Getting started with v5

This document is meant to help current PhraseExpander users to get started using PhraseExpander 5.

Installation

Feel free to install PhraseExpander 5 on top of your current installation of PhraseExpander 4.

During the installation, all your data and settings for v.4 are preserved. So you'll be able to continue using the old version along with the new one.

Your settings and the current database will be converted to the new format (your old one is preserved) and all your phrases (now called templates) will be imported.

Main changes compared to v.4

PhraseExpander v5 has been almost a complete rewrite and comes with a number of changes, meant to give you more power and speed.

It will take a little bit of time to adapt to the new interface but the reward will be tangible.

Main interface

Phrases are now called templates. This better reflects the power of the new templating language
A multi-tab layout that allows you to view and edit more than one template
Double-clicking on the template icon opens the template for edits in a new tab, inside the template editor
All the formatting buttons are now positioned inside the ribbon
Ability to lock a glossary, thus preventing accidental changes to it
Restrict a glossary to work only when typing inside specific applications
Ability to reposition glossaries and move groups via drag & drop

Changes in macros and templates

You can assign an ID to templates. This is used to uniquely identify a template and reuse it by using the Insert template macro
Formatted templates are displayed with a different icon (before they were displayed in blue color)
Manual Inputs are now called Variables and they are displayed inside the template with a lighter syntax, like {{name}}. This will make the template easier to read
Easily define variables, share and reuse them between templates
By using the Test button you can see a preview of your template or a portion of it
Insert comments in a template. This can be used to exclude a portion of the template or to add useful comments that will not generate any output when the template is executed
New If macro which allows you to build branching logic inside your templates. For example, you can decide to show a portion of the template based on a user input.
New Section macro which lets you create an optional section that can be toggled when the Input form is displayed

A completely redesigned Input form

The Input form allows you to create fill-in-the-blanks templates and it's shown when you execute a template that contains user inputs (either a fill-in variable or a section macro).

The Input form is completely dynamic and will adapt its contents based on the user input selection.

It will also display a real-time preview of the output that the template is generating.

For example, you can have sections of the template appear or disappear automatically based on the value of the user input, or having pronouns adapted automatically in the form by setting the gender.

Improved syncing & teamwork

The new algorithm that we are using to share glossaries is more robust and will detect if templates are moved between groups as well.

Changes in the features for the Standard Edition

We have reorganized the features of the Standard and Professional edition of PhraseExpander.

SmartComplete and Phrase continuations (which were available only in the Professional Edition) are now included in the Standard Edition as well making it the ideal solution for transcriptionist but it does not allow for the creation of variables.

Variables are available only in the Professional and Medical Edition.