WORK SMARTER
Shortcut searches to transform the way that you work
Transform your work with search shortcuts
iT will TAke
10 minutes
yOu will leARn
How to search for files quickly and easily
yOu’ll need
OS X 10.11 or later (some steps macOS Mojave-specific), Alfred 4
Alfred, a search-based substitute for much of the functions of Finder, Spotlight and more, triggers complex series of actions using just a few quick keystrokes. It’s ideal if you primarily work on the keyboard, although still works well when driven by mouse or trackpad. Its free version opens up sufficient of its key features to help you decide whether it fits with the way that you work. If you do find that it works for you, you may want to buy the Powerpack (£23) to gain access to many more features.
When you’ve set it up in the main menu bar (with necessary access to privacy-protected data for Mojave), by default Alfred’s main search window opens with the ç+Space bar shortcut, and presents as a search bar similar to Spotlight. Depending on your next key press, it then offers different types of search. You can either navigate its list of hits, or press a second key to narrow its choices. Alfred learns continuously what you do most frequently, and adapts its list of hits according to your recent actions.
Powerpack option
Alfred’s Powerpack adds major features with the control of other apps using Workflows, and gives access to the Clipboard and Snippets. In Workflows, you wire up a visual programming environment like Automator which operates through AppleEvents to control suitably receptive apps. It also runs AppleScripts, command tools and shell scripts; the debugger here allows you to trace steps and identify and correct any errors.