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Using URL Shortening Snippets In Public Groups

TextExpander offers a ready-made Snippet Group called Internet Productivity among our Public Groups. These snippets shorten URLs automatically using services like Bit.ly and TinyURL. Bit.ly requires an account and these snippets only work on macOS. There is also a snippet to validate a URL.

  1. Join the Internet Productivity Public Group.
  2. To use one of these URL shortening snippets, copy a URL, such as: http://smilesoftware.com/blogs
  3. Type the snippet abbreviation, either /bitly or /tinyurl.
  4. A shortened URL will expand, such as: http://tinyurl.com/kskhulz

The URL validating snippet will test any URL copied to the clipboard to check that is works. To use it:

  1. Copy a URL.
  2. Type the validating snippet abbreviation, /testurl.
  3. If the URL expands as is, it works. If it expands with “XX” at the start, it is not a valid URL.