Import Guide

Switching from another text expander? I’ve got you covered. TypeSnap has a built-in importer for six apps: TextExpander, TypeIt4Me, Raycast, Espanso, Alfred, and aText. This page walks through TextExpander and TypeIt4Me in detail and links to a dedicated guide for each of the others.

What Gets Imported

Open File → Import Snippets (⌘⇧I), pick the app you’re coming from, and choose its export file:

Depending on the source and what your export contains, TypeSnap brings over:

• ✅ All your snippets and their content
• ✅ Groups/folders (preserved as TypeSnap groups)
• ✅ Fill-in fields (text, dropdown, checkbox)
• ✅ Date and time macros
• ✅ Clipboard insertion
• ✅ Nested snippet references
• ✅ Cursor positioning
• ✅ Key simulations (Tab, Return)

Not every app has every feature, so not every item applies to every source. Each guide lists exactly what converts and what doesn’t.

What Changes

A few things are handled differently:

• AppleScript snippets → Converted to plain text (security reasons)
• Shell scripts → Converted to plain text
• JavaScript → Converted to TypeSnap JavaScript (slightly different API)

You’ll see a clear report showing what was converted and what to review.

Import from TextExpander

Step 1: Export from TextExpander

Option A: Export from the Web App (Recommended)

1. Go to app.textexpander.com
2. Click Settings → Import/Export
3. Click Export All Snippets
4. Download the .csv file

Option B: Export from the Mac App

1. Open TextExpander
2. Select a group in the sidebar
3. Click File → Save a Copy of Group…
4. Save the .textexpander file
5. Repeat for each group

Step 2: Import into TypeSnap

1. Open TypeSnap
2. Open File → Import Snippets and select TextExpander as the source
3. Click Choose File and select the export file
4. Review the preview and its separate Warnings and Errors sections. Resolve issues before importing.
5. Click Import

That’s it. Your snippets are now in TypeSnap.

TextExpander Macro Conversion Reference

Here’s how TextExpander macros map to TypeSnap syntax:

Import from TypeIt4Me

Step 1: Export from TypeIt4Me

1. Open TypeIt4Me
2. Click File → Export Clippings…
3. Choose a location and save the .typeit4me file
4. This exports all your clippings and sets

Step 2: Import into TypeSnap

1. Open TypeSnap
2. Open File → Import Snippets and select TypeIt4Me as the source
3. Click Choose File and select the export file
4. Review the preview and its separate Warnings and Errors sections. Resolve issues before importing.
5. Click Import

That’s it. Your clippings are now in TypeSnap.

TypeIt4Me Macro Conversion Reference

Here’s how TypeIt4Me macros map to TypeSnap syntax:

Import from Raycast, Espanso, Alfred, or aText

The steps are the same for every source: export from your old app, open File → Import Snippets, select the app as the source, click Choose File, review the Warnings and Errors sections, then click Import. What differs is how you export and which placeholders convert, so each app has its own guide:

• Raycast: imports the JSON snippet export and converts dynamic placeholders such as {clipboard}, {date}, and {argument}. Snippets without a keyword come in disabled with a ;; placeholder abbreviation.
• Espanso: imports .yml match files directly, including multiple triggers, labels, and date, clipboard, choice, and random variables. Regex and image matches are skipped with a warning.
• Alfred: imports .alfredsnippets collections, applies the collection’s keyword prefix and suffix, and converts placeholders such as {cursor}, {clipboard}, and {date:short}.
• aText: imports CSV or JSON exports, keeps groups from a group column, and converts placeholders such as [[cursor]] and [[date]].

After Import

Once imported, we recommend:

1. Test a few key snippets - Make sure they expand correctly
2. Review any warnings - Check snippets that were converted
3. Quit your old app - You don’t need it running anymore
4. Optionally uninstall - But keep your export file as a backup

Troubleshooting

Import fails silently

Make sure you picked the right source app in the import window, and that your export file is one of the supported formats:

• .textexpander (TextExpander group file)
• .csv (TextExpander CSV export)
• Settings.textexpander (TextExpander library file)
• .typeit4me (TypeIt4Me export file)
• TypeIt4MeClippings.typeit4me (TypeIt4Me library file)
• .json (Raycast snippet export)
• .yml or .yaml (Espanso match file)
• .alfredsnippets or .json (Alfred snippet collection)
• .csv or .json (aText export)

Some snippets are missing

Check the import report for any items marked with ✗. These require manual review.

Macros aren’t working

Some advanced macros (AppleScript, shell scripts) are converted to plain text for security reasons. You’ll need to recreate these manually.

Need Help?

Having trouble with import? Contact support and I’ll help you get everything moved over.

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