If you type a lot on your Chromebook, you might regret not being able to install your favorite PC or Mac program to expand text. That’s not to say you can’t optimize your keystrokes and avoid the touchpad on your Chromebook. A few built-in tools and extensions can help speed your day.
Need some help with typing?
Memorize or create unique shortcuts
Chromebooks are full of shortcuts to save you time. They are not always the same as Windows or Mac keyboard shortcuts. For a full list of common keyboard shortcuts, press Ctrl + Alt + ?
Some apps and extensions have their own shortcuts. Type chrome://extensions/ in the Address Bar and scroll down Keyboard Shortcuts. There, you’ll see a list of potential keyboard shortcuts that you can create for several services. Here I created ctrl + WILL to save something to Pocket. Whenever you add a new extension to Chrome, I recommend checking out the keyboard shortcuts. I note down my favorite keyboard shortcuts in Google Keep.
Want all the shortcuts for everything? We’ve got them all here.
Auto Text Extender for Google Chrome
This Chrome extension is like text extensions for Windows and Mac. This extension works with Chromebooks offline. Enter your abbreviation and Auto Text Expander will replace it with the alt text. This extension allows you to use up to 150 acronyms. The extension supports import and export so you can sync between your Chrome installations. It doesn’t sync with your Google account, so you’ll need to sync it manually.
Not sure what to put in text extensions: We have some great ideas you can read about here.
This is where I put typical things like my address or complex HTML code. It doesn’t work with all websites or forms, but it’s still better than entering everything by hand. It’s smart enough to use variables like date and time. Auto Text Expander works in Omnibox. I use that function to quickly access settings separate from my bookmarks.
Custom Search Engine
When you need to search for a specific website, don’t waste your time with irrelevant search results or a long URL. Create a custom search engine in Chrome by typing chrome://settings/searchEngines from the Address Bar. You can also right click on an empty area on the Address Bar and select Editing Search Engines.
Scroll to the bottom of the list and find Add new search engine. Enter a label for the search in that box. In the Keywords box, put the acronym that you will use to search for that site, and then enter a search query. In this case, I’ll use GT in the address bar to search the Guiding Tech site. Check out this post for a great explanation of custom search engines in Chrome.
Too much trouble?: We covered the Shortcut, this should help you.
Google Keep for Snippets
Since Auto Text Expander doesn’t sync across devices, I keep long snippets of code in Google Keep. Google Keep works on any browser and on any device. When I first got my Chromebook, I transferred many of my snippets to Keep. A unique feature of Google Keep is its ability to perform OCR on photos. That saves time for longer snippets.
Alternatives to the web: If you want a service that manages those snippets, check out our guide.
Chromebooks will never have the power of desktop text expanders, but these tips will speed up your typing.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
