Tom Glander Digital

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User Guide

Using The Shelf

The Shelf is a persistent working surface for the files, folders, links, snippets, and current working knowledge you are using right now.

The essential interaction: press Control + Space, drag something onto The Shelf, and keep working.

1. Install The Shelf

  1. Download The Shelf free from its product page and open the downloaded DMG.
  2. Drag The Shelf into Applications.
  3. Open The Shelf from Applications.
  4. macOS may ask for permission the first time The Shelf accesses certain folders. Approve access when you intentionally choose that location.

2. Show and hide The Shelf

Press Control + Space to show or hide The Shelf. It remembers its screen position.

Escape does not hide The Shelf. Escape is reserved for dismissing preview and About windows.

3. Add items

4. Preview and open

Single-click an item to preview it. Double-click the Shelf item to open it, or click Open in the preview.

Press Esc or click away to close the preview.

5. Remove an item

Move the pointer over an item. A small × appears. Hover directly over the × and it turns red, warning that you are about to remove that item from The Shelf.

Removing an item from The Shelf does not delete the original file from your Mac. The trash button clears the active shelf.

6. Text snippets

Text snippets open in The Shelf’s built-in editor. It supports rich text, long Swift/HTML/code snippets, line numbers and Save As.

Save a snippet as a file

  1. Open the snippet.
  2. Click Save As….
  3. Enter the filename and extension.
  4. Choose Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Last Folder, or Choose Folder.
  5. Save.

The extension determines the file type: notes.txt, page.html, View.swift, style.css, data.json, readme.md, and so on.

If a file with the same name exists, The Shelf asks before replacing it. A confirmation HUD appears after a successful save.

7. URLs and YouTube links

Drag a browser address or web link directly onto The Shelf. Double-click to open it in your default browser. YouTube links receive a thumbnail when available.

8. Folders

Folders can live on The Shelf just like files. Single-click shows the folder name and path. Opening takes you directly to the folder in Finder.

9. Missing or disconnected files

If the original item is moved, renamed, deleted or stored on a disconnected drive, The Shelf marks it as unavailable and shows the original path rather than silently failing.

10. Multiple shelves

The default shelf is Home. Use Home forever, or click the shelf name to create, rename, switch or delete additional shelves. Multiple shelves are optional.

11. Large images and files

Previews are generated in the background with bounded thumbnails. Brief settling after a large multi-file drop can be normal, but The Shelf should remain responsive.

12. About The Shelf

Click the information button in the Shelf header to see the app version and Tom Glander Digital attribution.

Quick reference

Need help? Visit The Shelf Support.