TextExpander 3 makes short work of keyboard shortcuts

TextExpander, one of my very most favorite (yes, I like it that much) utilities has been updated to version 3. This is a major update and renovation of the program, which has changed from a preference pane to an application.

I honestly don't think that I could use a Mac without TextExpander anymore. I have a customized list of "frequently misspelled words" that I have it correct for me, as well as a snippet of text for creating a new shell script, a shortcut to insert the current date or time, HTML markup, and more.

TextExpander has been able to sync via MobileMe for some time, but version 3 also includes the ability to sync via Dropbox. It can also correct "double caps" at the beginning of a sentence which happen when you accidentally hold down the shift key for too long. There is a feature to capitalize new sentences as well, but that feature was a little hit-or-miss for me.

In its new application form, TextExpander has to be running for it to work. That may seem obvious, but since it used to be a preference pane, users may be used to it running "hidden" as a daemon in the background. There is an option to hide the application icon in the dock. If you hide it in the dock, you can still access TextExpander from its icon in the menu bar. They've even included several different styles of icon for the menu bar, which is good news for those of you who believe that menu bar items should only be black and white.

The menu bar offers a slew of cool new features, including a search function and a list of all of the folders and snippets for you to navigate, in case you have forgotten a shortcut. This is a good reason to start sorting snippets into "Groups" which were previously a bit of a pain because you had to tell each group to sync via MobileMe. Syncing is now an "all or nothing" option.

You can also create a new snippet, edit the last expanded snippet (handy if you realize that you need to "tweak" it), or use the clipboard to make a new snippet. New in this version is also the avility to create global "hotkeys" which will reduce the "friction" involved in making a new shortcut. I know I've previously thought "Oh, I ought to make a shortcut for this" but I usually wait too long before I finally get sick of re-typing it and actually do it.

I've only just started playing with this new version, but it looks like a great upgrade to what was already a full-featured application.

TextExpander costs $34.95, but they offer a full-featured demo and a 90-day guarantee which is far longer than I'm used to seeing for software. If you own an earlier version of TextExpander you can upgrade for $15. Those who bought TextExpander on or after November 1st, 2009 are eligible for a free upgrade.

There's even a companion application for the iPhone and iPod touch called TextExpander touch which will sync to your local Mac, so you can use your snippets in a wide range of iPhone apps.

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Source: http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/index.html

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TextExpander, one of my very most favorite (yes, I like it that much) utilities has been updated to version 3. This is a major update and...

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jennyp

I've never been able to get this to sync via MobileMe, and now it has to be either in the dock or the menu bar? Meh.

March 11 2010 at 10:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

patrice Calligaris

Great product but not very cool to copy the user interface of Presto available since more than one year!

www.app4mac.com/presto.html

March 11 2010 at 5:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mbabco

I'm not sure 3.0 is ready for prime time. I upgraded and somewhere in there all my old snippets disappeared. Also when I create a new snippet from the menu or from hot keys, whether it's a snippet from scratch, clipboard or selection, it incorrectly creates it as plain text when my preference is formatted.

March 10 2010 at 7:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to mbabco's comment

mbabco

Got the missing snippets fixed by restoring the following file from a backup. I'm starting from my

[Home Folder]/Library/Application Support/TextEpander/Settings.textexpander

The second problem (plain text instead of formatted text on new snippets) is an admitted bug: work around is to create a new snippet from within the program.

March 11 2010 at 1:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Sean

I love TextExpander. I too can't live without it. I've had a long back and forth with them this morning, because I bought the upgrade right away, but couldn't find any videos that showed me how to use TextExpander 3.0 the way they would like me to do so.

Apparently the videos show up in two weeks. That bugged me, and I told them so. I don't think I'm really in a position to dig through documentation, though if you've never used TextExpander, you'd be mad not to get their program (they do have videos for Version 2 which answer 90% of the questions). But they don't have anything for Version 3.0.

March 10 2010 at 3:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Karl-Franz Marquez

I wonder why they would go to an application model as opposed to a pref pane. I can't be the only person that hates having apps running on my dock that show up when I cmd-tab through and who also hates having additional icons in the already cluttered menubar.

March 10 2010 at 2:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Karl-Franz Marquez's comment

TJ Luoma

There is an option to not have a Dock icon.

I can't say how it compares to Typinator, as I haven't used it.

March 16 2010 at 9:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Leckto

I prefer Typinator, cheaper and easier to use. :)

March 10 2010 at 1:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

hmlong

"In its new application form, TextExpander has to be running for it to work. That may seem obvious, but since it used to be a preference pane, users may be used to it running "hidden" as a daemon in the background."

So... I guess I'll stick with the old "Preference Pane" version.

As a preference pane, it was always "on". You didn't have to start it or worry about it at all. Just type.

March 10 2010 at 1:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mbabco

You mention that existing owners can upgrade for $15.00. I got an email today from SmileOnMyMac and it says $19.95.

March 10 2010 at 1:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

wimds

This is really a killerapp!
I love it! :-)

March 10 2010 at 12:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply