# Quick Groups for Raycast URL: https://www.raycast.com/neilbartlett/quick-groups > Search and act on grouped reference data from local YAML files - Install: raycast://extensions/neilbartlett/quick-groups - Author: [Neil Bartlett](https://www.raycast.com/neilbartlett) - Installs: 12 - Platforms: macOS - Categories: Data, Productivity - Updated: 2026-09-24 - Source: https://github.com/raycast/extensions/tree/3d02002adc46933bcf9ab20b3d58964727e09921/extensions/quick-groups/ ## Commands - **Search Groups**: Search grouped records from local YAML files - **Browse Fields**: Browse grouped values by field ## README ### Quick Groups **Start with the thing. Then choose the action.** Quick Groups lets you organize Raycast around the things that matter to you. Define your projects, machines, documents, writing, clients, or any other concepts that fit your work. Find a thing once, then use any of the information and actions you have associated with it. A project might open in your editor, terminal, Finder, or project-management tool. A machine might expose its address, documentation, web interface, and SSH connection. You choose the things, how they are grouped, and what can be done with them. #### Getting started On first launch, Quick Groups creates its standard `groups` directory in Raycast's extension support folder, adds `quick-groups-example.yaml`, and displays those example records immediately. Choose **Edit Source** on a record to open its YAML and start replacing the examples with your own groups. No configuration is required. To keep the YAML somewhere else—for example in Dropbox or a Git repository—set the optional **Custom Groups Directory** preference. Quick Groups scans either directory recursively for `.yaml` and `.yml` files. Use **Search Groups** to find a thing, then open it to see its information and actions. Type `qg` in Raycast to find the command quickly. Use **Browse Fields** when you want to explore the same information by field instead—for example, to browse every IP address or project location. ```yaml machines: dev: ip: 192.168.1.20 proxmox: value: 192.168.1.46 ssh: root@192.168.1.46 open: https://192.168.1.46:8006 machine: value: Dell Optiplex 7020 Micro Plus obsidian: NEB/Machines/Dell Optiplex 7020 Micro Plus ``` The YAML is simply the editable source for your personal model. Top-level keys are collections, their children are the things in each collection, and each thing contains ordered fields. Collections with the same name across files are combined. Duplicate collection/record pairs are reported as conflicts and excluded. #### Actions - Every field supports **Copy Value** with `⌘ C`. - Every field supports **Paste Value** into the frontmost application. - `open` opens a URL or local target. - `ssh` opens an `ssh://` URL through the macOS default handler. - `obsidian` opens a note through Obsidian's documented URI scheme. - `pwd` copies a password without displaying or indexing it. - `application/` opens a value with a named macOS application. - `raycast/script/` launches an installed Raycast Script Command and passes the value as argument 1. - `value` is not an action; it explicitly chooses the field's display and copy value. All of these are standard supported actions and work directly from YAML. For example: ```yaml projects: home: location: value: ~ open: ${value} application/Terminal: ${value} reference: location: value: ~/Projects/reference application/Ghostty: ${value} application/Visual Studio Code: ${value} raycast/script/open-project: ${value} writing: play: manuscript: value: ~/Writing/My Play.scriv open: ${value} application/Scrivener: ${value} ``` Action names under a supported namespace are validated rather than silently treated as data. No code registration is required for `application/` or `raycast/script/`. Your organization can evolve with your work. Collections can be as broad as `projects` or split into focused groups such as `writing`. The Scrivener example also illustrates that a thing can open in its natural application, not just point to an ordinary directory or file. The compile-time registry is a separate extension point for advanced users who need behavior beyond the standard actions. See [Actions and extension points](https://github.com/raycast/extensions/raw/3d02002adc46933bcf9ab20b3d58964727e09921/extensions/quick-groups//docs/custom-actions.md). For `open` and `application/`, a target of `~` or one beginning with `~/` expands to the current user's home directory. Quick Groups keeps the portable form for display, search, copying, and substitution. Bare `~`, quoted `"~"`, `~/`, and `~/.` are all supported. Fields named like passwords, tokens, secrets, or private keys are masked and their values are excluded from search. Quick Groups refreshes while its YAML directory changes. An empty directory offers a **Create Example YAML** action to help first-time setup. The generated file is named `quick-groups-example.yaml`. For a richer starting point or Store screenshot data, see [`examples/demo-groups.yaml`](https://github.com/raycast/extensions/raw/3d02002adc46933bcf9ab20b3d58964727e09921/extensions/quick-groups//examples/demo-groups.yaml). It contains fictional projects, machines, writing, and clients that demonstrate the standard action families without exposing personal information. For `obsidian`, write `Vault Name/path/to/note`. The first segment selects the vault and the remaining path selects the file. #### Value substitution Annotated fields can reuse sibling values with `${name}`. References may point forward or to another substituted sibling: ```yaml machines: dev: proxmox: value: 192.168.1.46 user: root ssh: ${user}@${value} open: https://${value}:8006 ``` Use `$${name}` to produce the literal text `${name}`. References are limited to the same field mapping in V1; unknown references and cycles are reported as diagnostics. #### Development ```sh npm install npm test npm run lint npm run build ```