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Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys Apps
This set of scripts (4kb) can be used to launch, show, or hide nearly any application with the touch of a button via QuickSilver. I bind them to my function keys -- for instance, F1 shows or hides Mail.app, F3 shows or hides iChat, etc.).

Installation:
  1. Install Quicksilver.
  2. Enable 'Access for assistive devices' in the Universal Access pane of System Preferences.
  3. Install the above scripts (also mirrored on macosxhints) by unpacking them, and copying the ones you want to use to ~/Library/Scripts.
  4. In the Quicksilver preferences window, enable triggers for each script.
That's it -- enjoy the one-key access to your often-used applications. If you need a bit more detail, you can read my original blog entry.

[robg adds: This also works with Butler (and probably LaunchBar or any other utility that can assign hotkeys); I put the scripts directly into Butler's AppleScripts Smart Items, and they worked as described.]
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Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys | 5 comments | Create New Account
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Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys
Authored by: ChrisJ on Jul 17, '06 09:47:27AM

Feel free to put the scripts to the ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/Quicksilver/ folder, it will work from there too. And that will keep your AppleScript menu clean.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys
Authored by: xavierbdm on Jul 18, '06 04:56:20AM

Why not simply use the triggers to just call the applications?
This is what I have been doing for ages.
Ok, maybe you don't get the symetrical hide/unhide action on hitting the same key twice, but then you don't have to run an AppleScript everytime.

Just add a trigger, type the first letter of the app to have it filling the first field, tab to second field, choose the action "Open" and there you go, just need to assign one key of your choice.
(on laptops, remember to first go to system prefs / Mouse and Keyboard / Keyboard and check "Use the F1-F12 keys to control software features" if you wish to use keys that are usually reserved for volume, brightness etc. These functions will still be available by hitting [fn]+the Fkey )


---
iMac G4 17 800/512/80 + powerbook firewire G3 500/512/30



[ Reply to This | # ]
Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys
Authored by: qwerty denzel on Jul 18, '06 05:55:00AM
Does this script work just as well?:
property appName : "Preview"

if displayed name of (info for (path to frontmost application) without size) is appName then
	tell application "System Events" to set visible of first process whose name is appName to false
else
	activate application appName
end if


[ Reply to This | # ]
Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys
Authored by: richie on Jul 18, '06 09:13:01AM

It works for me (for the scripts posted) using Quicksilver. However, when I change the app name to "Firefox", it only makes it visible but can't seem to hide it. Any suggestions?



[ Reply to This | # ]
Launch, show, or hide often-used apps via the F-keys
Authored by: baudburn on Jul 19, '06 09:10:51AM

Hey there, I'll try to take a look at firefox this evening and see what I can come up with.



[ Reply to This | # ]