New features in version 9

The new PhraseExpress version 9 contains a balanced selection of new features and improvement of existing functionality:

Windows 8 Compatibility

Windows 8 kompatibel

PhraseExpress v9 has been designed and tested for Microsoft Windows 8 support.

Cloud support

PhraseExpress enters "the cloud" and allows you to sync the phrase files on all your computers:

Cloud Support

Regardless whether you work on your PC at home or with your laptop on the road, your phrases stay in sync with your other computers thanks to support of popular online file syncing services (Dropbox, SugarSync, GoogleDrive, etc.) .

The new synchronization feature allows you to access the same phrase file from multiple computers.

Password protection

Storing phrase files in the cloud require enhanced security measures to secure your privacy and sensitive data.

PhraseExpress now offers optional password-protection for all your sensitive phrase files:

Password Protection

Password-protected phrase file are securely AES-encrypted. Phrase file transmission over the network is encrypted as well.

SQL Text Expander

PhraseExpress can now connect to Firebird SQL database servers:

SQL Textbausteinverwaltung

Benefits of using a SQL server:

  • SQL servers are suitable for large scale Enterprise network environments.
  • Phrases of all users are stored centrally on the SQL server. Memory resources are saved on the client computers as phrase contents is fetched only if required.
  • Multiple users can edit phrases simultaneously.
  • No license cost for the server - FireBird SQL is free open-source software.
  • Cross-platform availability for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.
  • PhraseExpress can connect to multiple SQL servers and databases at the same time.
  • Easy transition from local/networked phrase file to the SQL server with a single drag & drop operation.

Multiple phrase files

PhraseExpress can now load multiple phrase files from different sources:

Laden mehrerer Dateien

You can mix any number of local phrase files, multiple Firebird SQL or PhraseExpress server connections.

Example applications:

  • Access a SQL server to share phrases with a local team
  • Share an additional phrase file via Dropbox with remote team members over the internet.
  • Have your personal phrases securely stored in a phrase file locally stored on your own hard disk.

The kicker: PhraseExpress seamlessly combines all phrases of any data sources into the phrase tree structure for easy manageability. You can simply drag & drop phrases between different sources just like they were different folders. All settings will travel with your phrases across different phrase sources.

Simultaneous access to the same phrase file

Multiple users can now simultaneously load the same phrase file to share phrases with others:

Just save a phrase file to any network share, NAS box or Dropbox folder and all other users can load it from there, too!

No need to set up a server. No need to configure "linked shares" and the like. It works out-of-the-box.

The new PhraseExpress synchronization feature merges and syncs any change made by any user:

Sync phrase file

Improved program restrictions

Phrases can now be restricted to certain programs and even program titles with a significantly improved dialog:

Programmbeschränkung

New Access restriction dialog

The phrase access restriction settings, as known from the PhraseExpress Server, are now also available for the Stand-Alone Edition and you can restrict access to individual phrase folders:

Access Restriction

The new dialog-based dialog simplifies configuring access restrictions.

Application-aware floating menus Pro Edition

Floating menus now automatically appear and disappear corresponding to currently used programs:

Program restricted floating menus

Example: If you are editing a text in Word, PhraseExpress can automatically display a floating menu with useful phrases you use in Word only. If you switch to Excel, the phrase menu automatically disappears and perhaps another floating menu with phrases relevant for Excel may appear.

This smart feature seamlessly integrates PhraseExpress into third party applications. The floating menus seem to belong to the actual target programs.

Enhanced support for formatted text phrases

Support for RTF formatted phrases has been significantly improved and now includes paragraph formatting, tables, links and bullets:

RTF Formatting

You can instantly switch from RTF to HTML formatted phrases.

HTML formatted contents can now be shown as HTML source code including syntax highlighting:

HTML Syntax Highlighting

Improved phrase selection menu

You can now resize the phrase popup menu with the mouse by dragging its borders:

Größenänderung

By resizing the menu, you can intuitively configure the phrase description length and maximum number of menu items.

You can now also define a permanent popup menu position by dragging it at the separator line.

The popup appearance including font size can be now be configured in great detail:

Auswahlmenü anpassbar

Extended task tray menu

Right-clicking the task tray icon popup now offers useful extra features:

Neues Menü per Rechtskliick

This handy menu allows you to easily disable/exclude from individual programs.

Context Menu in the phrase selection popup

The phrase selection menu also quick access to useful extra features:

Rechtsklick im Auswahlmenü

You can now easily paste phrases with/without formatting case-by-case or copy it to the clipboard instead of pasting the contents.

The context menu also provides access to additional useful configuration options for the selected element.

Enhanced Calculation Macro

The {#CALC ..} macro function performs calculation of math expression and number output can be formatted in great detail:

 

Number formatting

  • You can now configure specific numbers of digits to the left/right of the decimal point (e.g. 0004.69).
  • The number output can now optionally add thousand separators (e.g. 2 894 843) with a customizable separator.
  • The decimal point is now also customizable to adapt to different country's number formatting (3.45 vs. 3,45).
  • PhraseExpress can optionally adapt the number output format to the input format.

New macro functions

The new {#COND ..} macro function opens the door to conditional "If-Then-Else" statements in PhraseExpress:

Conditional phrases

Phrases can be automatically rendered depending on user input and you can design sophisticated automation procedures.

We are eager to learn what you will accomplish with this very powerful function.

 

The {#BALLOON ..} macro allows you to display a customizable notification speech bubble on the desktop:

tray bubble

The speech bubble can perform additional actions if clicked.

Chronological backup

PhraseExpress now saves a history of the last 99 phrase file changes.

Earlier versions can be retrieved in a snap:

Datensicherung

But where other solutions may end, PhraseExpress just starts going the extra mile:

  • The backup location can be user-defined
  • Multiple users can even share the same backup location. PhraseExpress automatically detects a shared backup location and integrates all phrase file changes into a common backup. Any backup entry is labelled with a timestamp, the editor's name and number of phrases making it easy to identify specific edits.
  • PhraseExpress even keeps making backups if the configured backup location may become unavailable. e.g. if working on laptop abroad. Any such temporary backup is seamlessly integrated with the original backup location on reconnection.
  • If the phrase file is password-protected, all backup files are also secured with the same password.

Additional Improvements

  • Sorting of system folder items (clipboard cache, last used phrases) is now independent from the general settings and those elements are sorted by the time when they are added.
  • The paste method is now customizable per target application to resolve incompatibility issues.
  • TypoLearn now filters irrelevant manual corrections and won't learn a new typo item if you just enhance a written word (e.g. if you enhance the word "car" to "cars" (or vice versa).
  • PhraseExpress can now remember the last used position of an input form.
  • File paths to system folders are now customizable in the configuration file.
  • Phrase file paths may now also contain Windows environment variables.
  • PhraseExpress recognizes a write-protected configuration file and removes any settings option from the user interface to prevent operating errors.
  • If a phrase is excluded from a particular target application, an associated hotkey becomes available for use in that target program.
  • A progress bar is now shown for large data import actions which allows you to cancel such actions.
  • There is no separate Stand-Alone Edition or Network Edition license key, allowing you to freely switch between both variations.
  • Stand-Alone installations can now also be centrally registered with the PhraseExpress Server (which can act as a license-only server).
  • The calendar date selector now remembers its last position on the desktop.
  • The #formcombobox macro function allows to enter choice descriptions separate from the actual macro outputs.
  • The separator now takes less space in the phrase selection menu.
  • The status bar now shows many more information depending on the current program status.
  • The accuracy of the text prediction feature has been increased.
  • The macro function #insertfile now supports insertion of Microsoft Excel files.
  • The macro function #focus now includes the parameter -windowstate allowing you to control the appearance of the window (full-screen/minimized/etc).
  • Phrase files status can be updated by pressing F5 and all files are saved with the hotkey CTRL-S without closing the main program window.
  • The QuickSearch has been optimized and now require fewer clicks to perform searches.
  • Debug mode can now be easily activated by launching PhraseExpress while holding the SHIFT key.
  • Clicking the phrase contents label enables a word and character count display.