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As a technical blogger, I know how tedious it can be to type the same words or phrases repeatedly. This is where text expander software like NCH FastFox comes in handy. NCH FastFox is a feature-rich text expander software that allows the user to create custom shortcuts for frequently used words, phrases, paragraphs, and even entire documents. It can save time and boost productivity by minimizing keystrokes and eliminating repetitive typing. In this article, I will review NCH FastFox and share my thoughts and insights on its features, price, usability, and more.
Video Tutorial:
What does NCH FastFox do?
NCH FastFox is a versatile text expander program that can help users save time and increase productivity by automating their typing tasks. Here are some of its core features:
Customizable Shortcut Expansions: With NCH FastFox, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for frequently used words, phrases, or even entire documents. You can set up text expansion rules to automatically replace your shortcuts with their corresponding full text or snippets. For instance, instead of typing your email address repeatedly, you can create a shortcut "@@" that expands to your full email address.
Autocorrect: With NCH FastFox, you can enable autocorrect features which will correct your spelling errors, typos, and capitalization errors. This can help to enhance the accuracy of your typing and reduce the time you’ll spend correcting mistakes.
Open Expansions: NCH FastFox allows you to programmatically open expansions, meaning you can create shortcuts to launch other programs automatically with a simple keyboard shortcut. For instance, you can create a shortcut "wmp" that opens Windows Media Player.
Import and Export: With this software, you can import and export your shortcut rules in various formats. This can be handy when you want to share your preset rules with friends or colleagues.
PRICE
NCH FastFox is offered in three editions: Home, Professional, and Work. Each version differs in terms of pricing and features. Here is the pricing table of NCH FastFox:
| Edition | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Home | $59.50 | Basic text expansion and automation features for personal use. |
| Professional | $99.00 | Advanced automation features, network administration, and account login expansion. |
| Work | $139.00 | All features included in the Professional Edition plus a license for commercial use and support for more users. |
Review Ratings
I have rated NCH FastFox in terms of its effectiveness, ease of use, support, service, quality, and value for money. Here’s the rating table:
| Items | Rating |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | ★★★★☆ |
| EASE-OF-USE | ★★★★★ |
| Support | ★★★☆☆ |
| Service | ★★★☆☆ |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ |
| Value for Money | ★★★★☆ |
- Effectiveness: NCH FastFox is an effective text expander software that offers a wide range of features to enhance your typing productivity.
- EASE-OF-USE: NCH FastFox is very user-friendly and easy to use. Setting up shortcut expansions and automation rules requires no technical skills or programming knowledge.
- Support: While NCH Software offers support via email and phone, the response time is relatively slow, and sometimes it may take several days to receive a reply.
- Service: I found the service offered by NCH Software to be average. However, their online knowledge base provides a wealth of information on how to use their software products effectively.
- Quality: NCH FastFox is a high-quality product that can compete with similar software in the market. The software is stable, and its core features work seamlessly.
- Value for Money: NCH FastFox is a bit pricey compared to other text expander software, but its advanced features justify its cost.
What I Like
I have been using NCH FastFox for a while, and here are the things I like about it:
Firstly, I love the customizable shortcut expansions that allow me to automate my typing tasks and reduce my workload. This has saved me a lot of time in the long run.
Secondly, I find the software very user-friendly and easy to use. The UI is intuitive, and creating new expansions and automation rules requires no technical knowledge or programming skills.
Lastly, I like the autocorrect feature that helps to improve the accuracy of my typing by correcting my spelling errors, typos, and capitalization errors.
What I Don’t Like
While NCH FastFox is a great productivity tool, there are some things I dislike about it. Firstly, the software can slow down your computer when it’s running in the background. Secondly, I find the support offered by NCH Software to be quite slow and sometimes unhelpful. Thirdly, the software can be a bit expensive for some users, especially if you need the professional or work edition.
What Could Be Better
Here are some areas where I think NCH FastFox could improve:
1. Better Support: NCH Software could improve their customer support by offering live chat or quicker email response times. This would help users to get their issues resolved in a timely manner.
2. Performance Optimization: NCH FastFox can sometimes slow down your computer when it’s running in the background. Improving the software’s performance optimization can help to alleviate this issue.
3. More Competitive Pricing: NCH FastFox is a bit expensive compared to similar software in the market. Offering more competitive pricing options can help to attract more users to the platform.
How to Use NCH FastFox
Using NCH FastFox is very easy and straightforward. Here’s how to set up your custom shortcuts:
Step 1: Download and install NCH FastFox on your computer from their official website.
Step 2: Launch the software and click on the "New" button to create a new expansion rule.
Step 3: Type in the shortcut you want to use in the "Shortcut" field. For instance, "@@".
Step 4: Enter the full text or snippet you want to be expanded when you type the shortcut in the "Replacement" field. For instance, "myemail@gmail.com".
Step 5: Click on the "Create" button to create your new expansion rule.
Step 6: Use your new shortcut " @@" whenever you need to type your email address.
Alternatives to NCH FastFox
While NCH FastFox is an excellent text expansion software, there are some alternatives you can try out. Here are three of them:
Q1: PhraseExpress
Download Link: https://www.phraseexpress.com/download-home/
Description: PhraseExpress is another great text expander software that allows you to create custom shortcuts for frequently used words and phrases. It also includes features like autocorrect, spelling and typo correction, and network-wide sharing of phrases.
Q2: TextExpander
Download Link: https://textexpander.com/download/
Description: TextExpander is a powerful text expansion software that enables users to create custom shortcuts for frequently used words, phrases, and entire paragraphs. It includes features like autocorrect, snippet groups, fill-in-the-blank forms, and cloud syncing with multiple devices.
Q3: Breevy
Download Link: https://www.16software.com/breevy/download/
Description: Breevy is a simple yet feature-rich text expander software that allows users to create keyboard shortcuts for frequently used words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. It includes features like autocorrect, clipboard monitoring, custom prompts, and hotkey triggers.
5 FAQs about NCH FastFox
Q1: Is NCH FastFox compatible with Mac?
A: Yes, NCH FastFox is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Q2: Does NCH FastFox offer a free trial?
A: Yes, NCH FastFox offers a 14-day free trial with all the features of the Professional edition.
Q3: Can I use NCH FastFox for commercial purposes?
A: Yes, you can use NCH FastFox for commercial purposes by purchasing the Work edition.
Q4: Can I use NCH FastFox to launch other programs?
A: Yes, NCH FastFox allows you to create shortcuts to launch other programs automatically.
Q5: Does NCH FastFox offer cloud syncing between devices?
A: No, NCH FastFox does not offer cloud syncing between devices. However, you can import and export your shortcut rules in various formats.
Final Thoughts
NCH FastFox is a robust and user-friendly text expander software that can help users to save time and boost productivity by automating their typing tasks. While it has some faults, such as slow support and pricey pricing plans, its core features make it a worthy contender in the market. If you want a reliable and versatile text expander software, then NCH FastFox is definitely worth considering.