Configuration Items
The following items may be part of your configuration. This list is structured to resemble the [+] pop-up menu you use for adding items to your configuration.
First and foremost, containers are Butler's way of grouping items, which makes them appear quite similar to the file system's folders/directories. However, containers also let you ...
- have a container's content pop up in a menu.
- launch a container's (immediate) children sequentially, similar to tab groups in modern browsers.
Use these to launch applications/open files and folders. "File" items are generated whenever you drag files from the Finder to Butler's configuration.
Use these to manage and access your bookmarks with Butler. "Site" items are generated whenever you drag a URL from your browser to Butler's configuration.
Put a "Separator" item in a container to have a menu separator appear in the corresponding menu.
The content of "Comment" items will be displayed as non-selectable items in menus. They don't have any other purpose.
These items represent non-trivial functionality in Butler, i.e., things that are not related to simply launching a file or accessing a URL. The following Smart Items are currently available:
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Smart user switching
Does exactly the same as the "Fast user switching" menu extra that was introduced in Mac OS X 10.3. Use this to save menu bar space.
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Volumes
Lets you browse all active volumes in Butler's menus. Drag a "Volumes" Smart Item to the top level of your configuration to have a menu bar item for each volume.
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System preferences
Lets you browse all system preference panes.
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AppleScript
"AppleScript" Smart Items let you run individual AppleScripts. "Script Menu" can be used to replace OS X's script menu.
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Spotlight
Use this one to enter Spotlight queries more effectively.
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Web search
Using "Web search" Smart Items, you can trigger web searches without having to visit the search engine's homepage first.
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My homepage
Makes your default browser visit your homepage, as represented by the global homepage setting, which is available in Mac OS X 10.2 or earlier.
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External bookmarks
These Smart Items let your browse your browser's bookmarks without having to import them first.
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Address book
"Address book" lets you browse your address book's contents. Use "Address book: WWW"/"Address book: E-Mail" Smart Items to extract web sites/e-mail addresses only.
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Calendar
Use this group of Smart Items as remote controls for your calendar application. (Currently supports MenuCalendarClock and its predecessor, Calendarclock.)
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Pasteboard
Use this group of Smart Items to work with Butler's recent pasteboards stack.
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Text
Lets you enter frequently used text snippets.
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Keystrokes
Lets you automate keystroke sequences.
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iTunes
Use this group of Smart Items to control iTunes.
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System
Use this group of Smart Items to perform system-related tasks. For instance, you can trigger your screensaver or summon the login window (Mac OS X 10.3 or later).
Depending on whether you have installed any plug-ins for Butler, instances of those may be added to your configuration.
Obviously, "Control" items are for controling your Butler. Here's what they do:
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About Butler
Shows the "About" section of Butler's main window.
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Enter abbreviation...
Displays Butler's abbreviations window. "Enter abbreviation..." controls also let you filter your search results for certain categories, making it possible to use different "Enter abbreviation..." controls for different purposes.
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Create bookmark
Creates a bookmark (i.e., a "Site" item) within Butler which points to the site you're currently looking at with your frontmost application. Please note that, as of now, this only works with Safari.
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Customize configuration...
Displays the "Configuration" section of Butler's main window.
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Search configuration...
Displays the "Configuration" section of Butler's main window and activates the "Search..." input field near the bottom of that section.
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Customize search engines...
Displays the "Search Engines" section of Butler's main window.
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Preferences
Displays the "Preferences" section of Butler's main window.
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Update
Updates Butler's caches. This is most important with regard to launching items via abbreviation.
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Help
Displays the documentation you're currently looking at.
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Quit
Quits Butler.