textsoap
Latest
unmarked software cleans up TextSoap 6
OK, when a Mac application has a fun word like "soap" in the name, you just have to roll with the puns. Please forgive me.The developers at unmarked software have scrubbed the dickens out of TextSoap, their text processing application for Mac OS X. Some dirty bugs had besmirched the application, especially in the trial version, so unmarked lathered up the code and washed 'em out. Now they're bubbling over with clean news about TextSoap 6.2.1.Bad puns aside, TextSoap 6.2.1 also adds some new improvements to the venerable text processor. You can read a complete list of changes on the TextSoap 6 history page. If you're not familiar with TextSoap, it brings powerful text processing and cleaning tools to just about any other app through the rarely-used OS X Services Menu. Plugins are provided for other applications such as Coda, BBEdit, and TextWrangler. If you own version 4 or 5 of TextSoap, unmarked would like to remind you that you can still upgrade to 6.2.1 for US$24.95. Those of you who are trying out TextSoap for the first time can use the free trial, and then consider purchasing the application for US$39.95.(While we're talking about soap, check out that cool Macintosh apple-scented iPhone soap in the photo!)
Macworld discount offered for TextSoap
One of my biggest pet peeves when dealing with text from outside sources is the amount of clean up I often have to do. The easiest solution is to strip all of the code, but then it's an equally painstaking task to reformat it.TextSoap is one of several applications that offers text filtering that allows you to have control over how you clean up your text. There are more than 100 cleaners built into the software, the ability to create customized cleaners, and integrates with Automator and AppleScript.In honor of Macworld 2009, TextSoap 6 is currently on sale for 15% off the retail price of $39.95 for a single seat and $69.95 for a family pack through January 16. Use the code MACWORLD2009 when purchasing the software. TextSoap 6 requires OS X 10.5 or later.
PTHPasteboard Pro: multiple clipboards and text filtering
PTHPasteboard Pro is yet another multiple clipboard manager, but this one has a cool little trick up its sleeve: text filters. In addition to saving clipboard history like the many other clipboard manager out there, PTHPasteboard Pro allows you to use 40+ text filters to manipulate and transform the clipboard text. For instance, you can create filters that change the case, wrap and unwrap lines, use smart quotes, etc. Furthermore, you can apply these filters sequentially to achieve some complicated effects (check out the screencast to get a better sense for what you can do). Especially used in sequence these filters can be quite sophisticated, like a less powerful TextSoap or BBEdit Text Factory. The Pro version also offers clipboard syncing across different Macs on the same network.PTHPasteboard Pro is $19.95 and a demo is available. There is also a free version (minus the Pro) that offers just clipboard history without the text filters
