I'm only 20% of the way through the OmniFocus Field Guide and it has already made my use of this software so much more efficient! David is very clear in his explanations and has broken down the information into bite-sized chunks so that you easily retain the information. Strongly recommend.

Sparky is getting even better. Loved the added interviews, practical short-to-the-point videos, and friendly approach to learning these tools. Thank you!

I had never heard of Alfred until David announced this course. Wow! What a game changer. With David's guided instruction, I'm now accomplishing tasks with a few keystrokes that took many steps and much longer to accomplish. What a magical tool and what a great, patient and helpful instructor!

I've been a "Mega Supporter" of Alfred for about 5-years now and never really felt like I got the most out of the app beyond it being a launcher. Like all MacSparky Field guides, David does a thorough job in exposing every feature/function of the app and explores every nook and cranny to help you really feel like you can master the app. I now feel like I've got the tools to get the most of Alfred. My keyboard has never been used so much...

I love these Field Guides - so easy to follow, with the basics first followed by more advanced application. The latest Alfred Field Guide is the Field Guide that I have been waiting for! I have been using Alfred for a while but feel there is much more to learn. I am loving learning new tips and tricks. I would absolutely have no hesitation in recommending these Field Guides - they are invaluable if you want to learn how to use a tool to its full potential.

All the Field Guides are excellent, across the board. However the Alfred Field Guide, really knocks it out of the park. I have had Alfred for years and turns out, I was using a fraction of its capabilities. Thanks David! To paraphrase Mark Twain, you exceeded human possibility on this one!!!!

Carly Simon wrote the song, "Nobody Does It Better." I can't improve on that.

Immediately learned how to use Alfred to basics for file searches and more. Easy to learn from the master. Infinitely useful. Can't wait for more. Course is we'll structured and a pleasure to study. Highly recommend.

I have been a user of Alfred for years and it is my app launcher. I also have some custom workflows that I use but I never took the time to learn the basics so the Alfred Field Guide was an eye-opener for me and I love it. I am a power user now.

If you are someone who wants your computer to work for you, instead of you working for your computer, all of the MacSparky field guides are pure gold.

Another great field guide. It only took me a few days to complete the course and at the same time installed everything. Alfred is the tool I use mostly now. For anyone who wants to quickly learn everything to be productive, this field guide is great.

I love David’s field guides and I was already a big Alfred fan, now I am an Alfred Ninja. Thank you David - this is one of your best 👍

Five Stars - In his normal low key and easy to follow manner introduces not tech types into yet another exceptionally helpful Apple centric app. With his clear instructions and a little effort, Alfred can help you imprint valuable information into your fingers to help you save time and energy for the duration of your using a keyboard. As always LOTS of great advice delivered in an easy to use advice from a master of technology.

The course is superb. I’ve used Alfred as an app launcher for a few years now, but never more. I guessed, correctly, that MacSparky wase going to open my eyes. And he really did.

Even though I’ve been using Alfred for the last several years, your training content was spot on! I will absolutely get significantly more value from Alfred because of the new field guide. –Rod L.

I’ve used a good number of the MacSparky Field Guides, and the most recent one I completed—on the Alfred application—was truly exceptional. I had tried Alfred before but found it more complex to set up than I wanted to deal with at the time. Thanks to David’s crystal-clear explanations, I was finally able to unlock its potential. This guide didn’t just teach me how to use Alfred—it led me down a productive path of expanding its capabilities with additional workflows and companion applications. I don’t think I’ve ever gone through all the videos in a field guide this quickly. It wasn’t due to a lack of content; rather, the material was so engaging and well-presented that it made me want to keep going. It will absolutely be an important addition to my daily workflow. Next, I plan to revisit and complete a few other MacSparky Field Guides I started in the past. They cover tools I’ve used for years but know I can use more effectively. I’m confident that, just like with Alfred, I’ll discover valuable tips and workflows that will enhance how I work. I also intend to revisit parts of the Alfred guide itself to deepen my understanding and make the most of its powerful features.

What I learned ? I learned even I can learn how to use Alfred! The learning experience is simple to follow, which is not easy for the instructor to produce UNLESS he has a total understanding of the app. Clearly, David Sparks knows all about Alfred. I highly recommend both Alfred the program and David Sparks the instructor. The combination is terrific for learning how to incorporate Alfred into multiplying your prowess with your normal keyboard routines.

Once again I've learned a lot from this MacSparky Field Guide. In this case it's the Guide to Alfred, but the same applies to all of the others produced by MacSparky. Designed and built in bite-sized pieces, I would recommend all of these guides to anyone wanting to have a measured and expert guide to key Apple software and wider techniques.

I estimate my Alfred usage was about 2%. Your Alfred FG is like drinking a health food smoothie through a fire hose—so much goodness. It's worth every penny and more.

I've been using Alfred for many years and bought this Field Guide thinking I might pick up a trick or two deep in there someplace. Not so. In the first 15 minutes I learned so much that it was worth the price of admission.

Who knew? certainly not me. but certainly MacSparky knew. I installed Alfred within days of shifting from a PC to a Mac so it's been with me all my Mac life but I've never realised how powerful it really is and how much you can do with it. I've learned previously about shortcuts and keyboard maestro from David. And it feels like this completes the circle.

I was really on the fence about buying this Field Guide. I would have said I was an "Alfred Power User." I've been using Alfred for over 10 years, back to version 1.3.2. I don't have a huge number of workflows, but they are all self-written to accomplish something I needed or wanted. [Details available on request :) .] Still, I was intrigued by the interviews with other Alfred users and the Alfred development team, and so I made an impulse buy. Because I bought in early, not everything is yet available. However, the Section 2, which covers all of the Alfred settings and options, was ready and I figured I would watch one or two of the videos before bed. One video in, I was thinking "How did I not know that?" Three videos, and I had the Alfred settings open so that I could make changes as I watched. Five videos, and it was clear that this Field Guide should be watched by everyone using Alfred. David has found every little trick, tip, and feature in Alfred, and presents all of them with his trademark clarity and style, making it easy to learn and adopt teach feature and figure out if/how it would work for you. If you are an Alfred user (or want to buy), you absolutely should buy this Field Guide!

Ok. I jumped on the Alfred Field Guide because I wanted to learn more about creating workflows. I've been using Alfred for several years and it's my replacement for Spotlight, so I felt pretty confident that I knew Alfred's capabilities. Boy, was I wrong! Within about a minute of starting MacSparky's first video, I had my first headslap moment. Then another...and another with every video. By the time I finished the first five videos I think I racked up about 10 new or better ways to use the app. Duh! I'm really glad I purchased this - there are so many great suggestions for improving productivity with this app. I followed along with my own copy of Alfred, customizing settings to do things that I didn't realize Alfred could do. Thanks, David! Another great Field Guide.

I'm now using the snippets option of Alfred as a TextExpander replacement for my workflows. Having recently retired, my need for using TextExpander's abilities have greatly reduced; and David's reminder of how snippets are a built in part of Alfred, and their ease of use has more than paid for the cost of this Field Guide!

I have been a long-term Alfred with the Power Pack option user, but, embarrassingly, I used it only for launching apps, calculations, and system commands like quitall, forcequit, and restart…. I knew it could do a lot more, but I never focused and learned how to leverage it. My takeaway from the Alfred Field Guide is that I can get a lot of this done right from "CMD Space" from Alfred.

The Alfred Field Guide has already made my Mac experience more efficient and enjoyable. I love being able to launch specific documents—even in apps I rarely use like Chrome Sheets—with just a few keystrokes.

Like all other MacSparky Field Guides, your newest one on Alfred is outstanding. My favorite section is Universal Actions, which has saved me much time and effort.

I have been following David Sparks’ technical advice from when he contributed to the Mac Reviewcast more than a decade ago. I’ve been purchasing his field guides for years and have most of them. His guides are extremely well designed and produced and help viewers with using technology that can be complex and confusing. I particularly like the help he has provided with applications such as OmniFocus, Hazel, and Keyboard Maestro. I also found his productivity guide very informative because is covers how we do things, not just specific applications. I can’t recommend his field guides enough.

I bought the OmniFocus field guide yesterday. I'm new to MacSparky but there a few things I can say so far: 1) David's passion for OmniFocus really attracted me. He believes in the power of this software and made me feel that I would learn a tremendous amount by investing my time in his teaching. I think he's right. I watched the session on Projects within minutes of downloading and have already learned how to improve my use of this very big capability of the software in less than 30 minutes. 2) My favorite thing - besides the great examples from David's own database/daily use of the software - is the fact that I can dive in on a specific topic. I wanted to learn about projects and found it listed in the lessons and knew exactly how much time to devote. Perfect. 3) I would certainly recommend David's work. The teaching is practical, easy to understand, well illustrated and presented at a speed that doesn't require me to endlessly repeat the teaching again to catch the details.

I bought this because I buy all of David's Field Guides, but wasn't expecting much from this, figuring it would be too touchy-feely. Instead, I found it incredibly useful both as a way of organizing much of what David has alluded to in bits and pieces over the years, but also because it is truly a practical guide, even if it is not a technical software guide like his other Field Guides. This will be useful to anyone, no matter where you are on life's journey.

MacSparky’s OmniFocus Field Guide can be life changing if you’re struggling with overwhelm from all the tasks swirling around in your life. OmniFocus as a program was too intimidating for me to get into. But with MacSparky’s Field Guide, it’s so easy to learn and integrate OmniFocus. The Field Guide is A+++ quality. And the bonus is that David Sparks is a really impressive person who has been using OmniFocus for years. He’s not just showing you how to use the program; he’s showing you how you should use the program. I got the more expensive version of the Field Guide (as well as the more expensive version of OmniFocus), and I’m very happy that I did. Another great benefit is that if David Sparks makes a Field Guide related to a computer program, I know that the program is worth checking out and safe to use. The MacSparky seal of approval is a big deal for me. Task management software is so critical and private; choosing the right one is important. I very much appreciate MacSparky sifting through the many many options and telling us which is best and safe to use. I’ve been using OmniFocus for years; but I waited to upgrade to OmniFocus 4 until MacSparky released this new Field Guide. Yes, this Field Guide is worth the money. It seems expensive, but once you realize the quality and usefulness, it’s a GREAT value. So is OmniFocus for that matter.

My OmniFocus journey began a decade ago with OmniFocus 2 when I was in college. At that time, determining what I needed to work on next was easy, which class was next? As I pursued my career though, I lost touch with OmniFocus. Having heard David across not only his podcasts but also on other company’s podcasts and blogs, his passion and knowledge consistently show through. To reconnect with OmniFocus, I knew David was the man to help me. Throughout the OmniFocus 4 Field Guide, I learned not only the mechanics to control OmniFocus (via menus, the UI, the keyboard and automation), but more importantly I learned how to develop a task management system. Capturing tasks is one thing, but being able to act on them without being overwhelmed is a challenge. David acknowledges this and proposes multiple approaches so that you can build the best system for you. While taking the course, I was consistently impressed with the resources being provided with lessons and how you the student were the focus. Yet, David is able to keep it approachable, conversational and fun. With all of this and more found throughout the course, I would recommend this course to everyone from skeptic or novice to expert, you won’t be disappointed

David’s MacSparky Video Courses are Simply “The Best”. Every Course offer a tremendous value, their cost is reasonable (or better). David’s Products are Top Drawer / Best In Category. 

If you are a Beginner - You will Learn A Lot. If you are an Expert - You will Learn A Lot. Purchase Every Course of Interest and Improve how you do, what you do. 

Who else offers you an Opportunity like that? David’s Courses and MacSparky Labs are worth your $ / Support - They will make you Better.

I have been using OmniFocus for many years and feel pretty good about my mastery of the software but really like the MacSparky Field Guides and figured I would learn a few cool things about the latest version. Just to get started I jumped in to the lesson about keyboard shortcuts and... in a few minutes I learned some new shortcuts that will be a total game changer for me. Amazing to see how a few minutes in to the course has led to my leveling up my OmniFocus game!

A really comprehensive course on OmniFocus 4 that feels very practical and real because David uses his own actual life personal data to work from. I’m already operating so much better with the app, achieving more and taking less time to do it. I thoroughly recommend this Field Guide.

I've been using Omnifocus for ages, and I learned some very useful tricks to make it work harder for me. I love the way David talks about real-life use cases for the features and how to use it to help you not just get more done, but get the right things done. My favourite things are the sample scripts / shortcuts and the detailed walk-throughs - I came away with ideas to tweak it for my own use-cases AND the skills to do so. Equal favourite is the way to make this work with links so you avoid distraction and go to exactly where you need to be. OF + this Field Guide = Superpowers. If you want to use OF to organise your life a single place then you need this Field Guide.

As a long time user of Omnifocus, I was eagerly awaiting David's OmniFocus 4 Field Guide. Boy, he didn't disappoint. Not only does David do his usual high quality job of explaining how to use OmniFocus 4. He provides a wonderful overview of the systems you can implement to manage your daily tasks. Whether you are new to OmniFocus or a long time user, David has you covered. Highly recommend. The OmniFocus Field Guide also complements other recent field guides of David's the Productivity Field Guide and the Obsidian Field Guide. David is slowly but surely building out a suite of Field Guides to help us manage our digital lives.

An exceptionally well-thought-out course. It provides new insights for those already using OmniFocus, yet is simple enough for people who have not used it previously.

All my life I have been interested in productivity, efficiency, energy management. I've read a lot of books in the last 8 years, like Feel Good Productivity, Make Time, Hyperfocus, Deep Work, Eat That Frog, The Productivity Project, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, ... And I've taken a lot of courses, tested a lot of apps and learned a lot. I built my own system. That's still a work in progress. But when David Sparks launched this new course, The Productivity Field Guide, I bought it and I bought the Plus version. I think this is the best course that I have ever taken about productivity. Why? This is not a guru. This is not some wishful thinking. This is a man that practices what he preaches. This is his own system that he has built during all his life, being a lawyer and building out MacSparky. He has brought MacSparky from a side hustle to the successful company that it is today. And all the tools, the techniques, and the ideas that he has been using based on the books that he has read. He has made this into a very concrete project. And what I was missing in all the other courses was the why and the how. This is a very practical course. You can build your own why or analyse your own why. Step by step you get guidance to make this your own. Thank you David.

Being a Greek and living in Akadimia Platonos in the centre of Athens I can for sure say that the Roles and Arete system of MacSparky is familiar to my thinking. Though the role system as explained and designed in conjunction with the apps or techniques is well thought and taught. I started building my daily life accordingly and I can see a great benefit so far.

I bought this because I buy all of David's Field Guides, but wasn't expecting much from this, figuring it would be too touchy-feely. Instead, I found it incredibly useful both as a way of organizing much of what David has alluded to in bits and pieces over the years, but also because it is truly a practical guide, even if it is not a technical software guide like his other Field Guides. This will be useful to anyone, no matter where you are on life's journey.

What I love about David's Productivity Field Guide is it's not about cranking more widgets, it's how to define your best self and then pursue it.

Once again, this guide reminds me why I love David’s Field guides so much. The Productivity Field Guide starts by talking about what to do and how to think about your activities before he even starts in on how to get more done in less time. (As a classics major, I always love his references to Plato, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius et al which put productivity in the context of our humanity rather than as a mechanical device.) Unlike almost every other Productivity Guide, this one doesn’t push a hard-and-fast philosophical school or toolkit… It’s meant for adults who can think about the principles, experiment, and decide for themselves what will most effectively help them reach their goals. I’ve read and followed a lot of productivity systems and gurus and found David’s take very freeing and powerful and a great way to make 2024 a year where you can more effectively fulfill your unique purpose.

The chapter on roles and arete blew my mind. Irene K.

Great Stuff ! I have been following David for years and the stuff keeps getting better and better. Highly Recommend

I have bought all of MacSparky's Field Guides. There is an engaging degree of simplicity and clarity to his products. At the same time, for complex topics, he is able to communicate in a way that steers you through the forest to plainer pastures. He not only teaches you but does so at your pace and your way.

I spent today going through the Keyboard Maestro field guide. I’ve gone through several others as well. David’s teaching style helps me understand not just the mechanics but the practical uses as well. I really appreciate getting to learn from Sparky.

Before I worked through the Obsidian Field Guide, I had no interest in using Obsidian. If anything, I felt negative toward the app. I’d taken a few webinars and tried it, but dropped it as not useful to me. However, David’s excellent teaching about how the app works and how people use it completely changed my thinking. Now, I’m in the process of using Obsidian to create my own thinking tool, my own “jimOS” vault, where I write down how I think and feel about many life issues. Obsidian is not user-friendly and has a steep learning curve. MacSparky does a great job breaking it down into bite-sized pieces so readers can understand the pieces and build them into an understanding of how to use the app. He not only teaches about the app’s mechanics but also gives lots of helpful information about the practical uses of the app. The Field Guide is a great learning tool!

The MacSparky Field Guide for Keyboard Maestro is an invaluable resource for both beginners and seasoned users. Keyboard Maestro, with its intricate and powerful automation capabilities, can be daunting for many. While some may find it intuitive, the majority will appreciate the clarity and simplicity that David Sparks brings to the table. He expertly demystifies the software, breaking down complex functions into easy-to-follow steps. This guide is essential for anyone looking to unlock the full potential of their computer through automation. Don't wait to transform your workflow; get the MacSparky Field Guide now and make the most out of Keyboard Maestro! In fact it's so easy following his guide, it's almost like child's play!

I have followed several MacSparky Field Guides: DEVONthink, OmniFocus, Hazel, and Obsidian. Although I had used all those apps before following the Field Guides for them, I learned in every one of them features I had not known about. In every case the Field Guides helped me use the apps more efficiently and more enjoyably. A bonus feature for me as a retired professor is watching masterful pedagogy in action. David has a gift for clarity and accessibility, all delivered with a pleasant personality. I have recommended the Field Guides to several friends and will continue doing so in the future.

After upgrading to the new macOS, I found the restrictions on some new features super frustrating. Listening to Automators and Mac Power Users, I learned that Keyboard Maestro could help. But I didn't have time to dig deep into it from ground zero. What I wanted was some quick instructions to give me foundational knowledge, and show me what's possible. I figured once I could see it in action, and where the edges are, I would be able to use it for my purposes. Fortunately there is a MacSparky Field Guide! Signing up was quick and easy, and I got through the material over the weekend. I appreciated that each video was specific to one aspect. The short-and-to-the-point nature of the videos made it easier for me to stay focused and engaged. And the combination of video and text helped me best understand what I wanted to do with the App, and how it best works with my brain and existing skills. I appreciate the downloads too — they gave me a leg up on my own macros, and I'll be able to refer to them long after I remember the exact details of this course. Thank you, David, for a premium learning experience. I highly recommend this field guide.

Favorite. Down to earth, great learning.

Indispensable ⚙️ David's videos have been a blessing for me. I LOVE and need these wizardly-looking-productivity-tools but have little time to learn how to use them. The Filed Guides get me to what I need in no time. Recommended 🙌

MacSparky Field Guides are amazing. As an IT professional with over 40 years of experience, I learn more from the Field Guides than any other source, hands down! The combination of text and video, along with the excellent organization of the content is not only excellent for tutorial use, but also as a useful reference. I highly recommend the Field Guides even if you just have a passing interest in whatever area the guide covers.

The Keyboard Maestro tutorials got me from feeling overwhelmed by a complex piece of software, to feeling professional with it. This great set of videos that have changed how I use my Mac.

The MacSparky Field Guides are indispensable tools for getting the most out of new apps and technologies. David Sparks is a master explainer. His field guides are clear and concise, and his skilled use of video makes them easy to follow. Each field guide is suitable for a wide range of viewer expertise, starting from the basics and going on to offer valuable guidance for more experienced users. I look forward to every new field guide that comes out.

David is the Bob Ross of technology; calming, enjoyable and instructive, I have learnt an unquantifiable amount from him and his Field Guides. The Field Guides are all excellent (I should know, I think I have purchased them all) and just keep getting better and better. The stand-outs for me are the DEVONthink and the Obsidian ones. The production values are just so good. Each step (from installation to advanced use) is explained in clear terms, with demonstrations. Both DEVONthink and Obsidian are huge programmes and complex pieces of software. David's structured approach to each of them meant that I was taken by my digital hand and led through the complexities of the software. By the end, I felt better to tackle using them both and felt more productive as a result. David's Field Guides aren't cheap, but they are some of the best value products I've ever purchased. My only criticism: I wish there were more of them and they covered every piece of software I used. Many thanks to David.

I have spent a lot of time and effort getting a handle on Obsidian, following excellent instructors. Although Nick and Mike's materials are excellent, MacSparky's Obsidian Field Guide really takes it to a different level of understanding. He really explains completely the various segments which helps the understanding of the overall use cases of others. Highly recommend!! As a matter of fact, I have taken several of the field guides and would have the same recommendation for all.

MacSparky's Field Guides have taught me so much about Shortcuts, Drafts, Paperless workflows, and other topics. Shortcuts is my favorite course. I love that it gives a full spectrum of knowledge. The courses take the student from Beginner to Power User and you can certainly decide for yourself where you want to end your knowledge journey along that spectrum. The courses allow me to easily go back over subject matter I didn't grasp the first time through. Also, compared to other learning platforms, mainly YouTube for me, Sparky's Field Guides give structure to my learning. I am not hopping around various videos trying to piece together the information I am attempting to learn. If Sparky has a Field Guide on the subject it is a well organized and structured way to learn a lot about that topic. I highly recommend buying Sparky's Field Guides if there is subject matter that covers an area you would like to learn a lot more about. I bought the Obsidian Field Guide to support MacSparky even though I doubt Obsidian will ever fit into my personal workflow. I just wanted to support his efforts at creating great courses. That is how much I value MacSparky's Field Guides. I buy them even if it isn't a subject I am likely to use because I want him to keep making the great guides.

The Obsidian Field Guide is all that I had hoped for and then some. It lays out a clear, executable path to become an Obsidian power user regardless of where on the knowledge spectrum one starts. What makes the Obsidian Field Guide stand out in this space is its creator. David Sparks is above all a gifted teacher and communicator. He understands how to teach others and communicate clearly what he knows. He simplifies Obsidian, a complex and powerful program, providing a path to use it productively from the first day while also laying out a path to become a power user in a short period of time.

This is the third training program I’ve tried, and the only one making concepts stick. I am a professional educator, and MacSparky is among the master educators I’ve encountered in any subject domain.

Time is my most valuable asset - a MacSparky field guide allows me to become proficient with a tool in a comparably *very* short time - on top of that, I get strategy advice, wisdom on best practices for utilising the tool in the longer perspective - I highly recommend them (I have 3) - I highly recommend revisiting the field guide again some months later, when the deeper aspects of what David teaches can be absorbed

I knew Obsidian was powerful and tried repeatedly to learn it myself. Finally, after finishing this course, I get Obsidian.

Obsidian is the crown jewel of the Field Guides.

This guide will provide you with everything you could possibly ever need to go paperless with Apple tech. This is one of those rare courses that can pay for itself a hundred times over, provided you follow the advice inside. David knocked this one out of the park.

As a DEVONThink user for over 10 years and having built a personal database containing over 30,000 items, I would consider myself a reasonably sophisticated user of the app. However, buying David Sparks’ Field Guide was like being given an intricately detailed map and a high-beam flashlight to take with me on the journey into the wilderness that DEVONThink, with its overwhelming array of features, can sometimes be.

I am only about halfway through and I can’t believe with how much detail and care MacSparky has laid out and delivered this guide. There are numerous examples for all kinds of apps and situations. The guide is easy to follow and without this guide I would have never been able to fully discover and enjoy the capabilities of shortcuts.

The Obsidian Field Guide (Plus edition) is, in one word, superb. Obsidian is a difficult app to teach because it’s an app that can do so many different things in so many different ways. So, I marvel at how well David Sparks architected the course to be both comprehensive and clear. I thought I knew Obsidian pretty well after a year or so of using it, but David taught me a lot I didn’t know (both big things — getting a better handle on the Dataview plugin— and small things — I didn’t know about the setting that listed all backlinks to a note at the bottom of that note). I can’t thank David enough for making my everyday use of Obsidian so much better.

Macsparky has done it again, taking what could be an overwhelming app for newcomers and breaking it down into easy to follow pieces. Even the Obsidian power user has something here they can take away too. Bravo Sir! You really can’t go wrong with a Macsparky Field Guide, if you want to understand an app from the nuts and bolts right up to making it sing and dance then this is for you.

If you are at all interested in figuring out how to get your notes to work well for you, Obsidian is a solid tool. And David Sparks’ Field Guide can take you from knowing nothing about Obsidian to being able to easily organize your notes and developing your ideas. As always, he presents things clearly where you could either learn one step at a time or surgically dive in to learn exactly the topics you want. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned veteran, David gives you a fresh take on using Obsidian well."

I'm only 20% of the way through the OmniFocus Field Guide and it has already made my use of this software so much more efficient! David is very clear in his explanations and has broken down the information into bite-sized chunks so that you easily retain the information. Strongly recommend.

Sparky is getting even better. Loved the added interviews, practical short-to-the-point videos, and friendly approach to learning these tools. Thank you!

I had never heard of Alfred until David announced this course. Wow! What a game changer. With David's guided instruction, I'm now accomplishing tasks with a few keystrokes that took many steps and much longer to accomplish. What a magical tool and what a great, patient and helpful instructor!

I've been a "Mega Supporter" of Alfred for about 5-years now and never really felt like I got the most out of the app beyond it being a launcher. Like all MacSparky Field guides, David does a thorough job in exposing every feature/function of the app and explores every nook and cranny to help you really feel like you can master the app. I now feel like I've got the tools to get the most of Alfred. My keyboard has never been used so much...

I love these Field Guides - so easy to follow, with the basics first followed by more advanced application. The latest Alfred Field Guide is the Field Guide that I have been waiting for! I have been using Alfred for a while but feel there is much more to learn. I am loving learning new tips and tricks. I would absolutely have no hesitation in recommending these Field Guides - they are invaluable if you want to learn how to use a tool to its full potential.

All the Field Guides are excellent, across the board. However the Alfred Field Guide, really knocks it out of the park. I have had Alfred for years and turns out, I was using a fraction of its capabilities. Thanks David! To paraphrase Mark Twain, you exceeded human possibility on this one!!!!

Carly Simon wrote the song, "Nobody Does It Better." I can't improve on that.

Immediately learned how to use Alfred to basics for file searches and more. Easy to learn from the master. Infinitely useful. Can't wait for more. Course is we'll structured and a pleasure to study. Highly recommend.

I have been a user of Alfred for years and it is my app launcher. I also have some custom workflows that I use but I never took the time to learn the basics so the Alfred Field Guide was an eye-opener for me and I love it. I am a power user now.

If you are someone who wants your computer to work for you, instead of you working for your computer, all of the MacSparky field guides are pure gold.

Another great field guide. It only took me a few days to complete the course and at the same time installed everything. Alfred is the tool I use mostly now. For anyone who wants to quickly learn everything to be productive, this field guide is great.

I love David’s field guides and I was already a big Alfred fan, now I am an Alfred Ninja. Thank you David - this is one of your best 👍

Five Stars - In his normal low key and easy to follow manner introduces not tech types into yet another exceptionally helpful Apple centric app. With his clear instructions and a little effort, Alfred can help you imprint valuable information into your fingers to help you save time and energy for the duration of your using a keyboard. As always LOTS of great advice delivered in an easy to use advice from a master of technology.

The course is superb. I’ve used Alfred as an app launcher for a few years now, but never more. I guessed, correctly, that MacSparky wase going to open my eyes. And he really did.

Even though I’ve been using Alfred for the last several years, your training content was spot on! I will absolutely get significantly more value from Alfred because of the new field guide. –Rod L.

I’ve used a good number of the MacSparky Field Guides, and the most recent one I completed—on the Alfred application—was truly exceptional. I had tried Alfred before but found it more complex to set up than I wanted to deal with at the time. Thanks to David’s crystal-clear explanations, I was finally able to unlock its potential. This guide didn’t just teach me how to use Alfred—it led me down a productive path of expanding its capabilities with additional workflows and companion applications. I don’t think I’ve ever gone through all the videos in a field guide this quickly. It wasn’t due to a lack of content; rather, the material was so engaging and well-presented that it made me want to keep going. It will absolutely be an important addition to my daily workflow. Next, I plan to revisit and complete a few other MacSparky Field Guides I started in the past. They cover tools I’ve used for years but know I can use more effectively. I’m confident that, just like with Alfred, I’ll discover valuable tips and workflows that will enhance how I work. I also intend to revisit parts of the Alfred guide itself to deepen my understanding and make the most of its powerful features.

What I learned ? I learned even I can learn how to use Alfred! The learning experience is simple to follow, which is not easy for the instructor to produce UNLESS he has a total understanding of the app. Clearly, David Sparks knows all about Alfred. I highly recommend both Alfred the program and David Sparks the instructor. The combination is terrific for learning how to incorporate Alfred into multiplying your prowess with your normal keyboard routines.

Once again I've learned a lot from this MacSparky Field Guide. In this case it's the Guide to Alfred, but the same applies to all of the others produced by MacSparky. Designed and built in bite-sized pieces, I would recommend all of these guides to anyone wanting to have a measured and expert guide to key Apple software and wider techniques.

I estimate my Alfred usage was about 2%. Your Alfred FG is like drinking a health food smoothie through a fire hose—so much goodness. It's worth every penny and more.

I've been using Alfred for many years and bought this Field Guide thinking I might pick up a trick or two deep in there someplace. Not so. In the first 15 minutes I learned so much that it was worth the price of admission.

Who knew? certainly not me. but certainly MacSparky knew. I installed Alfred within days of shifting from a PC to a Mac so it's been with me all my Mac life but I've never realised how powerful it really is and how much you can do with it. I've learned previously about shortcuts and keyboard maestro from David. And it feels like this completes the circle.

I was really on the fence about buying this Field Guide. I would have said I was an "Alfred Power User." I've been using Alfred for over 10 years, back to version 1.3.2. I don't have a huge number of workflows, but they are all self-written to accomplish something I needed or wanted. [Details available on request :) .] Still, I was intrigued by the interviews with other Alfred users and the Alfred development team, and so I made an impulse buy. Because I bought in early, not everything is yet available. However, the Section 2, which covers all of the Alfred settings and options, was ready and I figured I would watch one or two of the videos before bed. One video in, I was thinking "How did I not know that?" Three videos, and I had the Alfred settings open so that I could make changes as I watched. Five videos, and it was clear that this Field Guide should be watched by everyone using Alfred. David has found every little trick, tip, and feature in Alfred, and presents all of them with his trademark clarity and style, making it easy to learn and adopt teach feature and figure out if/how it would work for you. If you are an Alfred user (or want to buy), you absolutely should buy this Field Guide!

Ok. I jumped on the Alfred Field Guide because I wanted to learn more about creating workflows. I've been using Alfred for several years and it's my replacement for Spotlight, so I felt pretty confident that I knew Alfred's capabilities. Boy, was I wrong! Within about a minute of starting MacSparky's first video, I had my first headslap moment. Then another...and another with every video. By the time I finished the first five videos I think I racked up about 10 new or better ways to use the app. Duh! I'm really glad I purchased this - there are so many great suggestions for improving productivity with this app. I followed along with my own copy of Alfred, customizing settings to do things that I didn't realize Alfred could do. Thanks, David! Another great Field Guide.

I'm now using the snippets option of Alfred as a TextExpander replacement for my workflows. Having recently retired, my need for using TextExpander's abilities have greatly reduced; and David's reminder of how snippets are a built in part of Alfred, and their ease of use has more than paid for the cost of this Field Guide!

I have been a long-term Alfred with the Power Pack option user, but, embarrassingly, I used it only for launching apps, calculations, and system commands like quitall, forcequit, and restart…. I knew it could do a lot more, but I never focused and learned how to leverage it. My takeaway from the Alfred Field Guide is that I can get a lot of this done right from "CMD Space" from Alfred.

The Alfred Field Guide has already made my Mac experience more efficient and enjoyable. I love being able to launch specific documents—even in apps I rarely use like Chrome Sheets—with just a few keystrokes.

Like all other MacSparky Field Guides, your newest one on Alfred is outstanding. My favorite section is Universal Actions, which has saved me much time and effort.

I have been following David Sparks’ technical advice from when he contributed to the Mac Reviewcast more than a decade ago. I’ve been purchasing his field guides for years and have most of them. His guides are extremely well designed and produced and help viewers with using technology that can be complex and confusing. I particularly like the help he has provided with applications such as OmniFocus, Hazel, and Keyboard Maestro. I also found his productivity guide very informative because is covers how we do things, not just specific applications. I can’t recommend his field guides enough.

I bought the OmniFocus field guide yesterday. I'm new to MacSparky but there a few things I can say so far: 1) David's passion for OmniFocus really attracted me. He believes in the power of this software and made me feel that I would learn a tremendous amount by investing my time in his teaching. I think he's right. I watched the session on Projects within minutes of downloading and have already learned how to improve my use of this very big capability of the software in less than 30 minutes. 2) My favorite thing - besides the great examples from David's own database/daily use of the software - is the fact that I can dive in on a specific topic. I wanted to learn about projects and found it listed in the lessons and knew exactly how much time to devote. Perfect. 3) I would certainly recommend David's work. The teaching is practical, easy to understand, well illustrated and presented at a speed that doesn't require me to endlessly repeat the teaching again to catch the details.

I bought this because I buy all of David's Field Guides, but wasn't expecting much from this, figuring it would be too touchy-feely. Instead, I found it incredibly useful both as a way of organizing much of what David has alluded to in bits and pieces over the years, but also because it is truly a practical guide, even if it is not a technical software guide like his other Field Guides. This will be useful to anyone, no matter where you are on life's journey.

MacSparky’s OmniFocus Field Guide can be life changing if you’re struggling with overwhelm from all the tasks swirling around in your life. OmniFocus as a program was too intimidating for me to get into. But with MacSparky’s Field Guide, it’s so easy to learn and integrate OmniFocus. The Field Guide is A+++ quality. And the bonus is that David Sparks is a really impressive person who has been using OmniFocus for years. He’s not just showing you how to use the program; he’s showing you how you should use the program. I got the more expensive version of the Field Guide (as well as the more expensive version of OmniFocus), and I’m very happy that I did. Another great benefit is that if David Sparks makes a Field Guide related to a computer program, I know that the program is worth checking out and safe to use. The MacSparky seal of approval is a big deal for me. Task management software is so critical and private; choosing the right one is important. I very much appreciate MacSparky sifting through the many many options and telling us which is best and safe to use. I’ve been using OmniFocus for years; but I waited to upgrade to OmniFocus 4 until MacSparky released this new Field Guide. Yes, this Field Guide is worth the money. It seems expensive, but once you realize the quality and usefulness, it’s a GREAT value. So is OmniFocus for that matter.

My OmniFocus journey began a decade ago with OmniFocus 2 when I was in college. At that time, determining what I needed to work on next was easy, which class was next? As I pursued my career though, I lost touch with OmniFocus. Having heard David across not only his podcasts but also on other company’s podcasts and blogs, his passion and knowledge consistently show through. To reconnect with OmniFocus, I knew David was the man to help me. Throughout the OmniFocus 4 Field Guide, I learned not only the mechanics to control OmniFocus (via menus, the UI, the keyboard and automation), but more importantly I learned how to develop a task management system. Capturing tasks is one thing, but being able to act on them without being overwhelmed is a challenge. David acknowledges this and proposes multiple approaches so that you can build the best system for you. While taking the course, I was consistently impressed with the resources being provided with lessons and how you the student were the focus. Yet, David is able to keep it approachable, conversational and fun. With all of this and more found throughout the course, I would recommend this course to everyone from skeptic or novice to expert, you won’t be disappointed

David’s MacSparky Video Courses are Simply “The Best”. Every Course offer a tremendous value, their cost is reasonable (or better). David’s Products are Top Drawer / Best In Category. 

If you are a Beginner - You will Learn A Lot. If you are an Expert - You will Learn A Lot. Purchase Every Course of Interest and Improve how you do, what you do. 

Who else offers you an Opportunity like that? David’s Courses and MacSparky Labs are worth your $ / Support - They will make you Better.

I have been using OmniFocus for many years and feel pretty good about my mastery of the software but really like the MacSparky Field Guides and figured I would learn a few cool things about the latest version. Just to get started I jumped in to the lesson about keyboard shortcuts and... in a few minutes I learned some new shortcuts that will be a total game changer for me. Amazing to see how a few minutes in to the course has led to my leveling up my OmniFocus game!

A really comprehensive course on OmniFocus 4 that feels very practical and real because David uses his own actual life personal data to work from. I’m already operating so much better with the app, achieving more and taking less time to do it. I thoroughly recommend this Field Guide.

I've been using Omnifocus for ages, and I learned some very useful tricks to make it work harder for me. I love the way David talks about real-life use cases for the features and how to use it to help you not just get more done, but get the right things done. My favourite things are the sample scripts / shortcuts and the detailed walk-throughs - I came away with ideas to tweak it for my own use-cases AND the skills to do so. Equal favourite is the way to make this work with links so you avoid distraction and go to exactly where you need to be. OF + this Field Guide = Superpowers. If you want to use OF to organise your life a single place then you need this Field Guide.

As a long time user of Omnifocus, I was eagerly awaiting David's OmniFocus 4 Field Guide. Boy, he didn't disappoint. Not only does David do his usual high quality job of explaining how to use OmniFocus 4. He provides a wonderful overview of the systems you can implement to manage your daily tasks. Whether you are new to OmniFocus or a long time user, David has you covered. Highly recommend. The OmniFocus Field Guide also complements other recent field guides of David's the Productivity Field Guide and the Obsidian Field Guide. David is slowly but surely building out a suite of Field Guides to help us manage our digital lives.

An exceptionally well-thought-out course. It provides new insights for those already using OmniFocus, yet is simple enough for people who have not used it previously.

All my life I have been interested in productivity, efficiency, energy management. I've read a lot of books in the last 8 years, like Feel Good Productivity, Make Time, Hyperfocus, Deep Work, Eat That Frog, The Productivity Project, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, ... And I've taken a lot of courses, tested a lot of apps and learned a lot. I built my own system. That's still a work in progress. But when David Sparks launched this new course, The Productivity Field Guide, I bought it and I bought the Plus version. I think this is the best course that I have ever taken about productivity. Why? This is not a guru. This is not some wishful thinking. This is a man that practices what he preaches. This is his own system that he has built during all his life, being a lawyer and building out MacSparky. He has brought MacSparky from a side hustle to the successful company that it is today. And all the tools, the techniques, and the ideas that he has been using based on the books that he has read. He has made this into a very concrete project. And what I was missing in all the other courses was the why and the how. This is a very practical course. You can build your own why or analyse your own why. Step by step you get guidance to make this your own. Thank you David.

Being a Greek and living in Akadimia Platonos in the centre of Athens I can for sure say that the Roles and Arete system of MacSparky is familiar to my thinking. Though the role system as explained and designed in conjunction with the apps or techniques is well thought and taught. I started building my daily life accordingly and I can see a great benefit so far.

I bought this because I buy all of David's Field Guides, but wasn't expecting much from this, figuring it would be too touchy-feely. Instead, I found it incredibly useful both as a way of organizing much of what David has alluded to in bits and pieces over the years, but also because it is truly a practical guide, even if it is not a technical software guide like his other Field Guides. This will be useful to anyone, no matter where you are on life's journey.

What I love about David's Productivity Field Guide is it's not about cranking more widgets, it's how to define your best self and then pursue it.

Once again, this guide reminds me why I love David’s Field guides so much. The Productivity Field Guide starts by talking about what to do and how to think about your activities before he even starts in on how to get more done in less time. (As a classics major, I always love his references to Plato, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius et al which put productivity in the context of our humanity rather than as a mechanical device.) Unlike almost every other Productivity Guide, this one doesn’t push a hard-and-fast philosophical school or toolkit… It’s meant for adults who can think about the principles, experiment, and decide for themselves what will most effectively help them reach their goals. I’ve read and followed a lot of productivity systems and gurus and found David’s take very freeing and powerful and a great way to make 2024 a year where you can more effectively fulfill your unique purpose.

The chapter on roles and arete blew my mind. Irene K.

Great Stuff ! I have been following David for years and the stuff keeps getting better and better. Highly Recommend

I have bought all of MacSparky's Field Guides. There is an engaging degree of simplicity and clarity to his products. At the same time, for complex topics, he is able to communicate in a way that steers you through the forest to plainer pastures. He not only teaches you but does so at your pace and your way.

I spent today going through the Keyboard Maestro field guide. I’ve gone through several others as well. David’s teaching style helps me understand not just the mechanics but the practical uses as well. I really appreciate getting to learn from Sparky.

Before I worked through the Obsidian Field Guide, I had no interest in using Obsidian. If anything, I felt negative toward the app. I’d taken a few webinars and tried it, but dropped it as not useful to me. However, David’s excellent teaching about how the app works and how people use it completely changed my thinking. Now, I’m in the process of using Obsidian to create my own thinking tool, my own “jimOS” vault, where I write down how I think and feel about many life issues. Obsidian is not user-friendly and has a steep learning curve. MacSparky does a great job breaking it down into bite-sized pieces so readers can understand the pieces and build them into an understanding of how to use the app. He not only teaches about the app’s mechanics but also gives lots of helpful information about the practical uses of the app. The Field Guide is a great learning tool!

The MacSparky Field Guide for Keyboard Maestro is an invaluable resource for both beginners and seasoned users. Keyboard Maestro, with its intricate and powerful automation capabilities, can be daunting for many. While some may find it intuitive, the majority will appreciate the clarity and simplicity that David Sparks brings to the table. He expertly demystifies the software, breaking down complex functions into easy-to-follow steps. This guide is essential for anyone looking to unlock the full potential of their computer through automation. Don't wait to transform your workflow; get the MacSparky Field Guide now and make the most out of Keyboard Maestro! In fact it's so easy following his guide, it's almost like child's play!

I have followed several MacSparky Field Guides: DEVONthink, OmniFocus, Hazel, and Obsidian. Although I had used all those apps before following the Field Guides for them, I learned in every one of them features I had not known about. In every case the Field Guides helped me use the apps more efficiently and more enjoyably. A bonus feature for me as a retired professor is watching masterful pedagogy in action. David has a gift for clarity and accessibility, all delivered with a pleasant personality. I have recommended the Field Guides to several friends and will continue doing so in the future.

After upgrading to the new macOS, I found the restrictions on some new features super frustrating. Listening to Automators and Mac Power Users, I learned that Keyboard Maestro could help. But I didn't have time to dig deep into it from ground zero. What I wanted was some quick instructions to give me foundational knowledge, and show me what's possible. I figured once I could see it in action, and where the edges are, I would be able to use it for my purposes. Fortunately there is a MacSparky Field Guide! Signing up was quick and easy, and I got through the material over the weekend. I appreciated that each video was specific to one aspect. The short-and-to-the-point nature of the videos made it easier for me to stay focused and engaged. And the combination of video and text helped me best understand what I wanted to do with the App, and how it best works with my brain and existing skills. I appreciate the downloads too — they gave me a leg up on my own macros, and I'll be able to refer to them long after I remember the exact details of this course. Thank you, David, for a premium learning experience. I highly recommend this field guide.

Favorite. Down to earth, great learning.

Indispensable ⚙️ David's videos have been a blessing for me. I LOVE and need these wizardly-looking-productivity-tools but have little time to learn how to use them. The Filed Guides get me to what I need in no time. Recommended 🙌

MacSparky Field Guides are amazing. As an IT professional with over 40 years of experience, I learn more from the Field Guides than any other source, hands down! The combination of text and video, along with the excellent organization of the content is not only excellent for tutorial use, but also as a useful reference. I highly recommend the Field Guides even if you just have a passing interest in whatever area the guide covers.

The Keyboard Maestro tutorials got me from feeling overwhelmed by a complex piece of software, to feeling professional with it. This great set of videos that have changed how I use my Mac.

The MacSparky Field Guides are indispensable tools for getting the most out of new apps and technologies. David Sparks is a master explainer. His field guides are clear and concise, and his skilled use of video makes them easy to follow. Each field guide is suitable for a wide range of viewer expertise, starting from the basics and going on to offer valuable guidance for more experienced users. I look forward to every new field guide that comes out.

David is the Bob Ross of technology; calming, enjoyable and instructive, I have learnt an unquantifiable amount from him and his Field Guides. The Field Guides are all excellent (I should know, I think I have purchased them all) and just keep getting better and better. The stand-outs for me are the DEVONthink and the Obsidian ones. The production values are just so good. Each step (from installation to advanced use) is explained in clear terms, with demonstrations. Both DEVONthink and Obsidian are huge programmes and complex pieces of software. David's structured approach to each of them meant that I was taken by my digital hand and led through the complexities of the software. By the end, I felt better to tackle using them both and felt more productive as a result. David's Field Guides aren't cheap, but they are some of the best value products I've ever purchased. My only criticism: I wish there were more of them and they covered every piece of software I used. Many thanks to David.

I have spent a lot of time and effort getting a handle on Obsidian, following excellent instructors. Although Nick and Mike's materials are excellent, MacSparky's Obsidian Field Guide really takes it to a different level of understanding. He really explains completely the various segments which helps the understanding of the overall use cases of others. Highly recommend!! As a matter of fact, I have taken several of the field guides and would have the same recommendation for all.

MacSparky's Field Guides have taught me so much about Shortcuts, Drafts, Paperless workflows, and other topics. Shortcuts is my favorite course. I love that it gives a full spectrum of knowledge. The courses take the student from Beginner to Power User and you can certainly decide for yourself where you want to end your knowledge journey along that spectrum. The courses allow me to easily go back over subject matter I didn't grasp the first time through. Also, compared to other learning platforms, mainly YouTube for me, Sparky's Field Guides give structure to my learning. I am not hopping around various videos trying to piece together the information I am attempting to learn. If Sparky has a Field Guide on the subject it is a well organized and structured way to learn a lot about that topic. I highly recommend buying Sparky's Field Guides if there is subject matter that covers an area you would like to learn a lot more about. I bought the Obsidian Field Guide to support MacSparky even though I doubt Obsidian will ever fit into my personal workflow. I just wanted to support his efforts at creating great courses. That is how much I value MacSparky's Field Guides. I buy them even if it isn't a subject I am likely to use because I want him to keep making the great guides.

The Obsidian Field Guide is all that I had hoped for and then some. It lays out a clear, executable path to become an Obsidian power user regardless of where on the knowledge spectrum one starts. What makes the Obsidian Field Guide stand out in this space is its creator. David Sparks is above all a gifted teacher and communicator. He understands how to teach others and communicate clearly what he knows. He simplifies Obsidian, a complex and powerful program, providing a path to use it productively from the first day while also laying out a path to become a power user in a short period of time.

This is the third training program I’ve tried, and the only one making concepts stick. I am a professional educator, and MacSparky is among the master educators I’ve encountered in any subject domain.

Time is my most valuable asset - a MacSparky field guide allows me to become proficient with a tool in a comparably *very* short time - on top of that, I get strategy advice, wisdom on best practices for utilising the tool in the longer perspective - I highly recommend them (I have 3) - I highly recommend revisiting the field guide again some months later, when the deeper aspects of what David teaches can be absorbed

I knew Obsidian was powerful and tried repeatedly to learn it myself. Finally, after finishing this course, I get Obsidian.

Obsidian is the crown jewel of the Field Guides.

This guide will provide you with everything you could possibly ever need to go paperless with Apple tech. This is one of those rare courses that can pay for itself a hundred times over, provided you follow the advice inside. David knocked this one out of the park.

As a DEVONThink user for over 10 years and having built a personal database containing over 30,000 items, I would consider myself a reasonably sophisticated user of the app. However, buying David Sparks’ Field Guide was like being given an intricately detailed map and a high-beam flashlight to take with me on the journey into the wilderness that DEVONThink, with its overwhelming array of features, can sometimes be.

I am only about halfway through and I can’t believe with how much detail and care MacSparky has laid out and delivered this guide. There are numerous examples for all kinds of apps and situations. The guide is easy to follow and without this guide I would have never been able to fully discover and enjoy the capabilities of shortcuts.

The Obsidian Field Guide (Plus edition) is, in one word, superb. Obsidian is a difficult app to teach because it’s an app that can do so many different things in so many different ways. So, I marvel at how well David Sparks architected the course to be both comprehensive and clear. I thought I knew Obsidian pretty well after a year or so of using it, but David taught me a lot I didn’t know (both big things — getting a better handle on the Dataview plugin— and small things — I didn’t know about the setting that listed all backlinks to a note at the bottom of that note). I can’t thank David enough for making my everyday use of Obsidian so much better.

Macsparky has done it again, taking what could be an overwhelming app for newcomers and breaking it down into easy to follow pieces. Even the Obsidian power user has something here they can take away too. Bravo Sir! You really can’t go wrong with a Macsparky Field Guide, if you want to understand an app from the nuts and bolts right up to making it sing and dance then this is for you.

If you are at all interested in figuring out how to get your notes to work well for you, Obsidian is a solid tool. And David Sparks’ Field Guide can take you from knowing nothing about Obsidian to being able to easily organize your notes and developing your ideas. As always, he presents things clearly where you could either learn one step at a time or surgically dive in to learn exactly the topics you want. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned veteran, David gives you a fresh take on using Obsidian well."