Replace text

Questions & Suggestions
1

Can I input to this text to Keyboard Maestro:

RK, MS, L., GP, CS

and get Keyboard Maestro to replace this inputted text with this:

Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper

2

Yes. Each one is a simple macro with Typed String trigger like "RK" and action Insert Text by Typing. Make sure the trigger is case sensitive. The trigger should include the . for "L." (otherwise a trigger like "LR" would first the L trigger first).

Probably you want to put all the macros in a macro group that you activate/deactivate manually. I would likely have it show as a palette so you can easily tell whether it is active currently, something like this:

I use that palette for a similar set of Typed String triggers for naming faces in iPhoto.

3

Thanks Peter. However, your suggestion isn’t what I’m after here.

Say I have this string:

RK, MS, L., GP, RK, MS, L., GP, CS, RK, MS, L., GP, CS, RK, MS, L., GP, CS

I want to feed this 1 string into Keyboard Maestro using 1 trigger, and have Keyboard Maestro spit back out this string:

Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Golden Plover

Does that make sense?

4

Have you tried using a group of search-and-replace Actions in a single KMacro? I’ve done similar: worked well; easy to add entries. Somewhat like a carpentry jig: feels tedious to set up, but the saved time brings a smile.

Something like:

  • Copy selection
  • Search clipboard for “RK”, replace with “Redshank”
  • Search clipboard for “MS”, replace with “Mute Swan”
  • &c
  • &c
  • &c
  • Paste

Since I have had occasional problems with repeated Clipboard operations, I would set the copied text to a KM Variable (e.g.: %Variable%String%) and use the Action “Search and Replace Variable” repeatedly. On your system that may prove unnecessary.

5

Works well thanks.

6

Keyboard Maestro will do this sort of thing very well, although Kirby is right – multiple find/replace operations are better done on a variable rather than the clipboard.

Generally I’ll do this sort of thing with the Satimage.osax AppleScript Extension.

------------------------------------------------------------
# Satimage.osax MUST be installed.
------------------------------------------------------------
set _text to "RK, MS, L., GP, RK, MS, L., GP, CS, RK, MS, L., GP, CS, RK, MS, L., GP, CS"

set findPatterns to items 2 thru -2 of {"", ¬
  "\\bGP\\b", ¬
  "\\bL\\.", ¬
  "\\bMS\\b", ¬
  "\\bRK\\b", ¬
  ""}

set replacePatterns to items 2 thru -2 of {"", ¬
  "Golden Plover", ¬
  "Lapwing", ¬
  "Mute Swan", ¬
  "Redshank", ¬
  ""}

set _text to change findPatterns into replacePatterns in _text with case sensitive and regexp

-Chris