Finder Extension

Enable the Finder extension for right-click and toolbar access to NoteDrop.

About the Extension

The Finder extension adds two things to Finder:

  • New File Note in the right-click menu. Right-click a folder to file a note for it, or right-click a file to file a note in the folder that file is in.
  • A NoteDrop toolbar button. Choose View → Customize Toolbar… in a Finder window, drag the NoteDrop button into the toolbar, then click it and choose New File Note to file a note for the folder the window is showing.

The extension is optional — the New File Note Services item, the menu bar and the keyboard shortcut all work without it.

The extension only watches your home folder, your matters folder and external or network drives.

New File Submenu

The extension can also add a New File submenu for creating blank files in the current folder:

  • Text File (.txt)
  • Markdown File (.md)
  • Rich Text File (.rtf)

It's off for new installs; turn it on, and choose which file types appear, in Settings › Filing › Finder (Show "New File" in Finder's right-click menu). The new file is created by NoteDrop itself and selected in Finder so you can rename it. If it can't be created, NoteDrop says why.

Requirements

Important: NoteDrop must be installed in your Applications folder for the Finder extension to work. It won't work from a DMG or the Downloads folder.

Enabling the Extension

  1. Ensure NoteDrop is in Applications

    Drag NoteDrop.app to your Applications folder if you haven't already.

  2. Click Turn On…

    In NoteDrop's welcome guide, click Turn On Finder Extension…; in Settings › Filing › Finder, click Turn On…. macOS opens its own list of Finder extensions.

  3. Turn on NoteDrop

    Switch on NoteDrop in that list.

  4. Check the status

    Settings shows the extension as on as soon as macOS reports it — you don't need to browse a folder first.

To do it by hand: System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions → Extensions, find Finder in the list and enable NoteDrop. If the menu item doesn't appear straight away, Option-click Finder in the Dock and choose Relaunch.

Alternative: Services Menu

If you prefer not to enable the extension, right-click any folder → New File Note (near the bottom of the menu, or under Services → New File Note when macOS groups several services). NoteDrop has one Services entry.

No extension is needed. If the item is missing, enable it in System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Services → Files and Folders.