Take Control of Automating Your Mac,

✍ Scribed by Joe Kissell

• Publisher: alt concepts
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 259
• Edition: 4
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Work faster, increase your efficiency, and have more fun with automation!
Version 4.0.1, updated July 26, 2022

Looking for ways to work smarter and faster with your Mac? In this updated and expanded fourth edition of his popular guide to Mac automation, Joe Kissell shows how anyone, at any level of experience, can save time and effort, and avoid unnecessary errors, by using automation techniques that range from the simplest keyboard shortcut to the most complicated script.

Note: This edition of the book covers macOS from Catalina through Monterey.

In this book, Joe teaches you how to automate routine tasks in a wide variety of ways. You can begin by making the most of productivity features such as Siri, Spotlight (for launching apps), and text replacement—and then move on to the more sophisticated automation tools built into macOS, such as Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, services, and shell scripts.

In addition, Joe gives extensive information about third-party automation apps that can make a huge difference to your work efficiency, such as Keyboard Maestro, TextExpander, OmniGraffle, and many more. As an extra bonus, the book includes coupons for discounts on seven automation apps!

Whether you’re new to automation, you just need a refresher, or you’re experienced with automation but want to go deeper, this book can teach you the skills you need to automate with ease. Take back your time, work more efficiently, and have more fun with your Mac, with Take Control of Automating Your Mac, Fourth Edition!

With this book, you’ll learn how to:

• Get started with the built-in macOS automation tools, including Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, and shell scripts
• Take full advantage of input devices to save clicks and keystrokes
• Customize toolbars and your Touch Bar to put hard-to-find controls at your fingertips
• Use your voice to control your Mac with Siri and Voice Control/Dictation Commands
• Automate text expansion for faster, more consistent typing
• Control the Finder with a launcher and by organizing files with Hazel
• Supercharge your clipboard to remember and reformat previous copies
• Write macros in Microsoft Office and Nisus Writer Pro
• Create rules to file email automatically in Apple Mail and Outlook
• Log in to websites faster with a password manager
• Automate cloud services with IFTTT and Zapier
• Set up automatic backup and syncing
• Use Omni Automation for JavaScript-based automation tasks
• Control nearly anything on your Mac with Keyboard Maestro

BONUS: We’ve included discount coupons for seven of the key apps Joe covers: 15% to 30% off on Keyboard Maestro, LaunchBar, Hazel, Nisus Writer Pro, Script Debugger, TypeIt4Me, and Typinator—look for coupons at the end of the book!

✦ Table of Contents

Read Me First
ÿþW
Introduction
Automation Quick Start
The State of Mac Automation
ÿþD
Learn the Basic Principle of Automation
Learn What You Can Automate
Look for Automation Opportunities
Pick the Right Tools
Use Built-In Automation Features
ÿþU
Make Your Own Keyboard Shortcut
Use and Customize Toolbars
Use macOS Text Substitutions and Transformations
Control Your Mac with Your Voice
Update Apple and Mac App Store Software Automatically
Update Non-Mac App Store Software Automatically
Work with Rule-Based Searches
Create and Use Smart Containers
ÿþD
Automate Your Input Devices
Use Trackpad and Magic Mouse Gestures
Use BetterTouchTool
Customize Your Touch Bar
Save Clicks with Third-Party Input Devices
Program an Input Device with USB Overdrive
Control Anything with a Stream Deck
Learn About Other Special Input Devices
Automate Text Expansion
Use Text Replacement in macOS
Use a Third-Party Text Expansion Utility
Automate the Finder
Use Spotlight as a Launcher
Use a Third-Party Launcher
Organize Files with Hazel
Supercharge Your Clipboard
Learn What a Clipboard Utility Can Do
Use a Macro or Launcher Utility
Use a macOS Clipboard Utility
Automate Individual Apps
Automate Microsoft Office
Automate Nisus Writer Pro
Discover Other Internally Scriptable Apps
Automate Email
Use Server-Based Rules
Automate Apple Mail
Automate Outlook Email with Rules
Automate Other Email Apps
Automate the Web
Log In Faster with iCloud Keychain and Safari Autofill
Automate Web Logins with a Password Manager
Automate Cloud Services
Discover Other Web Automation Options
Automate Backup and Syncing
Run Backups Automatically with Time Machine
Create Hands-Off Versioned Backups
Automate Mac-to-Mac Syncing
Discover macOS Automation Technologies
ÿþA
Using JavaScript for Automation
Using Swift for Automation
Use Services for System-Wide Shortcuts
Configure Services
Find and Use Services
Get Started with Shortcuts
Explore Shortcuts
Run a Shortcut
Import Automator Workflows
Customize a Shortcut
Create a Shortcut
Share a Shortcut
Get Started with Automator
Create a Simple Automator Workflow
Create an Automator Droplet
Create Your Own Service
Find and Run Sample Workflows
Learn More about Automator
Get Started with AppleScript
Write a Simple AppleScript
Learn What AppleScript Can Do
Understand AppleScript Basics
Find and Run Example AppleScripts
Edit an Existing AppleScript
Use GUI Scripting
Use AppleScript Folder Actions
Learn More About AppleScript
Script the Command Line with Shell Scripts
Create Your Own Shell Script
Try Another Script
Shell Scripts Outside the Shell
Use Omni Automation
What Omni Automation Can Do
Try Omni Automation in OmniGraffle
Use a Macro Utility
Control Your Mac with Keyboard Maestro
Use Another Macro Utility
About This Book
Ebook Extras
About the Author and Publisher
Acknowledgments
Credits
Copyright and Fine Print
Also by Joe Kissell
Hazel Coupon
Keyboard Maestro Coupon
LaunchBar Coupon
Nisus Writer Pro Coupon
Script Debugger Coupon
TypeIt4Me Coupon
Typinator Coupon