Requiring change explanations: are you using an auto-fill plugin? [closed]

+11 votes
257 views

EDIT TO ADD: It appears that the developer of this software is no longer supporting it and it is no longer available at the Chrome Web Store.  It can be downloaded elsewhere but carries a warning that it is a high security risk.

So until such time that a new (and safe) program can be found, the post below can should be largely disregarded.

I see that there has been a lot of conversation about the rule-change suggestion to require an explanation for every bio change.  As a public service announcement, I'd like to share my exprience with the Chrome extension "Auto text expander 2." This program, and others like it allow you to tie a shortcut term to an text auto-fill that auto-fills words, sentences, or even paragraphs when you type a given shortcut.  This program operates in a similar way as the iPhone auto text-fill program.

This post is not intended as an endorsement for or an argument against the rule change proposal.  This post is only to share with you this program because it is useful when WikiTreeing; I use it every day when I'm writing and editing bios.  And if the rule change proposal is approved, this program would be just as useful for change explanations as it is for writing and editing bios.

How the program works: you enter a shortcut value and then an "expanded text" value.  Now whenever you type in the shortcut, the program automatically fills in the expanded text.

Here is a screen shot from mine.  If you look at the bottom, when I type PENN in all caps, PENN is instantly replaced with William Penn and Early Pennsylvania Settlers Project.  Very useful when I'm posting to potential project member walls, writing G2G threads, etc.  

When I'm typing an email, I simply type "brg" and up pops:

best regards,

SJ

Makes signing out of an email very fast and efficient.

And my favorite is "260" that enters my WikiTree linked name/Id: [[Baty-260|SJ Baty]]

You can put in as many of these as you want and it makes writing repetitive items fast and easy.

Here are some I'm adding tonight for profile change explanations - and I will use them to save time whether the rule change proposal is passed or not:

SOURCE = source added
TYPO = typo correction
CATEGORY = category change

and so on and so on.  You are only limited by your imagination.

I encourage you to download this program or a similar one and give it a try.  I find it a huge timesaver and I hope that it will be useful for you too.

closed with the note: The program is no longer supported by the developer and is now considered a security risk.
in The Tree House by SJ Baty G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
closed by SJ Baty
Apparently its been ported to Firefox also, as "Auto Text Expander"
I tried using this, but ran into quite a few issues with it.  When it was used to create a category, the cursor would get lost, and it wouldn't hold the converted category name.  I had similar things happen with Find a Grave templates, so when it is being used with wiki code, it causes some problems.
Clipboard History Pro works well for the Explanation Changes, but the browser also usually remembers, once you type enough.
Not sure what you're running into Linda, I use this for categories and templates all the time and I have no issues with Wiki code.
That sounds like what was called "macros"

1 Answer

+6 votes
I don't believe there is any reason for a specific plugin. Most browsers use field data caches automatically.
by Dennis Wheeler G2G6 Pilot (569k points)
I believe that the auto-fill plug-in is a very nice addition to any arsenal of tools.
The browser I usually use certainly does this and as I also use the same browser  on my phone it 'works' there too. I don't have to write in oft used explanations such as 'formatting',  'added source for baptism',  'spelling correction' or 'interim save, writing bio'.

It's only a  very few more detailed or specific explanations that have to be written out so take a bit longer.
Data caches offer based on previous entries.  If I want "bio and sources updated," as I type in bio I get a long list of everything I've ever entered that begins with bio - from there I have to scroll down and hunt and peck through the dozens of previous entries.

This extension works most everywhere, inside bios, in emails, etc.  Data caches don't work in emails and they don't work inside the body of a bio.

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