Keyboard Maestro is among the top three programs I recommend for getting started with Mac automation and automating nearly any task on your computer.
This tutorial is written for those who are new to the application. If you haven’t already downloaded it, I encourage you to do so, and then work through the following tutorials to create your first macro automation.
[wps_calltoaction style=”default” border=”none” title=”Download Keyboard Maestro” align=”left” background=”#f4f4f7″ color=”#535353″ radius=”0″ button_text=”Keyboard Maestro Homepage” url=”http://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/” target=”self” button_background=”#6aa2ff” button_color=”#fff” button_radius=”0″]Keyboard Maestro comes with a free 30-day trial. If you haven’t already done so, download the application in order to complete the tutorial below. [/wps_calltoaction]
Default Keyboard Maestro Tutorial
When you first download Keyboard Maestro (KM), you can complete a quick tutorial for creating your first macro. (Note, a “macro” is basically made up of one or more actions that constitute an automation, or workflow.)
The default KM tutorial is a great start, but this macro tutorial shows you how to create a macro that you will probably find more useful. So keep reading.
Tutorial: Time and Hot Key Macro
In my tutorial, we’re going to create an automation that automatically opens one or more of your favorite websites at a specified time and day. This macro can also be triggered by an assigned hot key (another name for keyboard shortcut.)
With KM open, go through the following steps to create a Time and Hot Key macro:
Step 1: Create a New Macro
1. Select the Global Marco Group folder in the KM editor. Macros saved to this folder will work from within any application.
2. Select File > New Macro in the menu bar, or by clicking the + button in the Macros section of KM Editor.
3. Give the new Macro a name, such Open Mac Automation Tips, or whichever website or webpage you choose.
Step 2: Add the Webpage
1. Click on the + button in the Macro editor.
2. Select the Safari Folder under Categories.
3. Select and drag (or double-click) the action, “Set Safari URL.” “Open a URL” action.
4. Now change the default URL to your favorite web pages or website.
Step 3: Add Triggers
Now we need a way to trigger the macro. Every macro needs a trigger.
1. Click on the New Trigger button, and select the Time Trigger.
2. Click the plus button again, and select Hot Key Trigger.
The Time trigger is one of my favorites because it executes without me having do anything. It’s automation in the real sense of the word.
Update: be sure to use “Open a URL” action, and not Set Safari URL.
Step 4: Set the Triggers
1. Now choose the time and days you want KM to automatically open the specified webpage. By default each day of the week is already selected, so deselect the days you don’t want the macro to execute. Note: your computer has to be on and not asleep in order for the macro to trigger. So you might choose to have it trigger when you know you’ll be working at your computer, or when your computer is set to awake in the morning.
2. Now set a hot key for triggering this macro. Click on the hot key box and press the keyboard combination of keys you want to use. The combination needs to include one or more modification keys, such as Shift+Command 9.
You can test to make sure the macro works by either clicking on the Try button in the macro or the Try button at the bottom of the Macro editor. Also, you can also use the assigned hot key.
Now close the Actions menu by clicking on the x button, or by using the keyboard shortcut, Command+K.
Step 5: Save Action As a Favorite
Note: if you want, you can scroll up the Categories section and drag the “Set Safari URL” “Open a URL” action into your Favorites actions folder for quicker access.
Now you can see that your new macro is saved to your Macro library, in the Global Macro Group.
Enable Keyboard Maestro Engine
You don’t need to the have the Keyboard Maestro editor open in order for macros to run. But you do need to make sure the KM Engine is running. Open KM preferences and enable “Launch Engine at Login”.
You can also quit the KM application in your Dock, and macros will run as long as the Engine is running in the back ground.
You now have created you first macro. There’s much to learn about KM, but in the nutshell those are the steps you take create a macro.
Loading ...Subscribe for Tutorials and Tips
If you found this tutorial useful, be sure to subscribe to this blog site to receive updates about upcoming Keyboard Maestro and Mac automation tips and how-to’s.
