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Sell Me Quicksilver...

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 Sprint:MotoQ (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 176x220))

I've found that the real power of QS isn't so much just launching apps, but doing things without first opening apps. For example, when I want to stream a radio station, I could go to Firefox, wait for it to open, go to bookmarks, then load the bookmark OR I can invoke QS and type the first 2 letters of the bookmark and hit enter. Very fast.

The other thing I love doing is using QS to email a doc from my desktop. Instead of going to Entourage, starting a new message, typing the addressee, then finding and attaching the document I want to send, I highlight the doc I want to send, invoke QS, and type 'cur' to get 'current item' then 'ma' to 'mail' it, then 'jo' to mail it to 'john' for example. You can even use comma between addressees to send to multiple recipients.

It took me a week or so (plus reading the aforementioned Merlin docs) to 'get it' but now I couldn't be without it!
 
There are also all the web search plugins. Type a word choose wiki, imdb, google, yahoo etc. and the search page opens in the default browser.
 
There are some things that I don't understand, I'm a complete newbie at QS and I'm liking it so far, but I can't for example search in spotlight, I should type Spot and it only shows spotlight preference pane... not search function.. what gives?

And for some reason it cant even find my files under Pictures... I have a folder called "Fotos" or "Londres" and I type "Londres" and it shows something that has nothing to do with it.. or it shows "~pictures/londres" I type spot and it opens a window and searches on spotlight and finds nothing ....
 
I didn't like Quicksilver at first and I forced myself to get in the habit of using it...it learns what you want fairly quickly though...and once it did that and I switched to the bezel interface, I found myself using it a lot more.

Now I can't live without it- I use it for controlling iTunes, too. Much better than a lot of dock items or going into your apps folder.
 
I don't think you should get anyone to sell you on it, because you will never fully understand it's greatness just by hearing people talk about it. You need to use it yourself. Why not just give it a try? That's what I do with new applications that sound interesting, download it, run it, if I like it I keep it, if not, just delete it.

I felt like I wasn't using it a lot, but then I realized how much I do use it by using computers without it. I found it such a pain to actually go into the applications folder to launch a program that isn't in the dock. Also, I use the triggers for itunes, it lets me change the song, pause, continue, etc from any program by using a short key combo.

The thing with quicksilver is there is SO much it can do, you may never know all of its functions! I know that I can use it to send attachments in emails super fast but I hardly ever do it because I don't remember that I have that ability.

I suggest downloading it, then read that pdf (or start to, it's pretty long and you may want to pace yourself through it) and try out the things that are suggested. You'll probably find yourself using it all the time for application launching and then slowly learning to use it for other functions.
 
Yes, I also read a lot of hype about QS, so I figure there's got to be something to it. It's just that given my workflow, I've never experienced a need for it so far.

Re: launching apps... 90% of the time, I use the same 20 apps. The ones I use most often - the top 5, I've got on my dock, so it's superfast to get to, and my dock is very sparse otherwise. The other 15 apps I've got sitting in Overflow - so that's just one click, and all 15 icons sit there for me to pick. Also super fast. Finally, for the more rare apps, I got the applications folder in the dock, I right-click the folder, all the apps jump out in alphabetical order and I can pick whatever.

Bottom line: I don't see how QS is faster or more convenient for app launching for MY needs.

Also, most of the work I do, such as film/music editing involves a fair amout of use of the mouse, so I have no problem doing one or two clicks - I don't find QS useful here either, since I still have to invoke it.

Searching for files - Spotlight is good enough for me.

I'm sure there's a lot more to QS, but what can I tell you - I haven't felt a huge void in my life because I don't use it. So... /shrug. Maybe one day I'll fool around with it... but I've been saying that for 2 years now.
 
i like using qs for launching the applications i don't have stored on my doc, as well as quickly launching a specific document or photo buried 7 layers deep in the finder... i also use it to easily compose an email message to any one in my address book or attach a file to said email.... my favorite use of quicksilver is simply having control of my itunes while it is minimized and out of sight... so i can be surfing the web writing a paper or whatever and pause, play, or change a song through custom triggers without ever leaving my current window or restoring itunes for that matter.
 
Sptz said:
There are some things that I don't understand, I'm a complete newbie at QS and I'm liking it so far, but I can't for example search in spotlight, I should type Spot and it only shows spotlight preference pane... not search function.. what gives?

And for some reason it cant even find my files under Pictures... I have a folder called "Fotos" or "Londres" and I type "Londres" and it shows something that has nothing to do with it.. or it shows "~pictures/londres" I type spot and it opens a window and searches on spotlight and finds nothing ....
Click to expand...

For a spotlight search in QS, launch QS and type "." This is the "shortcut" for text input. Tab over to the other pane and then type spotlight. You'll get options to show results in finder (my preference), a window, or in the QS command list.

As for your other problem, make sure that your pictures folder is in your catalog. If you're not sure how to do that, PM me and I'll walk you through it.
 
Even if I never used QS to launch any apps, I will always have it on my machine for the 'Extra Scripts' plug-in.

When I am at work, and walk away to go to the bathroom, etc, I want a simple keystroke to lock the computer. On Windows, CTRL-ALT-DELETE, then RETURN was it.

There is no simple command built into OS X to do that. But with QuickSilver, I just now type Option+Space (my command to get to QA), F-A (which brings up 'Fast Logout'), RETURN.

I now have the muscle memory to get my screen locked in 2 seconds -- very nice!
 
To add to the QS Love,

I've been using quicksilver for almost 4 years and it's become a daily part of my computer use.

It does so much without being in the way.

I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said already, except of what I use QS for.

It is the best way to review your clipboard. It remembers my last 20 items and I can scroll through them and paste them somewhere, email it, start an im, open a browser for the link.
Along with the clipboard viewer it has a shelf. Its similar to the clipboard except that its the program storing it, not the os, and the shelf is made to hold a lot of stuff, not only the last one.
idk
I love it and have a hard time using a mac without it.
 
I love QuickSilver. But, I'd love it even more if somebody could help me with this.


Is there a way to search for a files through the entire Finder? I want to be able to launch documents and look at images just by typing some letters in. If anybody knows, that would be awesome. :)
 
iMacBook said:
I love QuickSilver. But, I'd love it even more if somebody could help me with this.


Is there a way to search for a files through the entire Finder? I want to be able to launch documents and look at images just by typing some letters in. If anybody knows, that would be awesome. :)
Click to expand...

If I know what folder a document is in, I usually type the folder name and then hit / followed by the first few letters of a document.

For example, if I have an "Invoice" file in the documents folder I can type: Doc/Inv
 
Efficiency. I work less because QuickSilver lets me do more work faster. All the plugins are there, just make them fit you. And then you're set.
 
Squeak825 said:
Even if I never used QS to launch any apps, I will always have it on my machine for the 'Extra Scripts' plug-in.

When I am at work, and walk away to go to the bathroom, etc, I want a simple keystroke to lock the computer. On Windows, CTRL-ALT-DELETE, then RETURN was it.

There is no simple command built into OS X to do that. But with QuickSilver, I just now type Option+Space (my command to get to QA), F-A (which brings up 'Fast Logout'), RETURN.

I now have the muscle memory to get my screen locked in 2 seconds -- very nice!
Click to expand...

If you have fast user switching on and your username shows up in the corner of your computer. All you have to do is click it and select "login window".
 
iMacBook said:
Is there a way to search for a files through the entire Finder? I want to be able to launch documents and look at images just by typing some letters in. If anybody knows, that would be awesome. :)
Click to expand...

Make sure and add all files you wish to search for in your catalogue. I added my itunes music and movies files to the custom tab in the catalogue and can now search for any song via quicksilver. If you add a folder that has folders within it, click on the info button and then in the window you can change the depth so all files within folders within that folder can be searched for.
 
Squeak825 said:
Even if I never used QS to launch any apps, I will always have it on my machine for the 'Extra Scripts' plug-in.

When I am at work, and walk away to go to the bathroom, etc, I want a simple keystroke to lock the computer. On Windows, CTRL-ALT-DELETE, then RETURN was it.

There is no simple command built into OS X to do that. But with QuickSilver, I just now type Option+Space (my command to get to QA), F-A (which brings up 'Fast Logout'), RETURN.

I now have the muscle memory to get my screen locked in 2 seconds -- very nice!
Click to expand...

There's an even quicker way to do this. Just make a trigger for Fast Logout. I have it set to Apple-L. You don't even have to invoke quicksilver. It's done in 0.5 seconds
 
webgoat said:
Make sure and add all files you wish to search for in your catalogue. I added my itunes music and movies files to the custom tab in the catalogue and can now search for any song via quicksilver. If you add a folder that has folders within it, click on the info button and then in the window you can change the depth so all files within folders within that folder can be searched for.
Click to expand...

Okay. I added a catalog for my entire Pictures folder (see image below).

Nothing is coming up. I relaunched QS, but it still isn't getting an image inside my Pictures folder.

Say I have an image in Pictures/funny pictures/funny pictures called base.jpg. I hit my hotkeys, and I begin typing base. Nothing comes up.

picture1uk8.png
 
hmmm... did you click the refresh button next to the info button after changing the depth to infinite? you have to rescan after changing it
 
webgoat said:
hmmm... did you click the refresh button next to the info button after changing the depth to infinite? you have to rescan after changing it
Click to expand...

Wow. I feel stupid. It works now. I was wondering what that little icon did too.

Well, now I know.

Quick question, how would I setup a trigger to get the Preferences up for QS?
 
iMacBook said:
Quick question, how would I setup a trigger to get the Preferences up for QS?
Click to expand...

I think by default once you open the command interface hitting command ' will open the preference window... if you want to make it one step shorter then open preferences and go to the triggers tab... click on the + at the bottom select hot key and then type in pref in the interface and it should bring up QS preferences as one of the options, select it and then hit save.... then hit the info button at the bottom and input your desired command in the hot key spot... i just set mine to option command p
 
webgoat said:
I think by default once you open the command interface hitting command ' will open the preference window... if you want to make it one step shorter then open preferences and go to the triggers tab... click on the + at the bottom select hot key and then type in pref in the interface and it should bring up QS preferences as one of the options, select it and then hit save.... then hit the info button at the bottom and input your desired command in the hot key spot... i just set mine to option command p
Click to expand...

The QS preference thing won't come up.
 
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