Command Menu

Overview

The Command Menu is a powerful feature in Colonnes that provides quick access to all application features through a single, searchable interface. It allows you to launch commands, search for tasks, and open recent files.

Opening the Command Menu

To open the command menu, use the keyboard shortcut:

Open command menu
CtrlK

Once the command menu is open, you can start typing to search for commands, tasks, or recent files.

What You Can Do

The Command Menu provides three main types of functionality:

1. Launch Commands

The command menu gives you quick access to dozens of actions organized by category:

  • Navigation: Select first/last item, navigate within selection
  • Selection: Select all items
  • Editing: Create new items, edit items, toggle status, duplicate
  • Movement: Move items up/down or to first/last position
  • File Management: New file, open file, close file
  • View Toggles: Toggle column headers, connectors, footer
  • Cleanup: Remove empty items, delete finished items, sort finished items
  • System: Settings, help, updates

2. Search Tasks

Just start typing a task name to search for it across your entire file. The command menu will show matching tasks with their hierarchy, making it easy to navigate to any task quickly.

3. Open Recent Files

Access your recently opened files directly from the menu. Perfect for switching between multiple task files.

Once the command menu is open, you can navigate through results using the keyboard:

  • Arrow Down (↓): Move to the next result
  • Arrow Up (↑): Move to the previous result
  • Enter (↵): Execute the selected command, open the selected task, or open the selected recent file
  • Escape (Esc): Close the command menu

You can also use your mouse to Click on any result to execute it

Results Organization

The command menu organizes results into three sections:

  1. Commands (shown first) - Available actions based on your current context
  2. Tasks (shown second) - Tasks matching your search query
  3. Recent Files (shown last) - Recently opened files

Each section appears only when it has results, and sections are clearly labeled for easy identification.

Context-Aware Commands

The command menu is context-aware, meaning it only shows commands that are relevant to your current situation:

  • File Open/Closed: Different commands available
  • Selection State: Some commands require a selection to work
  • Edit Mode: Commands change based on whether you’re in selection or edit mode

Command Menu Exclusive Commands

Some commands are only available through the Command Menu and don’t have dedicated keyboard shortcuts. These include:

Remove Empty Items

  • Deletes all empty tasks from your file
  • Useful for cleaning up your list after extensive editing

Delete Finished Items

  • Moves all completed tasks to the trash
  • Helps keep your active list focused on current work

Sort Finished Items

  • Moves all completed tasks to the bottom of their parent
  • Keeps completed tasks out of the way while still accessible