User interface
The PhraseExpress client user interface consists of the task bar icon, the phrase menus and the main program window.
Task bar icon
If the task bar icon is not visible, first check whether PhraseExpress has been started at all.
If Windows has hidden the task bar icon in a submenu, click small triangle and drag the PhraseExpress icon onto the task bar:
The tray icon is your main hub for PhraseExpress:
Action | Description |
---|---|
Left-Click | Opens the phrase menu. |
Right-click | Opens the options context menu. |
Double-Click | Opens the main program window. |
CTRL-Click | Temporarily enable/disable PhraseExpress. |
SHIFT-Click | Opens the last executed phrase in the main program window. |
ALT-Click | Opens the program settings. |
The program window
To open the main program window, double-click the task tray icon.
The PhraseExpress main program window allows you to edit and manage your phrases:
The left window pane shows all phrases of one or multiple loaded phrase files/databases.
Select a phrase or folder in the left tree view to edit its properties in the right window pane.
The root items in the first tree level represent the data source (phrase file or database) and their current state. Some of the root level items, such as the clipboard history, last used phrases folder or the autocomplete folders are system folders, that are managed by PhraseExpress.
Display options
The phrase library can be shown in a two or alternatively a three columns display mode which can be selected in the View menu or by pressing CTRL-2 / CTRL-3.
Click the "
" section above the main menu to get view options:The classic shows your phrases within the tree structure as you can see above.
Benefits:
- Easy to browse through the library. Everything is one place.
- Most compact user interface.
Collapse/expand folders with the program hotkeys for easy navigation in the tree.
The alternative visually separates the folders from their content:
The first column shows the folder structure without content. The second column shows the contents of the folder currently selected in the first column:
Benefits:
- Easier navigation in large folder structures as no content occupies any space in the tree.
- The middle column can show additional phrase configuration details in customizable sub-columns.
Right-click a column header to add/remove columns.
Click a column header to temporarily sort phrases and to toggle sort direction.
To permanently sort & rearrange phrases in a folder, right-click the folder and select any of the sort options in the context menu.
If using PhraseExpress with a SQL Server, additional columns "number of uses" and "last used" are available.
To show all phrases of a folder including the contents of all subfolders, enable
If you select a root element in the tree, the middle column lists all phrases of the entire phrase source you can sort by size, date, usage, etc.
The view options only change the presentation of contents in the program but not the actual structure the phrases are saved in the phrase file/database.
You can't create phrases in flat list view.
Show phrases in tabs
PhraseExpress can show phrases in tabs allowing you to easily switch between them.
To open a phrase in a tab, select and right-click another or multiple phrases and select "
":