One early decision to make when you start using Instant Text, is whether to expand abbreviations using Marker Keys or Expander Keys.
In the Instant Text terminology:
A Marker Key is a key that triggers the expansion of an abbreviation and then disappears.
An Expander Key is a key that triggers the expansion of an abbreviation and then gets appended.
For example, if we have an abbreviation iac for the phrase in any case then typing iac; will yield:
in any case if the semicolon is configured as a Marker Key.
in any case; if the semicolon is configured as an Expander Key.
Instant Text supports:
Marker Keys for expanding Word Entries.
Marker Keys and Expander Keys for expanding Phrase Entries.
A Word Marker is a Marker Key that can be used to expand Word Entries.
The Marker Selection Options Dialog lets you specify which keys you want to use as Word Markers.
Note that a Phrase Marker can be used to expand a Word Entry whenever the Phrase Advisory is empty.
A Phrase Marker is a Marker Key that can be used to expand Phrase Entries.
The Marker Selection Options Dialog lets you specify which keys you want to use as Phrase Marker.
Note that a Word Marker can be used to expand a Phrase Entry whenever the Word Advisory is empty.
A Phrase Expander is an Expander Key that can be used to expand Phrase Entries.
The Marker Selection Options Dialog lets you specify which keys you want to use as Phrase Expanders.
Note that a Phrase Expander can only expand Phrase Entries.
As rule of thumb for selecting Phrase Markers or Phrase Expanders:
Choose Phrase Markers if Instant Text is your first expander, or if you do not feel overly committed to habits developed while using another expansion program. This choice corresponds to the Instant Text Options in the Marker Selection Options Dialog.
Choose Phrase Expanders if you have used another expansion program such as AutoCorrect, QuickCorrect, Shorthand or PRD in the past. Using Expander keys may feel familiar since these programs use Expander keys, such as the space bar and punctuation marks. Hence, continuing to use them with Instant Text may result in a shorter learning curve. It may allow you to concentrate on the other benefits Instant Text has to offer. This choice corresponds to the Classic Options in the Marker Selection Options Dialog.
Marker Keys have distinct advantages for large glossaries and provide a more powerful method of working with Instant Text. They give you a better control on when to expand, making accidental expansion less likely than when using Expander Keys. In addition, Marker Keys let you jump ahead. They actually let you abbreviate abbreviations – there is no need to memorize abbreviation codes, you just type some of the letters.
Continuations
are also easier to expand with Marker Keys. You may consider using a Marker Key
to expand continuations, even if you use Expander Keys
otherwise.