Bring your snippets to Retext
Retext imports snippets from five Mac text expanders. Export a file from your current app, press ⇧⌘I in Retext, and check the preview. Triggers, dates, clipboard, cursor and fill-in fields convert. Everything is read on your Mac.
Download freePick the app you're coming from
Switch from TextExpander
Export your TextExpander groups, import them into Retext, and keep typing the same abbreviations. Dates, clipboard, cursor, fill-ins and nested snippets convert to Retext fields. Groups become tags.
Reads: TextExpander CSV export (.csv) or a TextExpander group file (.textexpander)
Switch from Espanso
Point Retext at your Espanso match files and it reads the YAML for you. Triggers, replacements, date and clipboard vars, forms and $|$ cursor hints convert. You get a Mac app with a snippet editor instead of a config folder.
Reads: Espanso match files (.yml or .yaml)
Switch from Raycast
Raycast exports snippets as a plain JSON file, and Retext reads it as-is. Keywords become triggers, and most dynamic placeholders map one to one.
Reads: Raycast Export Snippets file (.json)
Switch from Alfred
Export each Alfred collection and import it into Retext. Collection prefixes and suffixes are stripped, collections become tags, and Alfred's date, time, clipboard and cursor placeholders convert.
Reads: Alfred snippet collection (.alfredsnippets)
Switch from macOS Text Replacements
Text Replacements are built into macOS, but they don't work in every app and can't insert a date, your clipboard or a fill-in. Drag them out of System Settings and import the file into Retext.
Reads: The .plist file macOS creates when you drag replacements out
How importing works
- 1
Open the importer
In Retext, choose File → Import Snippets… (⇧⌘I), or go to Settings → Snippets → Import….
- 2
Pick the file
Retext works out the format from the file itself. Everything is read on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded.
- 3
Review the preview
Every snippet gets a row with its new trigger. Rows show placeholders that were kept as text, items that can't be imported and why, and any trigger you already use. Untick anything you don't want.
- 4
Import
Click Import. Your snippets work right away in every app. Type ;trigger to expand.
Clashing triggers get a choice of Keep Both, Skip or Replace. The free plan holds 5 snippets, and the preview lets you pick which ones fit. Pro has no limit.
What you get after switching
Dictation
Hold a key and talk. Retext turns speech into text on your Mac, types it into the app you're in, and takes voice commands (beta) like "insert snippet sig", so your imported snippets work by voice too.
Autocomplete (beta)
Start typing a trigger and Retext shows the snippet as ghost text, with dynamic fields filled in. Press Tab to accept. You don't have to remember every abbreviation you imported.
Per-app snippets
Limit a snippet to the apps it belongs in, or keep it out of others, so the same trigger can say one thing in Mail and another in Slack.
Teams
Share a snippet library with your team, with owner, admin, editor and viewer roles, managed from the Mac app.
Not sure yet?
Compare Retext with the app you use today, then come back here when you're ready to move.