Launch multiple applications or web sites at once
As you might know already, Butler is a true, multi-purpose tool. One of its main features is the ability to launch applications and bookmarks.
Today we will find out, how to make Butler launch multiple items (applications, bookmarks, etc.) at once.
Let’s say, you usually start Adium (an IM client - tutorial here), Skype and Mail when you get to your computer. Moreover you open up Facebook, Google and Youtube.
This is always the same procedure - locate and launch programs, open Safari, enter the URL, and so on.
Well, no more with Butler.
Setup
To open up Butler’s preferences window, click the computer icon in the menu bar, select Butler > Preferences.
Alternatively, you can bring up Butler’s abbreviation window, by pressing control-space. Once the window is visible, press command - , (comma) to bring up the preferences (as you bring up the preferences in any other application).
In Butler’s preferences switch to the Configuration tab.
Click the plus sign in the lower right corner and choose Container.
On the right hand side of the Butler window, the Inspector is shown, prompting you for a name for the container. Let’s name it OnlineFavorites.
Everything that will be inside this container will be launched by Butler for you. So let’s put in all the stuff we want to open at once.
Adding Web Sites
1) To add a website to this container, make sure it’s highlighted by clicking on the container.
2) Click the plus icon again and pick Site.
3) In the Inspector pane (on the right hand side) give it a name and set the URL.
Hint: Under Options you could even specify that this particular page opens in a different browser.
4) Repeat these steps to add all the sites you want to add to the container (and thus be launched at once).
Adding Applications
This is almost the same as for web sites. Click on the plus icon and pick File (instead of Site). Select the application you want to launch together with the other items in the container. As for this post we pick Adium, Skype and Apple Mail)
Hint: In the file selection dialog, you can pick multiple items, by holding down the command key as you click on different applications. For more on selecting items in Mac OS X, please read this post.
Launch items at once
Launching this container (and thus all items it contains) is the same as with every other Butler item.
Bring up the abbreviation window (by default: control-space) and start to type OnlineFavorites.
As the container shows up in the abbreviation window, press the enter/return key to launch all items it contains.
Butler will ask you if you’re sure about launching all items of this container (called children).
Launch will launch all items once, asking you again on the next occasion.
Always launch these will tell Butler that you always want to open every item of this container.
As with every other Butler item, you can pick a keyboad shortcut or Hot Corner for activation.
Hint: If you only want to open a single item from a container, bring up the abbreviation window, start typing OnlineFavorites. As the result is found, press the space bar to display all items of this container. Choose the one you want from the pop up menu.
Done. These containers are a great way to launch those programs and bookmarks you use on a regular basis. No more clicking and writing the same thing over and over again.
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Tags: Adium, Bookmarks, Butler, Favorites, freeware, IM, productivity, Safari, Skype
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