text macros

generating chunks of text with keystrokes

[philbert]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find a reliable macro program that will print chunks of text when I type a keystroke combination.

I used Keyquencer in OS9 for years. I'd type "Command T" and my table code would print, and so on. Very simple, very effective.

Anybody know a reliable replacement for OSX? I'm trying typeitforme, but it's pretty flaky. It loses it's database all the time, and now isn't working at all.

I've been working this way for years, and need it almost everyday.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[BjarneDM]

How about CopyPaste?
[versiontracker.com...]

[philbert]

Hi guys,

I'm back, still looking for a reliable text macro program.

I've tried these two:

[typeit4me.com...]
[scriptsoftware.com...]

(thanks for the tip on CopyPaste, that developer has some interesting stuff)

Although both these programs are a step in the right direction, after giving them both an honest try over a period of weeks, I must report they are both over designed for a text macro program, and under reliable.

I'm looking for what I would think would be a very simple, and very useful program.

You type a key combination, and a chunk of text is printed. Some simple interface for editing the key combo and text block. That's it!

Keyquencer on OS9 did this reliably for years, day after day after day, never missed a beat. Both these OSX programs seem to have trouble keeping track of their data and I'm having to trouble shoot them pretty regularly.

I do a lot of HTML and Perl and a text macro program is incredibly useful, but only if it actually works.

Anybody know of a text macro program that is simple and reliable?
Price isn't an issue.

Many thanks!

[Digital Biscuit]

I know I should go and check what Keyquencer actually did (as I'm imagining something system wide) but thought I'd mention the text editor textmate [macromates.com...] as I use it all the time and it's macro features suit me fine.

db

[philbert]

Thanks Biscuit,

I fired up that program this morn a few hours before reading your note. It crashed the first time I used it, so I moved on, but I guess I need to try again.

I just bought this: [keyboardmaestro.com...]

Looks promising, but the registration number they sent me doesn't work, so we'll have to wait and see.

keyboardmaestro is the closest I've seen so far. You assign a keystroke to a block of text. Type the keystroke, get the text. A simple interface for adding/editing the text. Simple #*$!le.

It also allows you to create all kinds of other automation sequences, but the way the interface is designed it's easy to ignore all that if all you want is text macros.

Thanks again, looks like I may become a reluctant expert on OSX text macro apps before it's over... ;-)

[philbert]

Whoops, the forum mangled a word in last post. The word after "Simple" is the same word, but starting with a "P". Wasn't trying to use some curse word....