TextEdit is the basic text-processing app on a Mac. You can also use Pages; however, TextEdit is much faster if you just need to write a simple text document. TextEdit has many more built-in functions than the Windows Notepad software. Here are some pointers for using the Mac’s TextEdit software efficiently, whether you’re a new Mac owner or just like to type up a lot of documents. Enjoy the ride with me!
What Is TextEdit on Mac?
TextEdit is the default text editor on your Mac. The Applications folder is where you’ll discover it. Both RTF (rich text format), which supports conventional formatting and even the addition of graphics to files, and plain text are supported by this software. It opens in Rich Text Format (RTF) by default, but you can switch to Plain Text Format (Plain Text) from the Format option. If you only need to type something infrequently, TextEdit may be sufficient; in plain text mode, the content aligns virtually flush with the left margin of your window and the top toolbar.
For others, the question “What is TextEdit used for?” may seem incomprehensible. It is a word processor that lets you create, open, and modify text files made with the program as well as those made with other word processors. Furthermore, it contains features like automated spelling correction, support for data detectors, and the ability to alter text.
TextEdit is also a free and open-source word processor and text editor that was originally introduced in NeXT’s NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP operating systems. Since Apple Inc.’s acquisition of NeXT, it has been bundled with macOS and made available as GNUstep apps for Linux and other Unix-like platforms.
Features that Make TextEdit on Mac Different
The following is what makes TextEdit on Mac so different from others:
#1. Edit in Rich Text Mode
TextEdit excels at handling basic text processing tasks, but it also includes more robust editing capabilities. Format > Make Rich Text will get you there. Selecting this alternative brings up more choices for formatting, such as font size, alignment, and spacing. (A tab ruler might also appear.)
You can also edit the text by selecting it and using the standard menus, just like in any other word processor. The paragraph icon next to the styles button in the top left allows you to apply styles to the full paragraph at once.
#2. Edit Tabs
Standard tabs in TextEdit on Mac will advance the cursor by one centimeter. Of course, you have the power to alter that. Pressing Command+R will reveal the ruler if it is hidden. The tabs can be moved by clicking and dragging them, or you can remove them from the ruler by dragging them down. Tab stops can be changed to left, center, right, or decimal by right-clicking them.
#3. Prior Versions
The app is different because of how well it integrates with macOS. TextEdit makes it easy to view and manage your document’s revision history. Any file format is supported by iWork for this purpose. A new version of your document is created whenever you save it, and macOS saves automatically once an hour. Choose File > Revert To > Browse All Versions to view older saves.
However, the macOS Versions browser appears, much like in Time Machine. To restore a previous version, use the right-hand arrows to get to it.
#4. Enhanced Search
It’s possible you’ll find TextEdit’s search function lacking in sophistication. And that’s accurate on the surface. When you press Command + F, a basic search interface appears. However, the search is capable of slightly more than meets the eye. Use the shortcut key to bring up the search bar, and then click the magnifying glass icon to the left. The Insert Pattern option will appear in the resultant menu.
Also, find tabs, paragraph breaks, URLs, and more with this handy search feature. When used in conjunction with the more traditional, character-based search keywords, you can find anything.
#5. Replace and Search
TextEdit doesn’t appear to have a find-and-replace feature at first glance. Which is a shame because it’s a very helpful skill. However, TextEdit includes a search and replace function. It’s a matter of knowing what to look for. Cmd + F will open the find bar once more. Make sure the Replace box is selected this time by clicking on it.
You probably didn’t even notice that it was there. Looking back, it’s easy to realize how blatant it was. It is now possible to repeatedly execute search and replace queries. If you don’t want to search and replace the full document, you can just do it on the highlighted parts.
#6. Length in Words
One major drawback of TextEdit is the lack of word count capability. However, a simple search bar hack will allow you to find one anyway. You can also access the Insert Pattern option in the same way you did before by searching for it in the bar. Choose Any Word Characters and then perform the search.
You’ll see a new number to the right of the search bar; that’s the total number of results. In this context, it refers to the total number of words in your paper.
#7. Use Bullet Points for Speedy Lists
Lists can be bulleted or numbered in rich text. Even if you don’t want to use the rich text editor, a simple keyboard shortcut will allow you to insert a list. To create an indented, bulleted list with hyphens denoting items, just press Option + Tab.
#8. Use Autocomplete
The autocomplete tool in macOS can be helpful when typing lengthy phrases; however, utilizing a text expander is faster for frequently used phrases. If you start typing a term and then press Option + Esc, a list of possible completions will appear. Simply insert the one you select using the keyboard or mouse.
#9. Verbalize the Text
Don’t have time to read but really need to? Consider turning on TextEdit’s reading mode. Then, select Edit > Speech > Start Speaking after pasting text into the TextEdit window. The voice isn’t great, but it does the job! This can also be done on the go with a text-to-speech app on your iPhone.
How Do I Use TextEdit on a Mac?
If you want to know how to use TextEdit on your macOS devices, it’s not as hard as quantum mechanics if you follow this step-by-step guide. Here is how to use TextEdit for your Mac:
#1. Launching Mac OS X’s TextEdit
- Since TextEdit is a preinstalled program, all you have to do to access it is click on its icon in Launchpad.
- You may also invoke Spotlight Search by hitting Command + Space and then beginning to type in TextEdit.
- If you’re using a Mac, you can assign keys or key combinations to open TextEdit quickly.
#2. How to Open a Text with TextEdit
In addition to the aforementioned file types, TextEdit can also read and create many others. It’s a piece of cake to open files using it. Simply right-click the file you wish to open, and then choose Open with > TextEdit from the context menu.
#3. Developing and Modifying HTML Files
Any software developer or engineer can use the built-in TextEdit feature to create and modify HTML code. Show HTML files as they would appear in a web browser or text editor.
- Select File > New > Format > Make Plain Text in TextEdit on your Mac.
- The HTML code is required.
- Select File > Save, give the file a name (such as index.html), and add the.html extension. Then, click Save.
- When prompted, select “Use.html” as the file extension.
#4. Changing the Format of a Rich Text Document
Microsoft Word files, OpenDocument files, Web Archive files, HTML files, rich text files, and plain text files may all be read with TextEdit. HTML and RTF files can also have their formats altered upon opening.
- If you’re using TextEdit on a Mac, select Format > Make Plain Text > Make Rich Text to convert plain text to rich text.
- You can make your preferred format the default if you find one that suits your needs. After opening a new document in TextEdit, go to File > Settings, and then choose either “Rich text” or “Plain text” under Format.
#5. How to Annotate Images in TextEdit
TextEdit for Mac allows you to write or draw directly on images if you open a document containing an image or if you insert an image into the text you are editing. In addition, TextEdit makes it easy to adjust the angle, crop the image, and include shapes, text, or a signature. To add a markup to a Mac image in TextEdit, move the cursor over the image and select Markup from the menu that appears.
You may need to turn on Markup so that the drop-down option appears. Select the Markup checkbox by going to the Apple menu > System Settings > Actions. Mark up the image with the tools on the toolbar (or the Touch Bar).
Also Read: HOW TO CLEAR FORMATTING IN WORD: Explained!
TextEdit App Tips For Beginners
The following are some tips on how to use the TextEdit app on Mac for beginners:
#1. Alter the Encoding
Sometimes you need to view garbage characters in the file, and sometimes you want to use special characters. The best course of action is to apply proper encoding in these circumstances so that the text can be read. TextEdit allows you to customize the file’s character encoding whenever you open, edit, or save it. Make your adjustments in “TextEdit > Settings > Open & Save” if you want them to take effect immediately.
#2. Alter Case of Text
Need a speedy method to alter the case in the text editing program TextEdit? Choose some text and then select “Edit > Transformations” from the menu bar. Selecting it will bring up a menu where you can make the text all capitals, all lowercase, or just the initial letter of each word capitalized.
#3. Use a Horizontal or Vertical Arrangement
You may switch between vertical and horizontal layouts in TextEdit. If you prefer a vertical orientation for your content, select “Format > Make Layout Vertical” from the menu bar. All of the text will be flipped so that it reads from top to bottom. Use “Format” > “Make Layout Horizontal” to go back to a horizontal orientation at any moment.
#4. Create a Word Document From a TextEdit File
The software can save the document in either the.txt or.rtf/.rtfd format. Select “File” > “Save or Save As” to export your text file to Word format. Click the down arrow next to “File Format” and choose “Word 2007 (.docx) Document” to save your file in Word format.
#5. Convert Text File to PDF
Any text file can be converted to a PDF by opening it in TextEdit. Use the “File” menu to access the “Export as PDF…” selection. You can specify the print size and orientation in the save as dialog box before saving the file as a PDF.
#6. Avoid Unintentional Changes to Content
When there’s a ton of data in a file, you might want to lock it down to prevent unintentional changes. To do this, select “Prevent Editing” from the “Format” menu. If you do this, you won’t be able to change or remove anything from the page. Having this option enabled will not prevent you from selecting and copying the file’s content. To disable protection, choose “Allow Editing” from the “Format” menu.
#7. Edit TextEdit’s Standard Font Preferences
You can change the app’s font settings to something more suitable if you don’t like the defaults. Make sure you’re on the “New Document” tab of the app’s settings by selecting “TextEdit > Settings…” from the main menu. Choose the font you want to use by clicking the “Change” buttons next to “Plain text font” and “Rich text fonts” in the application’s settings menu.
#8. Modify Existing Properties or Create New
For plain text files, the TextEdit program does not save any metadata by default. There are two ways to configure the app’s settings for rich text documents: either at the document level, in which case the changes will apply just to the current document, or permanently, in which case they will apply to all future documents. TextEdit’s “Properties” sub-tab, found under the “New Document” menu, is where you can enter this information globally. Only author names and copyright information should be entered here.
Open the “Document Properties” box by selecting “File” > “Show Properties” and entering the necessary information for the current file. Title, subjects, comments, and keywords are extra choices here.
#9. Smart Quotes and a Spell Checker
You can use the TextEdit app to take notes instead of the Notes or Stickies apps. To ensure your material is error-free, turn on the spell- and grammar-check features. When using TextEdit to write code, you should also turn off smart quotes. You can toggle these options on and off in the “TextEdit > Settings… > New Document Tab” menu.
To convert simple quotation marks into smart ones, select “Edit > Substitutions > Show Substitutions” from the menu bar. To change all single quotations into smart quotes, pick “Smart Quotes,” choose your chosen format for single and double quote styles, and then click the “Replace All” button.
My Mac Can’t Open TextEdit Files. Help!
Is there a different way to access text files on a Mac than using TextEdit, especially if you need to do so as the root user? You may also launch TextEdit and check its status from the Terminal, which is useful if you suspect that the text file is corrupted.
- Select Utilities from the Applications menu. Then, to launch Terminal on your Mac, simply double-click the Terminal icon.
- The command sudo -b /Applications/Textedit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit will launch TextEdit on a Mac. The text files can then be imported into TextEdit.
- Open the widsmob.conf file using the TextEditor app on your MacBook after starting your root instance with the following command line: Execute “sudo su – root -c “open -e /etc/apache2/widsmob.conf”
How to Retrieve TextEdit Files via AutoSave
If you accidentally delete a document or HTML file, TextEdit’s built-in auto-save tool will help you get it back. TextEdit files on Mac can be recovered after a crash or freeze by opening the program again and viewing the unsaved file.
- To see if the files are already on your Mac, open TextEdit. If you’re having trouble locating a certain file, check the autosave location for TextEdit to locate the Unsaved TextEdit Document.rtf.
- To access Go to Folder, open Finder, and press Shift + Command + G. Once you’ve done that, you may access the target folder by copying and pasting the TextEdit autosave location from above.
- After that, you can look for documents that end with RTF. TextEdit files can be accessed and recovered using the system’s default application. Once the file is reopened, you can give it any name you like and save it.
Is TextEdit on Mac the Same as Notepad?
One of the best things about TextEdit is that it lets you write and change files in Rich Text Format. TextEdit has more file format support than Notepad, including RTF, RTFD, HTML, and even Microsoft Word. This means that you can use a wide variety of fonts, font styles (bold, italics), font colors, justification, and more in your documents created in TextEdit.
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to Mac and have never used TextEdit before, this post is a great introduction to the program that can replace Microsoft Word for simple text editing and typing jobs.
- How to Make Text Bigger on iPhone: Detailed Guide
- HOW TO CHANGE FONT SIZE IN OUTLOOK: Complete Guide
- How to Create Dropdown in Google Sheets: Easy Guide
- How to Save Word Document as PDF: Detailed Guide
- What Are Push Notifications? Everything You Need To Know
References
