Quick Capture

Capture a task from anywhere on desktop and add dates, labels, lists, and estimates as you type.

Quick Capture is the fastest way to get a task into Ellie without stopping to organize every detail by hand.

Capture from anywhere on desktop

In the Ellie desktop app, assign a global Open Quick Capture shortcut in Settings → Keyboard shortcuts. Use it while you are in any app to open Ellie's small standalone capture window. Press Command+Enter on macOS or Ctrl+Enter on Windows or Linux to save.

Ellie's standalone Quick Capture window recognizing a natural-language date while another desktop background remains visible

Add task details as you type

Quick Capture understands:

• Dates and times: Send the proposal tomorrow at 10am

• Labels: Review campaign #Marketing

• Lists: Order printer ink @Errands

• Estimates: Outline the report =45m

#label is shorthand specific to Quick Capture. The [label name] syntax in the general Labels guide applies to that guide's workflow.

You can combine them in one line. For example:

Review launch plan tomorrow at 9am #Deep Work @Work =45m

Ellie shows the details it recognized before saving, so you can check them at a glance.

Change the shortcut

Go to Settings → Keyboard shortcuts, select Open Quick Capture, and press the combination you want to use. You can disable or restore the default shortcut from the same screen.