Marker Keys and Expander Keys

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:

For example, if we have an abbreviation iac for the phrase in any case then typing iac; will yield: 

Instant Text supports:

Word Marker

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.

Phrase Marker

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.

Phrase Expander

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.

Choosing Markers or Phrase Expanders:

As rule of thumb for selecting Phrase Markers or Phrase Expanders:

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.