Snippets
Snippets turn a short spoken trigger into longer canned text. After dictation, Kalam finds your trigger in the transcript and replaces it with the expansion before pasting into the target app. Use them for signatures, addresses, boilerplate, and phrases you say often — without typing.
What you see
| Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Snippets title | Subtitle: Text shortcuts for quick expansion. |
| New Snippet | Opens the side panel to create a snippet |
| How snippets work | Collapsible built-in guidance (closed by default) |
| Search | Placeholder Search snippets... (when you have at least one snippet) |
| Snippet cards | Trigger (as code) and expansion preview; click to edit |
How snippets work
Expand How snippets work on the page for the same rules Kalam shows in-app:
- After dictation, Kalam looks for your trigger in the transcribed text and replaces it with the expansion before the result is pasted into the target app.
- There is no special prefix: whatever you save as the trigger is the exact substring that must appear in the transcript (same words, symbols, and spacing as Kalam transcribes; matching ignores case).
- If one trigger appears inside another, longer triggers are applied first so a short code does not break a longer phrase.
- Snippets do not expand on profiles with Improve enabled — the AI transcript is pasted as-is.
On modes with Improve on, snippets (and dictionary replacements / voice commands) do not run. Turn Improve off for that mode when you need expansions, or put the final wording in AI writing instructions instead. See AI polish.
Prefixes like new note and copy this are claimed on raw STT before snippets run. A snippet trigger that matches a voice action will never expand.
Side panel
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Exact phrase as it appears in transcripts |
| Hint under Trigger | Must match exactly what Kalam transcribes (same spelling and spacing). |
| Expansion | Text to insert instead of the trigger |
| Save / Cancel / Delete | Persist, dismiss, or remove |
Panel titles: New snippet or Edit snippet. Both trigger and expansion are required.
Common tasks
Create a snippet
- Open Snippets.
- Optionally read How snippets work.
- Click New Snippet.
- Enter Trigger and Expansion.
- Click Save.
Use a snippet while dictating
- Start dictation as usual.
- Speak so the transcript includes your trigger (same wording Kalam will write).
- When the session finishes, Kalam substitutes the expansion, then pastes into the focused app.
If expansion never fires, check History for how Kalam spelled the trigger. Update the Trigger field to match that spelling and spacing.
Search snippets
- With snippets present, use Search snippets...
- Matches against both trigger and expansion text.
- Empty result: No snippets match your search.
Edit a snippet
- Click a snippet card.
- Change Trigger and/or Expansion.
- Click Save. (Changing the trigger replaces the old one.)
Delete a snippet
- Open the snippet.
- Click Delete.
- Confirm Delete this snippet?
Plan notes
| Capability | Free | Pro / Trial | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create and use snippets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sync snippets with workspace settings | No | Yes | Yes |
| Modes with Improve (snippets skipped) | Improve locked (snippets always apply) | Yes | Yes |
See Sync across devices.
Related
- Dictionary — vocabulary and post-transcription replacements
- AI polish — when Improve blocks expansions
- Dictation modes — per-mode Improve
- Hotkeys and voice — dictation hotkeys and voice commands
- Voice actions — do not reuse as snippet triggers