# Capture a task from anywhere on your Mac

This guide captures one task from the Mac menu-bar panel after the app is installed. The panel is a thin client of `bob`: it never parses capture grammar or writes the vault itself.

## Before you start

Install the CLI, point it at your vault, and install Bob Mac Capture. The [Continue with Mac Capture](<https://bobs-org.github.io/start/mac-capture/index.md>) tutorial covers build, bundle, and install. Signing lives in [README › Signing](<https://github.com/bobs-org/bob-mac-capture#signing>) and [Install › Signing](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/mac-capture/install/#signing>). This page assumes the app is already on the Mac.

## 1\. Confirm Bob and the vault in Settings

Open the menu-bar icon's menu and choose **Settings**. Under the **Bob** section, set **Executable override** to the `bob` you installed and **Vault path** to your vault. **Resolved path** shows what the app will use. Click **Recheck Bob** after changing either field.

```
which bob
echo "$BOB_DIR"
```

Confirm **Resolved path** matches those two values. Capture works without an Accessibility grant; that grant is only for Highlights tabs.

## 2\. Invoke the global shortcut and read the preview

The production shortcut is Control-Shift-Command-I. A development shortcut Control-Shift-Command-R is selectable in Settings. See [Keyboard](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/mac-capture/keyboard/index.md>) for the current menu and shortcut list.

Type a new task with a stable block id, for example `Sharpen the shears @workshop^shears`. Confirm the live preview names `workshop.md` and the new `^shears` task before you submit.

## 3\. Submit and find the task

Submit the draft from the panel footer. The panel hides only after `bob` reports success for the whole draft. Open `workshop.md` and confirm the new open task with `^shears`.

The same draft from the CLI is:

```
bob capture 'Sharpen the shears @workshop^shears'
```

## If it goes wrong

If the menu-bar icon tooltip reads `Bob Mac Capture — bob is not resolved. Check Settings.`, follow [Fix Mac Capture when bob is not resolved](<https://bobs-org.github.io/guides/fix-mac-capture-bob-resolution/index.md>). If the panel stays open, the submit did not succeed; fix the preview error and submit again. Do not edit the vault from the panel.

## Related

- [Continue with Mac Capture](<https://bobs-org.github.io/start/mac-capture/index.md>)
- [How Bob fits together](<https://bobs-org.github.io/concepts/how-bob-fits-together/index.md>)
- [Capture](<https://bobs-org.github.io/capture/index.md>)
- [Mac Capture reference](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/mac-capture/index.md>)
- [Fix Mac Capture when bob is not resolved](<https://bobs-org.github.io/guides/fix-mac-capture-bob-resolution/index.md>)