Filed under: Software
ThisService 1.0
John Gruber wanted an app that would allow one to turn any command line script that accepts input into a service (you remember services, don't you? They live in the Apple menu and don't really do to much). ThisService was born to fill this need.What the heck would you do with this free app (though donations are encouraged)? Well, you could write a script that, for example, takes the ISBN of a book and based on that returns a bunch of information from Amazon's webservice. This way you could be surfing along on a publisher's website, see a book, highlight the ISBN, hit the shortcut, and know what Amazon is selling it for. This is the first example that came to me, but the uses are pretty limitless.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jus said 9:52AM on 10-31-2006
I want an app for removing futile items from Services menu.
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James Huston said 10:00AM on 10-31-2006
Looks like someone didn't go to that website as they link to an app that does just that.
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James said 10:16AM on 10-31-2006
jus: Google is your friend - look up ServiceScrubber.
Anyway, learn to love the Services menu, it can be very useful.
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Rob said 11:46AM on 10-31-2006
Speaking of Services, I found something very curious. I installed the Menu Editor extension on my Firefox 2.0 on my Mac and I found an entry called "Services" all the way at the bottom of the Tools menu's editing palette. It was active but it didn't show up, but still its very, very strange.
Also, I swear by ServiceScrubber to get rid of Services I know I'll never use like ChineseTextConverter (I don't write or receive anything in Chinese), Disk Utility (My disk images are just fine), Finder (I already know how to do these with either a keyboard shortcut or double click), FontBook (Does anyone use this app?), Grab (Keyboard shortcuts make these redundant), Make New Sticky Note (I don't use Stickies, not even real ones) and View in JavaBrowser (Give me a good reason and I will).
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Startyger said 7:55PM on 10-31-2006
LOL I use services all the time! Cocoa apps are great! I wish some developers would make greater use of Services.. like "Open URL in Shiira" LOL That alone would be great... how about, "apply (some image unit) to (some image file) in Chocoflop"! that's the way to do things...! i guess that's an automator job... or .. i don't know.. i love my services
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