6/1/2023 0 Comments Typeit4me macros![]() However, there are several I prefer to use TextExpander as my main text expansion program. AdvantagesĪs you can see, Keyboard Maestro is very powerful, and to me it’s the granddaddy of automation programs for the Mac. Side Note: In the process of writing this article, I discovered that Perter Lewis, the developer for Keyboard Maestro, has posted a macro on his forum site that creates a text expansion from selected text (you might need to join the forum in order to download the macro.) This macro provides a quicker way to get text expansions into Keyboard Maestro, but it still requires a few more steps than is required for setting up a TE expansion using its floating pop-up window. In addition, Keyboard Maestro also has a feature called Name Clipboards, which are very advanced and go beyond what TextExpander is capable of doing. Watch the following short clip to see it in action.Īs with TextExpander, you can set up KM expansions to work only within assigned applications, such as this one I assigned to only work in the screenshot application, Clarify. Note how the last action in the macro briefly displays, in OS X Notification fashion, a little reminder, “Type MV”, which refers to the string trigger that triggers another macro I’ve set up to move my cursor outside of the last parenthesis so I don’t have to lift my hand off the keyboard to do so. This type of expansions can certainly be done with TextExpander (though TE doesn’t have all the additional tokens KM has), but there’s one little feature I’ve added to this macro. (Note: you can also add another action (see in the screenshot) in the macro for these type of expansions that removes the expanded snippets from the System Clipboard, which makes it revert back to the previous clipping.) In addition to the inserting the cursor, KM contains other tokens, including inserting a date scheme, the frontmost Safari or Google Chrome URL, or the currently playing iTunes song. Notice when I use either the assigned string trigger “((” or “php”, KM will paste two parenthesis (), and then insert the cursor between them so that I can type one or more words. Here’s another example of an expansion I use in KM. In other words, if you have a text expansion that you don’t use regularly and you can’t remember the assigned string trigger, you can trigger the expansion by clicking on its macro in the global palette. Notice also in the screenshot below, that KM can display designated text in a window or in a large overlay.įurthermore, KM text expansions can be triggered not only with string triggers (abbreviations), but also by an application trigger, an assigned hotkey, or by clicking the macro in a Global Palette or menu bar palette. Unlike TextExpander, Keyboard Maestro expansion actions can also insert insert text by typing, as well as insert styled text, and other tokens. You can create a macro that can paste text triggered by an assigned abbreviation (in KM, it’s called a string trigger). Keyboard Maestro’s text expansion feature works similar to TextExpander. Rightly so, many users will not need or want to take out a subscription. There are several worthy alternatives to TextExpander, including TypeIt4Me, Typinator, aText, and the much more expansive automation program, Keyboard Maestro, which I’m focusing on in this article. ![]() TextExpander 5 and 6 are two separate applications. When you download 6, it will import all your snippets from the previous version, and then it will upload your snippets to your account if you sign up. This means that many current uses of TextExpander will probably jump ship and look for alternatives, though Smile says that they will continue support of TextExpander 5 on El Capitan, but after that the support may be limited or nonexistent. The subscription also means you will get immediate access to future updates (and email support) of TextExpander for no extra charge.īut here’s the rub, most general users feel the subscription fee is much too high, especially if they are not sharing their snippets with a team, and are not using the software for enterprise work. TextExpander 6 has the same functions and UI of TextExpander 5, but now all your snippets are uploaded to your TextExpander online account, which means you can more easily share your snippets with other TE 6 users. No doubt subscribers and followers of this site are aware of the recent changes SmileOnMyMac has made for the recent update to their highly popular and useful text expansion program, TextExpander (affiliate link). In case you don’t know, the new update, TextExpander 6, is subscription-based rather than a one-time purchase of the application.
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