In the Mac ’s early days , its key differentiator was a heavy reliance on the mouse and a desktop metaphor .
Although other systems existed with window and pointer , the vast majority of reckoner back then were control by you typing in commands ; if you wanted to move to a new directory or edit a document , you had to remember the arcane instruction for doing so , and all feedback you have would be text - base , too . With the Mac , you just clicked and dragged . Easy .
But this line of thinking somewhat neutralise the power of the keyboard . Moving a cursor is slow , but pressing a key is fast – hence why Apple twin most commands with keyboard shortcuts . So while youcanmake a misstep to File > exposed to open a new papers , youshouldtry to weld Command + O to your muscularity remembering , thereby saving a few seconds every time that action is performed .
The snag is that not every action has a keyboard shortcut – include many of the more abstract concept that you may execute many times per twenty-four hours . For example , to apply the keyboard to quickly access a special app , folder or text file , your best bet with macOS is Spotlight – and the likeliness of it straight off giving you what you ’re after is svelte .
WithBetterTouchTool , however , you may startle using the keyboard to open up anything that ’s on your Mac . Here ’s how …
Create custom keyboard shortcuts
Once BetterTouchTool is set up and launched , you ’ll see its picture in your computer menu ginmill . Click that and selectPreferencesto open up the master windowpane .
The comic strip under the toolbar shows the many input devices that BetterTouchTool can work with . allow ’s commence by choosingKeyboard . ( We ’ve got more related to advice , incidentally , in our tutorial aboutMac keyboard shortcuts . )
The range of any action at law defined in BetterTouchTool can be global ( organization - astray ) in nature or restrict to a single applications programme , depending on the selection you make for it in the sidebar . For opening apps and the like , stick withGlobal , because we want to be able to open up an app whatever we chance to be doing at the time .
We ’ll start with a shortcut to open Safari . ClickAdd New Shortcut or Key Sequence . You ’ll now see aShortcuttab , within which is aClick to record shortcutfield .
At this point , you need to think cautiously about the crosscut you ’re going to delineate . It can not be something that will collide with existing shortcut elsewhere , and it also demand to be memorable , and comparatively easy approachable for your finger . If you ’re break to determine a large number of shortcuts , it ’s also impertinent to make a scheme that you’re able to apply to many more actions .
A respectable combining of Florida key to use is Control , Shift , and an identifying letter that for you represents the software you ’re target . So for Safari , click in the aforesaid field and press Control + Shift + S.
Next , you need to pick out an action for your shortcut . get through theTrigger Predefined Actionmenu , typeappinto the hunt field , and double - get through to chooseOpen software / File / Apple Script[sic ] from the heel results . A flat solid will then appear , enabling you to navigate to and take Safari .
In BetterTouchTool , you should now see your defined cutoff under theShortcutcolumn head , andLaunch Safari.appunderAssigned Action . AssumingEnabledis ticked for this shortcut , Safari will plunge whenever the crosscut is used ; or , if Safari is already undefendable , it will be bring to the front .
you may now contribute further shortcuts for other apps you regularly use ; try out Control + Shift + M for Mail , and Control + Shift + C for Calendar . Be mindful that you could not use the same letter of the alphabet for multiple items . If you ’ve already assigned the most obvious varsity letter to another app – such as atomic number 15 for pic – think of something else will ferment for a given app – like quintuplet for Preview .
Create custom gestures
you’re able to of course launch pamphlet and individual documents in the same way as apps . Should you care to do so , it might be overbold to believe a different modifier central dodging for them , such as using Control + Option or Shift + Option or else of Control + Shift .
instead , you may use trackpad gesture to open items . ( Again , we have a disjoined clause with more advice aboutMac trackpad gesture . ) It ’s deserving noting that there are fewer obvious gestures than letters in the alphabet , and so this method is worth restricting to a few cardinal booklet , such as Documents or Applications .
permit ’s make a motion to get to the Applications folder . ClickTrackpadsin the strip under the BetterTouchTool toolbar , and clickAdd New Gesture . Click PleaseSelect a Gesture , and underThree Finger Gestures , selectTipTap Left ( 2 Fingers Fix ) . You ’ll see a little living play of how the motion works – in short , you locate two fingers on the trackpad and then tap to the left hand of them .
Click the computer menu underPredefined Action , typefilein the hunt field , and again choose theOpen program / File / Apple Script[sic ] action . This clock time , choose yourApplicationsmenu when the sheet open . practice your gesture and the Applications window should immediately open .
Complex gesture might take a while to become second nature , but BetterTouchTool ’s survival of the fittest is deserving exploring .
If you ’ve got a very recent Apple trackpad , there are all sorts ofForce Touch options , mean you could have clicks on specific areas of your trackpad launch certain items . If you do n’t need them being launched by mistake , you could have the actions only trigger when a specific qualifier key is also held – simply tick the relevant box under theTouchpad Gesturemenu .
Beyond this , the sky ’s the limit . BetterTouchTool provides all kinds of choice for working with your mouse , the Siri Remote , the TouchBar , and even macOS window push .
Using it for launching is only scratching the surface , given the immense amount of action that are available . However , even if you do only use the app for get at your best-loved apps , documents and folders , it ’ll save you time every day , and make you slightly more effective on your Mac – and that can only be a good thing .
BetterTouchToolhas a free test , and cost as little as £ 4 for a permanent licence .
