Hi Mike,
I'm cc'ing this to the Macvisionaries list, since your question
involves the desktop version of TextExpander as well as definitions
that can sync through its iPhone/iPod counterpart TextExpander Touch
app.
The predefined snippets for the desktop version of TextExpander for
the Mac are described on this page:
http://smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/snippets.html
However, as they describe, although you can download the .zip files
from that web page, the easy way to add them is to use the
TextExpander preferences pane. Just launch the TextExpander
preferences pane (either VO-M , arrow down, and press "s y" to go to
"System Preferences" and use Shift-Tab to navigate to TextExpander and
VO-Space to open, or, you can just use Spotlight to type in the first
letters of "TextExpander" and arrow down to the
"TextExpander.prefPane" and press return). On the "Snippets" tab
navigate to the table of Snippets, then VO-Down arrow to the "Menu
Button" and press it (VO-Space). The last menu option will be "Add
Predefined Group". Right arrow to the submenu and select the group
you want to add (e.g, "HTML Code Snippets"). Close the TextExpander
preferences pane with Command-W when you're done. Another option you
might want to take a look at is their "Internet Productivity Snippets"
which contain snippets for URL shortening services. (Some of these
more recent options aren't listed on the web page links, but are
available through the menu button of the preference pane, so it's
easier to add predefined groups through the menu button.)
There's also a SmileOnMyMac blog, where they've posted hints about
using TextExpander with DropBox and other such items. Just select the
link to their blog on any of their product web pages to read up on
these entries. You can also add predefined snippets through the "Add"
button in the bottom left corner on your page of Snippets groups on
the iPhone app. However, I can't imagine creating most of my web
pages by typing new entries from scratch on the iPhone! It would be
slick if they incorporated TextExpander with apps for blogging like
the free WordPress app. For general purposes of typing with
TextExpander snippets on my iPod Touch, I like the SimpleNote app, and
I now use the free Notational Velocity program for desktop autosyncing
of SimpleNote notes on the Mac in preference over the JustNotes beta.
(VoiceOver navigation feels very stable with NV.) I don't know what
happens on the iPhone when a call comes in when you're typing into an
app, but I think the fact that you can easily save and sync to the web
site version of SimpleNote means that it's easy to save your work.
Then you can use cut and paste to move content to other apps.
HTH
Cheers,
Esther
Babcock, Michael A. wrote:
good day;
this message written at 11:33 PMAKDT
Smile, how i love text expander.
I am curious, is there a place one can download snibbits from? E.G.
you said something about computer code, and html, can one access
these on the desktop?
mike
On Feb 14, 2010, at 2:16 PM, Esther wrote:
Hi Robert, Mike, and Others,
Yes, as Mike says, TextExpander for the Mac is VoiceOver friendly.
(And oddly enough, although I was away when this post came in, the
next post from someone on the mac-access list was a recommendation
for the desktop app, along with an account of excellent customer
support to a query in the form of an AppleScript that he's started
using with TextExpander.) I should correct him that he got a 20%
discount in connection with this year's MacWorld event by using the
link at his posted site to make his purchase ($23.96 instead of
$29.95):
http://smileonmymac.com/mw2010/
This offer is good through February 28, 2010.
Here's some more background. I'll cc this post to the
macvisionaries list, since it concerns the TextExpander desktop
software for the Mac, which can work in tandem with the
TextExpander Touch app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Like the TextExpander Touch app, the original (Mac only)
TextExpander software lets you define shortcut "snippets" that
expand to phrases like Mike's signature line. Since you can access
and create snippets by bringing up the TextExpander preferences
pane, you get the features that show up when the icon is accessed
from the status menu bar (which can be a potential problem for
VoiceOver for some apps).
Snow Leopard on the Mac allows you to define keyboard shortcuts
that expand into larger phrases, but they only work in a subset of
applications while TextExpander's snippets are system wide. (To be
fair, these are probably the applications you are most likely to
use). The TextExpander snippets are more sophisticated: you can
use their sample snippets to expand to the current date or time in
a format of your choosing. If you are a web page designer you can
used the pre-defined samples to expand HTML elements around the
word you just typed, and you don't have to worry whether you've
correctly typed the various characters, or you could use the
snippet classes defined to assist computer coding. If you have to
generate reports with similar discussion sections you can custom-
define snippets for specific text that you can later modify.
I use TextExpander to type accented names or characters. If I want
to type a few paragraphs in another language without having to rely
on bringing up the spell-checker for a different language for
certain phrases, I can use predefined snippets. I can also use
this to type in Greek characters and formulae, or text snippets in
languages with non-Roman characters (like Russian).
The other factor that might make this interesting for Mac users is
the interface with the TextExpander Touch app for the iPhone and
iPod Touch, because you can share definitions between the desktop
software and the iPhone app. (The Desktop app allows more scope
for definitions, and use with AppleScripts, so more advanced
Desktop snippet definitions may not be sharable with the iPhone app
version).
Again, the TextExpander Touch app can be used whether or not you
get the desktop (Mac only) TextExpander software. It's mostly
useful if you use one of the other apps that directly support
TextExpander Touch, like Twittelator Pro, Simplenote. There are a
few unlabeled buttons on the app: on the screen that lists groups
of snippets, including sample snippets, and any new groups of
snippets you choose to add, the unlabeled button in the bottom left
corner is the "Settings" button. The "add" button in the bottom
right corner lets you create new groups, or add predefined groups
(e.g., for accented words, symbols, HTML, etc.). On the "Compose"
screen there are two unlabeled buttons. The one in the bottom
center lets you view and select from a list of your recent note
history. The unlabeled button at the bottom right lets you erase
the note or cancel your editing changes. In general, you will
mainly use the "Actions" button at the bottom left to either send
what you've composed to Mail, or to Tweetie (if you have the
Tweetie 2 app), or to copy all text so you can paste it into
another app. TextExpander Touch is on sale for $1.99 (from $4.99)
to celebrate the release of additional apps supporting TextExpander
snippets. (I'm not sure for how long).
Links to pages mentioned in this post:
• TextExpander page at SmileOnMyMac with link to free download
trial for Mac desktop software :
http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/
* Link to MacWorld discount page for SmileOnMyMac software (20% off
through February 28, 2010):
http://smileonmymac.com/mw2010/
• TextExpander Touch ($1.99, regularly $4.99) by SmileOnMyMac at
the app store:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/textexpander/id326180690?mt=8
The Mac desktop version of TextExpander comes with a 90-day money-
back guarantee, in addition to the availability of the trial
download.
HTH
Cheers,
Esther
Babcock, Michael A. wrote:
hi;
text expander on the mac is voiceover friendly. My sig here at the
bottom of the message is done with text expander, and parden i'm
not ester. Also, if you go to
http://smileonmymac.com/mw2010/
you can get a 5% off discount. I bought text expander for $23.
Feel free to ask me questions via email:
[email protected]
btw that was entered with the letters "EM" and hitting the space
key, my email. I love it.
Sincerely;
MICHAEL BABCOCK
PO box 18168
Coffman Cove, AK, 99918
907-329-2023
[email protected]
Robert Carter wrote:
Hi,
Esther, I am attempting to reply to you privately. When I
highlight your email address, VoiceOver does not present me with
a menu when I press VO+Shift+M. It doesn't seem to see your
address as a valid address. When I try exactly the same procedure
with other addresses I get the context menu as expected.
I was wondering whether or not Text Expander on the Mac is
VoiceOver friendly?
Thanks,
Robert Carter
On Feb 12, 2010, at 3:40 PM, Esther wrote:
Hi,
TextExpander Touch, an app that lets you custom define
"snippets" that expand into longer definitions, is on sale for
$1.99 (down from $4.99) at the app store. This is mostly useful
if you're using an app that supports the TextExpander SDK
directly, such as SimpleNote (the free notetaking app),
Twittelator Pro, or Tweetie 2, etc., although you can compose in
the app and send to mail or double tap a button to copy all text
so you can paste in expanded text into another app. It's
particularly useful for defining items that are hard to type --
like accented names. You can also use their predefined
snippets, so that when you type "dday" ("day" with an extra "d"
at the beginning), your text will expand to the current date,
etc. I use this with SimpleNote. Note that you may need to
change the settings menu on an app that supports TextExpander
Touch to activate text expansion of snippets, although some apps
don't require this. (This is only a mild recommendation -- it's
likely to be much more useful for someone who makes extensive
use of the typing expansion for, say, Twittelator Pro, than for
the general user).
TextExpander Touch ($1.99) by SmileOnMyMac:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/textexpander/id326180690?mt=8
And because I find SimpleNote really useful, for its automatic
update access to notes via a free, secure, web account that you
can access from your computer (without having to sync your
iPhone or iPod Touch), and because the developer was really
responsive in fixing an accessibility glitch in the release
before last, here's its link at the app store:
SimpleNote (free) by Codality:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplenote/id289429962?mt=8
Cheers,
Esther
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