Key strokes for applications?

[sloop]

2007-01-29KeyStrokesForApps?

1. Is there a way to open an application using keyboard shortcuts?
2. Is there a way to switch between applications? In other words,
instead of always going to the dock, can't I assign a keystroke that
will go to the already open application; i.e., I'm in Word, and I
want to go to Safari, and I don't want to use the clumsiness of going
to the dock regardless of whether the dock is 'hiding on' or 'hiding
off'?



Here's what I found in Mac Help:

The pertinant sentence:
"You cannot define keyboard shortcuts for general purpose tasks such
as opening an application or switching between applications."

Subject in Mac Help: Creating keyboard shortcuts for applications

You can assign your own keyboard shortcuts to menu commands in any Mac
OS X application or in the Finder. This may be useful if, for example,
one of the "global" shortcuts, which works the same in most
applications, is used by one application for a different purpose. In
this case, you can assign it a different key combination.

Note: You can create keyboard shortcuts only for existing menu
commands. You cannot define keyboard shortcuts for general purpose
tasks such as opening an application or switching between applications.

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

2007-01-29KeyStrokesForApps?

1. Is there a way to open an application using keyboard shortcuts?

There are many different options, but I use QuickSilver (free) for that.
I like this launcher.

2. Is there a way to switch between applications? In other words,
instead of always going to the dock, can't I assign a keystroke that
will go to the already open application; i.e., I'm in Word, and I
want to go to Safari, and I don't want to use the clumsiness of going
to the dock regardless of whether the dock is 'hiding on' or 'hiding
off'?

You can use either QuickSilver again, or simply the Command-tab
shortcut.

Corentin

 

[Elliott Roper]

2007-01-29KeyStrokesForApps?

1. Is there a way to open an application using keyboard shortcuts?

Yes. As Corentin suggests, a keyboard shortcut launcher like
Quicksilver is the way most people do it. It is also possible to do so
using only tricks in OS X itself.

Firstly, using the dock from the keyboard. Assign a keyboard shortcut
to unhide and get focus on the dock. I use ctrl-D. Then use left or
right arrow keys to skid along the dock items. When you get to the
application's icon in the dock, press the space bar. I have key repeat
set really fast, so skidding over all 31 application icons takes 1.5
seconds.

Secondly, (this works best with the Finder in column view, and for all
the other zillion applications you don't clutter up your dock with).
Hit or hold cmd-tab till the finder is selected. Hit cmd-shift-a to
open a new finder window on the Applications folder (or move the
currently active finder window to Applications) then start typing the
applications name. You might choose to add a little up and down arrow
dance if you get bored with typing the application nme once you get
close to it. When it is selected, hit either cmd-downarrow or
cmd-opt-downarrow to open the application. The latter variant closes
the finder window.

Many will claim that these methods are slow and cumbersome. Not so.
With a little practice, it is much faster than looking for a mouse, and
you don't need to remember any fancy per-application keystroke
combinations.

2. Is there a way to switch between applications? In other words,
instead of always going to the dock, can't I assign a keystroke that
will go to the already open application; i.e., I'm in Word, and I
want to go to Safari, and I don't want to use the clumsiness of going
to the dock regardless of whether the dock is 'hiding on' or 'hiding
off'?

Yep, cmd-tab cycles between running applications. Variants are using
the left and right arrows after the first cmd-tab, and cmd-shift-tab
for cycling right to left. cmd-tab is perfect for flicking between two
applications such as Word and Safari, because OS X makes the first
cmd-tab reach the most recent previously used application.

Here's what I found in Mac Help:

The pertinant sentence:
"You cannot define keyboard shortcuts for general purpose tasks such
as opening an application or switching between applications."

Subject in Mac Help: Creating keyboard shortcuts for applications

You can assign your own keyboard shortcuts to menu commands in any Mac
OS X application or in the Finder. This may be useful if, for example,
one of the "global" shortcuts, which works the same in most
applications, is used by one application for a different purpose. In
this case, you can assign it a different key combination.

Note: You can create keyboard shortcuts only for existing menu
commands. You cannot define keyboard shortcuts for general purpose
tasks such as opening an application or switching between applications.

That's true, but don't worry, the tricks above work really well.

Ooh, an afterthought. I think you need to be running Panther or Tiger
for these tricks to work. OS X 10.2 and earlier danced across only the
running applications in the dock, which spoils most of the fun.

 

[Rafael Montserrat]

Corentin
Reply for rating ***** purpose. Is this how it works? Does giving
ratings end the string, because if there are any more responses I'm
open to getting them?
Rafael Montserrat

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Corentin
Reply for rating ***** purpose. Is this how it works? Does giving
ratings end the string, because if there are any more responses I'm
open to getting them?

:-D
I wouldn't know, I check the newsgroup through a newsgroup client
application.
The newsgroups here are hosted on an nntp server. Various websites
mirror these newsgroup on webpage (Google, MS). Some of these sites
allow you to rate posts, but that's onthe specific site only. It never
makes the slightest difference for the nntp server or any of the other
mirrors.

I see you posted through Google. The rating affected there doesn't
influence anything on the MS mirror for instance.

(actually, I jsut went to the Google interface and I couldn't find any
way to rate posts).

Does giving
ratings end the string, because if there are any more responses I'm
open to getting them?

It sure doesn't. People can keep on posting on the same topic




Corentin

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

With a little practice, it is much faster than looking for a mouse, and
you don't need to remember any fancy per-application keystroke
combinations.

With most app launchers like QuickSilver and Butler, all you have to
remember is the name fo the app. You type the first letters and it shows
up on the interface
To fancy complicated shortcut to remembr for each app

Corentin

 

[Elliott Roper]

With most app launchers like QuickSilver and Butler, all you have to
remember is the name fo the app. You type the first letters and it shows
up on the interface
To fancy complicated shortcut to remembr for each app

OK, I was overstating my case. I like using the Finder, because the
same trick works for navigating anywhere for any purpose, and I have an
irrational hatred of anything that steals keystrokes before handing
them to where the system or current application should deal with them.

If I wanted to do it the Quicksilver way, I'd simply use Spotlight. Or
I would if it did not sulk so often. ;-) e.g. "cmd-space Wo" is enough
to bring Word up as the top hit in a second. You then hit downarrow
return and it's running. That extra downarrow is a real bummer!

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

If I wanted to do it the Quicksilver way, I'd simply use Spotlight. Or
I would if it did not sulk so often. ;-) e.g. "cmd-space Wo" is enough
to bring Word up as the top hit in a second. You then hit downarrow
return and it's running. That extra downarrow is a real bummer!

for me: Ctrl-space wo <return>

No down arrow is Word is the first "choice" for wo.

Corentin

 

[Elliott Roper]

for me: Ctrl-space wo <return>

No down arrow is Word is the first "choice" for wo.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good Spotlight was in role of
launcher. I only started playing with it to win back some tiny part of
the argument over Quicksilver ;-)

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

I was pleasantly surprised at how good Spotlight was in role of
launcher. I only started playing with it to win back some tiny part of
the argument over Quicksilver ;-)

Spotlight is indeed a pretty good launcher. The only reason why I never
use it for that on any Mac I access is because it is way too slow if the
search terms yeild multiple results (eg: wo in my case shows an endless
list of timems and Spotlight takes quite some time to even disaplya the
list.

Corentin