A Guide to Files, Forms, and Settings With DustyWire

You sit down to finish one small job. Then you need to find a file, copy information into a form, and work out which setting is hiding behind three different menus. The task itself is straightforward. Getting through the clicks is the part that wears you down.

DustyWire gives you another way to approach that work. You describe the outcome you want, review a plan, and watch Dusty work on your computer. It reads the screen, clicks, and types across apps and websites. You can step in, pause, or stop along the way.

The best place to start is a small, specific task with a result you can easily check. Here are five examples to try.

1. Bring order to a messy folder

A Downloads folder can become a mixture of receipts, photos, installers, and documents. Sorting it means making the same small decisions over and over.

Give Dusty the folder to use and a filing rule, such as grouping documents by month or files by type.

“Organize my Downloads folder into folders for PDFs, images, and installers.”

2. Prepare an online form

Even when you already have the information, transferring it into an online form can be tedious. Dusty can help work through the visible fields using details you provide.

Give Dusty the source document and the form you want completed.

“Use the information in this document to fill in the form I have open.”

When a sign-in or verification code is needed, Dusty pauses so you can enter it yourself.

3. Collect information into a simple comparison

Comparing options often involves switching between browser tabs and copying the same few details. A structured request makes the desired result easier to check.

“Compare these three product pages in a table with the product name, listed price, delivery details, and page link.”

Specify the pages and columns you want. Check the original pages before making a purchase, since prices and availability can change.

4. Work through a confusing computer setting

Sometimes the obstacle is knowing where to look. You know what you want to change, but you do not know which menu contains it.

Describe the symptom and the outcome instead of guessing the setting name. For example, you might ask Dusty to inspect why sound is going to the laptop speakers instead of connected headphones.

“Set my connected headphones as the audio output.”

5. Make a recurring job easier to repeat

Once a small task works well, you may want to use it again. DustyWire supports saved tasks that you can run by name, as well as schedules for saved tasks.

First check a complete run. Make sure the instructions say where the information comes from, where the result belongs, and what Dusty should do if something is missing.

“Save this as my weekly report task. Use the same source and table columns next time, and ask me if the page layout changes or information is missing.”

Scheduled tasks run on your computer. The computer needs to be on and Dusty needs to be open at the scheduled time.

A better first request starts with a clear finish line

Tell Dusty the result you want and the files or pages to use. “Organize these PDFs by month” gives it a clear job to work through.

Review the plan before it runs, then check the finished work. Dusty uses your mouse and keyboard, so you take turns: moving the mouse or pressing a key makes it wait. Use Stop when you want it to stay paused.

DustyWire is available for Windows and macOS.

Have one small computer job you have been putting off? Explore DustyWire and download the app, then start with a task whose result you can review in a few minutes.