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Modify Data
The Basics
The settings in the "Modify Data" area are, so to speak, the core of the application. Here you can see all data that are currently managed in Start. At first sight it might look a bit overloaded but basically it is a tabular view of the data with different search and filter options.
First a little back to the basics - where do the entries in Start actually come from? Start is mainly based on the data provided by macOS via Spotlight. Spotlight also reports updates (deleting or adding programs) to Start. In short: as long as Spotlight is running on your macOS System, Start captures all applications in the defined searchpaths. It is now interesting for entries that have nothing to do with applications, such as links to directories or files and URLs. Theoretically, these could also be captured and evaluated using Spotlight. However, this would make configuration practically impossible (imagine Start displaying all files on your system in the configuration - this would be a really huge list). Therefore Start limits itself to the automatic collection of the applications and you can quickly and easily add further entries to the database by yourself.
In the following, the configuration window is explained in more detail and you will see - it is not that difficult.
The “modify Data” Window in detail
Enabling, disabling and deleting Entries
The main data source of Start is Spotlight. All applications are obtained from here and these entries cannot be removed either, otherwise they would be added again during the next data synchronization with Spotlight. Entries that originate from Spotlight can therefore only be deactivated in Start so that they are not displayed in the main window. The situation is different for manually added entries. These are not automatically added to Start and can therefore be easily removed again. You can easily tell if it is a Spotlight entry or not. If a checkbox is displayed in the first column next to the icon, it is a Spotlight entry. With this checkbox you can easily activate or deactivate the entry. If a small trash can is displayed here, it is a manually added entry. Clicking on this trash can removes the entry from Start.
Filter the displayed Data
Normally, all existing entries are displayed in this dialog. However, if you want to make adjustments to individual entries, you can filter the displayed data in various ways.
All Entries or only active Entries
As described in the section "Enabling, Disabling and deleting Entries", entries in Start can be active or inactive. With this checkbox you can choose if you want to display all entries or only the active entries.
Displayed types
Start can manage files, directories or URLs in addition to applications. Through this selection field you can decide if you want to have all types displayed or if the display should be limited to a certain type.
Searchfield
Through the searchfield you can filter the display similar to the main window. In addition, you can click on the magnifying glass to decide whether the search should refer to the name, tag, path or comment. This way you can for example quickly display all entries that are located in a special subdirectory or that have a searched tag.
Tags
Tags play a central role in Start and are used to structure the individual entries similar to directories on the system. Unlike directories, however, you can assign multiple tags to each entry - the entry will then appear with each of these tags.
You can see which tags are assigned in the "Tags" column. In this column you can also edit or delete the tags. Additionally you can use the sidebar (8) to change the tags for all selected entries at once.
An overview of all existing tags can be found in the "Modify Tags" dialog.
Modify Tags
This button opens the "Modify Tags" dialog. In this dialog you will find an overview of all existing tags and can rename or delete them centrally or give the tag an individual symbol.
Sidebar
Use this button to show or hide the sidebar. With the sidebar you can change the tags, the comment, the color or the visibility of all currently selected entries at once.
Adding Files, Folders and URLs
Applications - provided they are in the defined search paths and Spotlight is active - are automatically detected and added by Start. However, you can also easily add entries to Start yourself. Files and directories can simply be dragged and dropped into the configuration window (or by using the corresponding button). URL's can be added using the corresponding button.
Adding files and directories
This button opens an input dialog with which you can select the file or directory to be added.
Adding URLs
This button opens a dialog with which you can create the URL to be added.
Colors
You can give individual entries in Start an individual color. So you can find these entries better or just bring a little color into the game.
You can assign colors in the Modify Data dialog in two ways: Either you click on the small field on the far left of the respective entry or you assign the color to all selected entries via the sidebar.
Assign color to individual entries
By clicking on the area on the left side of the line, a small popup window opens where you can assign an individual color to the respective entry.
Sidebar
Use this button to show or hide the sidebar. With the sidebar you can change the tags, the comment, the color or the visibility of all currently selected entries at once.
Favorites
Important entries can be defined as "Favorite" in Start. These entries will then appear in the main window under the category "Favorites". In the column "Tags" you can define the desired entries as favorites by clicking on the Star-Icon.
Hotkeys
It would be very handy to be able to launch applications with just one keystroke or to open an important folder in the Finder with another keystroke. In the column "Hotkey" you can assign keyboard shortcuts to individual entries. When you press this shortcut later, the application will be launched, a directory will be opened or the URL will be opened in the assigned application.
Comments
Comments are small notes on individual entries and are displayed in the main window instead of the file path. In the column "Comment" you can assign a comment to individual entries or delete an existing comment.
You can also change all comments on all currently selected entries at once via the sidebar.
Sidebar
Use this button to show or hide the sidebar. With the sidebar you can change the tags, the comment, the color or the visibility of all currently selected entries at once.
Import, Export and save as CSV
By pressing the button (5) a menu is displayed. With this menu you can import and export the configuration. Additionally, the current data can be exported as a CSV text file.
Import, Export and save as CSV
Displays a menu for importing and exporting the configuration as well as for saving the configuration as CSV text file.