Search Selected Text
Search a selection without copying it manually
Use this Rule when a name, phrase, or unfamiliar term in a document needs a web search. It turns the current selection into a query and opens the results in Chrome, removing the manual copy, new-tab, and paste sequence.
When: Press the chosen shortcut, initially Option + Space. Do: Get Selected Text, URL-encode that text, and append the encoded result to Google’s search URL before opening a new Chrome tab. There is no If Condition. The encoding step keeps spaces and punctuation from being interpreted as URL structure.
Configure and try it
- Import with Open this Rule in Rulr and assign an unused hotkey if Option + Space is already reserved.
- Review the URL in Open New Tab. If you choose another search engine, retain the encoded-result Variable and use that service’s query URL format.
- Allow Accessibility and System Events Automation for selection retrieval, plus Google Chrome Automation for opening the tab.
- Select a short phrase in a compatible app and run the Rule. Compare the query shown by the search engine with your selection, then repeat with punctuation or spaces.
Requirements and limits
Transform Text requires Rulr Pro. Selected-text retrieval depends on the frontmost app exposing a usable selection; some apps may briefly use the clipboard during retrieval.
The selected phrase becomes part of a request to your configured search service. The Rule does not search local files, guarantee the first result, or replace text in the original document. For keeping the selection in a local notes file instead, use Save Selected Text.