<p class="Paragraph"><help:productname xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">%PRODUCTNAME</help:productname> Writer contains an AutoText function which allows you to compose whole texts for letters, faxes or any other documents by entering predefined or user-defined shortcuts.</p>
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<p class="Paragraph">To insert AutoText you can:</p>
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<p class="P2">Enter the shortcut for an AutoText item and press the F3 key.</p>
<p class="P2">Some predefined AutoText blocks are provided. For example, enter <span class="T1">DT</span> and press F3 to insert a dummy text which can be used to check the look of a page filled with text (and other objects). Enter <span class="T1">FN</span> and press F3 to insert a <help:productname xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">%PRODUCTNAME</help:productname> Math formula with sequential numbering at the right border.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">The <span class="T1">AutoText</span> dialog contains a number of AutoTexts. As you will see, AutoTexts can even contain graphics and tables.</p>
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<p class="P4">Long-click on the <span class="T1">Edit AutoText </span>icon on the main toolbar and select an AutoText.</p>
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<p class="P4">You can also use the AutoComplete function. Directions for using this function are found in the <help:productname xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">%PRODUCTNAME</help:productname> Help.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Move the mouse pointer to the AutoText that you want to insert in the text at the cursor position. When you release the mouse button, the text is inserted.</p>
<p class="Head2">Defining AutoText</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Write the desired text. It may contain formatting and embedded graphics. Select the text. Now, click briefly on the <span class="T1">AutoText</span> icon in the Main Toolbar. In the large list box, select the category (e.g. 'Default'), assign a name for the new text component in the text box and correct the abbreviation if necessary. You may now save the text component via <span class="T1">AutoText - New</span>; afterwards, you should close the dialog.</p>
<p class="Head2"><help:key-word value="networks; AutoText in" tag="kw68061_3" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/><help:key-word value="AutoText; in networks" tag="kw68061_2" xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help"/>Using AutoText in Networks</p>
<p class="Paragraph">You can use AutoTexts from different directories. An example would be in a typical <help:productname xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">%PRODUCTNAME</help:productname> network installation:</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Read-only "company AutoTexts" could be in a directory on the server, while you write and read your own, user-defined AutoTexts in your own files.</p>
<p class="Paragraph">Two paths have been entered here. The first path takes the AutoTexts from the server installation. The second path takes the AutoTexts from your user directory. If two AutoTexts from two different directories have the same name, <help:productname xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">%PRODUCTNAME</help:productname> will use the AutoText from your user directory.</p>
<p class="Head2">Printing AutoTexts</p>
<p class="Paragraph">To print a list of all AutoTexts, use a macro from the <help:productname xmlns:help="http://openoffice.org/2000/help">%PRODUCTNAME</help:productname> Basic Gimmicks library. The macro lists all AutoText names and shortcuts in a new text document. Choose <span class="T1">Tools - Macro</span>, double-click "Gimmicks" in the right list of the <span class="T1">Macro</span> dialog, select "AutoText" and then click <span class="T1">Run</span>.</p>
