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action:Activate_a_Specific_Application [2019/07/01 00:58] peternlewis |
action:Activate_a_Specific_Application [2023/09/15 04:46] (current) peternlewis |
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- | The *Activate a Specific Application* action switches you to the specified application. | + | ====== Activate a Specific Application ====== |
- | You can optionally bring all windows to the front, or only one window. You can optionally ask the application to open its initial window (eg an Untitled document). | + | This action switches to, and launches if necessary, the specified application. It is the equivalent of using the macOS App Switcher, or launching the application by any means. |
- | If the application is already at the front, you can choose to leave it there, or hide or quit it, or switch to the previous application. | + | {{ activate-a-specific-application-action.png?nolink&634x539 | Activate a Specific Application Action }} |
- | You can (v9.0+) select whether to match the application in the normal way (based on the path or the bundle ID), or require the path, or just by the bundle ID. | + | |
+ | ===== How To Use ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | - **Select the App from the "Activate:" Popup** | ||
+ | - **In the same Popup, choose how to identify the app**: (v9.0+) | ||
+ | * Match Using Default (first by path, then by Bundle ID if needed) | ||
+ | * Match Only by Path | ||
+ | * Match Only by Bundle ID | ||
+ | - **Check the Options To Use** | ||
+ | * Check to Show all windows or Unchecked to show only the FrontMost Window | ||
+ | * Reopen the app's initial window(s) | ||
+ | * If the application is already at the front, you can choose to | ||
+ | * leave it there. | ||
+ | * or switch to the previous application. | ||
+ | * or bring its windows to the front. | ||
+ | * or reopen its initial windows. | ||
+ | * or hide it. | ||
+ | * or hide other applications. | ||
+ | * or quit it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Activating an Application by Variable ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | This Action requires that you select the App during Macro design, and you cannot use a Variable for the name. | ||
+ | |||
+ | However, there are several alternatives that will allow you to use a Variable for the App Name: | ||
+ | - **[[action:Use_Variable|Use Variable]]** to set the Frontmost App. This will have the same effect as Activating the app. | ||
+ | - **[Activate Application by Name String -- Custom PlugIn](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/activate-application-by-name-string/1806)** -- A third-party custom PlugIn that will allow you to set the application by its name in a Variable. | ||
+ | - Use the `open` shell command with the [[action:Execute_a_Shell_Script|Execute a Shell Script]] action. | ||
+ | - Use the [[action:Open_a_File_Folder_or_Application|Open an Application]] action with a variable path. | ||
===== See Also ===== | ===== See Also ===== |