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If you often type the same texts or repeat certain terms frequently, then Espanso Become your new best friend. Espanso is a free, cross-platform text expander that makes your life easier. In this article, you will learn how to set up, synchronize and make the most of Espanso.
What is Espanso and why should you use it?
Espanso is a text expansion tool that significantly increases your productivity. It automatically replaces text abbreviations you have defined with complete texts or commands. You can use it for countless purposes, for example:
- Frequently used texts: Addresses, greetings or e-mail signatures.
- Code snippets: Recurring lines of code in software development.
- Form fields: Quick entry of contact data or standard responses.
- Emojis: You can add emojis to your text using simple abbreviations.
With Espanso you save time and at the same time ensure consistency in your texts.
On which platforms does Espanso work?
Espanso is cross-platform and runs on:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
The tool is flexible and lightweight, so it works smoothly on most modern systems. You can download it directly from the official Espanso website download.
Synchronization of your configuration
If you want to use Espanso on multiple devices, you can synchronize your configuration. This works best with a cloud service such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Syncthing. How to set up synchronization:
- Move folder to the cloud: Move the Espanso configuration folder to your preferred cloud storage.
- Create a symbolic link: Create a symbolic link on each device that points to the cloud folder.
This means you are always up to date, no matter which device you are working on.
How to configure Espanso
Espanso is configured via YAML files, which you can customize according to your needs. The most important file is the default.yml at config folder, which defines the default configuration to be used when none of the other configurations are active, and which serves as the "base" profile from which the others are derived. If you only need Espanso for simple use cases, you should use the various options in the default.yml set.
The match-directory defines WHAT Espanso should do. It contains all snippet definitions (aka matches) as well as global variables. If you only need Espanso for basic use cases, you should store all your snippets in the base.yml file. However, you can create any YAML files with your own names there and load them into the configuration.
You can also use more complex rules and groups to keep your configuration clear. Espanso also offers templates and modules to help you get started and make configuration much easier. Here is a brief overview of how to get started:
- Find configuration files: The main configuration file is located in the folder
/config/(depending on your operating system). - Create new abbreviation: To create a shortcut, open the file
base.ymlin the folder/match/. In this file, you define so-called "matches" and "replace" fields. The "matches" field specifies which abbreviation is to be recognized, while "replace" specifies the text or content with which the abbreviation is to be replaced. Example:
- trigger: ":address"
replace: "Musterstraße 123, 12345 Musterstadt"If you :address Espanso automatically replaces it with the specified address. Espanso provides templates on its website to help you get started. Take a look at the documentation to adopt or adapt ready-made examples.
If you now :address it will automatically be replaced by the specified address.
- Create groups: Organize your abbreviations in separate files or categories to keep an overview.
- Integrate applications: Espanso also allows you to define specific abbreviations for individual applications.
Tip: Restart Espanso after you have made changes so that they are applied. However, they are usually reloaded by a hot reload anyway.
Examples of use
Here are some scenarios where you can use Espanso in your everyday life:
- Standard answers:
- Abbreviation:
:thanks - Output: "Thank you for your message! I will get back to you shortly."
- Abbreviation:
- E-mail signature:
- Abbreviation:
:sig - Output: "Yours sincerely, [your name]"
- Abbreviation:
- Insert date:
- Abbreviation:
:date - Output: Dynamic with
{{!date}}.
- Abbreviation:
- Emojis:
- Abbreviation:
:smile - Output: 🙂
- Abbreviation:
Packages: How to expand Espanso with ease
Espanso offers impressive expandability through so-called packages. You can find these in the Espanso Huba central collection of ready-made packages for different applications. With these packages you can customize Espanso to your needs without having to create everything yourself. Here are some examples:
- Emoji packages: Adds support for a variety of emojis.
- Code snippet packages: Contains frequently used code snippets for developers.
- Language support: Automatic correction or text expansion for different languages.
How to install a package:
- Visit the Espanso Hub: Go to the Website and looking for a suitable package.
- Installation: Follow the instructions of the respective package, usually by entering a simple command in the terminal, e.g.:
espanso install NAME_DES_PACKAGES - Activation: Restart Espanso to activate the package.
With packages, you can expand Espanso in just a few minutes and tailor it perfectly to your requirements.
YouTube video implementation
Conclusion
Espanso is an indispensable tool if you want to work more efficiently and automate recurring tasks. Whether for professional purposes or private applications, the flexibility and customizability of Espanso make it a real game changer. Try it out and discover how much time you can save!
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