Getting Finder results into LiveCode

[Peter M. Brigham]

On Jan 13, 2016, at 12:21 AM, Kay C Lan wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 4:39 AM, Peter M. Brigham <pmbrig at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> I use a utility called Alfred on my Mac...
> 
> 
> 
>> It allows you to search for files whose name contain <whatever>, and also
>> allows you to search for files whose contents contain <whatever>.
> 
> 
> This is the default way Spotlight works, it searches both for name or
> content. If you want to restrict to content only:
> 
> intext:livecode revolution metacard
> 
> This will find any document that contains all three words
> 
> livecode OR revolution OR metacard
> 
> This will find any file whose name or content contains either of the words
> listed.
> 
> I only get one hit for the first seach: LiveCode Mobile Development
> Beginner's Guide [eBook].pdf
> 
> 
>> Plus it allows hotkeys for launching apps or files,
> 
> 
> What is your hotkey for Skype and Safari? I type cmd+spacebar s return and
> Skype is up and running. I type cmd+spacebar sa return and Safari starts.
> cmd+s is already taken so you can't be saving too many key strokes ;-)
> 
> Once any file is found and hilited in Spotlight pressing Return will open
> it in it's default Application.

With Alfred, you can assign any document or app any free hotkey. I use control-option-<x> for all launching shortcuts, and I have a shortcut for all my frequently used LC stacks, as well as for a few other documents.

> and a clipboard with memory -- see a list of the past 40 or 50 pieces of
>> text you've copied and insert the one you want with a keypress.
> 
> 
> Yes that is a very very useful feature.

I use it all the time

> Plus a whole lot more.

for instance, summon Alfred, type ">"  then enter a shell command, and it sends the command to Terminal. Control iTunes as well.

> To learn more about Alfred I Googled Alfred vs Spotlight and came up with
> this website:
> 
> https://www.quora
> .com/Will-the-new-Spotlight-in-OS-X-Yosemite-replace-Alfred?share=1
> 
> Which had this rather interesting list:
> 
> These are some of the extra things Alfred has:
>>    Alfred can close apps with the Quit <app name> command.
>>    Alfred can find a file and reveal it in finder with Find <file name>
>> command.
>>    Alfred can search Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia.
>>    Alfred can set limit for the search.
>>    Alfred can open URLs in browser.
>>    Alfred can Shutdown, Sleep and Restart a Mac.
> 
> 
> I use cmd+q to Quit an app. Seems a lot quicker than typing: quit appname

Yeah, never use this, seems superfluous

> If a folder or file is hilited in Spotlight cmd+r will open a new finder
> window and reveal it's locations, no special Find command required.
> 
> Spotlight only searches Google and Wikipedia, not Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo
> which is my browser's default search engine.
> 
> Not sure what 'limit for the search' means. If I want just apps, or just
> folders, or just movies I can specify that.
> 
> If a URL exists in your bookmarks or history or an entry you've placed into
> a search engine, then typing this into Spotlight will get hits under the
> 'Web Page' category and clicking on any of these will open the page in your
> default web browser. If it's an unknown web address I'm not sure why you'd
> be typing it into Alfred and not simply typing it into your browser?
> 
> No, Spotlight can't Shutdown, Restart or Sleep my Mac.
> 
>> I like the user interface
> 
> And really that's all that matters. If you are more productive because
> it's interface suits you better then that's all that counts. I mention
> these things not in an attempt to dissuade you from doing what you are
> doing but for others who may not appreciate what Spotlight can do for them;
> or have been given incorrect information as to what Spotlight can do.

Right. It's all about what comes naturally to the individual user.

Actually, if Alfred didn't exist, I'd do fine with just using Spotlight, except for the clipboard history function, which I use constantly, eg, copying multiple LC fields, then going to another card/stack and pasting them one by one -- no constant back-and-forth. And I like the launching shortcuts.

-- Peter

Peter M. Brigham
pmbrig at gmail.com
http://home.comcast.net/~pmbrig