Here are a couple of SlickRun commands I’m using frequently. There are lots of things the browser can do that you can hook into with SlickRun. The most obvious is search.
Here are a few that I use a lot (grabbed from the slickrun.srl file, located in …\ApplicationSettings\SlickRun). They’re probably obvious, but I use them constantly.
Google
[g]
Filename=”firefox”
Path=”"
Params=”http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&q=$W$”
Notes=”"Go to” web search from Google”
Searching Google is as easy as <ctr+ q>, g <search term>
Del.icio.us
I use the same approach for searching my del.icio.us links:
[d]
Filename=”firefox”
Path=”"
Params=”http://del.icio.us/search/?fr=del_icio_us&p=$w$&type=user”
Notes=”"
Note that this is not the default del.icio.us search. It searches only my bookmarks, which is much much faster. Using the del.icio.us web site as a model, it was a simple task to figure out the query string parameters I needed.
In his blog, Daniel Cazzulino observes a difficulty in working with large projects in Visual Studio, and provides a helpful tip to locate the currently active file in the editor. As Daniel points out, there is a setting in Visual Studio that will ensure that the current file in the editor is always highlighted in the Solution Explorer.
If you are using ReSharper, you have an even better alternative. There is a ReSharper command called ReSharper_LocateSolutionInExplorerAction. By default, the command is mapped to <alt>+<shift>+L, and it will select the file in the Solution Explorer (including putting focus on the pane).
UPDATE: Kevin Dente posted a follow-up on the topic. Kevin shows a two-line macro that accomplishes the same feat, which is great for those without ReSharper.
A great way to improve your productivity at the keyboard is to actually keep your hands on it. I base this on no scientific evidence whatsoever. Still, I feel much more productive when I’m not constantly reaching over for the mouse to start some app or open a browser.
One way to keep your hands on the keyboard is to learn the keyboard shortcuts for programs you use frequently. Another way is to become proficient with entering text commands at the command prompt. In Windows XP, all we get is the very feeble Start | Run. Vista greatly improves on the Run Command by making commands searchable. Still, you cannot extend the commands easily.
To address this, I use SlickRun. It is a free tool from Bayden Systems that gives you a command prompt on demand. Hit your keystroke (I use ctrl + Q) and little text box pops up for you to enter commands. In addition to acting as a command line, it will do things like:
- Enter a DOS command. It’s a command line.
- Type in a path — SlickRun will auto-complete in a way that is context-sensitive, just as on the command line itself.
- Setup so-called MagicWords, or little macros to perform various commands. For example, to search Google for a term, you can setup a MagicWord of “g” that takes search terms. From the SlickRun prompt, simply type “g famoushamsandwich” and your search will be performed.
- Auto-complete prior commands. If you have commands, MagicWords, or file locations that you use repeatedly, you can recall them with just a couple of keystrokes.
The tool is very configurable, allowing you to finely control its display properties and behavior. There is even a scratch pad for jotting notes, called up by entering “jot”.
SlickRun is not the only tool for the job — there are many similar tools, but I find that SlickRun offers the most options. To me, the extensibility of MagicWords really sells it. The tool has a loyal user-base and you can even download MagicWord packs from the user community.
Give it a try, and if you really like it, drop a donation or buy something through their Amazon link.
