call catalog items from address bar

[surrender]

Is it possible to type-in catalog names in address bar and open them as tabs?? Like for example if i have renamed my "my computer" to something like "mc" and typing mc in address bar would open my computer. i have no idea how difficult it is but atleast it will save you the keyboard shortcut thing you were going to implement for catalog.

[jacky]

oh oh.. that's a great idea!! Actually, I would not use the Catalog's name but more add something, like some internet browsers do, call it "alias" or w/e

Then, typing this alias in Address Bar or Go to would open the corresponding item. That would actually be pretty cool indeed. I'm sure the shortcuts freaks would like to see the shortcuts aswell, but Alias could be really cool indeed.

Especially since when you have a Catalog for many items, no more need to scroll or even open categories... !

Edit: Thinking about it, i really think it'd be pretty damn cool, witth all the Catalgo items. Ctrl+G, your little alias and you got your website openning, or an app starting, or a search running! Just sounds sweet to me

[admin]

oh oh.. that's a great idea!! Actually, I would not use the Catalog's name but more add something, like some internet browsers do, call it "alias" or w/e...

Indeed a pretty hot concept, surrender/jacky!

So, jacky, you suggest to add an additional field "alias" to category items? But how is it shown in the catalog surface, just by tooltip? You have to have a very good memory then... Or maybe added to the caption in parentheses or so...
Also, I'd prefer to have a unique prefix character for those aliases when used as addressbar items. This avoids ambiguities (I have a lot of plans for the address bar...) and makes auto-complete easier. For example if the alias would have to be preceded by"~" you'd immediately see all previously used aliases in the autocomplete-drop-down.

[surrender]

yeah aliases would be great. possibilities are innumerous. . and prefix would be important because i have a bad memory. . can't wait to see this.

[jacky]

So, jacky, you suggest to add an additional field "alias" to category items? But how is it shown in the catalog surface, just by tooltip? You have to have a very good memory then... Or maybe added to the caption in parentheses or so...

Oh adding it to he tooltip sounds just fine by me (yes I have a good memory! )
They way I see/use alias, it's made so you can do something simply by using this alias you set for it, which kinda means you know what aliases you set up and what they do. Having a quick remember through tooltip is quite enough I'd say. I mean,
- when it comes to Alias on Internet browsers: In Maxthon, they're only listed in the Configuration window, in Opera and/or FF (not sure) they are part of the favorite/bookmark. They do not need to be shown all the time!
- besides, I have way more Catalog items than my Catalog can show at once, so if I have to scroll to the item to know it's alias, I might aswell click it (and to remember it, tooltip's there!)
- the way i see it, an alias is some kind of "expended" shortcut. Look at XY window and tell me how many shortcuts you can see?? They don't need to be shown all the time, a tooltip (there, toolbar, etc) or in menus is quite enough is you ask me.

Also, I'd prefer to have a unique prefix character for those aliases when used as addressbar items.

I actually thought about a prefix too, makes perfect sense yeah. Just please not "~" cause it's not a quick one (lazy lazy!! )
I'd say something more easy/quick like "=" sounds better to me..

[admin]

Internally I see the following fields for each catalog item (in the future, some of them still vaguely):
1. caption
2. destination (which will later be expanded to all sorts of scripting)
3. alias (which must be unique among all catalog items)
4. keyboard shortcut (unique as well)
5. colors
6. type (conc. e.g. dropability)

(unless the caption would be used as the alias -- but hmmm ... aliases are nice when they are very short, right?

What is shown:
1. caption of the item: obviously that is the caption field
2. tooltip: that's currently the destination field, but one could add the alias to the tooltip

Ok so far?

Also, I'd prefer to have a unique prefix character for those aliases when used as addressbar items.

I actually thought about a prefix too, makes perfect sense yeah. Just please not "~" cause it's not a quick one (lazy lazy!! )
I'd say something more easy/quick like "=" sounds better to me..

Ha, interesting. On a german keyboard the "~" is easier than the "="! What about the "#" then? Or the "@" (like a-lias)?

[j_c_hallgren]

For me, any char works...as ~ and @ and # are all shifted on my keyboard...but = is unshifted...however, using @ would relate to @lias!

[admin]

For me, any char works...as ~ and @ and # are all shifted on my keyboard...but = is unshifted...however, using @ would relate to @lias!

Something unshifted on all keyboards would be nicest, since we are talking about typing into the address bar or w/e other field. What about a simple dot?!

[j_c_hallgren]

Which of the following other unshifted special chars are still available/possible for this:
` Backtick
- hypen
[ open bracket
] close bracket
\ backslash
; semi-colon
' single quote
/ slash

[admin]

Which of the following other unshifted special chars are still available/possible for this:
` Backtick
- hypen
[ open bracket
] close bracket
\ backslash
; semi-colon
' single quote
/ slash

Man, you live in keyboard paradise! Of all these only hyphen is unshifted in Germany!

[jacky]

aliases are nice when they are very short, right?

Yes! Definately shouldn't be the caption....

What is shown:
1. caption of the item: obviously that is the caption field
2. tooltip: that's currently the destination field, but one could add the alias to the tooltip

Ok so far?

Ok.

Ha, interesting. On a german keyboard the "~" is easier than the "="! What about the "#" then? Or the "@" (like a-lias)?

"@" is fine yeah.

Just FYI on j_c_hallgren's list here are mine:
- hypen
; semi-colon
' single quote

Allthough it's not necessary unshifted that matters, eg for me / (slash) isn't unshifted and yet very easy to do. Just like . (dot) or ?

[admin]

Allthough it's not necessary unshifted that matters, eg for me / (slash) isn't unshifted and yet very easy to do. Just like . (dot) or ?

Slash is bad in Germany: needs two hands. Are you saying that dot is shifted in your place??

[j_c_hallgren]

FYI: USA keyboards have "." dot and "/" (and ",") as unshifted..
The "?" is shifted above the "/"..

[jacky]

Allthough it's not necessary unshifted that matters, eg for me / (slash) isn't unshifted and yet very easy to do. Just like . (dot) or ?

Slash is bad in Germany: needs two hands. Are you saying that dot is shifted in your place??

wow slash needs to hands!! That must sucks for all linux people! (err.. or to enter URLs actually!) Over here "/" is over ":" and any kind of "://" is quite fast & easy

And unless you count the dot on the numpad, but i dont, yes the dot is shifted (above ";"), but really isn't that bad I think. Really easu and quick to go, just like / which is above ":"
("," is unshifted too for me)
How keyboard should be!

[admin]

Wow, an unshifted slash sounds like a dream. But I'm not sure if I would trade it for a shifted dot.

As for the alias: I'm yet undecided between ".", and "@"... ("-" looks too much like a command line switch)

How keyboard should be!

Wow, I was not aware that the differences between countries are so large and so many!