Tag Archives: TextExpander

BusyContacts and academic networking

Posted on February 14, 2015 by

Three months ago, I started using beta-version of BusyContacts, which a reader suggested in a comment to the post on organising academic contacts. Last week this software (developed by the maker of my favorite BusyCal) released the first official version. I have really enjoyed BusyContacts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Contacts | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Three more tips on using TextExpander

Posted on November 12, 2014 by

Over five years of using TextExpander I’ve saved myself typing whooping 400,000 characters (a medium-size PhD dissertation). Yet, there are always new ways to use this amazing software. Here are three recent examples I’ve introduced into my workflows: 1. Names with accented characters … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation, Tasks | Tagged , | 6 Comments

TextExpander for writing recommendation letters

Posted on July 17, 2014 by

The time it takes to write recommendation letters usually increases dramatically with the years spent teaching in a University. This is not a responsibility that should be ditched: many former students – especially those applying for academic positions – deserve glowing recommendations which should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation | Tagged | 3 Comments

What software do I really need for academic work on Mac?

Posted on July 4, 2014 by

A reader has just challenged me to re-think the software I use for academic work on Mac. Well, there are over 250 items in my Applications folder, but how many do I need to remain productive? So imagine that I have a completely new Mac with no … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation, Bibliographies, Email, Files, Graphics, Notes, Presentations, Projects, Tasks, Workflows, Writing | Tagged , , | 97 Comments

Ulysses III and TextExpander in teaching

Posted on April 21, 2014 by

Ullysses III, a note-taking app, stores its ‘sheets’ in hierarchical folders. It is therefore a great tool for keeping project notes, which similarly to project files are best organized in folders. I have previously described using Ullysses for responding to reviewer’s comments on a manuscript. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation, Notes, Teaching | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Daily planning with TaskPaper and TextExpander

Posted on July 6, 2013 by

Have you ever tried to take your days one by one when they kept coming to you all at once? I have many times. To keep my days under control I use simple daily plans generated by a combination of … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation, Tasks | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Update on the Macademic Ninja kit

Posted on November 3, 2012 by

The Macademic Ninja kit posted a while ago  included TextExpander, LaunchBar, Hazel, 1Password and Dropbox. I still love and constantly use all of these small apps. But in the last 1.5 years five other apps have also become critical for freeing … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation, Workflows | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Making room for real work

Posted on July 14, 2011 by

In 1911, Alfred Whitehead, a British philosopher observed: “It is a profoundly erroneous truism that we should cultivate the habit of thinking of what we are doing. “The precise opposite is the case. Civilization advances by extending the number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Macademic Ninja kit

Posted on April 14, 2011 by

I cannot imagine using my Mac without these five great applications. I must admit that all of them were referred to by MacPowerUsers podcast. They are not very visible, but they are there all the time to make my work … Continue reading →

Posted in Automation | Tagged , | 7 Comments