organize an overgrown listing of snippets. After all the folks most devoted to the product will suffer first form long listitus.
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Temporary TextExpander Stop Action — Someone suggested was have SMOM “add a way to block an abbreviation from expanding, sort of a reverse delimiter. So if I have an abbreviation of my initials and I wanted to use ‘NLS’ instead of my full name, I could hold down something like the escape key (simply for explanation purposes) to force TextExpander to overlook my typing for a moment.”
http://theappleblog.com/2006/09/22/textexpander-improvements-user-input/
Annotating Snippets [e.g., get info] — Let you include a comment for each snippet, as they can get complex. Convert Selected Text to a Snippet — Include a contextual menu to create the snippet from selected text. [Mainline MUG]
Conclusions
As noted recently, in a musing by Adam C. Engst, when offering up a free copy of the product, months ago, on the TidBits site: “One of the most venerable categories of utility software is that of the abbreviation expander. It’s not surprising - computers are supposed to save us work, and who wants to type their entire snail mail address by hand every time when you could type “sm” and have a utility replace that with the full address?” See: MailBITS/05-Jun-06 [Not what I’d use Adam. When I write recipes I often want to tell folks to use a >sm onion, or other ingredient.]
TextExpander is extremely easy to setup, modify, and use. After a short learning curve, the uses to which you can put the product are endless. Indeed they are limited only by your imagination and desire to experiment. Okay, you’re busy and don’t want to play. Just start creating snippets when you need them and you be surprised how fast your collection grows.
Recommendation
Try the free download and see how easily you get hooked on this great product. Although I’ve down-rated it for its poor manual, most users will not need the more advanced programmer-website developer features. Some folks, in their blogs or product reviews on download sites are complaining about it’s cost, but my time even as a volunteer is worth more than the $30 asking price.
Note:
TextExpander: Essential Mac Shortcut Utility, Posted: Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
http://www.43folders.com/2006/09/05/textexpander-review/
Here’s some actual code for a few of MERLIN’s favorite snippets.
What it is |
TE code |
Abbr. I use |
Notes |
html image |
<img src=”%|” border=”0” /> |
imgg |
As with many of these, I use an abbreviation that, by itself, is unlikely to appear anyplace but as a typo. And see that little “%|“? That’s a placeholder that tells TE where to position the cursor after the snippet is pasted. Awesome. |
html link |
<a href=”%|”></a> |
ahreff |
Can’t even tell you how much time this saves me every day. |
Generic URL |
http://www.%|.com/ |
urll |
Ditto |
Finder-friendly long date |
%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S |
fdate |
This “colon-free” format lets me mark versions of files in the Finder (and is also friendly for letting you >sort those versions by date/time) |
short date |
%Y-%m-%d |
sdate |
Sometimes I don’t want all the flibbety-gibbety of a long date, so this snippet gets a lot of use for helping me remember when I created or changed something. |
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