How can I add text in another app to Caboodle via a keyboard shortcut?

Caboodle has a couple of handy commands in the Services menu for all apps that support it. A command to add text selected in another app to Caboodle as a new entry, and another to do the reverse.

Follow these simple steps to add a keyboard equivalent of your choice to the Add Entry with Selection command:

1. Open the Keyboard & Mouse system preferences.
2. Go to the Keyboard Shortcuts tab.
3. Click the "+" below the list.
4. Select Application: All Applications.
5. Type Menu Title Add Entry with Selection (exact wording and case is important).
6. Press Keyboard Shortcut Cmd-Option-Ctrl-C (or a shortcut of your choosing).
7. Click Add.
8. Launch a new application that supports Services.
9. Select some text, press Cmd-Option-Ctrl-C, and it appears as a new entry in Caboodle.

Note: the new keyboard shortcut won't show up in applications that are already running until after you quit and re-launch them.

How can I add/remove the Save PDF to Caboodle print workflow?

When you first start Caboodle (version 1.3 or later), it asks you if you want to add the Save PDF to Caboodle command to the print workflows — i.e. via the PDF button in print panels.

This is a very handy feature, enabling you to print from any application "to" Caboodle.

If you chose not to add it, you can do so at any time simply by choosing the Install PDF Workflow... item in the Caboodle menu.

If you decide that you don't want this feature (e.g. if you want to stop using Caboodle for some reason), you can remove it by deleting the alias file in the Finder. It is located in the path "~/Library/PDF Services/Save PDF to Caboodle", where "~" means your home folder.

How can I alias a file to a Caboodle entry instead of copying it?

Normally when you drag a file into a Caboodle entry it copies it, allowing you to delete the original. But often you want to keep the original in place too, and want to avoid bloating Caboodle's data with large files (or folders).

The solution is to hold down the Control () key when dragging the file or folder to the Caboodle entry: the mouse pointer will change to include an alias symbol instead of the green plus. It will then make an alias (link) to the original. Then when you double-click on the file (or view it inline for images and PDFs), the original will open.

How can I change the entry icons, and where can I get icons from?

You can drag or paste icons from any image. For example, if you see a cute icon on a web page, you can drag that image to the image well in Caboodle. Tip: you can switch applications in the middle of the drag, if you can't see the image well when the other window is on top of it: start dragging the image, then (with the mouse button still down) press Cmd-Tab to switch apps, and complete the drag.

You can drag any size image to Caboodle's image well; it will be resized appropriately.

How can I create a top-level entry?

It's easy: either de-select any currently selected entry, or click one of the top-level entries, then click New Sibling, and a top-level entry will be created. De-select an entry by Cmd-clicking on the selected one, or by clicking in an empty area of the list.

If there is an entry selected, the New Child button will create a new entry within it, inheriting its icon and custom fields - a very handy feature.

You can also drag any entry to any level: make it a top-level one, or within an existing one. The drag destination indicator is a black box when dragging onto an entry (to drop it within), or a black line with a circle on the left to drag to that location. The circle indicates the level to drag it to; move the mouse to the left and right to choose the level if ambiguous.

How can I create an outline in an entry?

Assuming you're using Tiger or later, simply use the List feature. Show the ruler, if not already, and choose a list style from the Lists menu in the ruler (or the Text > List... menu command, or the List toolbar button). You can then add items to the top level of the outline. To indent an outline item, hit Tab at the start of a line (an existing line or a new line). To outdent a new item, hit Return twice.

If I update the Caboodle application, will I lose my entries?

No, you won't lose anything. The data is stored in a different location, so updating the application won't affect it. So go ahead!

The entries list has vanished!

Don't worry, it's still there, just hidden.

Perhaps you accidentally double-clicked on the divider.

You can show it again by choosing Window ▶ Show Entries List, or by double-clicking the left margin of the window when the mouse pointer changes to arrows (the menu command might be easier, though).

Where is the Caboodle data stored on my computer?

The data is stored in a folder within your Application Support folder. The preferences are stored in your Preferences folder, naturally. The locations are as follows, where "~" means your home directory:

"~/Library/Application Support/Dejal/Caboodle/"
"~/Library/Preferences/com.dejal.caboodle.plist".

Why are the Link, List and Table functions disabled?

These features are only available when you are using Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" or later.

I have another question about Caboodle; where can I find out more information?

Check out the Caboodle User Guide; it includes lots of information about the application.