dfay

bonus points for getting @deanishe to write applescript 

Google Drive and iCloud are known to do a rotten job of syncing Alfred's preferences, and the online help advises against using them.

The help is where people go when they already have a problem. In this case, that can mean GDrive or iCloud already lost all their stuff.

I believe it would be more appropriate for Alfred to warn users before they try to use a sync service that is known to work badly.

It might not stop them using that service, but it would at least be an informed decision.

I know that I, for one, would be extremely annoyed to lose all my workflows and snippets to iCloud, then discover via the above help page that it's known not to work, but that isn't mentioned anywhere in the sync settings in Alfred itself.
 

bonus points for getting @deanishe to write applescript 

Could we get native support for querying a SQLite database?  It seems this is already being done in a lot of workflows (e.g. with Zotero, Mail, Ulysses) and/or is needed for updates (Notes).  I am faced with the prospect of reverse-engineering one of these to try to write a workflow that would query a MaxQDA coding scheme.  But the use of SQLite seems so widespread it might be helpful to include it natively in Alfred.  Or if not in Alfred itself, in one of the workflow libraries (my vote is for python since @deanishe has probably done 90% of the work required already....).
 
 

# fuzzylist
Fuzzy, self-updating list filter workflow for Alfred 3 & 4
This is a workflow template - it does nothing as is.
 
## Usage:
- create a csv file like you would for an Alfred List Filter, with an optional fourth field containing the path to an icon file for that result.
- name the file *list.csv* and add it to the workflow directory
On the initial run, the workflow will create a file list.json for output to the fuzzy search.  If list.csv is modified, it will update list.json .  
 
## Credits
- uses fuzzy.py by @deanishe - https://github.com/deanishe/alfred-fuzzy
 
## Download
 
workflow at https://github.com/derickfay/fuzzylist/blob/master/Fuzzy List Filter.alfredworkflow (v. 0.3 as of 2022-03-30)
 
## Working on 12.3
 
v. 0.3 now uses Python 3 and works on MacOS 12.3

see https://www.alfredforum.com/topic/10973-file-action-wlist-of-actions/

I tried using Alfred as a Spotlight substitute for the first year or so I owned it.  Then (I forget why - maybe when v2 came out) I reset to the default search targets & went all in with workflows and custom searches.  I've gone back to using Spotlight for files, and disabled most of the distractions that Appeal has been throwing in....I don't need random Apple Music cluttering up my search for files are work - if I wanted to look for music I'd open iTunes (or more often these days, Music on IOS).  But for serious file search I use HoudahSpot (which, like Alfred relies on Spotlight indexing below the surface).

# fuzzylist
Fuzzy, self-updating list filter workflow for Alfred 3 & 4
This is a workflow template - it does nothing as is.
 
## Usage:
- create a csv file like you would for an Alfred List Filter, with an optional fourth field containing the path to an icon file for that result.
- name the file *list.csv* and add it to the workflow directory
On the initial run, the workflow will create a file list.json for output to the fuzzy search.  If list.csv is modified, it will update list.json .  
 
## Credits
- uses fuzzy.py by @deanishe - https://github.com/deanishe/alfred-fuzzy
 
## Download
 
workflow at https://github.com/derickfay/fuzzylist/blob/master/Fuzzy List Filter.alfredworkflow (v. 0.3 as of 2022-03-30)
 
## Working on 12.3
 
v. 0.3 now uses Python 3 and works on MacOS 12.3

Happy holidays team Alfred
 
Thank you for the great app!! It made me smile everyday
 
xoxo

# fuzzylist
Fuzzy, self-updating list filter workflow for Alfred 3 & 4
This is a workflow template - it does nothing as is.
 
## Usage:
- create a csv file like you would for an Alfred List Filter, with an optional fourth field containing the path to an icon file for that result.
- name the file *list.csv* and add it to the workflow directory
On the initial run, the workflow will create a file list.json for output to the fuzzy search.  If list.csv is modified, it will update list.json .  
 
## Credits
- uses fuzzy.py by @deanishe - https://github.com/deanishe/alfred-fuzzy
 
## Download
 
workflow at https://github.com/derickfay/fuzzylist/blob/master/Fuzzy List Filter.alfredworkflow (v. 0.3 as of 2022-03-30)
 
## Working on 12.3
 
v. 0.3 now uses Python 3 and works on MacOS 12.3

Great workflow! Works delightfully. Have a huge amount of pdfs and used to split and trim them with Skimmer. Have tried a number of options since the latter broke (acrobat pro and pdfsam, briss etc.) but your's does one thing and that very effectively. Thanks for this.

Hi dfay,
 
I did try that before, via Onyx and the terminal, but it didn't work.
 
However, after you suggested it, I tried it again - Although initially I got the same result as before, I then tried the following variation:
 
sudo mdutil -i off /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user sudo mdutil -i on  
I then went into Alfred and Clicked on Rebuild macOS Metadata, ticking the 'Delete /.Spotlight-V100' for good measure. It now looks like it's rebuilding the index, including the apps. So, many thanks for your suggestion!
 
One issue now though is that half my apps have lost their icons. Will check this in the morning... It's a bit late for my little brain.  
 
Update: 
Removing the finder plist file from ~/Library/Preferences, followed by a reboot fixed the latter problem.
 
All's well now  Many thanks for your help, @dfay!
 
 

@smarg19 was straight-up epic in his workflow development.
 
He always bit off more than he could chew, and by the gods, he chewed it all the same.
 
I admire his determination immensely.

Relevant XKCD.
 
 
 

Back to the discussion of why people use Pinboard....because del.icio.us went yahoo and mag.nol.ia had an irrecoverable data loss....
 
I started using delicious about 12 years ago when I wanted a way to sync my bookmarks in Opera for win xp with my new iMac.  Switched to Pinboard a couple years later and never looked back.  Even though I’ve been off Windows since 2006 or so I’d never consider leaving now, mostly because of the tag-based organization - vastly preferable to folders for reference materials.

Back to the discussion of why people use Pinboard....because del.icio.us went yahoo and mag.nol.ia had an irrecoverable data loss....
 
I started using delicious about 12 years ago when I wanted a way to sync my bookmarks in Opera for win xp with my new iMac.  Switched to Pinboard a couple years later and never looked back.  Even though I’ve been off Windows since 2006 or so I’d never consider leaving now, mostly because of the tag-based organization - vastly preferable to folders for reference materials.

Hi Rob
I am getting the same issue described above with uo .  
 
Also using any of u ug uf us throws a KeyError: 'displayName'
 
full message here:
[2017-10-28 10:51:16][ERROR: input.scriptfilter] Code 1: ulysses_items.py:124: SyntaxWarning: assertion is always true, perhaps remove parentheses? assert (os.path.exists(args.limit_scope_dir), 10:51:15 workflow.py:2249 DEBUG workflow version: 1.0.0 10:51:15 workflow.py:1657 DEBUG reading settings from /Users/usernamehere/Library/Application Support/Alfred 3/Workflow Data/com.github.robwalton.alfred-ulysses-workflow/settings.json 10:51:15 workflow.py:2532 DEBUG Update check not due 10:51:15 ulysses_items.py:57 INFO ulysses_items.main(wf): args = Namespace(kind='sheet', limit_scope_dir=None, query='', search_content=False, search_ulysses_path=True) 10:51:15 workflow.py:1884 DEBUG loading cached data: /Users/usernamehere/Library/Caches/com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred-3/Workflow Data/com.github.robwalton.alfred-ulysses-workflow/__workflow_update_status.cpickle 10:51:15 workflow.py:2462 DEBUG update_data: {u'available': False} 10:51:15 ulysses_items.py:82 INFO Added iCloud items from '/Users/usernamehere/Library/Mobile Documents/X5AZV975AG~com~soulmen~ulysses3/Documents/Library/Groups-ulgroup' 10:51:16 ulysses_items.py:82 INFO Added iCloud Inbox items from '/Users/usernamehere/Library/Mobile Documents/X5AZV975AG~com~soulmen~ulysses3/Documents/Library/Unfiled-ulgroup' 10:51:16 workflow.py:2267 ERROR 'displayName' Traceback (most recent call last): File "/Users/usernamehere/Dropbox/Sync/Alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences/workflows/user.workflow.8A4FD89F-3A79-4823-934E-855B611DA3DD/workflow/workflow.py", line 2260, in run func(self) File "ulysses_items.py", line 85, in main include_sheets) File "ulysses_items.py", line 145, in parse_ulysses_for_groups_and_sheets groups_tree = parse_ulysses.create_tree(root_dir, None) File "/Users/usernamehere/Dropbox/Sync/Alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences/workflows/user.workflow.8A4FD89F-3A79-4823-934E-855B611DA3DD/parse_ulysses.py", line 113, in create_tree group = Group(rootgroupdir, parent_group) File "/Users/usernamehere/Dropbox/Sync/Alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences/workflows/user.workflow.8A4FD89F-3A79-4823-934E-855B611DA3DD/parse_ulysses.py", line 63, in __init__ join(self.dirpath, 'Info.ulgroup'))['displayName'] KeyError: 'displayName' 10:51:16 workflow.py:2269 INFO for assistance, see: https://github.com/robwalton/alfred-ulysses-workflow 10:51:16 workflow.py:2290 DEBUG workflow finished in 0.313 seconds  

Another Remote use scenario I've been playing with is for multi-step music playing tasks.  This is probably better explained by example.  I have set up a remote trigger that runs a single applescript that:
 
- turns on my Onkyo amplifier (via serial port connection to my Mac)
- sets the input on the amp to the Apple TV (ditto)
- sets the volume on the amp to an appropriate level
-  adds the Apple TV to the active AirPlay devices on iTunes
- shuffles my usual mix playlist
- sets the computer volume to an appropriate level
- sets iTunes volume to maxed (since the amp and computer volume settings were calibrated on this basis, & this lets me use Remote's iTunes controls to lower the volume or mute everything at once if needed)
- starts playing the mix
 
So I can hit one button on my phone as I head to the living room and have everything going when I enter the room.  No need to find the IR remote for the amp, fiddle with iTunes settings, etc.  Magical.

I saw comments like this in a couple of the reviews as well.  Here are the kinds of scenarios I've been using (in the few days).
 
1st is with dictation as I described in another post - you can open stuff on your Mac and interact with it quite well from a distance this way.  I'd been working with dictation on the Mac a bit over the past few months and Alfred Remote is a great complement to it for hands-free use.
 
2nd is for "across the room" type tasks for which existing remote solutions don't exist or aren't adequate.  I wrote the Aperture Remote workflow to be able to triage photos (i.e. give a preliminary rating / flag for future editing / printing, keepers vs. trash, etc.) from a distance.  (On the other hand, I'm not going to give up using Keynote's built-in remote since that offers a lot of facilities, notably presenter notes, that can't be implemented in Alfred Remote as it stands).  Also "now playing" for apps (like Radium) which don't provide this facility in a large screen format.  I'm also working on a workflow to open Safari in full-screen (couldn't get Chrome's kiosk mode automated....may try Plainview instead, too) for use with Hootfeed.  And I want to write a remote for Skim's presentation mode, ideally one that would switch to Skim in presentation mode and turn on mirroring, then allow me to turn off mirroring and switch back to Keynote.  (I regularly teach in large lecture halls where I prefer to be able to leave the podium, so this is quite appealing).
 
3rd is one I didn't expect but which I found myself using a lot.  I have limited desk real estate at work and end up with my laptop in front of my keyboard in front of my desktop.  I found using the desktop with the trackpad at my right hand and Alfred Remote at the left a lot easier than using the trackpad alone (i.e. for a lot of the same situations where I'd normally use Alfred at the keyboard rather than a mouse-based operation).  This a scenario where the desktop is primarily used for reading, listening, watching, and the real work is getting done on the laptop.
 
--Derick

Looks like you might benefit from EVE more than from your current setup.

But if you still want to go with your original idea, what you can do is save a .txt file and then tell Alfred to quicklook it. A Run Script with qlmanage -p /path/to/your/file should suffice.

I love the remote feature of Alfred.  I use it to control Spotify, iTunes, and resize windows from my phone.  The only thing that bothers me about it is that I have to unlock my phone and navigate back to the remote app to use it.  This proves problematic, or at least inconvenient, when I am watching a movie and want to play/pause because someone came into the room, but it takes 15-30 seconds to get the app open.
 
I would love to see a widget in the notification center of iOS that allows users to select remote buttons to display from any screen on their iPhone/iPad.  Ideally, this would be resizable so one could have a single row (such as play/pause, vol+, vol-, mute) or multiple rows to control other things as well.  This would be a swipe and a tap away rather than the current fingerprint (and passcode when it it doesn't work), swipe, tap the folder, tap the app, wait for it to load, tap the button.  I think we can all agree on which option is better...

Turns out the guy who wrote the Workflow workflow that I was looking also has a GitHub repo with a python version for the Mac:
 
https://github.com/rovest/UlyssesReportAndMarkdown
 
I haven't had a chance to check it out in detail.

Well I got a version of ul working last night, but it requires manually loading all the sheet titles and URLs into a list filter.  From a CSV that's generated by a workflow in Workflow for iOS.  Working as a proof of concept  .  Since there seems to be no way to get a sheet identifier from the sheet file itself, it seems we would need to use Ulysses get-root-items callback URL, and parse the whole library.
 
I began to pick apart & try to replicate what the Workflow workflow does (it came from here: https://workflow.is/workflows/84934276b51643678643e1aa326637bd , & I modified it to output title, identifier, [title](ulysses url w/identifier) to a CSV), and convert it to write JSON which can then be read by a Script Filter.
 
The xcall utility linked above was really helpful at that stage.
 
Where I ran into trouble (and went to sleep) was at the stage of parsing the JSON.  
 
Here's the code I was running (in CodeRunner -- had to manually authenticate with Ulysses first, too):
 
#!/usr/bin/python import json import os tmp = os.popen('/Applications/xcall.app/Contents/MacOS/xcall -url "ulysses://x-callback-url/get-root-items?recursive=YES&access-token=your token here"').read() ulyssesLib = json.loads(tmp)['items'] print (ulyssesLib) When I look at that output, it looks to me like it's a (long, messy) list of dictionaries but running type(ulyssesLib) says it's unicode.
 
 

Maybe this 
 could be implemented at the same time, too....

It would be great to be able to hold a modifier key when opening an app from Alfred, and have it open in the background without stealing focus.
 
This can be done from the command line with 
 
open -g path/to/app
 
and I could create workflows for each of my commonly used apps to allow this....but it would be great as a built-in feature.