Macro functions
Phrases are not limited to static contents. Macro functions provide powerful additional features:
- Phrases can be linked and nested.
- Boilerplate templates can have random text variation.
- E-Mail reply templates can adapt to the recipient's gender.
- Phrases can include external data.
- A time & date stamp or additional user input can be inserted into phrases.
- Macro functions can also automate your computer and launch programs, open documents, or websites, calculate math expressions and so much more…
- PhraseExpress automates repetitive tasks by emulating key press sequences and with the help of string operations, program loops, variables and conditional statements.
- Support of the macro software Macro Recorder turns PhraseExpress into a full-fledged automation solution.
The PhraseExpress versions for Windows, Mac and iPhone/iPad support a selection of macro functions with an adapted feature set. The mobile Apps do not include a macro editor - macro functions must be configured in a desktop edition of PhraseExpress.
How macros works
Macro functions are placeholders in the phrase contents that are replaced with dynamic contents into the static phrase at the time of phrase insertion.
Example:
The current date is CurrentDate. The current time is CurrentTime.
PhraseExpress processes macro functions sequentially (with the only exception of form input macros) and replaces the macro placeholder with the current date:
The current date is 12/19/2018. The current time is 09:45am.
If you trigger the same phrase on another day, the corresponding updated date and time would be inserted.
Insert external file
This macro function copies the contents of the specified file into the clipboard and pastes the clipboard into the target application when inserting the phrase, that contains this macro function.
Language translation
PhraseExpress can translate any provided text into a specified language. If no source language is specified, the translation algorithm analyzes the text to determine the language of the provided text.
In most cases, you probably nest macros into the source text input box, e.g. to insert the current clipboard content or to insert a variable.
The translation is provided by the external, independent, online service Deepl.com. This service requires a paid subscription, that provides you an API key. Enter this API key in the PhraseExpress settings.