Nvalt hack full#
Nvalt hack code#

Nvalt hack full#

Since I wrote my earlier post, GoodReader has also added a full slate of annotation tools that compares nicely with iAnnotate and even adds some features that work better, in my view. But I’ve switched to GoodReader for annotating most PDFs, in large part because the process of syncing files to my iPad is easier and more intuitive. When I wrote my earlier post on grading with my iPad, I was using iAnnotate, and sometimes I still do. To accomplish both of these tasks at once, I use an Automator workflow that incorporates a beefed-up version of the simple script above.īefore showing you the workflow, however, I should also explain why I now prefer to use GoodReader, rather than iAnnotate, for most of the annotation that I do on my iPad. So when I receive a paper to grade or a document to annotate, there are two things I need to do: (a) get the file to my iPad for annotation (b) add a “to do” (or a qq, using the syntax I explained before) to Notational Velocity so I’ll remember that I need to read the file. I also use my iPad to annotate other documents that need feedback from me. Here’s an example: in a previous post, I explained how and why I use my iPad to grade student papers. Nonetheless, this script has been useful in helping me to automate parts of my previously-described GTD system. Namely, if the text string that you’re searching for is already in a note in your NV database, you’ll run into some problems because instead of creating a new note, NV will find the note with that text. First, if you are familiar with NV and are following along so far, you’ll probably realize that this script has some important limitations. With some slight modifications, you can also use a script like this to enter some text into the body of the new note you create, but more on that in a moment.

Finally, since the first part of the script activated Notational Velocity, thereby bringing it to the foreground, the script concludes by hiding the NV window from view so you can go back to whatever you were doing.

Nvalt hack code#

It also adds key code 53 (which has the same effect as entering the Escape key) so that the query is cleared from the search bar after the new note is created. The second part of the script uses System Events to simulate the process of hitting return, which you would ordinarily do in Notational Velocity to create your new note after entering its title in the search bar. The first part of this Applescript tells Notational Velocity to search for whatever text is between the quotation marks after search (in this case, Name of the new note). Set visible of process 'Notational Velocity' to false (If you are new to Applescript, check out the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide.) This makes it relatively simple to write an Applescript that will create a new note in Notational Velocity, like this: tell application 'Notational Velocity' With the release of Version 2.0β4 at the beginning of 2011, however, it became possible to “search” for text strings in NV using Applescript. If you want to open an existing note, you also go to the search bar and begin entering the text that you want to find. If you want to create a note, you go to the search bar, begin typing the title of your new note, and click enter to create it. Most of these tricks depend on using an apparently little-known feature of Notational Velocity, which is the ability to perform the “search” command on your notes using Applescript.Īs Notational Velocity users know, what makes the program unique is the fact that most of its functions begin in the “search” bar. Towards the end of that post, I also hinted that I have been able to automate parts of my system by using some Applescript and Automator tricks.

In an earlier post, I explained how I use plain text files and Notational Velocity as a task-management alternative to the GTD program Things.

This post was originally published on my old blog as Applescript and Notational Velocity.