TextExpander 3 saves even more time

16 March 2010 · 2 comments

TextExpander is an utterly essential utility on my Mac. Version 3 brings changes and improvements.

 

If I’m writing, then I’m using TextExpander:

A TextExpander snippet.

A TextExpander snippet.

Save time and effort with TextExpander! Whether it’s a simple email signature or several paragraphs of a standard response, you’ll love how easy it is to use TextExpander to avoid typing the same thing over and over.

I use this so much that I almost can’t type without it. If I find myself using someone else’s computer I keep stumbling over things ‘not happening’: my most frequent typos remain unchanged; my 3-letter abbreviation for my email address doesn’t expand to its 21 character full version; and I can’t write any HTML at all.

The other day version 3 of TextExpander appeared, and a few things have changed.

Where TextExpander used to be a System Preference Pane, it’s now an application in its own right. It also has new fill-in-the-blank snippets that ask for text. This allows you to enter text that changes, while leaving the cursor after the snippet.

A TextExpander fill-in-the-blank snippet.

A TextExpander fill-in-the-blank snippet.

For example, in writing the previous paragraph I typed the trigger text ,em after the word cursor. That expanded to the HTML code: <em> </em>, with the cursor placed between the tags. Then I typed the word after at the cursor. Next I had to move the insertion point after the tags to continue typing.

With the new fill-in-the-blank approach I can set the cursor to appear after the tags. Before the trigger is fully expanded though, a dialog box invites me to enter the text that will appear between the tags.

This will be a big time saver.

I do a lot, if not most, of my writing in HTML. I have dozens of snippets set up for the most common tags I use, along with common phrases and typos. If you do any kind of writing on a Mac, I suggest you give TextExpander a try. I can’t do without it.

2 comments

These Posts may interest you too:

  1. TextExpander 2.0 brings snippet groups, Applescript, hotkeys I now use TextExpander all the time. I rely on it, and miss it very much on my iPod touch. Now that I use Gmail for my email I have...
  2. From Copy Paste X to Jumpcut and TextExpander It’s been quite a week, full of escaping puppies, poor health and fuzzy brain. But while I haven’t had a lot of success at coherent writing, I have been abe...
  3. The Typing Timesaver TextExpander has saved me at least a day’s work in the last few months. Impressive! ...
  4. iPhone text macros are on their way If you're a Mac user and you don't use a macro utility then just buy TextExpander right now and start using it. ...
  5. Google archive saves the day “Help!”, my client said, “I’ve just deleted the main page of my website and I don’t have a backup. Do I have to recreate it from scratch?” “Aha!”, I said,...

Tell us what you think.
Note: there may be a delay before your comment appears. I now approve all comments from new visitors, in an attempt to keep spam at bay.

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Stephen Blyth 16 March 2010 at 13:42 08

Thanks for the alert – unfortunately I haven’t upgraded my OS to 10.6 so I have to stick with the older version. Perhaps a good reason to upgrade now?

Reply

Miraz 18 March 2010 at 12:50 29

Stephen: Snow Leopard, or even Leopard is very nice, with all kinds of little ‘extras’. Definitely worth upgrading.

Reply

Add your Comment

Previous post:

Next post: