Show Menu Items Command not Working

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Bryan C

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May 27, 2008, 7:22:09 AM5/27/08
to Blacktree: Quicksilver
Hi,

I am trying to use the Quicksilver to show all the my menu items in
various applications. In theory, this should allow me to type "Current
Application" + "Show Menu Items" and view all the menu bar commands in
whatever application I am using.

I have followed all the steps outlined here (http://www.43folders.com/
2007/03/12/tme-quicksilver-application-menus) but it won't work.

Anyone else have the same problem? I am using Leopard.

guns

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May 27, 2008, 4:33:52 PM5/27/08
to Blacktree: Quicksilver
On May 27, 6:22 am, Bryan C <bryan.collin...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am trying to use the Quicksilver to show all the my menu items in
> various applications. In theory, this should allow me to type "Current
> Application" + "Show Menu Items" and view all the menu bar commands in
> whatever application I am using.

Hello.

If you're using Leopard, every help menu item has a search bar that
has exactly the same functionality. You can reach it by pressing
'Command-?'. If you find that key combo a little uncomfortable, you
can change it in Keyboard.prefpane. I have it mapped to F1, and I use
it all the time.

I lied about it having the same functionality however: Disadvantages
include a more rigid searching style (spaces matter), and having to
arrow down to your selection. On the plus side, it works in all
applications, not just Cocoa apps, and it actually shows you the menu
item and any keyboard shortcuts it may have. It's a little bit of a
wash really.

guns

Mark Wilden

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May 27, 2008, 5:52:00 PM5/27/08
to blacktree-...@googlegroups.com
On May 27, 2008, at 1:33 PM, guns wrote:

> If you're using Leopard, every help menu item has a search bar that
> has exactly the same functionality.

The help menu approach won't show you all menu items, which is what I
would like.

///ark

guns

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May 27, 2008, 6:13:51 PM5/27/08
to Blacktree: Quicksilver
It's been a long time since I've used the "Show Menu Items" trick in
Tiger, but the Help search bar reliably searches through all the menu
items for me, excepting those under the Apple and Help menus. It even
searches through bookmarks and history items in browsers, so that it
could make a (much slower) replacement to the various QS browser
plugins.

Which menu items are you unable to access through the search bar?

Mark Wilden

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May 27, 2008, 6:22:02 PM5/27/08
to blacktree-...@googlegroups.com
On May 27, 2008, at 3:13 PM, guns wrote:

> Which menu items are you unable to access through the search bar?

You can start typing, and it will search to match what you've typed.
The Quicksilver trick -shows- you all menu times first. I'd like that
because the first thing I do when I start with a new program is to
look at all the menu choices to see if there's anything interesting.
The Quicksilver trick would let me do that.

///ark

guns

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May 27, 2008, 6:54:24 PM5/27/08
to Blacktree: Quicksilver
Well, while I agree that having the functionality in QS is more
convenient, I think the help search functionality is probably
comparable enough for the OP and most people.

Plus, as a I mentioned before, you get the significant advantage of
searchable help in non-Cocoa apps. I would find using the Adobe suite
unbearable without it for example.

guns

Mark Wilden

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May 27, 2008, 7:10:57 PM5/27/08
to blacktree-...@googlegroups.com
On May 27, 2008, at 3:54 PM, guns wrote:

> Well, while I agree that having the functionality in QS is more
> convenient, I think the help search functionality is probably
> comparable enough for the OP and most people.

I'm not comparing the two approaches in an either/or fashion. I was
just explaining one difference, that's all.

////ark

Ben Davey

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May 28, 2008, 1:33:27 AM5/28/08
to blacktree-...@googlegroups.com
Hey,

I'm currently working on a new version of this plugin. So far i've written an applescript to get all menu items into a list, however I still need to tie this into the quicksilver plugin environment... At the moment, the proxy environment is still confusing me a little bit in terms of how to code it up...

Given that I have my final year university exams coming up, this may take a little bit of time. I'm hoping i should have something up by mid-july. Will post when its ready.

Cheers,

Ben

mbhiebert

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May 28, 2008, 3:13:14 PM5/28/08
to Blacktree: Quicksilver
Hi,

I'm glad I found your question. I had the same problem when I saw the
video on 43folders, until I found this link:
http://www.celsius1414.com/node/1432

The step by step helped a lot, and with the custom trigger I found it
a great way to access all the menu items without having to remember
all the keyboard shortcuts in different apps.

It worked perfectly when I was running Tiger, and I used it a ton...
but since I upgraded to Leopard, QS has been unstable and the proxy
objects aren't working properly. Once in a while when I newly launch
an app, I can access menu items this way... so I know I'm close to
having it working... but when I switch apps or if I've been running an
app for a while, the functionality is lost and the keyboard trigger
does nothing.

If anyone has any suggestions for how to get this working please let
me know.

Thanks,
Matt

http://www.aroundsquare.com
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