What's the purpose of TextExpander

[iRock1]

Since iOS already features keyboard shortcuts and they sync across all my Macs and iOS devices, what's the advantage of paying $5 and using TextExpander Touch? I mean, the only thing that I see right now is the ability of organizing the different snippets in groups, but not nothing else.

Or am I missing something?

 

[Jessica Lares]

The advantage is that it supports rich text, lets you insert the date and time, and your shortcuts can be more elaborate instead of just a one line sentence.

The keyboard itself isn't very good though. It works best with apps that have the SDK built-in, but that's mostly email and writing ones.

 

[iRock1]

The advantage is that it supports rich text, lets you insert the date and time, and your shortcuts can be more elaborate instead of just a one line sentence.

The keyboard itself isn't very good though. It works best with apps that have the SDK built-in, but that's mostly email and writing ones.

Good to know.

And how reasonable would it be to use TextExpander as the one app to start writing from? Something like Drafts.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Good to know.

And how reasonable would it be to use TextExpander as the one app to start writing from? Something like Drafts.

Like using the actual note feature? It's a bit weird for that. Best to just use it for snippets and use an actual text app like Drafts for your notes.

 

[iRock1]

Like using the actual note feature? It's a bit weird for that. Best to just use it for snippets and use an actual text app like Drafts for your notes.

Yes, I meant the actual notes feature. Why would it be weird? After all, Drafts doesn't seem to be more than a notes app with a big variety of sharing options (including self-made shortcuts and flows).

TextExpander wouldn't seem that weird by comparison, as long as it has enough sharing options (export to SMS, Mail, copy, etc.). And as most of those options are now embedded in iOS in the sharing grid, using TextExpander instead of paying 10 more bucks would make sense to me...

 

[Jessica Lares]

Yes, I meant the actual notes feature. Why would it be weird? After all, Drafts doesn't seem to be more than a notes app with a big variety of sharing options (including self-made shortcuts and flows).

TextExpander wouldn't seem that weird by comparison, as long as it has enough sharing options (export to SMS, Mail, copy, etc.). And as most of those options are now embedded in iOS in the sharing grid, using TextExpander instead of paying 10 more bucks would make sense to me...

If I make a note in TextExpander, I type it up, push done, and then can use the share button at the bottom. But every time I want to make a new note, I have to go into the list of notes and click the plus sign. The only thing the pen button does at the bottom is "erase".

In Drafts, there's the logo at the top right that if you click (whether you're typing or not), takes you to your list of actions. Most of the basic stuff doesn't have to be done with the separate share sheet - SMS, Mail, Copy, so it's just those two clicks.

And you have options on when to automatically create a new draft (or never), and it's easy to do so from the current note instead.

But you know, whatever works for you. If you don't think you'll use a lot of its features, then I don't blame you for not wanting to shell out the money.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Since iOS already features keyboard shortcuts and they sync across all my Macs and iOS devices, what's the advantage of paying $5 and using TextExpander Touch? I mean, the only thing that I see right now is the ability of organizing the different snippets in groups, but not nothing else.

Or am I missing something?

TextExpander is so much more that the iOS keyboard shortcuts. You can create boilerplate text, embed rich text, html links, images, and scripts. I have about 150 "Snippets" that include building .xml podcast files from scratch with fill-in-the-blanks panels, calling in other snippets to format things like file names and dates exactly the way you want it (including calculating "next Monday" or "last Wednesday", etc).

It's a powerful tool in iOS, but even moreso in OS X.

It's an incredibly powerful tool, and I could not function without it.

 

[iRock1]

If I make a note in TextExpander, I type it up, push done, and then can use the share button at the bottom. But every time I want to make a new note, I have to go into the list of notes and click the plus sign. The only thing the pen button does at the bottom is "erase".

In Drafts, there's the logo at the top right that if you click (whether you're typing or not), takes you to your list of actions. Most of the basic stuff doesn't have to be done with the separate share sheet - SMS, Mail, Copy, so it's just those two clicks.

And you have options on when to automatically create a new draft (or never), and it's easy to do so from the current note instead.

But you know, whatever works for you. If you don't think you'll use a lot of its features, then I don't blame you for not wanting to shell out the money.

I appreciate your input. It definitely helps me to make a more informed decision.

Btw, you said earlier that “The keyboard itself isn't very good though”. What's wrong with it?

 

[Jessica Lares]

I appreciate your input. It definitely helps me to make a more informed decision.

Btw, you said earlier that “The keyboard itself isn't very good though”. What's wrong with it?

Looking at it again, it's actually not that bad anymore. They made changes to the keyboard since I last used it.

Saying that, it crashed on me.

And no problem.

 

[iRock1]

Looking at it again, it's actually not that bad anymore. They made changes to the keyboard since I last used it.

Saying that, it crashed on me.

And no problem.

I'm using the iOS 9 beta. Don't know if it has something to do with that, but when using the TextExpander keyboard, if I change the orientation of my iPhone, then the keyboard won't readjust to the screen position. Have you experienced any bug like that?

The other thing I don't like about TextExpander keyboard is that it doesn't have the system bar that predicts the next words to type.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I'm using the iOS 9 beta. Don't know if it has something to do with that, but when using the TextExpander keyboard, if I change the orientation of my iPhone, then the keyboard won't readjust to the screen position. Have you experienced any bug like that?

The other thing I don't like about TextExpander keyboard is that it doesn't have the system bar that predicts the next words to type.

I actually keep my iPhone locked in portrait mode. So I wouldn't know.

Yeah, it doesn't predict anything and autocorrects without asking.