I want to program a text string (my email address) to a function key so that when an app asks me to input my address, I can just press F19 and have the box fill in. This would generally be in Safari but it would be useful to work in most apps. I understand there are 3rd party apps that can do this, but I prefer to stay within the AppleOS. Can't Apple provide a way to do this?
iMac (M1, 2021)
I don't know of a way with a function key but you might see how close text replacement comes to meeting your need (e.g., type "w1g" and have it automatically replaced with "whatsmyname1@gmail.com").
This is at Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements. Also see: Replace text and punctuation in documents on Mac - Apple Support
I don't know of a way with a function key but you might see how close text replacement comes to meeting your need (e.g., type "w1g" and have it automatically replaced with "whatsmyname1@gmail.com").
This is at Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements. Also see: Replace text and punctuation in documents on Mac - Apple Support
You can try to use the Text Replacement section of the Keyboard settings.
As the replaced text you cn use xxx or something similar. The replacement text can be your address.
I use the macro app Keyboard Maestro for similar operations as well as adding canned text, passwords, etc. You can use it to set an Fn key to do the job or any 2 or 3 key combination like Option+a.
For me, text replacement seems to work everywhere there is a text input field. What apps don’t work for you.
The only way I would think you could do so with built-in functions would be an AppleScript in Automator Quick Action. That would imply the app supports AppleScript which I would doubt if it doesn’t support the built-in text input.
Try out Typinator from Ergonis.com
Fox, Thanks for the reply, but sorry, but that only works in a few text apps. What I'm hoping for is a way to auto type the email address when ever the F19 key is pressed, no matter what the app I'm in. So far nobody has been able to suggest a way to do that.
bill-1890 wrote:
Specifically the CVS pharmacy app which refuses to remember my email. And ignores my text replacement setup.
Then I would imagine you need a third-party app.
CVS made a macOS app that doesn’t use the text input framework?
Specifically the CVS pharmacy app which refuses to remember my email. And ignores my text replacement setup.
Assigning a text string to a function key
