This page answers frequently asked questions concerning Typinator. When necessary, we add new hints and problem solving tips to this page.

See also the special topics covered on our Tips Pages:

	Text Templates with Typinator
	Typinator - your Spell Checker
	Insert Text and Images - Save Time with Typinator

If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact Typinator Support.

If you have a problem with Typinator, we suggest that you first try the following steps:

	Make sure you have the latest version of Mac OS X and all system updates: Run "Software Update" and install all available updates. If you need to restart your Mac after the update, run "Software Update" again until it tells you that no further updates are available.
	Verify that you are using the most recent version of Typinator. Open Typinator's Preferences window and click the "Now" button to perform an immediate online check for a newer version. If there is no "Now" button in the Preferences window, you are definitely using an old version. In this case, please visit our download page to get the current version.

	If there is a problem with Typinator in combination with a particular application, make sure you have the latest version of that application. If you have a problem with any part of MS Office, run Microsoft AutoUpdate to install the latest updates.
	Run Disk Utility, select your startup disk, and click the Repair Disk Permissions button in the "First Aid" section.
	Restart your Mac (unless you already did that during the software update).

In many cases, these steps help to fix software-related problems. If this does not help, check if any of the following questions apply to your problem. If not, contact Typinator Support for help.

Why do I have to enable "Access for assistive devices" and how can I do it?

Typinator requires a global Mac OS X setting to monitor keystrokes. Per default, this feature is turned off, so you need to enable it when you use Typinator for the first time:

In System Preferences, select "Universal Access" and enable the checkbox "Enable access for assistive devices". If this option is turned off, Typinator will tell you and help you to open System Preferences.

Please note that you need administrator privileges to enable this checkbox. If you do not have the necessary privileges, ask your system administrator to enable this option for your Macintosh.

Why does Typinator not work in InDesign CS1?

This problem is caused by incorrect clipboard handling in InDesign CS1. Adobe has fixed the problem in InDesign CS2. If you do not plan to update to InDesign CS2, get the latest version of Typinator, which includes a workaround for the problem in CS1.

Why does Typinator insert a space character before the expansion in Eudora?

This happens when Eudora performs a "smart paste". Eudora inserts a space every time when you paste something immediately at the end of a word. Since Typinator inserts the expansion via the clipboard and simulates a Paste in Eudora, expansion of abbreviations exhibits the same behavior.

To fix this problem, see the "Really Miscellaneous" section in Eudora's Preferences and disable the checkbox labeled "So-called 'smart' paste".

How do I uninstall Typinator?

To uninstall Typinator, perform these steps:

1. Open the Typinator window.
2. In Preferences, make sure that “Automatically start Typinator at login” is disabled.
3. Quit Typinator.
4. Delete the Typinator application.

Why is Typinator disabled even though "Enable access for assistive devices" is turned on?

This can happen temporarily when you are typing in a password field. In this case, Mac OS X disables monitoring of keystrokes to prevent malicious programs from stealing passwords.

If Typinator is disabled independently of password fields in all applications, this may be caused by Quicken Scheduler or Check Point's VPN-1 SecureClient. Both utilities appear to disable the "access for assistive devices" function required by Typinator. When you are using Quicken, disabling the Quicken Scheduler solves the problem. When you use the Check Point SecureClient, Typinator gets disabled when you start a VPN connection. Quitting the VPN client restores normal operation.

What is the best procedure to install a newer version of Typinator while the old version is still running?

To install a newer version of Typinator while another copy is still running, upgrade to the new version in these steps:

1. Quit Typinator.
2. Locate your old copy of Typinator (most likely within the Applications folder) and move it to the Trash.
3. Copy the new version from the "Typinator-Install" disk image to the Applications folder.
4. Double-click the icon of the new version.

This is a known problem, caused by a bug in older versions of Mac OS X. Apple fixed this problem in Leopard, and Typinator 2.0 or newer contains a workaround for Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger).

Does Typinator run on Intel-based Macs?

Yes. Starting with version 1.3, Typinator is being distributed as a Universal Binary and runs natively on Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs.

Does Typinator run on Mac OS X 10.5?

Yes, starting with version 2.1, Typinator is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.5.