Replacement text snippets in gmail

I'm frequently retyping the same URLs in gmail email messages. Is it possible to set up a list of words that are auto replaced with replacement text once typed?

For example, whenever I type the word "forumsX ", I want gmail to immediately replace the text "forumsX" with a hyperlink wrapped around the word "forums" and link to my forum address.

Is this possible? Or something similar?

Scott B

Posted 2011-08-29T20:20:49.620

Reputation: 659

1Do you want it only done in Gmail? – soandos – 2011-08-29T20:23:52.267

Yes, but as long as I can add it to gmail, I'm ok if it works other places to (like in my WordPress editor for example) – Scott B – 2011-08-29T20:46:14.493

A bookmarklet could do this... – vemv – 2011-08-29T20:47:15.397

@vemv this text may be part of the web page source. a bookmarklet could break the page. – soandos – 2011-08-29T20:48:08.997

Assuming that the chosen words are unique enough and constraining the bookmarklet action to a particular <div> for example, I'd give it a go. – vemv – 2011-08-29T20:51:24.950

Answers

Generic text replacement utilities like Texter and PhraseExpress would work, but I prefer using AutoHotkey with Hotstrings.

Here's an example Hotstring that does what you asked for:

::forumsX::<a href="http://forum.example.com">forum</a>

To use it, run the AHK script above, then type forumsX followed by a space, tab, or another of the default end characters.

Dan H

Posted 2011-08-29T20:20:49.620

Reputation: 1 978

There is a program called autohotkeys that can do this. Warning: wherever you type this, it will be replaced.

EDIT: There is a way to make it so it only changes the text if it detects the right window title, so you should be able to limit it to chrome or whatever. See here for more info.

soandos

Posted 2011-08-29T20:20:49.620

Reputation: 22 744

GuiID? that is usually internal to the program itself, say if you were referencing a specific Gui within the code, not one external to the code. For external Gui control you would need the HWND, though that would not differentiate between tabs (say if you had gmail open versus superuser, it would do the same thing in both tabs). HWND and GuiIDs are also unique to instance, so they would constantly change, meaning no hard coding, which also means more work in scripting. You would get better results by filtering by window title. – MaQleod – 2011-08-29T20:58:06.807