Quicksilver is very powerful, but it is not obvious. It's one of the
reasons I wrote the manual. A lot of people on the forums had similar
questions when they came to the app and at the time QS wasn't open
source, so writing documentation was something I could contribute (I
also wanted an excuse to use iWork Pages). Also, Quicksilver is in
fact easy to use (it why so many people do like it), but note that is
not synonymous with obvious (which is why it's not for everyone).
I see you're new to OS X and haven't used a mac in 20 years. Assuming
you've been using Windows, yes some things are different. Not
necessarily better (though I think many things are) but just
different. I know people that still can't get use to there being one
menu at the top of the screen instead of a menu at the top of each
window. It's very normal for "switchers" to complain that something is
harder when in fact it's just different and unfamiliar.
I very curious when you said "The Quick guide erroneously says the
keyboard short cut- search again short cut- is X. It is -command key
X." I tried to follow what you said and tried to find what you're
referring to since you didn't quote the manual directly. I think it in
the User Manual (version 0.15) you're referring to the first full
paragraph at the top of page 14 (hardly a parenthetical):
"If you mistype something, you can type the delete key or ⌘X to clear
the pane and start over. If you navigate to something via → or /
then these keys will still keep you in the current position but clear
the search. To reset entirely so that you’re using the top-level
global catalog use the esc key. There’s no way to delete just the
last letter typed. "
Note that clover-like symbol before the X (which I hope came through
in the email) means holding down the command key (aka the apple key)
while hitting X. It's standard mac convention to write it this way. In
the Quick Reference at the end under Keyboard Shortcuts, the last two
items are "resets search on current level" and "resets search to top
level", I use the symbols for delete (aka backspace) and escape,
mostly because I have to conserve space. I think those are correct.
If I'm misunderstanding something please let me know, I'd like to
correct it.
Quicksilver provides a LOT of functionality, and often many different
ways to do the same thing. It's use model is not similar to other
applications which is why it is so uniquely useful. I've written 15
versions of this guide and have struggled trying to find the most
useful way to present information without having lots of duplication.
The answer to your question was on the ninth page of text which I
think is pretty good. I first had to explain what the application does
and its basic use, activation and installation. That seems appropriate
to me.
BTW, the delete key does delete the last letter typed when Quicksilver
is in text mode. I'm not sure why in search mode, delete resets the
search; I suspect it's because to select something you usually just
type a few keys. If you've made a mistake it's probably more efficient
to start over rather than figure out which key you went wrong on and
backspacing to it. Escape is also a common "reset" key on many systems
since the 70s. Finally, command-x is the standard shortcut for Cut
which does remove the current selection. It's actually a good standard
choice for that functionality even those most people don't think to
use it in the Quicksilver command window. I don't recall if I had that
experience, but I guarantee you're not the first to experience it.
It's a reason I documented it.
Howard
On Feb 3, 2009, at 5:52 PM, diskifer wrote:
OK-
I had downloaded that suggested guide and his quick ref. My
question is answered in the detailed PDF almost parentheticly with one
sentence on page 14. The Quick guide erroneously says the keyboard
short cut- search again short cut- is X. It is -command key X.
Why do I think its a big deal? The delete or backspace key is the
default universal way to implement text replacement information It
is intuitive-simple. Even (q)uit is more intuitive and my gripe is
that the way this app works on this simple manuveur in non obvious way
& gives me a bad initial impression of what is probably an OK app.
And while I may be the first person to bring this up-guaranteed I'm
not the first person to experience this and if that makes me a troll-
so be it.
It just seems to me this is NOT the kind of thing you should have to
ask for help on a forum. And-as an afterthought-in reading that
guide-
BECAUSE he gets into explaining search hierarchies before he answers
my question-I assumed he did not deal with the issue that was
perplexing me.
Tell me how to start the car before you tell me how to shift gears.
On Feb 3, 4:59 pm, "Jon Stovell (a.k.a. Sesquipedalian)"
<[email protected]> wrote:
By default, QS will reset its search after a few seconds. All you
have
to do is wait a moment and then start typing again in the first pane
of the QS command window and it will begin a new search.
Alternatively, pressing the Delete key (a.k.a. the Backspace key on
Windows machines) while in the first pane will instantly clear the
current search so that you can start typing in a new search right
away.
The same system works in the second pane to allow you to choose
actions to execute on the object in the first pane. If you don't want
to do the default action for an object, press Tab to move to the
second pane, and start typing the name of the action you want to
perform. Press the down arrow to see the list of options if you
aren't
sure what the available actions are.
I highly recommend that you look at Howard Melman's User Guide for
Quicksilver. It will help you get to know the application very
quickly. It is available in the Files section of this website
athttp://groups.google.com/group/blacktree-quicksilver/files
On Feb 3, 3:47 pm, diskifer <[email protected]> wrote:
I just downloaded this app since I am really fumbling trying to find
apps. I haven't used a MAC since 1988.
I don't get it. With Google-if I want to start a new search-I
delete
subject and enter new search terms.
The only way I can find to do the samething here is quit Quicksilver
and relaunch. It come up with nothing (no results if I put in
"reset
search" or similar term.
What am I missing here? Can't seem to find anything in these guides
other than hit ecape. Clears th app-what good is that if you want to
search twice in a row. Was I dropped on my head? Not that I know
of.
