The use of universal plain-text templates is just one example for optimizing one's daily workflows.

Which tools or techniques do you use for minimizing your computer-administrative overhead so you can spend more time getting real work done?


GreetinX,

Jochen.

O.K. one extra simple example which everyone should know, never open your applications folder again, use spotlight to search for the app name, never taking your fingers from the keyboard, "⌘-<Space> ter <return>" opens terminal for example.

Ed

Namely is even faster, because it searches only applications. It also remembers which ones you pick most often, so they bubble to the top of the list.

 namely_menu.jpg ( 17.76K ) Number of downloads: 3

Gotta love this tidbit from Namely's product page:

And unlike some other launchers, it doesn't require any learning.

Well, if you are willing to tackle their learning curve, you may want to give Quicksilver, Butler, or LaunchBar a try.

They definitely do require more effort to learn, but they do a lot more than just launch apps. Using Quicksilver, which is my favorite in this trio, here's (yet another) example for what neat actions these tools make possible

One of the most effective features in Quicksilver is its "Command window with selection" keyboard shortcut. This opens Quicksilver's command window, populating the Subject pane with whatever is currently selected: a set of files in the Finder, some text in an editor, tracks in iTunes, a URL in Safari, etc. In most cases, the pre-selected Action is exactly what you need, e.g., "Open" when a URL was selected.

So, when you see a URL in a text file inside an app that does not make that link clickable, you just select it, hit Command-Escape followed by Return, and that URL is opened in a new browser window. Compare that to the old-fashioned way: select the URL, copy it, Command-Tab to the browser (if it's already running...), open a new window, paste the URL, hit return.