This documentation refers to PhraseExpress v5 beta. The documentation for current v4 is available here.
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 iOS App does 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 12/19/2020. The current time is 09:45am.
If you trigger the same phrase on another day, the corresponding updated date and time would be inserted.