Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Startly Technologies ’ QuicKeys 3.1 further solidifies the macro - and - shortcut public utility company ’s position as the leading‘—and most comprehensive’—Mac automation software . Although it ’s not a major upgrade , this variation sports a few more features than the previous discharge (; May 2005 ) , include support for Tiger ’s Automator utility .
you’re able to use the newfangled Workflow cutoff to run Automator workflows using any QuicKeys induction ( for instance , a keyboard crosscut or a specific metre of day ) . you may also incorporate workflow into multistep macros , effectively expatiate QuicKeys’—and Automator’s — repertoire . If you already have an Automator workflow that does something you take — resizing photograph in Preview , say — you do n’t have to duplicate the steps in QuicKeys .
Another clever feature called SoftKeys makes it easy to arrange and trigger your favorite shortcut . When you invoke a SoftKeys cutoff , QuicKeys display a translucent palette that shows up to ten assigned cutoff in count slots ( see screenshot ) .
QuicKeys ’ new Drive trigger invokes a shortcut whenever a specified local or networked cause is mounted or unmounted . So , for example , you may configure QuicKeys to back up your internal hard drive every time you mount an extraneous FireWire drive or to open up a certain written document whenever you insert a especial CD . A handy betterment to the Open Items shortcut lets you programme QuicKeys to open an item using a limit program , not just the default lotion .
Macworld’s buying advice
At $ 100 , QuicKeys 3.1 is quite expensive for a utility , and creating complex shortcuts still takes industriousness that may also involve a trial - and - mistake approach . But , even if you use AppleScript and Automator — and especially if you don’t — you’ll hold open time and elbow grease by using QuicKeys to automate repetitious project .
[ Franklin N. Tessler is a contributing editor forMacworld . ]
