How to trigger a template

Once templates are stored in PhraseExpander, you can trigger them in 4 different ways from any application.

Trigger a template with its abbreviation

This is the most common method.

To set it up, you need to associate an abbreviation to the template by typing it in the abbreviation text box.

When you type, PhraseExpander will display a little label near the cursor to remind you of the templates associated with the letters you have typed.

There are two ways to set up the abbreviation:

With confirmation: after you have typed the abbreviation, you'll need to press SHIFT (or the chosen confirmation key) to insert the template.
Instant execution: when you enable this option for the template (by clicking on the bolt icon; the abbreviation is then displayed in red), no confirmation key is required, and the template is triggered immediately after the last letter of the abbreviation is typed.

Trigger a template with a shortcut

You can assign a keyboard shortcut to a template, so it's triggered after typing a key sequence, for example, CTRL + SHIFT + F4

To assign a shortcut to a template:

Right-click on the template in the template list
Select Shortcut
Assign the desired shortcut and click OK to confirm

Alternatively, you can assign a shortcut by clicking on the shortcut link (as shown in the picture below) when a template is opened in the template editor.

To display the shortcuts in the template list, make sure the Shortcut column is displayed.

You can set the shortcut from the template editor

Trigger a template by selecting it from its group

Assign an abbreviation (or shortcut) to a group to display all the templates it contains.
Execute the template by typing the abbreviation of the group, choosing the desired template, and confirming by pressing the SHIFT key.

Search templates via Quick Find

If you don't remember the abbreviation, press ALT+SPACE to open Quick Find, type any part of the template (abbreviation, description or text) and press SHIFT to insert it. See Use Quick Find to search for a template and insert it.

NOTE: you can use Quick Find to perform calculations as well. Simply type a math expression there (e.g. 4+5*3).