Quick Help Follows Pointer — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Quick Help Follows Pointer

This is an important setting. Logic Pro X has an extensive help system that can be displayed in various ways.

The simple method, after enabling Quick Help, shows a ‘tool tip’ window in yellow containing help for whatever is currently beneath the cursor. Quite handy, but it can be visually annoying.

You can cause the help info to be displayed in a small Quick Help window by making sure this option is un-checked. The option is in the Help menu. The location of the Quick Help window is the top of the Inspector column in the main window.

You can drag the Quick Help window out of the main window and position it anywhere on the screen that you would like. This becomes very useful for screensets that do not have the main window open.

If you have an iPad running “Logic Remote” connected to your session you can put the Quick Help window onto the iPad using one of the built-in commands.

I need to use “Logic Remote” more often.

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⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Show Detailed Help ⌘/ — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Show Detailed Help    ⌘/

This is the fastest way to find out how something works. Open the Key Commands Edit window (⌥K), type in a bit of the command name so it appears in the list. Move the cursor over the command and type ⌘/ — if there is help available it will open in the help window.

Remarkably useful.

How to get help — Logic Pro X

Logic Pro provides several ways for you to get answers to questions, learn about controls and functions while you’re working, and view detailed information about all aspects of the app. You can also view information directly in the app using the Quick Help feature.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

A Little Help From Your Friends

The story starts with me wanting to get more in-depth knowledge of “Project Audio”. I started by looking at a used Logic Pro 9 book — the one that is used for the Apple Certification course — “Logic Pro 9 and Logic Express 9 — Professional Audio Production”. All through the book there are references to the resources contained on the DVD that came with the book. Sigh. Used book, no DVD. Hunt for online copy. I wound up at PeachPit Press staring at a place where I could use ‘Safari On Line’ to read the book. This really didn’t help much.

Ding. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has online books and courses available to members. I have maintained my membership since the early 1980s. I haven’t had much use for the computing and database courses that I used to access. The coursework uses the “Safari Learning Platform” to help us move forward. This might be the same “Safari On Line” that I was staring at over at PeachPit.

I logged in to the platform and searched for the book, and found “Logic Pro X 10.4 — Apple Pro Training Series: Professional Audio Production”. Excellent. I started reading and came to the section about downloading course-related resources. Followed a not-too-clear path to get access to the download (ISBN number, answer the question to show that I have the book). Download the files. Good to go.

I don’t really want to do this using a web browser while I am trying to run Logic Pro X, so I figured out how to get the O’Reilly reading app onto my iPad. Perfect. I can read my book on the iPad and work on the screen with Logic Pro X.

I started at the beginning, followed all the steps, turned on “Quick Help” which pops up little help balloons as the mouse hovers over a tool. Yes. I have done this before. There is a little hint at the bottom that says “Type command-/ to get more info”. That brings up the help document — very slow. Then I read this…

“To go further, read the Logic Pro Help documentation within the free Logic Remote iPad app. The documentation automatically displays the section relevant to the Logic Pro X area where you place the mouse pointer”

Whoa! Hmmm. Now I need another iPad to see what they mean. We happen to have kept an older iPad as a resource. I am in luck.

Install “Logic Remote” on the iPad, follow a couple of helpful hints in the app, and there it is. The iPad is showing me the details from the help documentation. The very same help resource that I am linking to and using in my “Logic Pro X — Command of the Day” blog posts.

I need to try doing “actual work” in Logic with the “helpPad” connected to see how I like it, but for my daily homework and study of Logic Pro X I am now way far ahead.

Stay tuned.

How to get help — Logic Remote for iPad

How to get help — Logic Remote for iPad:

In Logic Remote, tap the View button in the control bar, then tap Smart Help.

Make sure that the Help book is unlocked .

In Logic Pro, choose Help > Quick Help.

In Logic Pro, move the pointer over an interface item to show its name and function in the Quick Help area.

Who knew? I am stunned.

Connect an iPad with Logic Remote, open up Smart Help, have the manual automatically jump to a relevant spot for your enlightenment. Essentially saves having to type ‘⌘/’ and wait for the help window to open up.