<sect1 id="expressions">
<sect1info>
<authorgroup>
<author>
<firstname>Mike</firstname>
<surname>McBride</surname>
</author>
<!-- TRANS:ROLES_OF_TRANSLATORS -->
</authorgroup>
</sect1info>
<title>Expressions </title>
<indexterm><primary>expressions</primary></indexterm>

<para>Expressions are a way to quickly insert common phrases into a document.  Once an expression has been selected, the
text is inserted into &kword;.</para>
<note><para>  Expressions are different from variables.  Expressions are inserted as regular text, can only be
changed later by manually editing the text. Variables, insert a placeholder in the document which can be automatically updated at
a later date.</para></note>
<sect2 id="expressions-insert"><title>Using expressions</title>
<para>To use an expression could not be easier.</para>
<para>Simply place the cursor at the location you want the expression inserted and select
<menuchoice>
<guimenu>Insert</guimenu><guisubmenu>Expression</guisubmenu>
</menuchoice> from the menubar.  This will give you a submenu with groups of expressions.  Select the group that is appropriate
for your expression.  This will bring up a list of expressions available to you.  Select the appropriate expression.</para>
<para>Once selected, that expression will be inserted at the cursor position.</para>
</sect2>
<sect2 id="expressions-add"><title>Add, change and delete expression groups and expressions</title>
<para>Adding an expression is accomplished by selecting <menuchoice>
<guimenu>Tools</guimenu><guimenuitem>Edit Personal Expressions...</guimenuitem>
</menuchoice> from the menubar. This will bring up a dialog box. </para>
<screenshot>
<mediaobject>
<imageobject>
<imagedata fileref="expression.png" format="PNG"/></imageobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>
<para>The list at the left shows you all available groups (<emphasis>Employees</emphasis> and <emphasis>Notices</emphasis>
in the example above).
<emphasis>Notices</emphasis> is the currently selected group.</para>
<sect3 id="expression-add-group"><title>Add a new group</title>
<para>You will need to create a new group the first time you want to add a new expression.  &kword;
 will not allow the user to edit or remove any predefined expressions.  You create a new group by clicking on the
 <guibutton>New</guibutton> located <emphasis>below the group list</emphasis>.  A new group will be created
 with the name <emphasis>new group</emphasis>.  You can change the name of the new group by clicking on the
 newly created group in the group list on the left, then editing the text box on the right labeled <guilabel>Group name:</guilabel>.</para>
 </sect3>
<sect3 id="expression-add-rename-group"><title>Change the name of a group</title>
<para>To change the name of a group, simply click on the group in the list on the left side of the dialog.  Type the new name in the text
box labeled <guilabel>Group name:</guilabel>.</para>
</sect3>
<sect3 id="expression-add-delete-group"><title>Delete a group</title>
<para>To delete a group, click on the group in the list on the left side of the dialog.</para>
<warning><para>Be sure you have selected the correct group prior to clicking on the <guibutton>Delete</guibutton>
button.  &kword; will not give you the opportunity to restore the group if it is accidentally deleted.</para></warning>
<para>  Click on the
<guibutton>Delete</guibutton> button <emphasis>below the group list</emphasis>. The group and all of the expressions it
contained are immediately deleted.</para>
<note><para>Deleting an expression with this dialog does not delete the expression from any document.  It only removes the
expression from the menus.</para></note>
</sect3>
<sect3 id="expression-add-expression"><title>Add a new expression to a group</title>
<para>The left side of the dialog box lists all the available groups.  Select the group you want to add your expression to by
clicking with the &LMB; on the name of the group.  The list on the right of the dialog labeled
<guilabel>Expressions</guilabel> lists all the current expressions in the current group.</para>
<para>To add an expression, click on the <guibutton>New</guibutton> located <emphasis>below the expression list</emphasis>.</para>
<para>A new expression is created called <emphasis>empty</emphasis>.  Type your new expression in the textbox below the list of expressions.</para>
</sect3>
<sect3 id="expression-change-expression"><title>Edit an expression in a group</title>
<para>The left side of the dialog box lists all the available groups.  Select the group that contains your expression to by
clicking with the &LMB; on the name of the group.  The list on the right of the dialog labeled
<guilabel>Expressions</guilabel> lists all the current expressions in the current group.</para>
<para>Click on the expression you want to edit in the expression list on the right.</para>
<para>Click in the text box below the expression list.  You can now edit your expression in the textbox below the list of expressions.</para>
<para>When you are finished adding new expressions, simply click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
</sect3>
<sect3 id="expression-delete-expression"><title>Delete an expression</title>
<para>To delete an expression, click on the group in the list on the left side of the dialog.  This will show a list of the expressions 
belonging to that group in the listbox on the right labeled <guilabel>Expressions</guilabel>.</para>
<para>Select the expression you want to delete by clicking once with the &LMB;.</para>
<warning><para>Be sure you have selected the correct expression prior to clicking on the <guibutton>Delete</guibutton>
button.  &kword; will not give you the opportunity to restore the expression if it is accidentally deleted.</para></warning>
<para>  Click on the
<guibutton>Delete</guibutton> button <emphasis>below the expression list</emphasis>. The 
expression is immediately deleted.</para>
<note><para>Deleting an expression with this dialog does not delete the expression from any document.  It only removes the
expression from the menus.</para></note>
<para>When you are finished making changes, simply click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>

</sect3>

</sect2>
</sect1>
