# Option to insert frequently used text in the post editor
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234
**Category:** Feature
**Tags:** composer
**Created:** [12월 2, 2015, 6:35오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234 "2015-12-02T06:35:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 6:35오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/1 "2015-12-02T06:35:10Z")
As a moderator of a Discourse instance I find myself typing same (or very similar) posts with some frequency, and would love the ability to have a “permanent clipboard” of sorts that could hold some commonly used text. For example, we frequently ask users to upload a save of their game for debugging purposes via an external file storage site. Right now, I have the text I use to explain that (where to find the game, how to upload, post sharing link in thread) in a bookmarked thread and copy and paste it each time, but a built in UI option to do this would be amazing!
Is this something that we could see added?
---
### Author:  [@anon82356247](https://meta.discourse.org/u/anon82356247)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 7:07오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/2 "2015-12-02T07:07:31Z")
If you have a mac, use TextExpander. There must be someting similar for Windows.
---
### Author:  [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 9:48오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/3 "2015-12-02T09:48:25Z")
(I could swear there was a previous topic on this, but couldn’t find it.)
The post above pretty much sums up our stance on “canned replies”. There are apps for this functionality on virtually all desktop platforms, so bundling it in Discourse core seems a bit overkill.
If you want to make/commission a plugin, I imagine @cpradio’s [Pull UI plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/poll-ui-adding-polls-through-a-ui-in-the-composer-window/35133) would make a great reference, since it adds a button to the composer toolbar, has a UI and inserts text into the composer. The only other thing you might wanna do is [limit this button to a particular group](https://meta.discourse.org/t/add-a-button-at-the-bottom-of-a-topic-visible-to-a-specific-group-discourse-topic-group-button/36216).
Man, I kinda wanna see someone take a shot at this plugin now 😃
---
### Author:  [@mcwumbly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mcwumbly)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 4:02오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/4 "2015-12-02T16:02:19Z")
> [@erlend\_sh](#):
>
> (I could swear there was a previous topic on this, but couldn’t find it.)
This topic covers some similar ground:
> [@What about a "ticketing" system for suspensions?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/what-about-a-ticketing-system-for-suspensions/21603):
>
> I am [not a big fan of negative incentive systems](http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2009/12/13/how-to-discipline-your-employees.html) but I think we might be able to build one into Discourse in a way that is positive and works well with the existing trust level promotion system. As of a few weeks ago, when you send a PM as a staff member, there is a checkbox to make the PM an official warning. These warnings show up differently than regular PMs and are counted as distinct messages with a red message icon. So now you can keep track of “official tickets” you send to community me…
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 4:57오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/5 "2015-12-02T16:57:31Z")
I use the “Clippings” addon in Firefox and it works great for me.
When the forum was vBulletin we had “canned replies” for the Infraction page.
It worked OK, but it got a bit “messy” over time.
Each of us (moderators) had different writing styles and different ideas of what points should be covered in the various “common” messages.
Over time multiple versions of messages were available.
This in itself was not a bad thing. Those that contributed had the best intentions. Not only were they making their task easier but they also helped others make there task easier as well.
The problem I had was similar to what happens when many can create Tags. There got to be so many of them that they began to cover the same ground and it became difficult to find any one in particular
I’m not saying such a feature here would be a bad idea. Only that some thought should be given to who can create them and who can use them
---
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 9:23오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/6 "2015-12-02T21:23:37Z")
> [@Mittineague](#):
>
> When the forum was vBulletin we had “canned replies” for the Infraction page. It worked OK, but it got a bit “messy” over time.
My idea was that the “canned replies” would be user specific, not system wide. That way each user could use their own writing style, and control how many they keep…
---
### Author:  [@cpradio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/cpradio)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 9:26오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/7 "2015-12-02T21:26:57Z")
If that is the case, why not use an extension like Clipper?
---
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 9:28오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/8 "2015-12-02T21:28:21Z")
Main issue with an extension is that it is device specific. I have a multi-item clipboard app on my main laptop and use it frequently, but when I am on another device (frequently) and especially on mobile I do not have access to it.
---
### Author:  [@cpradio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/cpradio)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 9:31오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/9 "2015-12-02T21:31:38Z")
For mobile you wouldn’t have access to it in Discourse either (no composer toolbar)… Granted, I guess you could install the Private Notes plugin in Discourse and store common text there and that would exist everywhere for your eyes only.
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [12월 2, 2015, 9:55오후 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/10 "2015-12-02T21:55:41Z")
> [@cpradio](#):
>
> the Private Notes plugin
I’ve done that as well and it works OK
A bit cumbersome needing to open my Profile in a new tab or navigate to it, copy, and then go back to the topic.
But it does work
---
### Author:  [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)
#### Post date: [2월 1, 2016, 9:35오전 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/option-to-insert-frequently-used-text-in-the-post-editor/36234/11 "2016-02-01T09:35:57Z")
Discussion first started and is now continued here:
> [@Canned responses to help moderators encourage civilized discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/t/canned-responses-to-help-moderators-encourage-civilized-discourse/16680):
>
> So one of the great things about Discourse is it’s designed to help encourage actual civilized discourse. That’s a great goal, but in addition to software, it depends on watchful and tactful mentors. I think a lot of moderators don’t know how to (in words) tactfully discourage unhelpful behavior, and encourage helpful behavior. What would people think about having something like “canned responses” for moderators? These could either be sent to people via private message or by replying to a post. …