Expand

Expand means typing an abbreviation plus a trigger key in any text field (editor, browser, chat, email) and having it replaced with the full snippet content. No copy-paste, no re-typing.

How to expand in three steps

1. In CodeExpander, create a snippet with an abbreviation (e.g. sig) and content (e.g. email signature).
2. Type that abbreviation in any input field.
3. Press the trigger key (default Tab); the abbreviation is replaced.

If you forget an abbreviation, use the search window or inline search.

Trigger keys

You often type the first two letters of log while coding. By default you press Tab (or another key you pick) before it expands, so a half-typed word is not replaced. The switch is Settings → General. Keep it on.

Available: Tab (default), Space, Enter, Alt, and . , ; - / = and others.

If “require a trigger key” is off, a finished abbreviation expands immediately — false hits go up. A group can have its own trigger keys on this computer; they do not sync. The machine-wide switch is Pause expansion.

Expand when

You type design and do not want sig inside it to become a signature. Expand when on a group decides what may sit in front of an abbreviation — a space, punctuation, or anything.

Settings also choose whether you must type the whole abbreviation, or only the ending. Save the group. The next time you type, the new rule is in effect.

ExpandIn (per app)

In VS Code, log should become a log template. In chat, log should stay four letters. Limit the snippet to those apps and chat will not fire it.

This is a Pro capability. No apps selected = every app.

1. Open a snippet or group.
2. Find Only expand in these apps.
3. Search and check VS Code, Chrome, Cursor, and so on.
4. Save. Expansion runs only when the app in front matches.

A snippet setting overrides the group. If a window is not recognized, turn the limit off for that snippet. The search window and inline search still insert freely.

Adaptive case

With Settings → General → adaptive case on:

• All-caps abbreviation (SIG) → expansion follows an uppercase style
• Leading capital (Sig) → title-case style
• Lowercase keeps the snippet body as stored

Scripts and rich text still follow the file environment. Turn the setting off for strict stored casing.

Pause expansion

You are screen-sharing and do not want log to become a template. Press enable/disable expansion, or turn it off in the tray. Turn it back on after the meeting.

1. Pause everything: the switch under Settings → Keyboard, or the tray menu.
2. Fewer accidents: require a trigger key, use a word boundary, or limit apps.
3. Stop one snippet: change its abbreviation, or move it out of the group.

There is no browser extension, so you cannot “pause only in Chrome”. There is no “hold Shift to skip this one”. If an expand fails, a notification explains why. The text you were typing is not rewritten in silence.

Conflicting abbreviations

The snippet list counts full abbreviations (group prefix included). A count above 1 shows a warning.

1. Change one abbr or group prefix.
2. Or split the same abbr across apps with ExpandIn (different abbrs are still easier to remember).
3. Shared org files that match your personal files fire once — do not keep a personal “backup” with the same abbreviation.

There is no “pick which snippet” conflict window. Use the search window when you forget an abbr.

Shortcuts

• Global: open the main window, search, toggle expand, create from clipboard. Configure in Settings → Hotkeys.
• Per-snippet shortcut: bind a global shortcut to a snippet for the few you use most.

Tip: Set abbreviations and a trigger for your top few (signature, try wrapper, daily header); muscle memory follows in a few days.