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Keyboard-First Mac Productivity with OnText

· 2 min read
gityeop
gityeop
Creator of OnText

A keyboard-first Mac productivity workflow should keep common actions close to the text you are already reading or writing. OnText does that by opening a compact action panel after you select text and press your configured hotkey.

The goal is not to replace every app launcher or automation tool. The goal is to remove the repeated copy, switch app, paste, run command cycle for selected text.

The Basic Workflow​

  1. Select text in any Mac app.
  2. Press the OnText hotkey.
  3. Run an action from the panel or use the action shortcut.

This works well for quick search, copy, translation, character count, Large Type, shell scripts, AppleScript, Shortcuts, URL actions, and Inline AI.

Example: Search Without Leaving the Keyboard​

Create a URL action with this template:

https://www.google.com/search?q={text}

Select a phrase, open OnText, and trigger the action. OnText inserts the selected text into the URL and opens the search without a manual copy and paste step.

Example: Turn Text Into an Automation Input​

For a keyboard-heavy workflow, custom actions are where OnText becomes useful. A selected paragraph can become:

  • input for a shell script;
  • input for a macOS Shortcut;
  • a query in a documentation site;
  • a prompt for Inline AI;
  • a note capture action in another app.

Start with a small action you repeat daily. A good first automation is a URL action or Shortcut action because the setup is visible and easy to test.

When This Fits​

OnText fits best when you already work from the keyboard and repeatedly act on selected text:

  • reading technical docs and searching unfamiliar terms;
  • writing notes and sending snippets into another app;
  • translating short passages;
  • rewriting text without opening a separate AI chat;
  • running scripts on selected identifiers, file paths, or commands.

If you rarely select text before acting, a general launcher may be a better first layer. If selected text is the starting point, OnText keeps the action closer to the work.

Next Step​

Set up OnText with First Steps, then build your first custom action with Custom Actions. For automation-heavy workflows, continue with Shortcuts Integration and Placeholders.