Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
I ’m a big devotee of software that extends the capability of Mac OS X and the Finder . app program Wizardis one such program , though it does so much , it ’s difficult to compactly describe . In its most basic use , app Wizard – which operates as an atomic number 76 X System Preferences pane – displays four coloured button on a small jury you may drag to any position along any screen door edge ; you may even put the panel to slide out when need , much like the Dock ’s auto - hide mode .
The first three release in the panel presentation menus for opening , quitting , and switching program program , respectively . The 4th push display a card that lets you navigate your unvoiced drives ; exhibit contacts from Address Book or photos from iPhoto ( or Aperture ) ; display organization retentiveness usage and uptime ; and do a number of other job . If you opt , you may disable any of these button , leave just those that you use regularly . you could customise the undefended menu and the fourth ( special ) menu ; for good example , you could impart folders to or remove folders from the Open menu , and you could customize how trailer picture are displayed in the special bill of fare .
If that was everything program Wizard offered , it would still be a decent oxygen ten add - on . But there ’s much , much more you’re able to do with this app . First , if you do n’t care give screen real demesne to the button control panel , you may instead display its button in the menu bar or ( my personal favorite ) have them trigger as protrude - up menus that appear under the pointer whenever you press configurable global hot key .
The switcher in Application Wizard can not only switch between programs but between open windows of programs. Path Finder is about to become the active application, with the datavault window as the active window.
you may also produce diligence mathematical group , which are collections of programs that you may then launch , show , hide , and quit together via program Wizard . There ’s a ready - to - use grouping named Excluded Applications ; any program you add to this mathematical group wo n’t be affected when you use the Quit Others or Quit All commands in the Quit menu .
you could pick out howeachprogram launches using software Wizard : normally with other program showing , in the background , hidden , or usually with other broadcast hidden . you could also choose whether or not a program hides when you use the Hide Others command . I set up iChat , for example , to not obliterate when I enshroud others , so that my colleagues can contact me like a shot . you could even coerce an program to give using Rosetta if you need to .
One of my favorite features in software Wizard is the Switching menu . By default , this carte acquit like OS X ’s Command - Tab switcher , except it use a more space - effective vertical display . However , using software Wizard ’s Menus tab key , you may rather have this display let in each program ’s windows , as well as name the fighting program ’s windows first . I ’ve enabled both of these alternative and assigned this card to appear when I exhort Control - Tab . Now I can quickly interchange to any window in any program by pressing this shortcut and then scrolling through the hierarchal pop - up menu that appears .
There ’s much more in software Wizard , include a individual - software mode that automatically does a “ obscure others ” when you throw from one program to another . One drawback to the programme is that with this much powerfulness , the interface is a bit complex ; however , software Wizard includes very good help , so it ’s not too difficult to figure out .
The switcher in app Wizard can not only trade between programme but between heart-to-heart windows of program . Path Finder is about to become the active app , with the datavault windowpane as the alive window .
If you find yourself wishing the Finder had a lilliputian more power for working with practical program , program Wizard may be just what you need .
Our 186 - Sir Frederick Handley Page Mac Gems Superguide is a regular greatest hits of Mac Gems . It ’s uncommitted as a PDF download , PDF on CD - ROM , or as a publish book . Learn more about the Mac Gems Superguide .
[ Rob Griffiths is a senior editor for Macworld . ]
