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. Related article.Seven Other BTT Features for Making Finger Gesture Actions More Powerful 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. Related article.For Your Viewing Pleasure: Every BetterTouchTool Built-in Action

Textexpander vs typeit4me