Placeholders

Add clipboard text, dates, and a caret position to a template.

Insert a value

Use Insert Placeholder to choose Clipboard or Date & Time and give the placeholder a name. You can also type {name} and choose its source below the template. Names start with a letter or underscore and contain letters, numbers, or underscores. Repeated names share one source.

Use the clipboard

Copy text or files before expanding. Copied files use their full paths; multiple paths are separated by newlines. Text and paths are inserted literally, without adding quotes or escaping. Image pixels alone have no file path, so save and copy the image file first. If the clipboard has neither text nor file references, Textend leaves the keyword unchanged.

Template: git commit {commit_message}
Source: commit_message → Clipboard
Clipboard: Fix login redirect
Result: git commit Fix login redirect

Place the caret

Choose Insert Placeholder → Cursor Position, or type {cursor} where you want to continue typing. Use one marker per template; it needs no source mapping and is removed from the inserted text. Without a marker, the caret stays at the end, including after trailing spaces. Write {{cursor}} to insert the literal text {cursor}. Copy Expanded Text removes the marker but cannot reposition the caret when you paste manually. If you type or move focus before placement finishes, Textend cancels the pending move. Editors that alter pasted text, such as adding indentation, may require you to position the caret manually.

Template: git commit -m "{cursor}"
After expansion: git commit -m "│"
│ shows the caret; it is not inserted.

Format a date

Date & Time uses your current time zone. Enter a format and check the live example. yyyy-MM-dd produces a date such as 2026-10-24; HH:mm adds 24-hour time.

Literal braces and preview

Write {{ and }} for literal braces. Fix unmatched braces and missing sources before saving. The Preview panel uses sample clipboard text; Copy Expanded Text uses your actual clipboard. Textend does not add quotes, command flags, or escaping.