TAB File – What is .tab file and how to open it?

TAB File Format

TAB files are used by Typinator, a text expansion software application developed by Ergonis Software. Typinator allows users to create and manage custom text replacements, known as “snippets.” These snippets can be automatically inserted into text documents as you type certain trigger words or phrases. TAB files contain collections of these snippets, allowing users to easily share and organize their text expansions.

Features and Uses

TAB files provide several key features for managing text snippets. They allow users to:

• Create and modify snippets: Users can create new snippets or edit existing ones within the TAB file.
• Organize snippets into groups: TAB files can be used to group related snippets together, making them easier to find and manage.
• Import and export snippets: TAB files can be imported or exported to share snippets between different devices or with other users.
• Synchronize snippets across devices: With Typinator’s cloud synchronization service, TAB files can be synchronized across multiple devices, ensuring that users always have access to their latest text expansions.

TAB files are an essential tool for users who rely on Typinator’s text expansion capabilities. They provide a convenient and efficient way to manage and organize snippets, making it easier for users to save time and increase their productivity when writing text.

Opening TAB Files on Windows and Mac

To open a TAB file on Windows, you will need to have Typinator, a text expansion utility, installed. Once you have Typinator installed, you can double-click on the TAB file to open it in the program. On a Mac, you can also use Typinator to open TAB files. Alternatively, you can use a text editor like TextEdit or Sublime Text to open the TAB file.

Using Typinator to Open TAB Files

Typinator is a paid software available for both Windows and Mac. It allows you to create and manage text expansions, which can be used to automate typing tasks. TAB files contain sets of Typinator expansions, which can be imported into the program to add new abbreviations and macros. To import a TAB file into Typinator, click on the “File” menu and select “Import Set”. Then, navigate to the TAB file you want to import and click “Open”. The expansions from the TAB file will be added to your Typinator library.

Additional Information

TAB files are plain text files that contain a list of Typinator expansions. Each expansion is defined on a separate line, with the abbreviation followed by a tab character and then the full text of the expansion. For example, the following TAB file contains a single expansion that expands the abbreviation “brb” to “be right back”:


brb be right back


You can edit TAB files directly in a text editor if you want to make changes to the expansions. However, it is recommended that you use Typinator to import and manage TAB files, as the program provides a user-friendly interface and additional features for managing text expansions.

Typinator Set File (TAB)

TAB files, short for Typinator Set Files, are proprietary data files utilized by Typinator, an automated text expansion and replacement tool developed by Ergonis Software. These files serve as containers for collections of text expansion rules, snippets, abbreviations, and other automated text processing configurations. By importing TAB files, users can quickly load and apply customized text transformation settings tailored to specific projects or workflows.

Typinator Set Files comprise a hierarchical structure that organizes text expansion rules into groups and subfolders. This intuitive file format enables users to seamlessly create, manage, and share sets of automated text manipulations. TAB files are readily interchangeable between different installations of Typinator, facilitating the transfer of customized text processing configurations across multiple devices or computers, ensuring consistency and efficiency in text management. Additionally, TAB files can serve as a backup solution, preserving valuable text expansion settings for recovery or migration purposes.

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