Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
combineAlfredfeatureswithsystemcommandsandscriptstoformvaguelymacro-liketools;
see
Use Another Macro Utility
)
.
Butler
Butler
pops up a floating window when you press its hot key (Control-Space by default),
and as you start typing, the results initially look much like those in the Spotlight menu.
However, unlike Spotlight, Butler can learn your favorite apps, files, and other items as you
use it. You can also trigger Butler from a menu, a hot corner, or a user-defined abbreviation.
Butler offers the usual range of launcher actions—opening files and applications, searching
the Web, running AppleScripts, controlling iTunes, and so on. It also includes a clipboard
history (see
Use a Macro or Launcher Utility
)
.
Unfortunately, although Butler has lots of capabilities, I find its user interface nearly
inscrutable, and its included documentation isn't much help either. Perhaps it was just
designedforsomeonewhoapproachessoftwaredifferentlythanIdo,butitseemedtorequire
too much thought and effort to decode its features, problems I didn't experience with any of
the other launchers I tried.
Quicksilver
Quicksilver
isafree(donationsaccepted),slick,andhighlymodularlauncher.Itincludesjust
a few built-in features, but you can add any of dozens of free
plugins
to enhance the app with
additional capabilities. Some of these plugins provide controls for specific apps (Apple Mail,
Evernote, Google Chrome, iPhoto, iTunes, Safari, and others) while others add lower-level
features (such as image and text manipulation, access to the windows and menus of open
apps, calculations, a clipboard history, and text manipulation).
You bring up the Quicksilver display by pressing a hot key (Control-Space by default), and
then start typing to find items to launch. You can also assign hot keys to many other actions,
such as iTunes controls. With the right plugins, you can also trigger actions with mouse
actions, trackpad gestures, or system events (such as an application quitting or a file being
compressed).
Organize Files with Hazel
You're probably familiar with the way email rules work (whether or not you use them
yourself; see
Automate Email
)
. When a message comes in, your email program checks to see
if the conditions in your first rule match. If so, it performs the actions associated with that
rule (such as filing the message in a mailbox, deleting it, or replying to it); if not, it moves on
to the next rule.
