Given how many ways there are to spend time, any utility that reclaims it, in a manner that supports rather than encumbers your existing workflow, deserves commendation. I can only imagine the tally this time next year. In the course of testing, I saved myself about nineteen thousand characters and more than an hour of typing. TimeProtectorTextExpander includes a feature called Statistics that tracks and visualizes your usage. Thanks to DropBox synchronization, you can access your Snippets across multiple Macs or even iOS devices via TextExpander touch ($5). That Library is not confined to one Mac, either. On more than one occasion I forgot an Abbreviation, but I found I could use the menu bar to search for Snippets or browse my library. In Microsoft Word ($119, 4.5 stars), however, the 12-point typeface shrank to 9-point, which could prove a nagging issue.Īs you build a library of Snippets, TextExpander's location in the menu bar is a godsend. For example, when I expanded my midterm Snippet in Apple Mail, the formatting matched TextExpander. That said, I did find that it works most cohesively with Apple applications. System(s)-WideAs I have already suggested, TextExpander operates across your Mac. While I found the wonky nomenclature off-putting ( e.g., Area Name, Part Name, Default Value), Fill-ins present a dynamic way to automate repetitious and time-consuming work. TextExpander produces the full-formatted report, save the body paragraph. Upon expanding my Snippet, I need only type the names and select the grades from drop-down menus. I can use a manual Fill-in field for students' names, and a Popup menu for predefined grade values (A-F). Each midterm report is comprised of a body paragraph (tailored to each student), a header that addresses the student by name, and a footer that lists assignments and grades. I can even include sample names for Fill-in fields (Default Values), and I can expand my Snippet from the "Save As" field of any application.īut why stop there? Suppose I am an educator who needs to write midterm reports for all my students. company and project name), alongside Fill-in fields for dependent information (file name and date). I can create a Snippet that includes both the stable text ( e.g. Say I am project manager who relies on naming conventions to designate projects. The most powerful-and least inviting-means of expanding the utility's functionality is through Fill-ins, with which you can create complex forms around fields of predefined selections (Popups) and open fields (Fill-ins). Once you find your bearings, you can create your own Snippets that incorporate Smile's templates and variables (such as date, time, cursor position, and more).įill-Ins and PopupsTextExpander will scale to your expertise and expectations. With the Internet Productivity Snippets you can quickly shorten or validate URLs. Alternatively, you can embarrass yourself by integrating Emoji and other symbols into your daily communications. Perhaps you want to broadcast your elitism, by adding accents to foreign words (see above). Smile also bundles Predefined Groups of Snippets. For example, now I can insert my signature, complete with the logo, in any application by typing "–sig."Ĭonsider these templates an apéritif. I also edited Abbreviations so that I could actually remember-and use-my Snippets. Editing text is a cinch because TextExpander uses your Mac's built-in formatting pallets, à la Apple Mail or Text Edit. (Tech-savvy users can also toggle between AppleScript and Shell Script). By default, Snippets are set to plain text, but I preferred formatted text, which supports images. Smile supplies some templates, including a signature and address, date and time stamp, and phone number and email address. TextExpander is built around shortcuts (Abbreviations) and the texts they expand (Snippets). Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.
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