Execution Workflows

Rephlo offers several ways to trigger commands, so you can pick the one that fits the task in front of you. This page covers each trigger, how the result is delivered back into your app, and how Rephlo protects your clipboard along the way.

1. The Global Hotkey (Keyboard)

Fastest when text is already selected.

1. Select text in any application.
2. Press the context-menu hotkey:
   • macOS: Shift+Cmd+C (⇧⌘C)
   • Windows & Linux: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C
3. Type to search for a command (e.g., "Sum…") and hit Enter.
   • Result: the output streams in a progress dialog and is delivered back to your text.

Tip: The hotkey is configurable in Settings → Hotkeys.

2. Drag-Select Trigger (Recommended)

Fastest overall — the overlay opens the moment you finish selecting.

Instead of selecting text and then pressing a hotkey, you can trigger the overlay during selection. Hold a modifier key while drag-selecting, and the overlay appears as you release the mouse.

1. Hold the modifier key (default: Cmd on macOS, Ctrl on Windows/Linux).
2. Drag to select text in any app while still holding the modifier.
3. Release the mouse — the overlay appears instantly with the selected text loaded.
4. Pick a command, or type to search.

Tip: Configure the modifier in Settings → Hotkeys → Text Selection Trigger.

Configuring the modifier key

Open Settings → Hotkeys and find Text Selection Trigger. Choose one:

Modifier	macOS	Windows/Linux
Default	Cmd	Ctrl
Alternative	Option	Alt
Alternative	Shift	Shift

Pick a modifier you don't use often for normal selection, to avoid accidental triggers.

When to use Drag-Select vs. the Global Hotkey

Scenario	Recommended trigger
Selecting text and immediately processing it	Drag-Select (one fluid motion)
Text is already selected (e.g., double-click a word)	Global Hotkey
Keyboard-heavy selection (Shift+arrows)	Global Hotkey
Processing text in rapid succession	Drag-Select

Note: After your first successful command, Rephlo shows a Command Success Guide that introduces the drag-select workflow and helps you configure the modifier.

3. The System Tray (Mouse)

Good for mouse-heavy workflows.

1. Select text.
2. Click the Rephlo icon in the system tray / menu bar.
3. The command runner opens with your text pre-loaded.
4. Click a command.

4. Drag and Drop

Good for processing files.

1. Drag a text file or PDF from your desktop.
2. Drop it onto the Rephlo tray icon or Dashboard.
3. Rephlo asks whether you want to:
   • Add to Space — import it into a Space.
   • Process — run a command on its content immediately.

5. Screenshot / Vision Commands

For images, diagrams, and UI analysis.

1. Trigger the screenshot capture:
   • macOS: Shift+Cmd+S (⇧⌘S)
   • Windows & Linux: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S
2. Draw a rectangle around the area of interest.
3. Rephlo captures the image.
4. Pick a vision command (e.g., "Describe Image", "Extract Text").
5. Rephlo analyzes the image and returns the result in the Screenshot Analysis Result dialog.

Tip: The capture hotkey is configurable in Settings → Hotkeys. Vision commands require a provider/model with vision capability.

Result Handling

When a command finishes, Rephlo injects the result back where you need it.

• Streaming preview — watch the AI response stream in real time in the progress dialog.
• Cancel anytime — click Cancel in the progress dialog to stop a long-running command mid-stream.
• Text injection — the result is placed into your app using your chosen injection method (below).
• Paste anywhere — when clipboard paste is used, the result is on your clipboard, so Ctrl+V / Cmd+V works in any app.
• History — every execution is logged in the History view for later review.

Text Injection Methods

Rephlo can deliver the result two ways. Choose the method in Settings.

Method	How it works	Trade-off
Clipboard Paste	Sets the clipboard and simulates Cmd+V / Ctrl+V.	Fast; handles any length; temporarily uses the clipboard.
Send-Keys Stroke	Types the result keystroke-by-keystroke.	Never touches the clipboard; slower for long text.
Auto (default)	Picks for you: Send-Keys for terminals and code editors, Clipboard Paste for everything else.	Best of both, no configuration.

In Auto mode, Rephlo looks at the focused app and uses Send-Keys for known terminals (Terminal, iTerm2, Windows Terminal, PowerShell, Alacritty, kitty, and similar) and code editors (VS Code), falling back to Clipboard Paste everywhere else.

Clipboard Preservation (Borrow & Return)

When Rephlo uses Clipboard Paste, it doesn't trample your clipboard. It borrows the clipboard to paste the result, then restores your original clipboard content afterward — so whatever you had copied before is still there when the command finishes.

If restoration ever fails, Rephlo logs a warning but your result is still delivered.

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Next: Review past runs in the History & Audit Trail.