Quicksilver Short Tutorial

Quicksilver is one of the apps I cannot live without (along with PTHPasteboard and Textpander). So, let's go, fellas:

1) Install Quicksilver;

2) Wait 10 minutes or so for it to scan your catalog;

3) Open it using the keyboard shortcut (I use CTRL-Space);

4) Think of the first window as a noun, and the second as a verb. for example, if you type FF and Firefox appears (or if you want Firefox to appear when you type FF, just scroll down the results list and Quicksilver will learn it after you do it one or two times);

5) So, for an app, the second window (verb/action) will show what you can do with it. Naturally the default action will be 'Open' for an application, but you can right click on the second (Action) window and there will be things like 'Show in Finder' and whatnot;

6) If you've allowed QS to scan your address book, the actions will be different, like send mail, show in address book... You can even click the actions window and type 'email' for example, and it will show you some 'hidden' actions (not on the menu) like 'send mail directly' - then a third window will appear, and if you press the dot key you can write what you want and send it without opening your mail program;

7) The dot key is very useful in any window. If you press dot on the first window and type any e-mail address, you can send a mail via the same procedures described in item #6. Or type a URL, you can copy it, open in the browser, well, you get the idea.

This is the type of Application you learn something every day. Sometimes I can't find something using QS (because I didn't set it to scan all my folders) and it takes me some seconds to remember that Spotlight exists.

There are many plugins too - for Cyberduck, Terminal, iTerm, Mail, Automator, iPhoto... Too many to list. And the app's appearance is highly customizable.

I've barely scratched the surface of this app with this post. Take a look at 43 folder's Quicksilver category and you will see what I mean (and keep clicking on 'Previous Posts', there are several pages).