This is a list of about 50 software programs that will expand short forms (abbreviations) into long forms (words, phrases, paragraphs, etc.).  Some of them do a lot more - in particular Instant Text and Shorthand - which have strong visual advisories, a vital feature.  The majority of the programs are for Windows. Separate sections for Mac, Linux and personal data devices have been added. Expanders that have been discontinued are noted at the bottom. 

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AUTOCORRECT/AUTOTEXT:  Built into Word.
Comment: Not designed to be an expander but can be used as one. According to Microsoft Support, "Since the AutoCorrect feature uses the 64K local memory heap allocated to Word, inserting large numbers of AutoCorrect entries may result in an 'Out of memory' error message." Each AC entry uses a minimum of 4 bytes. A figure of 7000 AC entries is cited as "large" and could cause the error message.

QUICKCORRECT: Built into WordPerfect.
Comment: Not designed to be an expander but can be used as one.  With large number of entries, some users say it tends to "disappear".

SELECTED EXPANDERS FOR THE PC:

ASUTYPE AND AUTOCORRECT PLUS
Fanix Software, PO Box 6435, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia QLD 4067
Email: info@fanix.com
Web: Fanix Software
Price: Asutype - $40.
Comment: Award-winning software.  Offers basic text expansion, multiple clipboards, spell correction; has pop-up window and "medical spelling dictionary".

INSTANT TEXT
Textware Solutions, 58 Lexington Street, Burlington, MA
Phone: 800 355 5251, 781 272 3200. Fax: 781 272 1432 
Email:  support@textware.com
Web:  Instant Text - Textware Solutions 
Forum:  Instant Text Forum
Price: $189. 
Comment:   The most powerful text expander and the one offering the most features. Has a longer learning curve but offers by far the highest productivity because of its capability to generate phrases and "Continuations" - it displays the most probable words and phrases as you type, based on past work.   Extremely reliable.  Highly customizable.  Strong import capability of abbreviation lists from other sources.  Offers free and commercial third party glossaries.
Information on the ABCZ Typing Assistant glossaries for Instant Text

PHRASE EXPRESS
Bartels Media GmbH, Im Treff 20, 54296 Trier, Germany
Web:  PhraseExpress 
Forum:  PhraseExpress forum 
Price:  Free for personal noncommercial use.  $30 for v8 Easy, $50 for V8 Standard, $140 for v8 Professional.
Comment:   Award-winning text expander, clipboard manager, program launcher, spell checker, macro utility, and email automator. See also AutoText program below. Can import Mac Text Expander snippets.

SHORT CUT
Health Technologies, Inc., 28200-B Lassiter Road, Suite 150, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone:  800 648 0665, 770 640 1220. Fax: 770 640 1102
Web: Short Cut
Price:  Windows $100
Comment:  Basic 2-column expander, can import 2-column text file. 

SHORTHAND FOR WINDOWS
OfficeSoft LLC, 517 Cobb Court, La Puente, CA 91746
Email: help@pcshorthand.com
Web: Shorthand for Windows
Price: $150. Also offers time-limited subscriptions.
Comment:  Christopher Lim's award-winning software. Has visual advisories:  a handy movable, resizable 9 entry on-screen display advisory window. Can import lists from other expanders. Can use scripting commands. Third-party word lists are available.
Click here for information on ABCZ files for use with Shorthand.
Referral site for purchase of Shorthand for Windows

SHORT KEYS 
Insight Software Solutions, P.O. Box 106, Kaysville, Utah 84037-0106
Phone: 801 927 5009.  Fax: 801 927 5001
Email: info@wintools.com
Web: Short Keys
Price: $25 (Keyboard Express $30, Macro Express $40)
Comment:  Inexpensive 2-column expander offering 'extras' such as a hint window, suffix creation (a la PRD), and international symbol support.

SMARTYPE
Web:  Smartype 
Price:  $150
Comment:  Updated version of Smartype now works with "any Windows or web program". Has large built-in medical vocabulary. "Powered by Intellicomplete" (see Intellicomplete expander listed below).

SPEEDTYPE
Email: betsy@speedtype.com
Web: Speedtype
Price:  Speedtype $200. Word list conversion: $20 per list. Big Word List: $30.
Comment:  According to the Speedtype web site, Speedtype is an upgrade to its predecessor, FlashForward. According to the Shorthand for Windows web site, Speedtype is a "retail version of Shorthand that offers telephone support and an upgrade path for FlashForward." SpeedType and Shorthand use the same file format but Speedtype costs 25% more.  

OTHER EXPANDERS FOR THE PC:

AutoHotkey (free)  A very popular scripting, macro, remapping, etc. program.

Autotyping Pro ($40) Has downloadable dictionaries.

AutoText (free) From makers of Phrase Express. 

AutoText ($23) From makers of Typinator (for Mac).

Auto Type 4.1 ($30)

Breevy ($30) Folder/tree-based. Can launch applications, websites, files, and folders. Can import ABCZ Shorthand files.

Comfort Keys ($20 to $30) Focus is on hot keys.

Easy Script ($80) ComputerScript is a form of typing shorthand. Interesting comments on other expanders.

EZ Keys and EZ Keys XP Designed for those with certain disabilities (e.g. Stephen Hawking uses it).

FastFox Typing Expander ($20) Has a Mac version.


Flash Expander 2.1 ($20) Can activate multiple libraries at same time.

Launch-n-Go ($25)

LetMeType  (free - not supported)

Smart Type Assistant (free)

Text Replacer ($40) Complex-looking program.

Texter  Text replacement and "advanced scripting commands."

The Transcription Assistant  ($100) For transcription admin functions, not for typing per se. b  (NOT an ABCZ product.)

Turbo Type ($20) Has word prediction, on-screen advisory.

TypeBooster ($25)

Type Mate ($16) Has pop-up window.

Type Pilot ($30) Folder based.

TypeItIn ($20)  "Create buttons that type for you."

Typfast ($25). Has 26K word list

Typing Buddy (20 EUR) Folder based.

Typing Assistant ($35)  Has pop-up window, word prediction feature.  (NOT an ABCZ product) 

EXPANDERS FOR THE MAC:

DashExpander Free App

FastFox Typing Expander Has PC version.

Kissphrase 

Presto 

Quickeys  (also PC version)

Text Expander

TypeIT4Me ($20)

Typinator (20 EUR) They make AutoText for PC.

yType  (Free, with reminders or $10)

EXPANDERS FOR LINUX:

AutoKey

Text Snippits (not yet developed)

Fitaly ($20; made by Textware Solutions/Instant Text for tablets, etc.)

[WP EXPAND ($30)
Productive Performance,31820 NE 103rd St., Carnation, WA 98014-9710
Phone: 425 788 8300
Email:  productive@foxinternet.com
Platform: DOS WP 5.0, 5.1,6.0
Comment: Also offer counting facility, WP macros, formats.]

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