Shortcuts for hashtags

Do you have some regularly used hashtags across a variety of platforms? If you want to improve your efficiency rather than typing them over and over again, consider using a text replacement tool.

Whether it is labelled text replacement, text expander or a personal dictionary, the function remains the same. A word, hashtag or phrase can be quickly added by using two or three letter substitutes that the owner chooses and when this substitute combination is typed, the word, phrase or hashtag will automatically appear.

Here are several ways to add shortcuts for those hashtags to cut down on repetitive typing.

iPads and iPhones 

• Settings < General < Keyboard
• Turn Shortcuts on
• Select Text replacement
• Add phrase or a hashtag and choose a shortcut
• Save

The next time you need that hashtag just type your shortcut and the hashtag will automatically expand.

Some shortcuts in my Text Replacement
ggy becomes #genealogy, fh becomes #familyhistory and tt expands to #TroveTuesday

I also have shortcuts for my email address, mobile phone number and some regularly used phrases.

Android

On Android tablets and phones use the Personal dictionary to add favoured words and hashtags.

The Personal dictionary is found under Settings > Languages and Input.

If you have more than one language loaded choose All languages then Add

Fill in the word or hashtag, type the shortcut

Chrome web browser

Add the extension Auto Text Expander to Chrome. Review the shortcuts already embedded then edit to add your favourites. Up to 500 shortcuts can be added via this extension. Here's a screenshot of a couple I've added.

All these options facilitate shortcut typing for hashtags in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and other social media platforms.

This post first appeared on https://librarycurrants.blogspot.com

Quick access to your favourite website

Create an icon/app shortcut on your home screen or desktop

Easy to do when you know how! A friend asked me how she could have quick, one tap access to a frequently used website on a Samsung tablet and I realised there were probably other folks who would like to do this too. So here's some screenshots annotated with Skitch to show you how to create a shortcut to a website on your tablet and on your computer.

On an Android

You may need to update your Chrome app to make the Add to homescreen option appear in your drop down menu. If this method does not work on your Android device here's another way to do it courtesy of AndroidPIT. 

On an iPad

On older iPads that cannot update to the latest iOS, the option is found in the Send to menu where the choices are bookmark, email or add to homescreen.

On your computer

If you are looking for some other tools to create and annotate the screenshots like the ones above there's a great summary of useful tools here on Free Technology for Teachers.

On the iPad I have a shortcut to my local library, to my blogs and the TV guide. What are your favourite shortcuts?