3. SnippetsLab Assistant

With SnippetsLab Assistant, you can reach your library from the menu bar and use it entirely from the keyboard.

To open the assistant, click the button in the menu bar, or go to Settings > Assistant and set a keyboard shortcut for Toggle Assistant.

Note

When the menu bar is full, macOS hides some menu bar items, which can include the assistant button. If the button doesn’t appear, quit other menu bar apps to make room.

3.1. Browse Mode

To switch to browse mode, click the Browse button at the top of the window, or press Shift Command 1.

To navigate the snippets list:

Action	Keyboard shortcut
Go to the previous or next item	↑ or ↓
Go to the previous or next page	Option ↑ or Option ↓
Jump to the top or bottom	Command ↑ or Command ↓
Scroll up or down without changing the selection	Fn ↑ or Fn ↓

3.1.1. Default List

By default, all snippets are listed in the assistant, in the same order as in the main window. To list only some snippets, such as the ones you use most, go to Settings > Assistant, select Custom search criteria for Default List, and click Edit to set up the search.

3.1.2. Search

The assistant supports the same search filters, options, and syntax as the main window. For details, see Searching.

By default, search results are kept when you close and reopen the assistant. To clear the search field automatically each time, go to Settings > Assistant and select Automatically clear search field when open.

3.1.3. Snippet Actions

Actions on snippets in the list:

Action	How to perform
Copy to Clipboard	Click, press Return, or press Command C
Open in Main Window	Option-click, or press Option Return
Paste to Active App	Unassigned by default
Quick Look	Double-click, press →, or swipe right
Dismiss Quick Look	Press ← or Esc

To change the actions assigned to Click / Return, ⌥ Click / ⌥ Return, and ⌘ Click / ⌘ Return, go to Settings > Assistant. You can also swipe left on a snippet to reveal the Open and Copy actions.

Note

Paste to Active App requires accessibility permission, because SnippetsLab pastes by sending a Command V keypress to the active app. You’re prompted to grant access when you first choose this action in SnippetsLab settings. To grant or revoke access later, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.

3.1.4. Quick Look

In Quick Look, press Command 1 through Command 9 to switch to a fragment. The keyboard shortcuts for snippet actions apply to the selected fragment.

To keep a snippet in view, detach the Quick Look window by dragging its edge away from the assistant. A detached Quick Look window floats above other windows and can be resized freely.

3.2. Create Mode

In create mode, you can add a new snippet without opening the main window. To switch to create mode, click the Create button at the top of the window, or press Shift Command 2. To add the snippet, press Command Return.

3.3. Hiding the Dock Icon

To hide the Dock icon, go to Settings > Assistant and select Hide Dock icon. This option is available only while Enable Assistant is selected.

When the Dock icon is hidden, SnippetsLab has no menu bar and doesn’t appear in the app switcher (Command Tab). To open the main window, click the button in the assistant. To open SnippetsLab settings or quit SnippetsLab, click the button in the assistant.

Important

This feature is experimental.