Using TextExpander inside Keyboard Maestro Macros

As a college professor, I use a learning management tool called Moodle. When I'm in grading mode, I love to use Keyboard Maestro to help navigate the various boxes related to the Moodle grading template. You can add the grade, text feedback, files, and several items like this for any assignment. I use Keyboard Maestro to navigate to the grading page on Moodle for any given class. I then tab through the input boxes that I typically use, inserting text along the way and then finally pushing the save button, which automatically moves me to the next student. This automation saves tons of time when I have many assignments to grade, particularly when I enter similar text in the "feedback" box.

I use TextExpander to input several standard feedback comments related to my grades on an assignment.

What has been a challenge is using TextExpander snippets inside of a Keyboard Maestro macro. Typing the shortcut inside the macro expands the text. I couldn't figure out a way to overcome that problem. Of course, Keyboard Maestro has some excellent text expansion tools, but I wanted these two apps to work in unison.

I found a simple solution to this that others may find helpful. Experts in these apps probably know about this, but my solution was to break up the text expansion snippet into two separate actions within the Keyboard Maestro macro. Bingo!

After using the Tab Keystroke action to get to the appropriate box inside the Moodle grading page, I used the "Insert Text" action but added only half the TextExpander snippet. I followed this with a second "Insert Text" action with the remainder of the snippet and used a "Pause for 1 Second" action to allow the snippet to expand. It worked beautifully.

Please let me know if there is a more straightforward way to do this. But my somewhat Neanderthal method has allowed TextExpander to play very nicely inside Keyboard Maestro macros.

These are two of my absolute favorite automation apps on the Mac, and I am thankful I've made them play in the same sandbox.

Here is a partial screenshot of the macro I used with the TextExpander snippet broken into two separate “Insert Text” actions.

Eight Keys to Academic Success in College

In 2021, I wrote a post on how to be successful in that less-than-normal academic year. This post assumes a more "normal" classroom experience. So for you college students just getting started, here are a few things to consider that might help you get the most out of your semester and year. This list is not exhaustive or in any particular order, but I offer here a few things to keep in mind.

1. Communicate with your Professors. Before the semester starts or soon after that, reach out to your professors. I recommend introducing yourself and letting them know that you're looking forward to their class. Use email for this communication, but if they are on social media, go ahead and connect with them. It is a great way to find shared interests and immediately puts you head and shoulders above the crowd. This tip is particularly helpful in larger general education courses where it is easy to become a number.

2. Go to Class and Be on Time. This point goes without saying, but it needs to be said. Show up and try your best to be on time. Whether or not your professor takes attendance (many do not, but most colleges do have an attendance policy), ensure you get to class well before it starts. Walking into class late can disrupt the flow of things, and it sets you —the student—in a negative light. In general, get up, get out of bed and get going.

3. Read Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Reading material like this (there are others such as David Allen's Getting Things Done) will give you a head start in your academic productivity.

4. Sit Closer to the Front of the Class. It is great to connect with other students but connect with the students who are near the front of the class. This practice helps reduce the number of distractions you might face during the semester.

5. Read the syllabus and Know it. This might seem obvious, but too often, students forget to read and digest it, and this will have serious ramifications down the road.

6. Get lots of Sleep, Eat Well, and Exercise. Mom here. It's tempting to stay up late, especially with all the activities available on a typical college campus (and off campus). But resist that temptation to run on empty. You need sleep, you need to eat well, and you need to establish a good weekly exercise routine. Plus, working out is a great place to plug in good books (point 3 above) or podcasts that will further your educational experience.

7. Balance Curricular with Co-Curricular. Most campuses offer an overwhelming number of things to do, particularly for freshmen. In part, these activities attempt to ward off homesickness and other such ailments of the first semester and first year. These opportunities are great and helpful. Just remember the value of moderation. Your number one reason to be in college is to succeed academically. Don't let that goal be sacrificed for one more late-night game of 'Ultimate Frisbee.'

8. Get Control of your Technology, both software, and hardware. Learn some basic skills on your phone and computer. Get control of your email. No one loves email, but it is here to stay, and colleges use it regularly to communicate with students. Conduct an inventory of games and social media accounts. What do you need, and what can go away? Finally, learn a few basic skills such as how to scan and create a PDF file on your phone, how to use your electronic calendar, and how to build a Keynote presentation on your laptop. Students will have different needs depending on their respective programs. But some basic skills in navigating electronic tools will be immensely helpful throughout your college career. And thankfully, for all of these skills, YouTube is your friend.

Now, go out and have a great semester!

So, what are some other keys to student success?

Getting Control of Your Email

I made this short video for all my students who have 6 figure notification badges on their email accounts and wonder why they don’t get the notes I send to them. If you are a new college student or just need some help wrangling your email, this might help you. Enjoy.

Change the Name of your iPhone

Recently, I was on a Zoom call with several colleagues, and a participant showed up on the call from an anonymous “iPhone.” We had no idea who it was, so we stopped the meeting to inquire and make sure that the person was supposed to be on the call. It was, but the person indicated that they did not know how to change the name of their phone. Unidentified iPhones can be a problem, both for calls like this and also when you try to share a file or photo via Airdrop (a preferred method for sharing files or photos). In a crowded place, it can be nearly impossible to identify the recipient if the user’s phone does not have some clear identifier beyond “iPhone.”

Changing the name on your iPhone is an easy fix, so here is a short video tutorial to help.

Make a PDF from a Pages, Word or Google Doc

At my college, we use the document management system called Moodle. It is not the greatest course management system out there, but it is free, and many colleges choose to use it. When students upload documents to Moodle, they can do so as Word, Pages, or Google Docs, and they can also use plain text. But when professors interact with these docs, it is incredibly clunky because the documents need to be downloaded before anyone can read them. Uploading PDF files makes this process so much easier because the system can render a PDF without downloading the document. So I created a little tutorial for students who might not know how to save a document as a PDF file. This tip might seem obvious for many, but it is surprising how many students have no idea how to do this. So for them, here you go. Enjoy.