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Is it possible to create custom short commands to run apps and open folders, to be called in Spotlight?

I mean, I'd like to create custom commands so I just open Spotlight (⌘ + space) then run things like:

  • cEnter to run /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome
  • sEnter to run /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari
  • gEnter to run /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --app="https://mail.google.com"
  • wEnter to run /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --app="https://web.whatsapp.com"
  • workEnter to open the folder /Users/myusername/Documents/workspace/
  • servEnter to run something in the Terminal

And so on... I think you know what I mean!

Thanks!

PS: I am coming from Windows, where I would: add a folder to the %PATH% variable, throw shortcuts in this folder dragging and dropping icons with the right mouse button, then rename them shortcuts to the alias I want. Then it is just Win+R to run my stuff. Trying to figure out a equivalent on Mac. Adding a folder to $PATH and creating executable scripts in it didn't work.

Paulo Amaral
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  • Seems like a lot of steps to me. I have function keys 1 to 9 all assigned to apps. Press F4 and I get my favorite web browser. I use Keyboard Maestro. It's paid, but doing it the macos way was too hard for me to figure out. see my write up here: https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/361174/44531 – historystamp Jun 01 '19 at 00:29

2 Answers2

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Spotlight can't do this. You can probably hack something using AppleScript, Automator etc, but it might be easier to use Alfred which allows for this and a lot of other interesting things.

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For your scenario it will actually learn which application you pick from the list and offer it as the default selection after a few times.

nohillside
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Automator is what you want - for example, when you open automator, choose 'Folder Action' to set up an automation for your 'work' folder.

Some of it will require learning a bit of AppleScript.

FiddleDeDee
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