Mimicing Alfred features: Find vs Open files, Search engines, Web page triggers, and Workflows

[Brakjen]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

Mimicing Alfred

I would like functionality that mimic some of what Alfred can do.

Feature 1: Separate finding and opening files.

The trigger find should reveal the file in Explorer, while open should open the file in its default application. Currently in PowerToys (v0.51.1, which is the latest version my company allows me to install) I can mimic the find feature by setting a custom trigger, but I need to navigate one step to the right with right arrow to get to the "Open Containing Folder" option. Not a big deal, but saving clicks is a holy virtue. Opening the file can of course be done by just Entering on the file, but I like having separate triggers, as it maps my intention 1:1 to the trigger. It just feels good that way.

Feature 2: Web page searches

Being able to set up triggers to searching common search engines, for example Youtube, Wikipedia, Thesauri, Sharepoint, Google, IMDB, Github, etc. Specifically, the user should be able to set up custom triggers, and every word behind that trigger will be added to the URL in at a user-defined location. Usually this looks something like this:

https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/{query}

This is very useful, and is something I used Alfred for a lot. Wox Launcher also has this behavior.

Feature 3: Connect custom triggers to web pages

I would like to be able to save certain web pages that I visit often to custom triggers. Currently I have to type the URL to open web page. Wox does not have this, but it could be hacked by abusing the Search web feature and never actually inserting the query into the URL (but of course you had to provide a query after the trigger for the plugin to be recognized).

Feature 4: Build custom workflows

This is perhaps Alfred's biggest selling point. I can make my own workflows that include Python scripts at one or more places in the workflow. Users can build useful workflows and share them.

Scenario when this would be used?

This would reduce time waste by

• reducing number of mouse clicks
• reducing time spent moving from the keyboard to the mouse and back again
• reducing complex workflows to a single trigger (+ optional arguments)

Supporting information

See Alfred 5.

[aagha]

I love the Feature 2 idea. I'm surprised this isn't already baked in.

[aagha]

@Andersmb https://github.com/rcmaehl/PowerToysMacros

[g-shudy]

I added a separate feature request for #2. Seems easier to move things through to production individually. I wasn't aware of your feature request when I did it, @Andersmb. https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/20952