Writer's Essential Apps Updated: Alfred 5 for Mac

[@Stratgem]

It was though the Mac Power Users podcast that I found all things William Gallagher. Ecstatic that I did. Please keep on keeping on. Thank you so much.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Well, thank you; that’s made my night.

[@joecrieda7555]

I did as told and bought Alfred and well yes it is exactly as you say. Thanks for the advice, as always spot on.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Excellent, I am so pleased. Thanks for letting me know.

[@joecrieda7555]

How do you include external drives in your searches ?

[@maxvanbalgooy]

As you noted, I’m only using a fraction of Alfred. Clipboard and search are the most frequently used. I forget what else it can do but there are also things it can do, but don’t understand how to use (e.g. workflows).

[@WilliamGallagher]

It took me a long time - years, I think - to even really think what a workflow could do. Since then, I’ve created only one: it takes the title of a TV show I type in, then reformats it into what the full URL of its episode guide should be on epguides.com. So it just adds a prefix and a suffix, cleans up spacing and so on. But if you look at www.packal.org you’ll find much cleverer ones that other people have created. I use someone’s timezone workflow, for instance, and very often one called Kill which, for instance, lets me type “Kill Microsoft Word” and it force-quits that app immediately.

[@christopherlyons7613]

Thanks for the video. Is there an option to create folders in the clipboard manager to allow you to easily keep related clips together? That would be really helpful. And what if you have some clips that you use repeatedly and just want to keep them forever. Is there any way to do that? Obviously having that ability combined with folders would be awesome! Appreciate any info. Thanks.

[@WilliamGallagher]

If you select some text and use Command-C to copy it, you can select something else and use Command-C-C to both copy the new thing and append it to the last. Then Command-V will paste both. It's not limited to two, you can keep on Command-C-C-ing over and over, which I often do. As for clips that you use repeatedly, I'd look at text expansion for that: www.alfredapp.com/help/features/snippets/

[@anoldslowhorse]

Helpful video, going to download the app too…

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[@utweak]

Thanks for your tips and btw thats a super wide screen you have in the background!

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you. It's surprising how quickly you get used to that width, though: sometimes I'd like it to be a bit wider.

[@gustavopellegrini1995]

there is an app called Maccy that is free and does the same features as Alfred clipboard

[@WilliamGallagher]

I didn't know that one. I must have at least five clipboard manager apps, I'm not surprised there are more. Possibly surprised that Apple doesn't just include the feature itself.

[@gustavopellegrini1995]

@@WilliamGallagher maccy is the best app, i promisse

[@AndrewCanion]

I’ve tried Alfred but keep coming back to Launchbar.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I should have mentioned Launcher, that was wrong of me. A long time ago now, I reviewed them both together for something and I know you'd be happy with either, but Alfred had quite an edge for me. I'm startled that I forgot about it in my excitement about the new Alfred 5. I'll keep an eye out for the next major Launcher update and see what I can do. Thanks, I appreciate this.

[@AndrewCanion]

@@WilliamGallagher Launchbar development is glacial, but it continues to work so I continue to use it. Directory navigation with keyboard arrows and "instant send" are melded into my fingers now.

[@heartmommyinpa]

I have free Alfred 4 that I installed when I got my new computer. Will have to check out Alfred 5

[@WilliamGallagher]

I think the makers are very generous with what you get in the free version, but I’m not sure how much of that has changed with the new version. I don’t believe you lose any free features by going to version 5, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[@wesselpretorius3101]

Except that you love it, explain what it does... what problems do it solve. I am happy that you are happy, I want to be happy as well

[@WilliamGallagher]

Hand on heart, I don't follow you here: the whole video is about what Alfred 5 does.

[@tripley66]

OK, I know more about Alfred the Great now, but is there a kill process for the heat available? What is the temperature in your office right now?

[@WilliamGallagher]

It’s 18°C here - but here is outside. Fresh air. It won’t catch on.