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action:Activate_a_Specific_Application

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action:Activate_a_Specific_Application [2015/06/23 00:01]
peternlewis created
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 frontor 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 }}
  
 +
 +===== 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 =====
 +
 +=== Actions ===
 +
 +* [[action:​Open a File Folder or Application|Open a File Folder or Application]]
 +* [[:​Actions|See all Actions]]
 +
 +=== Tokens ===
 +
 +* [[token:​Application|%Application%n%]]
 +* [[token:​CurrentApplication|%CurrentApplication%]]
 +* [[token:​LastApplication|%LastApplication%]]
 +* [[:​Tokens|See all Tokens]]
 +
 +==== Forum ====
 +
 +- [[https://​forum.keyboardmaestro.com/​search?​q=Activate%20Specific%20Application|Keyboard Maestro Forum topics about Activate a Specific Application]]
action/Activate_a_Specific_Application.1435032069.txt.gz ยท Last modified: 2015/06/23 00:01 by peternlewis