macros_string enable you to enter large amount of text by typing only a few characters.

Define a macro by entering the text you want and link it to a key, a sequence of letters, numbers, or special characters.

Then whenever you enter the key characters, MessagEase displays a button with the first few characters of the linked text. Simply click on that button to replace the key with the text.

For example, you can use a key such as "ad" and link it to your address. Then whenever you type "ad" a button with the beginning characters of your address appears. When you tap on that button, "ad" will be replaced by your address.

You can use macros to enter your commonly-used phrases quickly. Create a macro for cy => "See you soon" or rl => "running 10 minutes late". The possibilities are endless.

Entering a Macro After a Space:

Ordinarily, a macro will be affected as soon as its key is entered, and if you define a macro as an Auto Macro (see below), then it will be replaced as soon as the entire key is entered.

You can also designate your Macros to be affected only when you enter a space characters after its key. This greatly simplifies and speeds up entering common text. It also enables you to use similar keys for a group of macros.

For example, you can use: "aa", "ab", "ac" as auto macro keys to refer to different addresses and enter the full address with a space after entering its keys.

Set insert_auto_macro_on_space_string checkbox in advanced_options_string to activate this feature.

Deleting Several Macros at Once< /span>

You can use the filter box on Macros screen to target and delete several macros at once. For example, you can enter "a" to select all macros that start with the letter "a" and they will all show on the list. Then, tapping on delete_macros_string button will delete all macros.

Including Current Date & Time

You can include the current date and time by inserting strings <date> or <time> inside your macro replacement text. Then when you use that macro, <date> will be replaced by the actual current date, and <time> will be replaced by the actual time when the macro was inserted. You can customize how these date and time expansions will appear by going to advanced_options_string > date_time_format_title_string.

Including Printable Unicode Characters (such as: ♚☎✂❤♠﷼❀) in your macros

you can include any Unicode character inside your macros. For unicode character represented by xxx simply include <uxxx> in your macro and when you recall the macro, this string will be replaced by its printable Unicode equivalent.

For example, you can include <u2658> and when you recall the macro, you get ♘!

You can also use this facility for reprogramming any Unicode character into your keyboard. copy that character, and then paste it in the second box on the reprogramming screen.

Including Other Macros

You can include the keys of your macros inside the text of a macro and have it expanded when you expand the first macro.

For example, you can have a macro called description with the string <name> once or several times included in it. You also have a macro expanding name to Jane Smith. Then whenever you enter and expand description, all occurrences of <name> will be replaced by Jane Smith.

Limitations and Suggestions .

You can have any number of macros of any length, subject to the memory size of your device. For keys, you can use any combination of special characters, letters, and numbers.

We suggest using a particular special character as a prefix of your macros. For example, you can use @e for your email address, @a for your address, and @p for your phone. Or use letter sequences that are easy to tap and remember. We suggest letter sequences that do not ordinarily match the beginning of any dictionary word. A pair of most frequent letters, such as aa, or hh are our favorites. We recommend you make keys that are at least two characters long.

For example, enable your macros and then tap "ss" on the keyboard. You'll see a list of smilies appearing on your keyboard. (These are preloaded on MessagEase).

Listing and Creating

You can list and examine your macros on the Macros screen. Type a few characters in the filter box to list only the matching macros. Tap on the Edit icon to edit, or delete an existing Macro, tap on the + button to create a new macro.

Edit, Update, or Delete

In Edit Macro screen you can edit the key or the replacement text for the macro. Be sure to Update your changes.

Macro keys need not be unique. You can have the same many macros have the same key, creating a group of Macros.

If you type a key matching more than one macro, a number of them will appear on the panel, and all of them will be available on a pop up list to choose from. You access the pop up list by tapping on the button marked with the macro icon.

You determine how many of macros in a group show up on the panel. If a macro shares its key with other macors, then Macro Group Setting Button becomes available. Use this button to go to Macro Group screen where you can change the number of Macros Shown on the Main Panel. You can also assign a name to this macro group.

If a key matches a single macro, then when matched, a button for that macro appears on the main panel. This is the default mode of accessing and inserting macros.

You can also designate a unique macro to be an Auto Macro. When matched, Auto Macros will be replaced automatically, i.e., they do not require a button to be tapped.

Also, please note that Auto Macros function even if the preview panel is closed.

As a demonstration of using Auto Macros with <date> or <time> expansion, you can create an Auto Macro with a key .d and with a replacement <date>. Then whenever you enter .d, the current date will be automatically entered.

Macros in a group are ordered and prioritized automatically, based on how you use them. The more you insert a macro, the higher in the group ranking it will appear.

This is especially important when you have a group of, say, 20 macros but you want 4 of them to appear on the panel. The top four appearing on the panel will be the ones you've used most.