Seek text editor that can autotype specific text
I work as a tech support agent for a software company. For the longest time I've used a Windows 10 PC with the gVIM text editor to document calls. I have a file named _vimrc in the VIM program directory that holds all my autotype commands. For example, if I type "sl", it autotypes "Help creating secondary login". The code for that autotype is in my _vimrc file as follows:
Code:
abbrev sl Help creating secondary login
Now I'm going to be able to use my Kubuntu PC for my work, and I'm excited that I can finally get out of Win 10 and all its annoying things. So, naturally, I would think that gVIM for Linux would be my text app. So I installed it, and I figured out that its autotext file was in /etc/vim and was named "gvimrc". It's code is a little different, but it works. For example, to do the same thing described above, the code is as follows:
Code:
:ab sl Help creating secondary login
So I coded in all my abbreviations for autotext and now the use of gVIM for Linux should be smooth sailing, right? Not so fast. I can't just use the Shift key and an arrow key to highlight text like I can in the Windows version. I searched around for a command that would let me do that, but haven't found it. In my Internet searches on the problem, I did find out that I could select text by hitting [esc]+v and then just move the arrows to select it. However, even after doing that, I can't simply hit Ctrl+C to copy it. It doesn't copy with that command. I could of course pull down the Edit menu and choose “copy,” but that's cumbersome. The purpose of using this text editor is to take notes quickly on whatever the call was about before saving it into the ticket. Being able to quickly get the text in and then copy it into the ticketing system is of paramount importance.
I MIGHT be able to get used to hitting [esc]+V and then selecting with the arrows, but I would really miss Ctrl+C to copy the text. That Alt+E,C would get old. gVIM/Linux does have a ridiculous copy command which is “+y, that is, the quote key (which requires Shift) and then the plus sign (which is way to the right with the number keys or is the Shift of the equals sign) and then the y key. I tried it. It works. But that's ultra awkward.
So even though gVIM has worked in Windows, it may not be the best choice for me in Linux. I've considered some other text editors:
Notepadqq
This one's interface is exactly what I need, but is there some way I can do my autotext? It's a HUGE deal being able to just type an abbreviation like “ew” and have it autocomplete “Email address is wrong on the account.” In gVIM for Windows it saves me a lot of time. I've looked for in innate command or a plugin for Notepadqq that can do that, but have not found it.
Geany
I love this program! It's interface is very easy. If there's some way to do autotext as I'm used to, I would be happy to do my work in Geany. I've been digging through it's built-in features and have been reading up on plug-ins, but so far haven't found it.
So there some to be these possibilities:
1) gVIM for Linux – How do I make Ctrl+[arrow key] highlight text and Ctrl+C copy text?
2. Notepadqq – How do I use abbreviations with autotexting?
3. Geany – Also how do I use abbreviations with autotexting?
4. Some other text program – same as Notepadqq and Geany.
5. gVIM for Windows run via WINE. I've tried this. It does work, but I consider it a last resort, especially when there are so many nice text tools in Linux.
Thank you very much for reading this. If anyone has any insight on what might work, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
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Kubuntu 22.04 LTS, (Win 7 & Win 2K in VirtualBox)
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