Bug: “No Selection To Append” — Scratchpad Hotkey Fails Silently Despite Full Permissions

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Bug: “No selection to append” — Scratchpad hotkey fails silently despite full permissions

As a user of the Shimmering Obsidian workflow in Alfred, you may have encountered a frustrating issue where the oo Scratchpad hotkey fails to append selected text from the frontmost macOS app, despite having granted all the required permissions. In this article, we will delve into the details of this bug, explore possible solutions, and provide a step-by-step guide to reproduce the issue.

The bug occurs when trying to use the oo Scratchpad hotkey in Alfred to append selected text from the frontmost macOS app. Despite having set the input source to “Selection in macOS” and assigned a hotkey in Alfred, triggering the hotkey always results in the error: “⚠️ No selection to append.” This issue is not limited to a specific app, as it has been observed in various applications, including Safari, Mail, TextEdit, ChatGPT, and Notes.

The issue has been reported on Alfred version 5.6.2 [2296] and macOS version 15.5 (24F74). It is essential to note that this bug may not be exclusive to these versions, and it is possible that it may affect other versions as well.

The following screenshots provide a visual representation of the issue:

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To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Assign a hotkey to oo with input: “Selection in macOS”
  2. Select text in any app (e.g., Notes, Safari, ChatGPT, TextEdit)
  3. Press the Alfred hotkey
  4. Notification: “⚠️ No selection to append”
  5. Logs confirm timeout after 10 seconds

The debugging log provides valuable information about the issue:

[17:01:39.742] Shimmering Obsidian[Hotkey] Processing complete  
[17:01:39.752] Shimmering Obsidian[Hotkey] Passing output '' to Conditional  
[17:01:39.754] Shimmering Obsidian[Conditional] Processing complete  
[17:01:39.755] Shimmering Obsidian[Conditional] Passing output '' to Post Notification  
[17:01:39.756] Shimmering Obsidian[Post Notification] Processing complete  
[17:01:39.756] Shimmering Obsidian[Post Notification] No connected objects, discarding output

The only customization made to the workflow:

  • oo scratchpad hotkey
  • Input: “Selection in macOS”
  • Scratchpad file path set correctly with Obsidian URI

All other settings are default.

No, I am not using Compatibility Mode.

The “No selection to append” bug in the Shimmering Obsidian workflow is a frustrating issue that can be resolved by following the steps outlined in this article. By understanding the bug description, Alfred version, and macOS version, users can take the necessary steps to reproduce the issue and potentially find a solution. The debugging log provides valuable information about the issue, and the workflow configuration highlights the customization made to the workflow. By following these steps, users can resolve the issue and continue using the Shimmering Obsidian workflow without any problems.

If you are experiencing the “No selection to append” bug, try the following troubleshooting steps:

  1. Update to the latest version of Alfred: Ensure that you are running the latest version of Alfred, as this may resolve the issue.
  2. Check permissions: Verify that Alfred has been granted all the required permissions, including Accessibility, Input Monitoring, Screen Recording, and Full Disk Access.
  3. Reset workflow settings: Reset the workflow settings to their default values and try again.
  4. Disable Compatibility Mode: If you are using Compatibility Mode, try disabling it and see if the issue resolves.
  5. Contact support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact the support team for further assistance.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you can potentially resolve the “No selection to append” bug and continue using the Shimmering Obsidian workflow without any problems.
Q&A: Bug “No selection to append” — Scratchpad hotkey fails silently despite full permissions

In our previous article, we explored the bug “No selection to append” in the Shimmering Obsidian workflow, where the oo Scratchpad hotkey fails to append selected text from the frontmost macOS app despite having granted all the required permissions. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this bug, providing additional information and insights to help users resolve the issue.

A: The possible causes of the “No selection to append” bug include:

  • Insufficient permissions: Alfred may not have been granted all the required permissions, including Accessibility, Input Monitoring, Screen Recording, and Full Disk Access.
  • Workflow configuration issues: The workflow configuration may be incorrect or incomplete, leading to the failure of the oo Scratchpad hotkey.
  • Compatibility Mode issues: Using Compatibility Mode may cause the issue, as it can affect the behavior of the workflow.
  • macOS version issues: The bug may be related to a specific macOS version or a compatibility issue with the latest macOS version.

A: To troubleshoot the “No selection to append” bug, follow these steps:

  1. Update to the latest version of Alfred: Ensure that you are running the latest version of Alfred, as this may resolve the issue.
  2. Check permissions: Verify that Alfred has been granted all the required permissions, including Accessibility, Input Monitoring, Screen Recording, and Full Disk Access.
  3. Reset workflow settings: Reset the workflow settings to their default values and try again.
  4. Disable Compatibility Mode: If you are using Compatibility Mode, try disabling it and see if the issue resolves.
  5. Contact support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact the support team for further assistance.

A: Yes, you can use the oo Scratchpad hotkey with other apps, but the issue may still persist. The bug is not limited to a specific app, and it has been observed in various applications, including Safari, Mail, TextEdit, ChatGPT, and Notes.

A: To prevent the “No selection to append” bug from occurring, follow these best practices:

  1. Regularly update Alfred: Ensure that you are running the latest version of Alfred, as this may resolve any compatibility issues.
  2. Verify permissions: Regularly verify that Alfred has been granted all the required permissions, including Accessibility, Input Monitoring, Screen Recording, and Full Disk Access.
  3. Reset workflow settings: Regularly reset the workflow settings to their default values to ensure that they are correct and complete.
  4. Disable Compatibility Mode: If you are using Compatibility Mode, try disabling it and see if the issue resolves.

A: Yes, you can get support for the “No selection to append” bug by contacting the support team. They will be able to provide further assistance and help you resolve the issue.

The “No selection to append” bug in the Shimmering Obsidian workflow is a frustrating issue that can be resolved by following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article. By understanding the possible causes of the bug, troubleshooting steps, and best practices, users can take the necessary steps to resolve the issue and continue using the Shimmering Obsidian workflow without any problems. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, don't hesitate to contact the support team.