Finder Selection¶

A useful shortcut for working with active files in Quicksilver is the "Current Selection" trigger that opens the Quicksilver command window with the files currently selected in Finder.app.

Unfortunately, Apple's implementation for this has had issues in recent versions of macOS, but there are workarounds.

Also see Using the Mouse for the Grab 'n Drop feature.

Proxy Object¶

There are two proxy objects that can grab the current Finder selection: "Finder Selection" and "Current Selection".

"Current Selection" also works on other kinds of selections, like a URL highlighted in a text editor. You'll probably want to use "Current Selection" unless you're making a trigger that should only work on a file/folder, or need to get the Finder Selection while another program is in focus.

Quicksilver includes a default trigger for this, called "Command Window with Selection" (under Preferences → Triggers → Quicksilver).

Send to Quicksilver (Service)¶

Services can be a bit tricky. Any macOS application can register a "service" which is available from the application menu under "Services". You can assign shortcuts to them and use them much like you would use a Quicksilver trigger.

Quicksilver has a built-in service called "Send to Quicksilver", functioning similarly to the "Current Selection" proxy object.

This service has the keyboard shortcut ⌘⎋, which is the same as the "Command Window with Selection" trigger built into Quicksilver. If you wish to use the service separately from the trigger, you should change the keyboard shortcut for the trigger in the Trigger preferences.

Tradeoffs¶

(The table is organized so that all "good" behaviour is "Yes" and all "bad" behaviour is "No".)