Recently I bought TextExpander from SmileOnMyMac, and it’s a really great piece of software. It allows you to type certain abbreviations, which it then expands into a full word or phrase.
For example, when I type “unilin” it automatically expands to “University of Lincoln”. I also have triggers set up for things like my email addresses and my phone number.
The Problem
Unfortunately, with its default settings TextExpander interferes with the clipboard plug-in for Quicksilver, which allows you to record your clipboard history.
It appears that TextExpander uses the clipboard to swap out your abbreviations for the full phrase you want. (However, the phrases it fills in for you thankfully do not appear in the clipboard history.)
As such, it has an option for “restore clipboard”, but when using a multiple clipboard plug-in or application this causes the most recent entry to be duplicated.
This can lead to your clipboard history becoming stuffed with duplicate copies of the same item, which reduces the utility of the clipboard. (For example, instead of having 40 different items, you may have 20 items that appear twice.)
The Solution
Disable “restore clipboard” in TextExpander’s preferences. This will stop items from being duplicated.
Important caveats
In short:
Command-V will paste the TextExpander phrase just expanded. Paste from your clipboard history using Quicksilver. The TextExpander phrase will then be replaced as the Command-V pasted item.
In detail:
By not restoring the clipboard, if you were to use the paste command it will paste in the phrase TextExpander has just filled in. For example, if I type “unilin”, and then paste, it will paste “University of Lincoln” and not the last item I copied to the clipboard.
The solution to this is to invoke the clipboard history and paste via Quicksilver. (i.e., Not through Command-V or a menu.)
In Quicksilver, the clipboard history is shown via object “Clipboard History” and verb “Show Contents”. I suggest you set up a custom trigger for this, if you haven’t already done so. I use Command-Option-L.
From the clipboard history, select what you want to paste, and then choose the verb “Paste”. This will also replace the TextExpander phrase for Command-V and menu pasting. (i.e., If “University of Lincoln” is being pasted through Command-V, and I use Quicksilver to paste a web address, the web address will then replace “University of Lincoln” as what is pasted when I press Command-V, or use the menu.)
