How to get TypeIt4Me to type something for you

There are three main ways that you can have TypeIt4Me type out your snippets for you: keystrokes, point-and-click and search-and-insert. The first involves typing your defined abbreviation using the keyboard. The second involves opening the TypeIt4Me menu to browse a full list of your snippets and select the one you want. The third involves opening a search window, typing a few characters, then selecting the snippet you want from a list of search results. Let’s look at each method in turn.

Keystrokes (type your abbreviation)

If you’ve authorised TypeIt4Me to control your computer, you can just type a defined abbreviation and TypeIt4Me will replace it with the full snippet. Depending on the app’s settings, you may need to type a ‘trigger’ key immediately after the abbreviation before it will expand.

With a trigger

You can change this, but TypeIt4Me is initially configured to require that a trigger key is pressed immediately after the abbreviation in order for it to expand. This can be the space bar or any of 35 other keys that you can select in the Triggers section of the app’s settings. The most commonly used trigger is the space bar, so this is enabled by default.

Without a trigger

If you want your abbreviations to always immediately expand as soon as they are typed, without requiring a trigger, you have that option. Just de-select any selected triggers in the app’s settings and you’re good to go.

Point-and-click (pick your snippet from a browsable list opened via the menu bar)

If you can’t remember (or prefer not to type) the abbreviation you assigned to a snippet, you can open the TypeIt4Me menu to reveal a full list of your snippets. Browse the list using arrow keys or your mouse or trackpad, then select the snippet you want by clicking on it or press return. If you’ve authorised TypeIt4Me to control your computer your snippet will be inserted wherever the cursor is.

Please note: if you haven’t authorised TypeIt4Me to control your computer it won’t be able to insert your snippet directly into the app you’re typing in. Clicking on the snippet you want in the menu will instead place its contents on the clipboard. You will then need to manually paste it where you want it to go.

Search-and-insert (use a keyboard shortcut to bring up a search window)

Should you struggle to remember the abbreviation you assigned to a snippet, you can open a special floating TypeIt4Me window to search your entire library*. This window is invoked by pressing a keyboard shortcut that you can define in the app’s Hot Keys settings.

Type a few characters in the search field. You’ll get a list of snippets that include that particular string of characters, either in the abbreviation or in the full snippet content. Browse the list using arrow keys or your mouse or trackpad, then select the snippet you want by double clicking on it or press return. TypeIt4Me will insert it wherever the cursor is – unless you haven’t authorised TypeIt4Me to control your computer, in which case the snippet content will be placed on the clipboard so you can manually paste it where you want it to go.