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Using SimpleFill

Shortcut expansion

Type a snippet’s shortcut in any text box and SimpleFill replaces it with the snippet.

Shortcut expansion is the fastest way to use SimpleFill. Type the trigger, a short shortcut, and a space, and SimpleFill swaps it for the full text.

;sig␣  →  your full email signature

How it works

  1. Click in any text box.
  2. Type the trigger, ; by default.
  3. Type the shortcut, like sig.
  4. Press Space.

SimpleFill replaces ;sig with the snippet. The space you pressed is used up by the expansion, so you don’t end up with an extra one.

A shortcut expands only at the start of the text or right after a space or new line. Typing ;sig in the middle of a word, like abc;sig, does nothing.

What you can expand

The same ; works for everything with a shortcut:

WhatExampleResult
A snippet;addrYour address
A Smart Field;dateToday’s date
An add-on Smart Field;gh.prThe GitHub pull request you’re on
An AI action;fixFixes the text in the box
A value with Transforms;title|slugifyThe page title as a slug

The shortcut dropdown

As soon as you type the trigger and a letter, a dropdown lists the snippets, Smart Fields, and AI actions that match, by shortcut or name. It’s a handy reminder when you can’t quite remember a shortcut.

  • The best match comes first: a shortcut you’ve typed exactly, then shortcuts that start with what you typed, then names that contain it. Type ;date, and Current Date is at the top.
  • Use the Up and Down arrows to choose, then Enter.
  • Keep typing to narrow the list, or press Space to expand what you’ve typed.
  • After a |, the dropdown lists the Transforms you can add instead.
  • A description too long to fit scrolls slowly on the row you’ve chosen or are pointing at, unless your system is set to reduce motion.
  • The dropdown opens below the text you’re typing, or above it when you’re near the bottom of the window.
  • Close the dropdown, and it stays closed for that box until you reload the page. Shortcuts still expand.

Turn it off with Show shortcut dropdown in Settings.

Change the trigger

The trigger is ; unless you change it in Settings > Shortcuts > Shortcut trigger token. Pick something you’d never type by accident. Good choices are ;, ;;, and ::.

A few characters can’t be used:

  • A single :, which starts emoji shortcodes
  • ., because shortcuts can contain dots
  • |, because it separates Transforms
  • Letters, numbers, and spaces

Where it works

Shortcuts work in ordinary text boxes and text areas, rich editors like Gmail, Notion, Slack, and LinkedIn, editors embedded in other apps, and Google Docs.

To turn shortcuts off everywhere, switch off Enable shortcuts in Settings. To turn them off only on certain sites, pages, or fields, add a site rule.