Expander
Give a name, a place, or a phrase you type often a short form. Type that short form, press Tab, and the long version appears. Type xx then Tab to add or look up shortcuts.
Press Ctrl+T, pause for the list, arrow to it, then Space to switch it on. Needs a file open.
Get it on your BYOK
expander.lua
expander.dat
- 1Download both files, the first time.
- 2Put them in the Scripts folder on the BYOK's card.
- 3Restart the BYOK, then press Ctrl+T.
Already using this tool? Keep your expander.dat. It holds what you have saved.
The data file is plain text. If you are comfortable editing files on a computer, that is often faster than doing it on the BYOK.
How to use it
Type a short form, press Tab, and it becomes the long form. Names you type a hundred times, places, phrases, a sign-off: give each one a shortcut and stop retyping it.
Type xx, then Tab, to add, remove, or look up shortcuts.
Expanding
Type your shortcut, then press Tab.
dim + Tab → Detective Inspector Marlowe
Capitalise the shortcut and the expansion starts with a capital too, so the same shortcut works at the start of a sentence.
| Type this + Tab | You get |
|---|---|
| hq | headquarters |
| Hq | Headquarters |
Tab after any other word is just a normal Tab. Nothing changes.
Adding a shortcut
- Type
xxand press Tab. A menu appears. Choose Add a shortcut. - Type a name for the shortcut and press Enter. Letters and numbers only, no spaces.
- Now type the text right on your page (as much as you like, it wraps like anything else) and press Enter.
The text becomes the shortcut and disappears from the page. That's it.
Changed your mind partway? xx + Tab cancels, and what you typed stays on the page for you to deal with.
If a shortcut with that name already exists, the new text replaces the old one.
Removing a shortcut
xx + Tab, then Remove a shortcut, then pick the one to remove.
Forgot a shortcut?
xx + Tab shows every shortcut you have. Pick one from the list and its text is inserted where you are.
Built-in Studio shortcuts
These come ready to use. Each starts a Studio capture on a new line and leaves you where you type next. They start with s so no ordinary word can set one off.
| Type this + Tab | You get |
|---|---|
| scard | ::card and a title: line, ready for the title |
| swiki | ::wiki and a title: line |
| soutline | ::outline and a ^ ready for the first header |
| snote | ::note on its own line |
| stask | ::task and a - ready for the first item |
| scomment | ::comment ready for your note |
Leave a blank line when the capture is finished so your writing carries on outside it.
Want a shortcut that includes a handle? Add your own, for example scardplot with the text ::card @plot, and it works like any other. File details (::meta) and comments on selected text live in Studio Captures instead.
Anything you add can also be edited on a computer in expander.dat, one line per shortcut, written as shortcut|expansion. Write \n where you want a line break.
- Don't use with
Leave this off if you are using Screenplay assistant. Both want the same keys.
- Good to know
- Shortcuts stay after you turn the BYOK off.
- You can have up to 30.
- A very long phrase cannot be captured from the page. If Enter does nothing, type xx then Tab to cancel, shorten it, or add it on a computer.
- The Expander and the Screenplay assistant both use Tab. Only one of them can be on at a time.
- What it can touch
A tool can only do what is listed here. Nothing else. This one can:
- Change the document: Insert or replace text in your writing
- Read what it has saved: Read its own notes or shortcuts
- Save for next time: Remember notes, shortcuts, or a count
- Show a list: Ask you to pick from a list
- Ask you to type: Ask for one short line of text
- Show a message: Put a one-line message on screen
Need help with this tool, or with tools on the BYOK? Contact support. We do not write or create tools for you. We are always open to suggestions for official ones.