Where and when does TypeIt4Me type?
TypeIt4Me can do your typing for you pretty much anywhere on your Mac that accepts text input. There are a few exceptions to this general rule, but we’ll get to those in a bit. Read on for an overview of the kind of things it’s most commonly used for.
Situations where TypeIt4Me will expand your abbreviations for you
Leave it running in the background and TypeIt4Me can spring into action to help with any of these common tasks:
- Composing emails and chat messages
- Writing in code editors, notepads, blogging apps and word processors (e.g. BBEdit, Notes, TextEdit, Pages, Scrivener, Ulysses)
- Filling in spreadsheets
- Entering information into databases
- Browsing the web (e.g. entering URLs or search terms and filling in forms)
- Editing song information in the Music app
- Adding contacts to your address book
- Creating reminders and calendar events
- Naming files and folders (both in the Finder and in Save dialogs)
When the magic happens
Technically, the “typing” that TypeIt4Me performs when it expands one of your abbreviations is usually a paste operation. A snippet – which can be text and / or picture(s) – will be pasted where the cursor is positioned when you:
If you go to the Triggers tab in TypeIt4Me’s settings, you can define exactly what keys should act as triggers. You can also choose not to use triggers, in which case your abbreviations will expand as soon as you type them.
When expanded, snippets that were defined and saved as plain text will match the font and style of any text immediately preceding the point at which you insert them. “Rich text” snippets will preserve the formatting with which they were originally saved, wherever you expand them.
Compatibility issues with other apps
TypeIt4Me will work well alongside the vast majority of apps that make up the Mac ecosystem. That said, while it’s rare, conflicts with third party software products can arise. Once in a while, you may encounter compatibility issues – ranging from minor inconveniences to outright roadblocks. We’ll outline some of these here so you’ll know what to do should you run into them.
Where and why might things get stuck?
Automatic “typing” of snippets is accomplished by placing the snippet contents on the clipboard then issuing a Paste (⌘ V) command. Some apps are built in such a way that they can’t handle pasting in certain text fields. This can prevent TypeIt4Me from doing its job when you’re working in those apps. Sometimes, other utilities that manage or extend the functionality of your Mac’s clipboard can also interfere with TypeIt4Me expansions.
If TypeIt4Me appears to fail
Abbreviations not expanding all of a sudden? Try doing a “manual” paste (⌘ V) into the text field or document in which you’re typing. If that fails, the developer of the app you’re typing in has built it in a way that blocks TypeIt4Me. To resolve a frustrating issue like this, you might need to contact the developer of the affected app. Try requesting that they support pasting into the field in question, so that it will play well with TypeIt4Me.
Remote operation and virtual machines
Expansion of typed abbreviations generally will not work on a Mac that you are operating remotely. The same goes for trying to use TypeIt4Me locally inside a virtual machine. This is due to restricted access to the clipboard on the remote or virtual Mac. Typing one of your abbreviations in either of these environments will usually produce a “v” or even nothing at all. In some cases it might still be possible to use the point-and-click menu, but your mileage may vary.
Password fields: a no-go zone
Most password entry fields are protected against third party programs that try to detect what you type into them. Tightly locked-down protection is achieved using something called Secure Input. Baked right in to macOS, this mechanism temporarily ensures only the app you’re typing in can ‘see’ keyboard input. It’s great that our data is protected this way, but there is a drawback: Secure Input blocks TypeIt4Me. If you enter an abbreviation in a password field in Safari, for example, it won’t expand. That’s because TypeIt4Me has no idea what keys you’ve just pressed. Read on to learn more about Secure Input, which can sometimes trip up those of us who use text expanders.
Secure Input
Sometimes, notifications from TypeIt4Me may appear in the corner of your screen and / or in the Notification Center. These will inform you that an app you’re using has enabled Secure Input, which prevents TypeIt4Me from working. This typically happens when one or more of the following is open and / or running on your Mac – perhaps even in the background:
- A Safari, Chrome or Firefox window with a web page that includes a password field.
- An antivirus client. These sometimes perceive TypeIt4Me as a threat and misidentify it as keylogging malware.
- Any kind of login screen, particularly if it’s for accessing a password manager app or browser extension.
- VPN software: Virtual Private Networks create secure “tunnels” that your internet data passes through.
- A secure Terminal window.
As noted in the preamble to this section, Secure Input is a protective feature built into the foundations of macOS. Many apps and websites use it to shield your passwords and other sensitive data while these are being entered. This is so they can’t be intercepted and recorded for nefarious purposes and only you will know what you’re typing. Secure Input is a crucial defence against data theft, however it is meant to be used sparingly. It can cause problems if it isn’t turned off again once it’s done its job.
Overzealous protection
Sometimes when Secure Input protection is triggered it can be left enabled for too long. That is, it stays on even after you’re done entering sensitive information or you’ve switched to a different app. Text expansion apps like ours then remain ‘locked out’ of keyboard input, unable to see what you’re typing. TypeIt4Me will be prevented from functioning until Secure Input is turned off.
It’s important to note that when TypeIt4Me alerts you that an app has enabled Secure Input, it’s just a heads-up. The notification doesn’t necessarily mean that expansion will no longer work until the app in question is closed. Its purpose is to flag any app(s) that recently switched Secure Input on, in case text expansion stops working. This can then help you figure out which app may be blocking TypeIt4Me and close it.
How to resolve the Secure Input issue and get TypeIt4Me working again
If Secure Input stops TypeIt4Me from working you’ll need to identify the app that has left Secure Input enabled and quit that app. Doing so will enable TypeIt4Me to resume expanding your abbreviations as normal again. If you can’t remember what the last alert or banner said, check your Notification Centre to see if there are any TypeIt4Me messages in there to help track down the app that’s responsible.
How to stop Secure Input warnings
Secure Input is a core functionality built in to macOS that can’t be completely disabled or bypassed. If an app wants to turn it on, there’s no stopping it; TypeIt4Me has no control over that. That said, if notifications become so frequent and / or irritating that you’d rather not see them, it’s easy to stop them from appearing.
On macOS 13 Ventura and newer systems:
Open your Mac’s System Settings and click on Notifications in the sidebar. Once you’re in Notifications you’ll see a list of apps on the right. Select TypeIt4Me, then toggle the “Allow Notifications” switch off. Alternatively, you could leave that on and change the settings under “TypeIt4Me alert style” to something you find less intrusive.
