Is there a better way to search the menus?

Solution 1:

You can do this with Alfred Powerpack and Key Clue workflow. This way you can search the command in the Spotlight like behavior (while providing you with all the visible shortcuts). In fact, you can use Command+<Number Key> to quickly choose the command from search result.

I’ve actually written the similar post before, but using another workflow called Menu Bar Search, these days I use Key Clue as my primary workflow to search menu bar items.

P.S. Alfred has a built-in feature to search Safari bookmarks, but you can also develop the Key Clue workflow further to include Safari browsing history/bookmarks.

Solution 2:

For Quicksilver users—exactly what I was looking for.

Here is an (old) Gigaom post about it.

It can be activated with a trigger key (mine is Option-Space) and then you can just type the menu item’s name in.

You can install the plugin in Quicksilver’s plugins pane.

Thanks to sayzlim, I found it through an Alfred Forums link in his blog post.

* ^{Quicksilver is a search application much like Alfred but FOSS. I use it only because half the features in Alfred have to be bought.}

Solution 3:

The app I prefer for getting a quick list of keyboard shortcuts is CheatSheet - free, quick and reliable:

• http://www.cheatsheetapp.com/CheatSheet/

It only shows you menu items that have key shortcuts, but is a one stop - install and go type of tool that you don't need to learn how to use.