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--- action:Activate_a_Specific_Application [2019/07/01 04:58] – peternlewis
+++ action:Activate_a_Specific_Application [2023/09/15 08:46] (current) – peternlewis
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-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 =====