Barry MacDonnell'sToolbox for WordPerfect
Macros, tips, and
templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
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Macros, tips, and
templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows® |
Page updated Jul 21, 2023 |
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How to insert "boilerplate" and/or repeating items Related topic - Filling in forms using WordPerfect Merge tips |
Definitions Boilerplate — Generally refers to often-used text (which may sometimes include graphics, tables, links, etc.).
It is sometimes
called "form language" and typically it rarely changes (if at all) over time.
It is inserted in various documents as needed, and can be anything from several standard contract paragraphs or pages to a single signature block or company logo. [This is more or less the opposite of a form, which is a typically a document already filled with static text and defined locations for your (variable) input.] Repeating items — Generally refers to either boilerplate (above) or to unique, single-use material that typically needs to be inserted in several places in the current document. Both types of
material can be used in the same document. You
can create
them with the various tools available in WordPerfect. They are listed
below with their advantages and disadvantages so that you can decide
which is
best for a given task.
Page contents • QuickWords
- insert blocks of material (words, paragraphs, tables, graphics,
photos, signatures, formatting codes, etc.) by simply typing a short,
memorable abbreviation (the "quickword") that automatically expands at
the cursor location
• QuickCorrect - insert (or correct) strings of text as you type • QuickMacros and regular macros - record macros ("scripts") to automate tasks • Insert files - insert a saved document at the cursor location • Custom templates - use your own templates to spawn new documents containing boilerplate text (which can be automated with prompts to fill in variable text) • Styles - "containers" of formatting (and even boilerplate text) • Shortcut ('hot') keys (a somewhat limited "auto-typer") • Floating ('linked') table cells - duplicate the contents of a table cell elsewhere in a document • Text variables (WordPerfect 10 and later) - insert identical text in several document locations with a single text variable; many text variables can be created and re-used, globally changed, etc. • Corel's ClipBook (WordPerfect 10 and later) - store material for future use • 'Faux' variables and variable character styles - insert identical text in several locations (WordPerfect 10 and earlier) • Other utility programs - some free, some not QuickWords (Available in WordPerfect 8 and later versions.) Need to quickly insert blocks of boilerplate
material? Try creating QuickWords: Just select some text and click on Tools,
QuickWords. Then when needed in any document, type the QuickWord to expand its material at the cursor location. See the QuickWords page for more information on using this feature. Advantages QuickWords are very
easy to create (and modify) and they can insert more than just small groups of
words.
They can instantly insert ▸ formatted letter closings and scanned signatures
▸ names, phrases, paragraphs, or pages ▸ headers/footers/watermarks/text boxes ▸ custom tables (empty or filled) ▸ specially formatted columns ▸ company logos or other images ▸ WordPerfect formatting codes (margins, tabs, etc.) or any combination of these things. The size of an expanded QuickWord is not usually an issue: Multiple pages full of formatted material can be stored as a single QuickWord! Another advantage — shared with QuickCorrect (see the next section below) — is that your hands need not stray from the keyboard since QuickWord abbreviations (i.e., the characters you type into your document) are simple keyboard characters. Disadvantages QuickWords are just a special string of characters ("abbreviations") you define — but you might not be able to remember all the QuickWord abbreviations you have created. However, there's an easy solution: See the macro and/or menu solutions the next paragraphs below. • More information:
See the QuickWords page for more information and some tips on using, managing, and backing up your QuickWords [including additional information on the following items]. • You can use them to create envelopes with a custom return address: You can also use a QuickWord to create custom envelopes with multiple fonts or graphics in the return address of an envelope. Click here for more information about custom envelopes. • Organize them for better access with macros and a menu: If you have created lots of QuickWords, you can use a simple macro to display a menu list of simple macros that play them, and then insert (and expand) the one you want at the cursor location. ▸ For example, see the tip on the main
QuickWords page (here) about
recording a macro to do the job of inserting and expanding a single QuickWord.
▸ Once you have created several such macros, you can organize them together under a simple menu choice (including submenu choices with custom names for each macro) on the top bar of the WordPerfect window. See "Customize your menu - How to add, edit, rearrange, or remove menu items" here. ▸ Similarly you can add each macro to a new, custom toolbar. See "How to create a new, custom toolbar" here. ▸ If you prefer a pop up menu with selections you can choose from the keyboard, see "EZMenu - An example of a pop-up dialog menu created with a few simple macro commands" here. Just press a shortcut key to display the menu, and another key to play the chosen macro (which then inserts your boilerplate at the cursor location). ▸ Intermediate and advanced users: For a more advanced (but also more flexible) macro see the downloadable PickList macro in the Library. • Note that all QuickWords are stored separately in a special template, which can be backed up: QuickWords are stored in a separate file (QW#XX.WPT, where # is the version number and XX is the country or language code), in the same folder as your currently active default template, and thus may be less likely to become corrupted compared to QuickCorrect entries. But QuickCorrect entries have some advantages, and can be used to help you "speed type" (see below). • You can migrate them to another WordPerfect program: To migrate QuickWords to the same, different, or newer version of WordPerfect, see the QuickWords page. Or see How do I migrate Quickwords to WordPerfect in the Corel Knowledgebase. [Note: What follows is a simple description. For more about QuickCorrect, how to use it, the purpose and use of User Word List files (.UWL), and a dozen useful tips, see the separate QuickCorrect page.] QuickCorrect has two related functions: Function #1. It can be used to automatically correct
common typing mistakes.
But for the purpose of using boilerplate text ... Function #2. It can quickly insert a string of text characters (or symbols) based on shorthand text (i.e., "expand an abbreviation") You can set up and use QuickCorrect to instantly convert your easy-to-remember "abbreviation" (or "replace" word) into a desired string of characters. For example, "ABCI" becomes "ABC Incorporated". You can also insert a symbol (e.g., "$Y" becomes "¥") or accented character ("é") as you type. [The second example used a "trigger" key (here, $) in an unlikely combination as the abbreviation. This is similar to using a trigger key with a QuickWord (see above).] Some users have called this use of QuickCorrect a form of "speed typing." Advantages (for Function #2) • It is somewhat easier to remember
QuickCorrect abbreviations than QuickWord abbreviations, since most
QuickCorrect abbreviations are "shorthand" representations of the
expanded word. [Note that you can also use a "trigger" character, too. For example, "~" (without quote marks).]
• Moreover, QuickCorrect conversions or
expansions will automatically adjust for capitalization. For example,
an abbreviation for "president" might be "prs"; typing "prs" will
expand to "president," while typing "Prs" will expand to "President". For possessives, such as "president's", see the tip below. For plurals (-s, -es), simply type the extra letters immediately after the QuickCorrect expansion. • Unlike QuickWords, abbreviations expand even if they are followed by a punctuation mark. (QuickWords require a space, hard return, or tab to expand.) • You can have up to 10 personal (and individually selectable) QuickCorrect word lists (i.e., 10 separate files on disk) — plus the standard document-specific word list and the default QuickCorrect word list, both of which are always selected since they are always used with the spell checker. Personal word lists can be added/edited via the spell checker's Options button (this is discussed on the QuickCorrect page here). Disadvantages (for Function #2) • Unlike QuickWords, this method does not let
you insert graphics, tables, or large amounts of text into the
document, nor can you include new formatting such as a new font or font attibute
(italics, bold, large, etc.).
See also the Notes and tips section on the QuickCorrect page here. ... For more on what it is, how to use it, and a dozen useful tips, see the separate QuickCorrect page. QuickMacros and regular macros QuickMacros Regular macros For some links
relating to creating or using regular macros, see Need help creating macros and
templates? To record a
regular macro: • Click Tools,
Macro, Record.
When the Record Macro dialog appears, give the new macro a name (spaces
are OK), then click Record. You should now be back in your document and
the Macro Toolbar should be
visible. (If not, be sure to un-tick
the menu option, View, Hide Bars.)
• Type the text you want to insert in the document. Keep it relatively short (512 characters including spaces). • When finished, stop recording with the small black-square button (■) on the left end of the Macro Toolbar (alternative: click Tools, Macro, Record once again). • Done. The macro is now saved to disk in the Default macro folder specified in Tools, Settings, Files, Merge/Macro. It can be played with Tools, Macro, Play (or Alt+F10) or it can be assigned to a toolbar, menu, or keystroke combination as described here. [Tip: There is also a short (2:25) YouTube video tutorial (uploaded by a Corel employee in 2009): Recording a basic WordPerfect macro.] Use a pre-made macro: See the Library
page for "boilerplate" macros you can download for free — e.g., PickList, Replace with a QuickWord, DynahHead, LablCopy (for sheets of duplicate labels), etc. There are many
other macros to help automate tasks and format/structure text. Notes and tips • Note that not all
things can be recorded in a macro
(e.g., styles
in WP9+), so some saved macros will need to be edited (Tools, Macro,
Edit) to manually add or modify commands to them. See here for more.
Insert
files
• Signature blocks: Here's a Corel WordPerfect Tutorial on Creating a Signature Block Marco that should help get you started with macros. • Menu macros: For some simple "menu" macros — typically used to type or insert blocks of text — see the tips under QuickWords above (and also below in Footnote 2). • Multi-function macro #1: You can use a regular (multi-function) macro (PICKLIST) to instantly type blocks of text, insert disk files, expand QuickWords, play other macros — all from a single menu "pick list." • Multi-function macro #2: Similar in action to the above macro is a "two key" macro: see 2Keys. You would simply press one shortcut key combination (e.g., Alt+z) to play the two-key macro, then a second key (e.g., "1") to perform some action such as insert a file, play another macro, etc. Insert an entire "boilerplate" document (saved on your disk) at the
current cursor location with Insert, File. See "Customize your menu - How to add, edit, rearrange, or remove menu items" here. Tips • Automate with macros: If you often use this (Insert, File) method with several files, you can record individual macros to bring the files into the document. You can then add them to the top menu (under a single menu choice): See "Customize your menu - How to add, edit, rearrange, or remove menu items" here. See also how to create a vertical toolbar with menu choices (PDF here). Being a vertical toolbar with text labels, it can hold a number of choices for macros, favorite files, folders, etc. A custom document based on a custom template can also be thought of as "boilerplate," since the document itself can contain text and graphics that remains the same each time you use it. Using a template-generated custom document is a different approach from using Insert, File (above), since a new document is generated ("spawned") each time you access the template, rather than merely reloading an old document from disk. Advantages The template is relatively immune from causal editing or accidental deleteion; moreover, since a custom document is spawned each time, the resulting document can be saved under a different name or simply discarded after printing. The template itself remains untouched. Another big advantage: Custom templates can be automated to insert various material, prompt the user, use built-in macros, etc. A related concept Use a keyboard merge to fill in a form document. If you plan to fill in the form in one sitting, you can set up the form as a "merge form" with "keyboard stops". This is a one-choice-to-one-location type of operation. If you need to enter the same information in multiple locations (one-choice-to-several-locations), consider using an automated, prompted template or (in WordPerfect 10 and later versions), text variables. StylesStyles can
contain text and other items as well as, or instead of, format codes. Hence, used as information "containers" they can insert
boilerplate. See "Variable Character styles" below, and (for general information) Styles. Note that styles can be easily accessed from the text property bar or even with one-line macros that play them.
To set up a key or key combination to directly send keystrokes (keyboard characters and non-characters) to your document, see - As you will see on that page, you can also assign other things to shortcut keys, such as macros, features, or even external programs. Notes ¤ There may be a limit to the number of
characters that you can enter in your document with this method.
Floating
('linked') table cells
¤ Using WordPerfect X3 and later WordPerfect versions with Windows XP/Vista/7 (and possibly later Windows versions) means that what you can enter under the Keystrokes tab is limited: • In Windows Vista/7/8 and with up to
version WPX3 (but apparently not in a fully patched WPX4 or later) it
is even more limited: You have to disable the
User Access Control (UAC) in Vista/7/8 to make such text/symbol
keystrokes work (script commands still will not work). Disabling the
UAC is something that is not generally recommended.
• In Windows XP you can use only text strings and/or WordPerfect symbols in the Keystrokes pane. You cannot use script commands (i.e., {Alt}, {Space}, etc.). If you have created one or more tables and need to have the contents of certain cells — such as a column's total — appear elsewhere in the text area(s) of your document, use floating cells to duplicate the contents of those table cells. Here's how: • Create a table with something in the cell
that you wish to have duplicated elsewhere in the document with a
floating cell.
• Position your cursor in the text area, as desired. Click on Table, Create (or Insert, Table in WP9 and earlier), Floating Cell, Create. In Reveal Codes you’ll see a pair of codes — [Flt Cell><Flt Cell] — with the cursor between them. This is the "floating cell." • Use the Table Formula toolbar that appears when you create a floating cell to insert a formula in the floating cell, or insert the name of a table cell to reference information in that cell. For example, if you have a single table
it will be named Table A by WordPerfect, and if you have
the phrase "New York" in cell B1 of that table, then when you create
the floating cell (step 2 above), and the cursor is between the codes,
click in the Formula field in the toolbar and type this formula:
+Table A.B1 Then click the checkmark button to the left of the Formula field. The contents of cell B1 of the table should immediately show up in the floating cell. (You might have to click the Calculate button to "refresh" the floating cell.) • A floating cell can be copied or cut to a new location by opening Reveal Codes and selecting the codes and the text between them. Then copy (or cut) and paste in a new location. Tip [from David Wallis]: "You can also have one floating cell refer to the contents of another. That's very helpful when you use numbers that need to be repeated in various places in a document. If the number changes, you only need to change it in one place in the document." 'Faux' variables and 'variable' Character styles (WordPerfect 10 and earlier) 'Faux' variables (for WordPerfect 9 and 10) [For WordPerfect 10 and later versions see Text Variables below.] Jim Shackleford's FAUXVAR9 macro (for WordPerfect 9/10) mimics WordPerfect 10's new text variables feature (described below). [Quoted from the Other Authors page:] 'Variable' Character styles [Note: For WordPerfect 10 and later, see Text Variables below.] You can use a Character text style to simulate the Text Variables feature (next section below): Text variables (WordPerfect 10 and later versions) Need to insert the same block of text
in several locations — and be able to make global changes
easily and quickly, wherever it appears? "[Text] variables allow
you to mark text that you know will change, for example dates, version
numbers, or client names. WordPerfect allows you to create a variable.
Once you have created a variable you can insert it in [multiple
locations in] a document, edit it, or delete it. You can also chose to
display the variables in a document." (Corel WordPerfect version 10 [and 2020] Help file.)
Additionally, and compared with some other methods such as Find and Replace, this makes it easier — especially in long or complex documents — to make changes to a given item globally throughout the document. Whether the item is short (e.g., a specified date) or long (e.g., paragraphs where the content has changed and needs to be updated), text variables can be very useful and time-saving. They can also be retrieved, copied, and even saved for use in other documents. • To create a text variable (WP10 and later versions): ▸ Click on Insert, Variable to bring up the Variables editor, then click Create.
▸ Give the variable a name (limit=12 characters). ▸ Type (or paste) the text into the editor's Contents field. The content limit seems to be about 4,000 characters. ▸ Insert the variable in the document where needed (next step below). Tip: You can format the text from inside the Variables Editor menu, insert
graphics, etc.
• To insert a text variable in your document: ▸ Position the cursor where you want to
insert the variable.
▸ Click Insert, Variable. ▸ Choose a variable from the Variables list. ▸ Click Insert. Alternative:
You can add a button to a toolbar that will allow picking and inserting an existing text variable into the document. See the first tip in the Notes and tips section below. • To delete an instance of a text variable at a particular location: ▸ In the main document, delete its paired [Variable><Variable] code in the
Reveal Codes window. (Deleting either code will delete both codes in the pair.)
• To edit a text variable: ▸ Click Insert, Variable, <choose the variable>, Edit.
Alternatives:
You can also [A] double-click on any existing [Variable] code in Reveal Codes, or [B] click directly on the visible variable text in the document, to bring up the Variables Editor. ▸ Make your changes, and your edits will instantly appear in all iterations of that particular variable when you exit the Editor. Note:
Since text variables are a form of style you cannot use Edit, Find and Replace (or the macro equivalent) to search inside them. (This is true for all WordPerfect styles; however, styles can be manually edited easily by double-clicking on the [Style] code — or in this instance, by double-clicking on either the [Variable] code or on the variable's visible text.) ¤ Insert text variables
with a toolbar
button:
Right-click the toolbar and select Edit from the context menu. In the
Toolbar Editor that appears, choose the Feature category "Insert," and
scroll down in the list to "Variables." Choose it and click on Add
Button to add the button to your toolbar. (You can drag the new button
to another toolbar location.) Once you have created one or more
variables, they will be available from the new button to insert at the
current cursor location.
Related tips:
• Once text variables have been created
and inserted into a document they can be copied to another document by
simply selecting the adjacent code pair ([Variable><Variable]) in Reveal
Codes, copying the codes to the clipboard, and then pasting them into
the new document.
• Text variables can be retrieved from a document (which could be a separate document used to store such variables for use in one or more "form" documents). [From WordPerfect Help's "Using variables":]
- Click Insert, Variable - Click Options, Retrieve - Choose the drive and folder where the document containing the variable is stored - Click OK • Once in a document you can find them. [From WordPerfect Help's "Using variables":]
- Click Insert, Variables - Choose a variable from the Variables list - Click "Go to" Tip: You can specify which variables you want to display in the Variables list by clicking Options, Settings, and enabling a check box in the Available variables list area. • See also the tip below about gathering several existing text variable codes together in a single location with a WordPerfect Comment, which "hides" the group from view and from printing. Then only that [Comment] code needs to be copied into another document to duplicate the same variables there. [If you select just the Comment code you can turn it into a QuickWord for future use in any document, assuming it is not already made part of the default template.] ¤ Make them more visible: Starting with WordPerfect 11, you can visually "mark" variables in the document with View, Variables. This displays a temporary pair of (blue) arrow brackets around each variable, like this: ►Jane Smith, Esq.◄ Notes:
• The View, Variables menu choice does nothing if there are no text variables in the current document — and no message is given to alert you of that fact. The choice is not "dimmed out" when it is unavailable. (This is similar to several other View menu choices.) • Important: If you have toggled View, Variables ON, you should toggle it OFF (the default state) BEFORE running a merge where they were used in the merge form document. Similarly, don't use them when creating or editing a macro file. They can keep the merge or macro from executing. (Thanks to Noal Mellot on WordPerfect Universe (here) for this tip.) ¤ Make them easier to understand in templates with "placeholders": You could type a placeholder text string (e.g., "PARTY-1"; "HUSBAND'S NAME"; etc.) in each newly created text variable in a custom template or other saved file, then insert them where needed. Then you could simply edit any instance of a particular variable and change the placeholder (e.g., change "PARTY-1" to "John Smith"). • You can enable View, Variables
during the editing phase to more easily find the variables in situ;
then turn off this feature before printing. [See also using a WordPerfect Comment below.]
• To make any unused variables even more visually evident in both the Variables dialog and in the document itself, use an "all Caps" placeholder with brackets, such as "[<-HUSBAND'S-NAME->]". You can even use bold, large relative size, various colors, etc. This should make editing and proofreading the document easier. • If you use such placeholders, you will want to delete any unused variables from the final draft. This is easily done with the Variables editor's Delete button. • Alternative to placeholders: You can put the full text into the variables and add various colors, bold, larger relative size, etc., to that text to make them highly visible. Then simply delete these format codes in the Variables Editor for each variable when the document is finished. ¤ Specify which text variables you want to display (i.e., those in the current document and/or those in the default template) in the Variables list by clicking Options, Settings, and enabling an option in the "Available variables list" area. [Settings also lets you save the variables to either the current document, default template (not always the best idea unless you truly have frequent use for them in a wide variety of new documents), or an additional objects template.] ¤ Find a particular variable (and move the cursor to it) with Edit, Go To, <variable>, <select variable name>. Note that you cannot find
text in variables with Edit, Find and Replace, since the text is inside
the variable itself, which is a style (and this is a limitation of any WordPerfect style). [But see next tip.]
¤ Make text variables easier to edit and modify (i.e., change their contents) in long documents from one location by creating a WordPerfect Comment to contain one instance of each (same-named) text variable found in (or proposed for) the main document. Advantages and some tips:
• The Comment is easily created (Insert, Comment, Create) at the very top of the document or other convenient location. • Other text variables of the same name that are inserted in the main document will simply mirror (duplicate) the same-named variable that is inserted inside the Comment — and vice versa. (Note:
If a particular text variable exists inside the Comment but not in the
main document, no harm is done: that variable will have no effect in
the document since it will display only in the non-printing Comment
area.
On the other hand, if a particular text variable exists in the main document but not in the Comment, no harm is also done since it will display in the document's printable area(s) — as expected. However, in some situations this might cause that particular main document variable to be skipped, especially if you always expect to edit variables only in the Content area. So be sure to verify that the Comment area contains one instance of every variable that is, or might be, used in the main document. (See the next tip for a quick solution.) • You can also do the reverse — insert an existing text variable that is present in the main document into the Comment. (See "To insert a text variable" above.) This can be useful if you have already created and inserted comments into the main document but wish to use the Comment method described here. Or if you have one or more "orphan" variables in the document that should have a "parent" in the Comment area. • You can create and insert text variables in the Comment window before they are created/inserted in the main document areas, or you can create/insert them later to the Comment. See "To insert a text variable" above. • You can conveniently review and/or modify any text variable in the visible Content area of the document or in Reveal Codes (see "To edit a text variable" above) by [1] opening the
Comment [with Insert, Comment, Edit or by double-clicking on the [Comment] code
in Reveal Codes (or in Draft mode, by double-clicking on the Comment area to open it)]
...and then (to edit a text variable)... [2] double-clicking on the desired text variable inside that Comment window (which opens the Variables Editor dialog). When you exit from the Comment window with the Close
button on the Comment property bar (or with File, Close) all text
variables in the normal parts of the document will show your changes.
• You can add instructions in the Comment for each variable to help with data entry, (You could also create a table (Table, Create) in the Comment to organize the instructions adjacent to their related text variables. See below.) • The Comment will be saved with the document (note that it never prints to paper or in a PDF) and acts as a "container" to gather together a "listing" of the document's text variables. Effectively
it's a method similar to a merge — but one that combines the data with
the form document rather than as separate items on disk as is true of most merges (the exception is a Keyboard Merge).
This makes the variables easy to change wherever they appear in the main document from one location. Just turn on Draft mode (View, Draft) and double-click on the Comment area to open it for editing. • Since WordPerfect Comments do not print, the main document can be printed like any other document and/or turned into a PDF without revealing the Comment and any of the variables in it. • In Page mode (View, Page) the presence of variables is indicated by a clickable (and non-printable) icon in the margin, at the left edge of the page. (To see this icon be sure that the Tools, Settings, Display, Document tab, "Margin icons" box is enabled (ticked).) You can double-click that icon to open the Comment for editing. • You can save the Comment itself for future use in other documents. This can be useful if you are creating several related forms. See Related tips below. • You can delete the Comment before the document is shared with other WordPerfect users, if desired. But note that the other existing text variables in the main document will not be affected since you are merely deleting a list of duplicates in the Comment. Related tips:
• You could create a two-column table inside the Comment with instructions (or examples) in the left column, adjacent to each text variable that you will insert into the right column.
Users can simply read
the Comment's instructions, double-click directly on the adjacent text variable in the right-hand column and edit it. Then they can
read the next instruction, double-click its adjacent variable and edit it, and so forth.
I recommend that the text variables — although already named when they were created — should initially contain some "placeholder" text, perhaps in ALL CAPS ("PARTY-1," "HUSBAND'S NAME", etc.), so that any text variable that is not yet updated in the Comment window will stand out in the main document as well as in the table, hopefully alerting the user that something needs to be inserted or updated.
Note:
Here, we are not talking about the text variables' names, but the initial contents of the text variable. Also, if you use the suggested two-column table you can name the text variables with an alphanumeric numbering scheme to group related items together in the Comment list. The contents of each variable in the right-hand column should tell you what the variable is supposed to contain. • A template macro can be used to immediately find and open this special Comment (if it exists in the template) when a document based on the template is opened or edited — perhaps popping up a message to the user. For more on template macros, see here. • If you select just the [Comment] code in Reveal Codes you can turn it into a QuickWord for future use in any document (assuming it is not already made part of the default template). This lets you quickly and easily duplicate the same text variables in another document — all in one non-printing location. ¤ You can use a text variable as a chapter title or section title and also insert the variable in a header or footer (or anywhere it is needed). • Once the variable is created and
inserted in the body text area, you can make the chapter or section
title into a formatted paragraph style (in the body text area of the
document) by selecting both of these new codes in Reveal Codes,
and applying a heading style (e.g., Heading 1) to them from the Text
property bar's Select Style drop list. This will not only add
formatting to the title, it will allow the title to show up in a Table
of Contents. (The variable's title displayed in the header or footer
will not be formatted with the paragraph style. Use normal formatting
methods in such structures.)
Corel's Clipbook clipboard
extender (WordPerfect 10.0.0.518 and later versions)
• If you change your mind about the title, just edit the variable with Insert, Variable, <variable name>, Edit. When you change the Contents field, you will change what is displayed in the document. • If you want the title of each section of the chapter to show up in a header (a/k/a "running heads," "dynamic headers"), see the macro, DYNAHEAD. From ClipBook's Help: "Corel Clipbook is a
utility that works with any Windows application to store multiple
items, called clips, in an unlimited number of clipboards. Clips can be
text, sounds, and graphics. Clipboards can be shared with other users
over a network."
Notes and tips:
• For a "How To" introduction to the ClipBook, see this thread on WordPerfect Universe. • Installing it and removing it: The ClipBook can be separately installed during program installation under the Utilities category. It can be uninstalled later from the Windows Control Panel by doing a program Repair (see here for more), selecting the WordPerfect Office suite and de-selecting the Clipbook from the setup routine that appears. There are many similar programs to the ones below. This is just a sample based on my preferences. Asutype ("As-U-Type") by Fanix Software PURPOSE: If you are not a touch-typist
(or even if you are), this little utility program can correct typos and
spelling errors as you type, using one or more user-created lists as
well as several standard dictionary lists (US, UK, CA, AUS).
COMPATIBILITY: It works very well alongside WordPerfect's QuickCorrect, and can make corrections in any Windows program (such as your email program). "QUICKCORRECT"-LIKE FEATURE: Its automatic correction feature can expand an abbreviation up to 80 characters, and you can create your own correction lists to load/unload as needed. "QUICKWORDS"-LIKE FEATURE: The program can also expand text abbreviations into long blocks of text just like WordPerfect's QuickWords (but unlike QuickWords you cannot include graphics or WordPerfect formatting codes in the expansions). The abbreviations are called "Shortcuts" in As-U-Type, and you can have different shortcut lists for different purposes, and load/unload them as needed. Shortcuts be set to expand with or without a following space. (For the latter, you use the option "No Trigger" and it expands the item immediately as soon as the last character is typed.) NOTE: If the same item exists in As-U-Type (correction list or shortcut list) as in WordPerfect (QuickCorrect or QuickWords), As-U-Type will take precedence. OTHER FEATURES: AUT learns from your mistakes, and can be automatically turned off in specified programs or manually toggled on and off as needed (LShft+RShft keys). Very easy to use, even with its many features. COST: Free 30-day trial; US$39.95 to register. Unicode Keyboard by Fanix Software PURPOSE:
"Unicode Keyboard is a smart OS-level typing assistant software that
helps you type any accented and Unicode character on US keyboard
without having to learn and remember awkward key combinations. ..."
[From their download page. Not yet tested by the WPToolbox.]
COST: Free 30-day trial; US$19.95 to register. TypeItIn by WavGet PURPOSE (quoted from their website):
"TypeItIn lets you define buttons that will type in any information you
want into any application. You can use TypeItIn to fill out forms on
the web, or process forms at work. It's a great tool for applications
where you frequently type the same thing like creating HTML code or
writing standard letters or emails. Another great use is for entering
user names and passwords. You can also launch applications or web sites
with the click of a button. You can create up to 1000 password
protected groups, each with up to 200 buttons. TypeItIn can
automatically type in the time, date, month, or day of the week too. In
addition, you can also Record your own typing to automatically create
buttons."
NOTE: If you also use As-U-Type (above), TypeItIn will prevent As-U-Type's auto-correction feature from working while TypeItIn is active. Solution: Load each from the Windows launch bar as needed, then unload them from the system tray. Both actions take just a mouse click or two. COST: Free 30-day trial; US$19.95 to register. PhraseExpress COST: Free for personal use. PURPOSE: PhraseExpress organizes your
frequently used text snippets:
• Expand abbreviations and common
phrases as you type.
• Launch applications by entering text shortcuts. • Autocomplete phrases with the predictive text feature. • Quickly handle email responses. • Works in any Windows program. NOTE: PhraseExpress seems to work well with As-U-Type (above). If you use them simultaneously, to take advantage of AUT's auto-correction, it is suggested that you use a different phrase delimiter (e.g., "#") than those you might have used in AUT. COST: Free for personal use. |
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Footnote 1 [Removed: information has been relocated to the QuickCorrect page here.] Example 1 (a simple macro menu):
Example 2: Here is another version of the above macro,
which allows you to do more than simply type out whatever was indicated
on the menu itself. It also can have up to 26 menu choices. If
there are less than 10 menu choices, the menu choices will be numbered 1-9; otherwise they will be lettered A-Z. The menu here is made up of descriptive or instructional labels, not text-to-be-typed as in the previous example. You could use something like "Insert General Disclaimer statement," or similar instructions. Using the CaseOf commands in the Switch/Endswitch segment below, the macro would carry out a specific task linked to the menu label choice, such as display a brief message (as this simple example demonstrates); and/or insert an external file (File, Insert); and/or Type("<a string of characters>") as in Example 1 above; etc. It can also Call another routine or even another macro. This example also loops back to display the menu unless the QUIT choice is made. To disable looping, remove the Label(Start@) and Go(Start@) commands. // Macro begins here Tips:
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