Define powerful abbreviation strings to save you hours of typing. Type out a couple of letters, and the Text Expander replaces it with a whole word or paragraph. This feature is very powerful and can also be used to trigger any other command, for example to run applications, open web pages or execute advanced commands and scripts.



❶ Set the abbreviation string

Abbreviation string is a short sequence of letters. Typing this string will trigger the Substitute action. Use delimiter character (defined in Preferences) to specify multiple abbreviations for the same action.


❷ Set the description

A short command description.


❸ Select command type

Set the command type to Send for a normal text expansion (inserting text or/and keystrokes). See: Send.


The following other command types are available:

■Phrase File - Running a file containing several simple text expander phrases.

■Run - Running programs or files.

■Open - Opening file folders or websites.

■Command - Executing user commands by using Autohotkey scripting language.

■Script - Running external Autohotkey (.ahk) scripts.


❹ Set the substitute string

Replacement string or command to be inserted as a result of triggering. Most commonly the substitute would contain some frequently typed text. See Send for more details.


FastKeys can execute many different actions according to selected command Type and command contents. See Commands.


❺ Select advanced options

Further advanced options are available. You may need to click "More options" icon to show all options.

■Trigger immediately - An ending character (e.g. space, period, enter etc.) is not required to trigger the substitute string.

■Delete ending character - Omit the ending character of abbreviation string when the substitute is produced.

■Case sensitive - Exactly match the abbreviation string case.

■Don't delete string - Abbreviation string will not be erased when triggered.

■Trigger inside a word - Substitute will be triggered even when abbreviation is inside another word.

■Send raw text - Send the replacement text raw, exactly as it appears, without keystroke {} or other preset commands.

■Manual confirmation - User needs to manually confirm the substitution. This is always true in case of multiple substitutes for the same abbreviation.


❻ Set context window

Comma delimited list of window titles or other criteria identifying the target window for the command. This creates context sensitive action. This setting overrules the Only active in/Not active options set in the Preferences. List may contain full or partial window (application) names. Window names are not case sensitive. Use Window Information tool to retrieve missing information.


❼ Click OK button

Click OK button to confirm string definition or click Cancel button to cancel and exit.