My preferred Mac OS X email application is currently Apple Mail. However, in the past year I’ve also used Postbox, Outlook, Airmail and Sparrow. All in my quest to find the perfect email app!
Rather than add my email signature to each email application, I instead use a simple and free multi-line snippet expander that’s part of OS X: the Keyboard Preference pane.
Set up multi-line snippet
First, type out your email signature in any text editor. Then select the text block and copy to the clipboard.
Go to System Preferences > Keyboard and click the Text tab. Create a new text replacement entry by clicking the + button.
Type in the unique text string in the Replace column. I use ,sig for my main email signature. Paste in the text block in the With column.
Snippet in Use
That’s it! Now when you want to quickly insert your email signature, just type ,sig and confirm the replacement by hitting return or clicking the blue text.
You can easily create separate email signatures by simply adding an additional number or letter: ,sigh .sigb ,sige — for home, business, extended, etc. You get the idea!
Note: You can also create multi-line replacement text directly within the Keyboard Preference pane. The trick is to press Option-Return to insert a new line, instead of merely Return. But I don’t prefer this method because you can only see a single line at a time – the line you’re typing. I think it’s easier to type the lines elsewhere and then copy and paste.
Just a thank you. Came across your “How I set up a multi-line OS X text expansion.” Gave me the answer I was looking for. I am new to the Mac, been away from one for years, using a PC. Quick text or stored text on command has been a crutch for me. Your solution moved me on my way. And here is to prove it:
John Byouk
3120 SW Avalon Way #601
Seattle, WA 98126-4450
jbyouk@gmail.com
(916) 543-5299
Hi,
I was able to set up a sig file using the Mac Text Editor and I can insert it as described into a Text Editor document. But I can’t make it work in Mail, Pages, or anything else. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much.
Sorry, I don’t know why it’s not working for you in Mail or Pages. They work fine for me, although I do have a problem with expansion within Microsoft Word.