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6/20/08

Save Selected Text To a TXT File


If you often read something that you don't want to forget, but you also don't want to make a text document for it, then you could use the Service Menu Item Clipper. Clipper takes the currently selected text in any application and adds it to a text file found at (Your Home Folder) > Notes > Today's Date.txt

So, if today –June 20th– you selected some text and ran the service, it will take the text and add it to a text file at ~/Notes/June 20.txt

After the text has been clipped, your computer will beep twice.

The beauty of this system is that it's searchable by spotlight, uses minimul hard drive space and you can even sync your notes with your iPod. (Although, they might end up being to big. However, there is a solution for that.)

To install the service, download the zip file and place the .service file into the folder found at (Your Home Folder)/Library/Services/ (You might need to create the services folder first.) You will then need to log out and log back in again.

Or, download the Source AppleScript File and make your own service.

Also, you can make keyboard shortcuts for service menu items. (I have mine set to Cmd-F4.)

Posted by Oliver at Friday, June 20, 2008

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3 comments:

  1. Hi, I don't know whether this is the same as text clipping or not. But if you select a text from your file, click and hold with your mouse for about 2-3 seconds and drag the text out to Desktop, you could also make a clipping for that text.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, that is the same as text clipping. And, while that is a great feature (I don't know if I've written about it though) the problem with it is that there's no keyboard shortcut for it. Also, you then end up with lots of clippings on your desktop.

    Theoretically, it would be possible to change the applescript/service so that it takes the first 20 or so characters of the text and uses that as the name of the file.
    ReplyDelete
  3. The obvious benefit of Clipper is that the clippings are editable and printable as opposed to the static nature of ordinary Finder text clippings.
    ReplyDelete

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