Quick Access Features Guide

Quick Access features speed up your workflow by giving you instant access to your projects from anywhere on your Mac.

Overview of Quick Access

Quick Access includes:

1. Quick Folder Picker (⌘⇧Space) — Jump to projects in file dialogs
2. Do Not Interrupt Mode (⌥⇧D) — Control notifications
3. Finder Sidebar — Quick access in Finder
4. Menu Bar Quick Links — Rapid project navigation

Let's explore each one.

Quick Folder Picker (⌘⇧Space)

The Quick Folder Picker is your secret weapon for faster file management. It brings your projects directly into any file dialog.

What It Does

When you're in a file dialog (Open, Save, Export, etc.):

1. Press ⌘⇧Space
2. See all your Sorta projects instantly
3. Click a project to navigate there
4. The dialog jumps to that folder

All without leaving your app or using Finder.

How to Use It

Step 1: Open a File Dialog

In any app:

• Click File → Open
• Click File → Save
• Click Export (if the app has this)
• Use the app's file browser

You see a standard Mac file dialog.

Step 2: Press ⌘⇧Space

At the top of the keyboard:

• Hold Command (⌘)
• Hold Shift (⇧)
• Press Space

The Quick Folder Picker appears.

Step 3: Select Your Project

See a list of all your Sorta projects:

My Projects:
├── Website Redesign
├── Q1 Marketing
├── Client Photography
└── Personal Projects

Click on any project to select it.

Step 4: Done!

The file dialog immediately jumps to that project folder. You can now:

• Browse files in that project
• Save a file there
• Open a file from there
• Export there

Supported Apps

Quick Folder Picker works in:

✅ Adobe Apps:

• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• Premiere Pro
• InDesign
• After Effects

✅ Development:

• VS Code
• Xcode
• Terminal (if using file dialogs)
• GitHub Desktop

✅ Browsers:

• Chrome
• Safari
• Firefox
• Edge

✅ Other Apps:

• Any app with standard macOS file dialogs
• Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Figma
• Sketch

❌ Does NOT work in:

• Finder (native app)
• System Settings
• Command line terminals
• Some specialized apps

Tips for Maximum Efficiency

Memorize the Shortcut

Practice using ⌘⇧Space until it's muscle memory:

• When you next open a file dialog, it's instant
• Saves seconds per action
• Adds up to significant time savings

Combine with App Shortcuts

Use with app-specific shortcuts:

In Photoshop:
⌘O (Open) → then ⌘⇧Space (Jump to project)

In VS Code:
⌘K ⌘O (Open File) → then ⌘⇧Space (Select project)

Open Subfolders Directly

After jumping to a project:

• Double-click subfolders to navigate deeper
• Or use Command+down arrow to enter folders
• Quickly reach nested folders

Customize the Hotkey

If ⌘⇧Space conflicts with another app:

1. Go to Sorta Settings
2. Find Quick Folder Picker Hotkey
3. Click to change
4. Press your new key combination
5. Save

Custom hotkey options:

• ⌘⌥Space (Command+Option+Space)
• ⌥Space (Option+Space)
• ⇧Space (Shift+Space)
• Any custom combo

Do Not Interrupt Mode (⌥⇧D)

Control when Sorta shows notifications.

For detailed information, see the Do Not Interrupt Mode feature guide.

Quick Summary

Use it during: Presentations, focused work, screen recordings.

Finder Sidebar Quick Access

Enabling Sorta in Finder

Sorta can appear in your Finder sidebar for quick access.

Setup:

1. Open Sorta Settings
2. Check Show in Finder Sidebar
3. Restart Sorta
4. "Sorta" appears in Finder sidebar

Using Finder Sidebar

Once enabled:

1. Open any Finder window
2. Look in the sidebar on the left
3. Click Sorta to expand it
4. See all your projects listed
5. Click a project to open its folder

Finder Sidebar Advantages

✅ One-click access to projects
✅ Works in all Finder windows
✅ See projects always in sidebar
✅ Right-click for project options
✅ Drag files from Finder into projects

Menu Bar Quick Links

The Sorta menu bar icon gives instant access to your projects.

Opening the Popover

Click the Sorta icon (top right menu bar):

Sorta icon in menu bar
         ↓
    Popover appears
         ↓
See: All projects, New Project, Settings

Project Actions from Popover

From the projects list:

• Click name — Open in Finder
• Right-click — See more options
• ⌘+Click — Access subfolders (if enabled)
• Drag — Reorder projects in list

Accessing Settings

Click the Settings icon (⚙️) in the popover:

1. General settings
2. Keyboard shortcuts
3. Appearance
4. Notifications
5. Advanced options

Combining Quick Access Methods

Use Quick Access tools together for maximum efficiency:

Workflow Example: Designer Using Multiple Apps

Scenario: Designer working in Photoshop and Finder

1. In Finder, click "Sorta" in sidebar
   → Opens project folder instantly

2. Drag assets into project from Downloads
   → Flow automatically sorts them

3. In Photoshop, need to save file
   → Press ⌘⇧Space (Quick Folder Picker)
   → Jump to project/Design folder
   → Save right there

4. Get distracted, enable Do Not Interrupt (⌥⇧D)
   → Work without notifications

5. Check sidebar later to verify files sorted
   → Sorta already organized everything

Workflow Example: Developer

Scenario: Developer managing multiple projects

1. In VS Code, need to open file
   → ⌘K ⌘O (VS Code open)
   → ⌘⇧Space (Quick Folder Picker)
   → Select project instantly

2. Need to check Finder, click sidebar Sorta
   → All projects visible
   → Quick navigation

3. Before meeting, press ⌥⇧D
   → Do Not Interrupt on
   → No notifications during call

4. Auto-Sort running in background
   → Files organized while focused on work

Customizing Quick Access

Hotkey Configuration

Change Quick Folder Picker hotkey:

1. Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Find "Quick Folder Picker"
3. Click to change hotkey
4. Press desired key combo
5. Save

Change Do Not Interrupt hotkey:

1. Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Find "Do Not Interrupt Mode"
3. Click to change
4. Press new combination
5. Save

Notification Settings

1. Settings → Notifications
2. Toggle notifications on/off
3. Choose notification style
4. Set sound (if enabled)

Finder Sidebar Customization

1. Settings → Appearance
2. Toggle "Show Sorta in Finder"
3. Sorta appears/disappears from sidebar

Permissions for Quick Access

Quick Access features require certain permissions.

Accessibility Permission

For Quick Folder Picker & Do Not Interrupt:

1. System Settings → Privacy & Security
2. Find Accessibility in the list
3. Look for Sorta in the applications list
4. Toggle ON if not already enabled
5. You may need to restart Sorta

Full Disk Access

For accessing project folders:

1. System Settings → Privacy & Security
2. Find Full Disk Access
3. Add Sorta if not listed
4. Sorta can now access all your folders

Troubleshooting Quick Access

Quick Folder Picker doesn't appear

Check:

1. Are you in a supported app? (Check list above)
2. Is it a standard file dialog?
3. Do you have Accessibility permission?

Fix:

• Grant Accessibility permission in System Settings
• Try in a different app first (like TextEdit)
• Restart Sorta and try again

Hotkey isn't working

Check:

1. Is the hotkey correct? (Verify in Settings)
2. Is another app using the same hotkey?
3. Have you restarted after changing it?

Fix:

• Change to a different hotkey
• Check what apps use the current hotkey
• Restart Sorta

Do Not Interrupt mode not saving

Check:

1. Toggle it a few times
2. Restart Sorta
3. Check System Preferences → Notifications

Fix:

• Sometimes needs restart to persist
• Check that you have proper permissions

Finder sidebar doesn't show Sorta

Check:

1. Is it enabled in Settings?
2. Have you restarted Sorta?
3. Is Finder showing sidebar? (View → Show Sidebar)

Fix:

• Toggle off and on in Settings
• Restart Sorta completely
• Restart your Mac

Performance Tips

Quick Access Performance

Quick Access features use minimal resources:

• Keyboard shortcuts are instant
• Notifications are lightweight
• Finder sidebar updates smoothly
• No noticeable Mac slowdown

Optimize Your Mac

For best performance:

• Keep projects under 10,000 files each
• Archive old files from time to time
• Don't create 50+ projects (use archiving)
• Regular Mac maintenance helps

Advanced Tips

Create Project Launch Menu

1. Set Custom Hotkey (⌘1, ⌘2, etc. for favorite projects)
2. Assign to quick access shortcuts
3. Jump to projects with single keystroke

Combine with Mac Shortcuts App

Use macOS Shortcuts app to automate:

• Open project folder and app simultaneously
• Create quick launch sequences
• Integrate with other tools

Keyboard Efficiency

Master these combinations:

⌘⇧Space = Quick Folder Picker (go to project)
⌥⇧D = Do Not Interrupt (pause notifications)
⌘O = Open file dialog (in most apps)
⌘S = Save dialog (in most apps)

Chain them together for instant workflow.

Next Steps

Now master Quick Access:

• Create Flows to automate sorting (while Quick Access helps you navigate)
• Set up Folder Structures for organized projects
• Use Auto-Sort to organize in background while you work
• Explore keyboard shortcuts for other helpful shortcuts

Summary

Quick Access features speed up your workflow:

Master these, and you'll work faster than ever.