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:
michael.babc...@gwhosting.net
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
michael.babc...@gwhosting.net
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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