can't find service for keyboard shortcut

[wddossett]

Hi,

I haven't done this before, I followed info to do this from a web page, but the layout looks different so not sure if that's because I am on Ventura and this article is for older macOS - lot of that these days - I created a service in automator. I can see it in my ~/Library/Services folder. I want to assign a keyboard shortcut to this service - the service should just open an app, safari in this case. But when I go to system settings-> keyboard-> keyboard shortcuts and select services on the left, I don't see my service anywhere on the right...I have expanded all the things that are there, development, files and folders, internet etc and don't see it under any of them. Also when I go back to automator I don't see my service there - yet as I say, it was created and is in the ~/Library/Services folder. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks
Bill

 

[pm-r]

But when I go to system settings-> keyboard-> keyboard shortcuts and select services on the left, I don't see my service anywhere on the right...I have expanded all the things that are there, development, files and folders, internet etc and don't see it under any of them.

I don't know which Mac model or Mac OS version you are using, but I also got fed up trying to get apples "Services" working properly, or at least close to what I thought the way it should work and finally gave up and ended up using a third party utilities.

I ended up using and still use SimpleKeys 2

SimpleKeys 2 – piDog Software

www.pidog.com

Download SimpleKeys for Mac | MacUpdate

Download the latest version of SimpleKeys for Mac for free. Read 7 user reviews and compare with similar apps on MacUpdate.

www.macupdate.com

But I see that MacAppware has the latest BundleHunt Mac bundle that includes FUNCTION KEY PRO on Sale for $1.50.

BundleHunt...Curated Software Deals at unbeatable discounts!

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Both are much easier to set up and use than Apple's Services method IMHO.

I will admit that I have and use an Apple USB wired extended keyboard that has a lot of extra function keys that I utilized, but at least SimpleKeys 2 allows the use of keyboard shortcuts and modifier keys if needed.

I just happened to prefer using the single button F key method for switching and opening applications Etc.

Sorry I can't help with your Apple Services and I just thought I should mention at least some alternatives. And I'm sure there are others I haven't mentioned that are also easier to set up and use.





- Patrick
=======

 

[wddossett]

thanks Patrick, I may have to go down that route, thanks for the alternatives. I've tried to use automator before with poor results, I always thought it was me... seems like something that SHOULD work. I'm kind of like a dog with a bone, so will probably keep banging my head against the wall for a while yet

 

[Slydude]

I've created a few services in Automator but haven't assigned keyboard shortcuts to any of them . I haven't tried under Ventura but I'll try to take a look at that later today.

In the meantime I have a couple of questions. partly out of curiosity and partly trying to fully understand the goal.

1. Can you post a link to the directions that you used?
2.What's the ultimate goal here? I know you are trying to open Safari but why are you using a service to do it. There might be better ways to accomplish the same thing with/without third-party software.

 

[pm-r]

I've created a few services in Automator but haven't assigned keyboard shortcuts to any of them

@Slydude
I shall be quite interested in what you discover Sly, even though I cannot run anything later than High Sierra, but I would be most interested if you are able to sort out how to use the keyboard Function keys and/or just minimal keyboard key commands, which I could never get working properly but third party utilities work very well and are much easier to set up.

Apple seems to come up with rather strange ways of doing things sometimes, and not always the easiest or quickest or shortest in my experience.



- Patrick
=======

 

[Slydude]

I have not worked with Automator in some time but I think I was able to assign a key command for a service I used to run inside iTunes. If all the OP needs to do is launch Safari that can be done without creating a service. That's the reason for asking about the OP's ultimate goal.

 

[wddossett]

I've created a few services in Automator but haven't assigned keyboard shortcuts to any of them . I haven't tried under Ventura but I'll try to take a look at that later today.

In the meantime I have a couple of questions. partly out of curiosity and partly trying to fully understand the goal.

1. Can you post a link to the directions that you used?
2.What's the ultimate goal here? I know you are trying to open Safari but why are you using a service to do it. There might be better ways to accomplish the same thing with/without third-party software.

Thought I replied to this... but I don't see the reply here, sorry if this shows up twice.

The link to the directions to use a service is here:

How to Launch an App Using a Keyboard Shortcut in macOS

How to launch an application using a custom keyboard shortcut in macOS using an Automator service.

www.computerhope.com

The goal is to be able to setup a keyboard shortcut to open applications... the first one I tried is Safari. The only reason I used a service is that is how the link above said to do it... and I worked in IT for like 40 years or more and automation was kind of my thing, terraform, ansible, lots of infrastructure as code, so naturally Automator in macOS kind of caught my eye and I would like to understand and use it... I did windows and linux most of the time, but have pretty much consolidated everything under my Mac m1 mini now... and I am retired, and happy .

anyway. that's kind of what I wrote the other day, maybe I didn't press post reply... any help is appreciated!

 

[MacInWin]

Why not just put Safari (and the others) on the Dock, where you can click it to launch it? That's what the Dock is for.

 

[wddossett]

Why not just put Safari (and the others) on the Dock, where you can click it to launch it? That's what the Dock is for.

I have to take my hand off the keyboard and move it to the mouse and then back again? I'm used to using keyboard shortcuts... and safari is in the doc, I'm just ruthlessly efficient when it comes to using my computer.

 

[MacInWin]

You might want to re-think that a bit. Basically, the major user interface in macOS is the graphical layout. And for that, the mouse/trackpad is the major input mechanism. If you are interested in efficiency, keep one hand on the trackpad/mouse and move the cursor with it to control the interface. In a while, having to take your hand off the mouse to type in something becomes the "inefficiency" of the system. I did start back before PCs, when the terminal to the mainframe had only a keyboard, and one had to be efficient at the keyboard shortcuts. Now, I rarely use a keyboard shortcut, preferring the mouse/trackpad interface. It was a learning curve for the transition, but as I said, using the keyboard now seems the most inefficient way to interact with the Mac.

 

[wddossett]

You might want to re-think that a bit. Basically, the major user interface in macOS is the graphical layout. And for that, the mouse/trackpad is the major input mechanism. If you are interested in efficiency, keep one hand on the trackpad/mouse and move the cursor with it to control the interface. In a while, having to take your hand off the mouse to type in something becomes the "inefficiency" of the system. I did start back before PCs, when the terminal to the mainframe had only a keyboard, and one had to be efficient at the keyboard shortcuts. Now, I rarely use a keyboard shortcut, preferring the mouse/trackpad interface. It was a learning curve for the transition, but as I said, using the keyboard now seems the most inefficient way to interact with the Mac.

LOL, I. type a lot... mostly. Having a keyboard shortcut to bring my safari page back to focus so I can check something on it would be great. Not sure why you are trying to convince me to change how I work. I'm old school as well, started when punch cards were still being used. I also worked on one of the first high end mini computers with a mouse - I use a mouse just fine. Being told how to adjust my method of working isn't helping here... there are 3rd party apps that will do it, but as I have said I have worked with automation for years now and I'd like to be able to use automator in macOS and have it work, but maybe I am just in the wrong forums.

 

[MacInWin]

Nah, lots of folks here use the KB extensively. I started with punch cards as well, and as I said, the transition to GUI was a bit of a learing curve. I was just making a suggestion, not really trying to convince you. Stick wit what works for you.

Good luck with the automation. I don't really have any constructive suggestions because I don't use them. Lots of people here who do, though, so someone will probably be able to help.

 

[pm-r]

any help is appreciated!

As I posted above I wanted to do that several years ago when Automator became available for supposedly being able to do just such a thing. But to make a long story short, even though I tend to be quite persistent and stubborn, I finally had to abandon the project as I could not get it to work properly or at least the way I wanted with a keystrokes I wanted to use.

I eventually ended up using one or two utilities and I believe the free Spark.app was what I ended up using.
You can find out more about it here:
Download Spark for Mac | MacUpdate
And don't forget to read users comments,
And here:Spark

For some reason I ended up not being able to use Spark and damned if I can remember why, and ended up using the $20 SimpleKeys.app, which I still use with my El Capitan for launching applications and entering some text phrases.

As I mentioned earlier, I mainly use the extra F keys I have available on my wired Apple USB extended keyboard, so just a single key press completes the seven functions I use. Nice and quick and simple and easy.


- Patrick
=======

 

[Slydude]

OK. Now I have a better understanding of what you are trying to do. I think I have an idea how to approach this with Automator but I'll have to do some testing to see if this idea works with a keyboard shortcut. Stay tuned.

 

[ferrarr]

See. if this helps?

Move and arrange app windows on Mac

On your Mac, align, merge, resize, switch between, and close one or more app windows.

support.apple.com

It may be more keystrokes than you want.

 

[Slydude]

I did some testing and building the service is easy in Automator but I was having trouble finding a way to assign a keystroke under Ventura. I decided to take a little bit of a different approach.

Ventura includes an Application called Shortcuts. I was able to build a shortcut that opens apps via the keyboard using that instead of Automator.

I found directions that are easy to follow and seem to work here, If you don't have time for the entire article focus on steps 8, 9, and 10.

How to use and create keyboard shortcuts in macOS Ventura

Create keyboard shortcuts to help speed up common tasks

www.techradar.com

There are a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. In Step 9 when you drop in the Open App shortcut, click the little blue dot next to Open and choose the app to open. If you want to open more than one app add a separate Open App command for each app you want to open.
2. In Step 10 you add the keyboard shortcut. In order to do that stay inside the Shortcuts app and look for a small I in the upper right corner of the window.

I'm still experimenting with how to control what window opens in Safari.

 

[Slydude]

It looks like I forgot to mention that I had to use the Quit App shortcut step to bring the Safari window to the front IIRC. That doesn't quit Safari it seems to quit the"shell" that's running the shortcut.

I just realized that there is anotherShortcut step that might be better but I haven't tried this yet. It's called "Stop This Shortcut" in case someone wants to test before I do.

 

[pm-r]

It looks like I forgot to mention that I had to use the Quit App shortcut step to bring the Safari window to the front IIRC. That doesn't quit Safari it seems to quit the"shell" that's running the shortcut.

It seems that in order to answer the OP's question, it seems that Apple sort of missed the boat in the implementation of its Services and third-party utility software can enable similar and better features so much easier, and some of them at no charge other than the effort to install them.




- Patrick=