A little setup.
A lot less repetition.

Open PAD

When the public release is available, download it from the official PAD product page. The current portable build needs to be extracted into a folder you can write to. Keep its files together and run the application from the extracted folder.

PAD starts in the system tray and shows a small teal PAD tab at your screen edge. Click the tab to reveal your buttons. Drag the tab to a comfortable position; use Hide to collapse the panel.

The free edition provides ten buttons, numbered 0–9. The current starter setup includes sample text, a Select all shortcut and a Notepad launcher. You can edit the buttons to suit your own tasks.

Create your first reusable reply

1. Click an empty button, or right-click a button and select Edit button.
2. Give it a useful label, such as Acknowledgement.
3. Choose + Text and enter the wording you want to reuse.
4. Use Test in scratch area to check the text inside PAD.
5. Choose Save button when you’re happy with it.

Keep the reusable part generic. Add names, dates and other message-specific details in the destination application, then review the result before sending.

Check the target, then click

1. Open the app or document you want to use.
2. Click exactly where the text should go.
3. Open the PAD tab and check the Target display.
4. Click your saved button, then review the inserted text.

PAD normally remembers the external window that was active before you opened it. Other destination choices include a selected window or an executable name. A target identifies a window, not the field or browser tab inside it.

Give a button more than one step

The editor lets you arrange a sequence using these action types:

Use Move up and Move down to put actions in order. Test app and file-opening actions through the explicitly confirmed Test destination workflow; the scratch-area test is for text and keys.

Record keys captures keyboard presses and their timing inside a dedicated scratch window. Escape finishes recording. Review the actions before saving. It does not capture mouse actions or monitor your typing in other programs.

Paste quickly or type gradually

Instant paste inserts a Text action in one operation. Type at selected speed adds a delay between characters. Recorded and custom timing modes provide more control over a sequence.

Explicit pauses apply in every mode. Timing values are in milliseconds: 1,000 ms is one second. Try the sequence in a harmless destination first and allow extra time for slower applications.

PAD attempts to preserve and restore supported clipboard contents when pasting. If the destination consumes a paste slowly, adjust the restore wait or use typing mode.

Back up your buttons

The current portable build saves its settings in a Data folder beside the application. Keep that folder when moving or updating PAD, and make a separate backup before changing the setup.

Settings → Privacy & files provides an export option and execution-history controls. A complete export can include local settings and registration details, so review it before sharing.

Saved macros are plain text. Use PAD for everyday wording and shortcuts; keep passwords, payment details and other secrets in an appropriate secure store.

Quick checks

My text went to the wrong place

Stop the macro. Click the intended text field, reopen PAD and check Target. PAD cannot pick the correct field, document or tab within an application for you.

Nothing happens in the destination

Test the same text in Notepad. Make sure no modifier keys are held down. Protected or elevated programs and some remote sessions may not accept simulated input.

A window looks blank

The current build includes repaint fixes. The tray menu also offers Refresh windows. Use the latest official release when one becomes available.

I need an explanation of a control

Enable hover help using Help: on/off on the pad, or the corresponding setting in General. Hover over a control to read its explanation.