First Steps
Learn the basics of using OnText in 5 minutes.
The Basics
OnText works in three simple steps:
- Select text anywhere on your Mac
- Press F2 (or your custom hotkey)
- Click an action or press keyboard shortcut
That's it! The action executes and the panel disappears.
Your First Action
Let's try a search:
- Select any word or phrase (try selecting "OnText documentation")
- Press F2
- Click the Search action (or press its keyboard shortcut)
Your default browser opens with a Google search for the selected text.
Understanding the Panel
The floating panel shows your configured actions:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Icons | Built-in Phosphor icons, emojis, or custom imported PNG/GIF images |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Customizable shortcuts for quick access |
| Hover effect | Actions highlight when you mouse over them |
| Tooltips | Action descriptions (can be toggled in settings) |
Essential Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F2 | Show action panel |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Execute action by assigned shortcut |
| Esc | Close the panel |
| Cmd + , | Open Preferences |
Pro Tip
Set your trigger shortcut and action keyboard shortcuts in the same area so you can reach them with your non-mouse hand. This allows for smooth text selection with the mouse and quick action execution with the keyboard!
Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics:
- Permissions - Make sure all features work correctly
- Default Actions - Learn about built-in actions
- Custom Actions - Create your own workflows