PhraseExpress - Autotext Utility

[bartelsmedia]

[Moderator note:

• This is the primary PhraseExpress program thread. View database entry]
• The following thread is combined from 3 different threads on the topic of PhraseExpress so some posts will seem unconnected to those above them.]

---

Hi Andrew,

our Autotext, Text AutoComplete, Clipboard Manager and Text prediction feature utility PhraseExpress Autotext - USB Edition is now fully USB ready and shall survive your rigid but justified requirements.

Here is a test run video with RegShot and Dependency Walker:
http://www.bartelsmedia.com/vid/tmp_pex_usb_testrun.swf

Dependency Walker has found one issue but this is related to the Explorer which is used by PhraseExpress in order to display HTML contents within PhraseExpress.

Any written registry entry as you can see in below log is solely done by the OS. No application has any chance to suppress this behaviour:

Code: Select all

Regshot 1.8.2
Comments:
Datetime:2008/11/26 15:40:03 , 2008/11/26 15:40:53
Computer:WINXP , WINXP
Username: ,

Keys added:5
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\LocalServer32
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\ProgID
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler\Clsid

Values added:12
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\ProgID\: "phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler"
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\LocalServer32\: "E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe"
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\: "Implements DocHostUIHandler"
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler\Clsid\: "{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}"
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler\: "Implements DocHostUIHandler"
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe: "E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe:*:Enabled:PhraseExpress"
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe: "E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe:*:Enabled:PhraseExpress"
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe: "PhraseExpress"
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAssist\{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count\HRZR_EHACNGU:R:\Cebtenzf\cuenfrrkcerff.rkr: 03 00 00 00 06 00 00 00 D0 46 2A 4E DD 4F C9 01
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\@shell32.dll,-31268: "Publish the selected items to the Web"
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe: "PhraseExpress"
HKU\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\E:\Programs\phraseexpress.exe: "PhraseExpress"

Values modified:7
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed: CB 66 F2 19 B5 BD 16 ED E7 68 46 5D DD CE D3 57 46 32 93 A1 50 4F 79 50 FE C7 02 B1 94 CC 33 8A B9 44 76 B6 3B 9A 38 18 21 4E 63 49 18 EF C0 3B 50 2B C5 BF F6 1A 2F FC 85 09 B8 56 4C 0F 9F 66 B0 7E 41 3F 08 60 8D E1 47 D9 9A 9B 19 20 0D 65
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed: 9A 7F C1 34 31 89 5C 5F CF E2 5D 74 CF 47 B0 72 67 C9 72 02 01 64 BE 6E 24 09 8E BD 23 79 8A C0 B4 94 8F 23 90 72 FC 94 7F 06 97 23 7F 1F EB 05 52 F3 91 B8 67 65 44 49 B3 8C EF FF 94 FF A7 85 5D B9 F2 4B F7 96 EC E7 CB 22 AD 98 C5 EB 44 F6
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Epoch\Epoch: 0x00000029
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Epoch\Epoch: 0x0000002B
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Epoch\Epoch: 0x00000029
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Epoch\Epoch: 0x0000002B
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\0\ViewView2: 1C 00 00 00 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 7C 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF F0 F0 F0 F0 14 00 03 00 7C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 FD DF DF FD 0F 00 04 00 20 00 10 00 00 00 28 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 B4 00 60 00 78 00 78 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\0\ViewView2: 1C 00 00 00 06 00 00 00 01 00 02 00 00 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF F0 F0 F0 F0 14 00 03 00 90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 00 00 00 FD DF DF FD 0F 00 04 00 20 00 10 00 28 00 3C 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 B4 00 60 00 78 00 78 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAssist\{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count\HRZR_HVFPHG: 03 00 00 00 09 00 00 00 20 69 14 29 DD 4F C9 01
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAssist\{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count\HRZR_HVFPHG: 03 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 00 33 F1 42 DD 4F C9 01
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAssist\{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count\HRZR_EHACNGU: 03 00 00 00 07 00 00 00 A0 75 46 29 DD 4F C9 01
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAssist\{75048700-EF1F-11D0-9888-006097DEACF9}\Count\HRZR_EHACNGU: 03 00 00 00 08 00 00 00 D0 46 2A 4E DD 4F C9 01
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU\MRUListEx: 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF
HKU\S-1-5-21-1214440339-651377827-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU\MRUListEx: 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF


Total changes:24

Download:
http://www.phraseexpress.com/PhraseExpress_USB.zip

Screenshots:
http://www.phraseexpress.com/screenshots.htm

Description:
PhraseExpress eliminates repetitive typing and manages frequently used text snippets in customizable categories. Boilerplate templates can be stored together with bitmaps and text formatting.

The text prediction feature watches out for repetitive text patterns and offers to auto-complete such phrases. Smart algorithms analyze and learn your writing patterns, and suggest the most relevant ways to complete phrases and sentences.

The Autotext feature allows assigning a frequently used text such as your address, your signature or a common phrase to a much shorter abbreviation. Whenever you type in the assigned abbreviation PhraseExpress will automatically replace it with the original text. For example, "ty" will be expanded to "thank you very much. Existing MS Office AutoCorrect entries can be imported for use in any Windows program, not just MS Office.

The Clipboard Cache enhances the native Windows clipboard functionality by remembering all items that are copied to the clipboard for later use.

PhraseExpress can optionally remove any text formatting from the clipboard contents.

Powerful macro functions can add dynamic contents to static phrases such as the current date, counters or additional manual input. Phrases can be linked or nested. Macros can also launch programs or open documents triggered by shortcuts. Entering 'calc' may open the Windows calculator program or pressing the hotkey CTRL-F8 can offer a Google search query of a highlighted text on-the-fly.

This keyboard macro utility is free-of-charge for personal users (details) - Commercial editions provide the PhraseExpress functionality in a company network with a client-/server architecture. A separate USB installer allows to run PhraseExpress from USB memory devices.

[JohnW]

In essence PhraseExpress is a macro program.
Its key recommendation is ...

No more typing common phrases again!

It includes :-
Text Snippets Organizer
Autotext (abbreviations into phrases)
Auto-Complete (completes repetitive text)
Spell Checking (7 languages)
Clipboard Manager (not just the last clip)
Program Launcher
Email Signatures

To judge from the online manual, it is very comprehensive.

The program is free for personal use.
For portable use download the USB version.

The Home Site is ...

http://www.phraseexpress.com/

[joby_toss]

Not stealth (the USB version):

Code: Select all

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler]
...
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\phraseexpress.DocHostUIHandler\Clsid]
...

also
http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/ ... aseExpress

[JohnW]

Sorry about the post.
I did a search before posting but unfortunately I used 'phrase' rather than 'phraseexpress'.
My own search tools would have found it in similar circumstances.
Pity though, it seems a good implementation.

[Andrew Lee]

Application name: PhraseExpress

Website: http://www.phraseexpress.com/

Date tested: 2006-07-21

Status: Not portable

Reason: Nagware. Writes settings to registry.

[bartelsmediagmbh]

If you tested the four years old version, we kindly ask you to take latest PhraseExpress version 7 for a test drive:

1. PhraseExpress v7 does not write anything to the registry.

2. PhraseExpress v7 is no nagware and free-of-charge for personal use without any nag screen. However, it checks whether the user does not use it in commercial environments.

Please use the USB Edition that has no installer: http://www.phraseexpress.com/PhraseExpress_USB.zip

Thank you.

[I am Baas]

See http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/ ... f=4&t=6306

[webfork]

If you tested the four years old version, we kindly ask you to take latest PhraseExpress version 7 for a test drive

The only reason this came up on the front page is due to a forum config change. If you look at the date tested, it was ALSO 4 years ago.

Version 7 HAS been tested as Baas pointed out.

[bartelsmediagmbh]

PhraseExpress does not write anything to registry. We carefully designed it not to do it.

I already tried to point this out earlier:

Dependency Walker has found one issue but this is related to the Explorer which is used by PhraseExpress in order to display HTML contents within PhraseExpress.

Any written registry entry as you can see in below log is solely done by the OS. No application has any chance to suppress this Windows behaviour

This is what happens: PhraseExpress uses a Windows component to display HTML contents within the program. Such Windows components are called "COM Servers" and they are particularly designed for shared use by 3rd party applications. The COM Server is not installed by PhraseExpress but is an OS component and already installed on the guest PC.

Once, PhraseExpress communicates with the locally installed COM Server, Windows writes to the registry that PhraseExpress is using the COM Server. This is not done by PhraseExpress, but by Windows itself. If you want, it is just triggered by PhraseExpress.

However, blaming PhraseExpress being not portable for that reason would be equally wrong as blaming a any other portable software that requires an exception in the Windows firewall for example. Guess what: Windows would write the exception to the registry as well.

It would be great if you would review your decision as it is based on a misconception.

[bartelsmediagmbh]

But the test is based on a misconception as outlined here.

It is not PhraseExpress writing to the registry but Windows. Blaming that would mean blaming any program that triggers the Windows firewall (as Windows would write an exception to the registry for such "portable" program as well).

[joby_toss]

It is portable, yes.
But not stealth.

It should be added, in my opinion.
You can add it to the database yourself.
I'll vote for it.

[webfork]

A little background:

The program is essentially a much bigger and more feature-rich version of Texter (http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=1212), except it doesn't have an open license and is not free for commercial use.

Results:

I tested version 7.0.167 and I'm a little confused; without command-line arguments, the "USB version" has some odd behavior:

1. Saves program settings to USER\Application Data\PhraseExpress\config6.ini

2. Saves words under USER\My Documents\PhraseExpress


To make it portable, execute using:

Code: Select all

phraseexpress.exe -PORTABLE -CONFIGFILE=. -DICTIONARY=.

I don't even know if "portable" and "dictionary" arguments are really necessary, but I don't really want to try every config when this one seems to work fine.

Still creates c:\Windows\config6.ini, which doesn't seem to have any required settings. As joby pointed out, this means its portable, not stealth.

[bartelsmediagmbh]

PhraseExpress has some sort of "auto-sensing" regarding portable mode:

• If you are running PhraseExpress from a USB drive, it stores any PhraseExpress related information on the USB drive only. Really. Really, really. For all sceptics out there, here is the deal: The first, who provides evidence that PhraseExpress itself unintentionally writes to the system while in portable mode gets a free PhraseExpress Professional Edition license, worth $139.95!
• However, if you additionally have installed PhraseExpress on the host computer, PhraseExpress uses the configuration of the host PC installation, even if you have launched PhraseExpress from the USB drive. PhraseExpress gives priority to any local PhraseExpress configuration. This is, what most probably happened on your computer.
• Only to override above auto-sense, you can launch PhraseExpress with the command-line parameter -portable. In this case, PhraseExpress is enforced to only write to the USB stick, even if there is any local installation on the host PC.

As this auto-sensing caused some confusion, we have changed the behavior in the upcoming next version and it will always use the USB configuration data, regardless of any host PC installation.

Hope this helps.

P.S.: Please post technical questions about PhraseExpress in our support forum as it is difficult for us to monitor forums on the web for technical issues related to PhraseExpress and we really want to make sure to solve any issue with PhraseExpress.

[webfork]

> As this auto-sensing caused some confusion, we have changed the behavior in the upcoming next version and it will always use the USB configuration data, regardless of any host PC installation.

Excellent, thanks.

Although it may seem absurd that 'portable' means something other than run from a USB drive, there are many reasons for a self-contained program, including simpler backup, easier emulation under WINE, network synchronization, and others.

[Ennovy]

Added to the database, please vote: http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=2208