Feb 02
2012

Here’s a quick, simple AppleScript to help you hook Notational Velocity/nvALT into Address Book. I sometimes want to attach a note or list of links to an entry in my address book, but I don’t like using the notes field. I tend to keep all of my notes¹ in nvALT, and I prefer not to scatter them too far. All I needed was a way to quickly create and link an nvALT note to each address…

As of recent versions, Notational Velocity and nvALT have a URL handler for nv:// (or nvalt://). Using the /find/ parameter allows you to initiate a search in NV from a link, e.g. nv://find/abnote%3AJohnny Appleseed. If you use a unique prefix and full name, you can pinpoint a single note without having to create a file or locate the note’s ID. The first time you click the link, it will open a search in NV, and pressing Return will create the note and begin editing. Once the note is there, it will locate it instantly the next time you click the link.

I’m using the prefix “abnote:” on my notes. This AppleScript will create the URL entry automatically from the selected entries’ first and last names, and you can edit the prefix in the script to be anything you like. Just save it as “Add NV Note.scpt” in ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/Address Book and it will show up in your script menu² when you’re in Address Book. You can run it on a bunch of entries (it’s not optimized to run on an entire large address book, though), or one at a time as you need it.

I wrote this on Lion. I honestly have no idea if it works on anything earlier. It might³.

The script

tell application "Address Book"
	set thePeople to the selection
	repeat with thisPerson in thePeople
		set theName to name of thisPerson as string
		make new url at end of urls of thisPerson with properties {label:"NV Note", value:"nv://find/abnote%3A" & theName}
	end repeat
	save
end tell

Jan 31
2012

I’ve updated ScrivWatcher (a utility for previewing compiled Scrivener documents live in Marked) to 1.5. This version has better error handling and a progress bar showing compile progress. It’s still a droplet, you just drop onto the progress bar window instead of a drop pad, or drop a ‘.scriv’ file directly onto the icon.

For the command line savvy, the gist has been updated as well. Run it with “-h” to see all of the options. There’s even a progress bar in the terminal (default setting).

The big news, though, is that I have this working within Marked. The next version will be able to accept dropped Scrivener projects and provide a compiled preview that updates with changes from Scrivener. No external application needed! That release should be ready relatively soon, I’m putting out a beta for testing this week.

For now, here’s the latest (and probably last) version of ScrivWatcher:

Jan 26
2012

Dear Macworld Diary,

My Tech Talk this morning, “40 Tips in 40 Minutes” with David Sparks and Merlin Mann went really well, I think. I had fun doing it, anyway. I put up some show notes at the soon-to-change 40tips​.com, if you’re interested. I’m looking forward to seeing David and Merlin with Rob Corddry tomorrow. If you’re around Macworld, you should probably get there early!

Lunch with Shawn Blanc, Stephen Hackett, Brett Kelly, Ben Brooks, and Thomas Brand was awesome¹. Great to meet so many cool people all at once.

I just got back from a clandestine meeting at the Samovar Tea Lounge (I love that place). I had tea. We had laughs. I was shown software. It was amazing. I will pimp the hell out of it when it comes out in the next couple of months. Until then, all I can say is just prepare to have core elements of your workflow change drastically, for the better. That’s the second game-changer I’ve been shown lately but can’t disclose yet. I will go insane if this keeps happening.

Also, if you are in San Francisco right now, swing down to Jillian’s tonight before 11pm and catch up with the TUAW crew. It’s going to be a good time. Low-key, good conversation, and probably drink tickets.