In the title bar’s Action ☰ button menu, you will find the Make Hookmark File command.
Hookmark files are plain text files with the “.hookmark” filename extension. They can contain any valid address (“URI”), whether or not the address is a hook:// URL. For instance, you can insert a link to a website (such as https://apple.com`), an OmniFocus task (such as:omnifocus:///task/nGSe83xr2tE`), or any other address for that matter.
Hookmark files can, alternatively, contain a Markdown link.
When you double-click or double-tap on a .hookmark file in the Finder, Hookmark parses the address, and asks macOS to open the URL in that file. It’s that simple!
In a sense, Hookmark files are like Finder aliases and web location (.webloc) files. Like Finder aliases they can link to other files. Like Finder “.webloc” files, they can link to web pages. However, they are much more versatile and powerful than either type of file.
Hookmark files are better than macOS Finder aliases!
Hookmark files are better than aliases and web locations in many respects:
- Unlike Finder aliases, they are written in plain text, containing either: (a) only a URL; or (b) a Markdown link. That means you can edit them in your favorite editor.
- They can contain any URL (address) that your macOS instance can resolve. .hookmark files can contain links to files and folders, of course. But the URL scheme can be anything macOS can handle, such as omnifocus:///, craft:///, x-devonthink-item:/// or x-nvultra:. If your Mac has an app that can open the URL, you’re good to go. For instance, DEVONthink 3 will open
x-devonthink-item:links. - Hookmark does not require that the URL scheme be of an app that has automation beyond being able to open the URL.
- .hookmark files can therefore also contain hook:// links. So a .hookmark file can refer to an email (hook://email), a file or folder (hook://file), or a Spotlight search (hook://search).
- .hookmark files are well-behaved when stored inside version control systems and locally synced shared folders.
- .hookmark files can survive in many cases where Finder aliases break. Examples where aliases break but .hookmark files are fine: when they contain a hook://file URL referring to a file in a version control system repository that has been locally deleted but checked out elsewhere; if you copy a referenced file onto a different physical medium altogether, such as an SSD drive, and then delete the original referenced file. Or when you create a .hookmark file pointing to a folder in a share (e.g., Dropbox) then unmount the share and remount it in a different folder.
- .hookmark files work across Macs (you can even share them with others).
An advantage of macOS Finder aliases is that their Finder icon mirrors the icon of the app that will open the file. In contrast, .hookmark files always have the same icon. However, when the Make Hookmark File command is applied to a file, Hookmark adds the file extension of the target to the file name. That gives you a clue as to what the .hookmark file points to. You can also rename the file to give yourself any clue you want.
Examples
So, for example, you can put the following Markdown link in a “.hookmark” file:
[Make Hookmark File](https://hookproductivity.com/help/hook-window/make-hook-file/)
If you double click on that .hookmark file, Hookmark will ask macOS to open that web link. And you’ll be back in your default web browser :).
Another example: try putting this in a .hookmark file:
[com.cogsciapps.hook](hook://file/LBUnTs2tn?p=TGlicmFyeS9BcHBsaWNhdGlvbiBTdXBwb3J0&n=com.cogsciapps.hook)
Double clicking on that .hookmark file will then open or reveal the com.cogsciapps.hook in the Application Support folder, or find all instances of them if there are many.
The Make Hookmark File command is a Pro feature. However, you can also construct Hookmark files manually by creating a plain text file that ends with .hookmark. Just include in that file whatever address (URI) or Markdown link you’d like Hookmark to open for you.
The Make Hookmark File command stores ‘.hookmark’ files in Hookmark’s “Hookmark Files” folder, which is normally: ~/Documents/Hook/Hook Files.
If you want them to be elsewhere, just create a symbolic link from that folder to wherever you want.
Alternative/supplement to Hookmark window links
.hookmark files are an alternative or supplement to the HOOKED items section of the Hookmark window.
Having a .hookmark file in a folder is a way to get a visual indication that there’s pertinent information; and of course it provides a way to get to that information. .hookmark files enable you to access related information without needing to invoke the Hookmark window. Just double click on the .hookmark file.
It’s sometimes useful to create a Hook files folder in a project folder, to contain links to material related to the project. Use the Make Hookmark File command to create .hookmarkmark files, and then move the .hookmark files into the desired folder, as you might have done with Finder aliases.
Use them in version control systems too
If you want to include a reference to anything in a version control system (such as Git or subversion), then put a .hookmark file there so you and your colleagues can quickly access it.
For example, if document or code package folder ‘F1’, has been replaced by another, ‘F2’, consider including in folder F1, a .hookmark file pointing to folder F2. That way, when you and your colleagues later stumble into F1 you can quickly get to the new version.
Use them in cloud synced folders (e.g., Dropbox or iCloud Drive folders)
You can include .hookmark files pointing to anything in Dropbox folders too. But keep these idiosyncrasies of Dropbox in mind if you want to refer to Dropbox folders.
You might even want to include in a shared folder:
- a hook://email link that explains something about it;
- a link to an internal web page on the issue; or
- a link to a file in a version control system.
Discuss them on the forum
Please feel free to read and contribute to Some uses of .hook files – Discussion & Help – Hookmark Forum.
.hook files
When Hook was rebranded to Hookmark (autumn 2022), we introduced support for “.hookmark files”. Previously, Hook created “.hook files.” “.hook” files are still supported.
“One app, infinite applications”
Hookmark’s “One app, infinite applications” slogan is also true of .hookmark files! Once you start using .hookmark files, you will realize just how useful they are. Feel free to share the fun you are having with .hookmark files on the Hookmark forum :).