15 Mac Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

[Tagbert]

I am pretty sure Automator can do it but needs programming knowledge, Automator is a powerful tool do not be fooled by the friendly interface, its not a novice software.

Like you, I have no idea how to do it , i have no programming knowledge nor scripting

Can you do the automation with Shortcuts? It is the successor to Automator but lots of non-developers use it to automate tasks.

 

[MacBH928]

shift option k = 
option $ gives you ¢
option 0 gives you º as in 20º celsius/fahrenheit

Go to “system preferences > keyboard > Input Sources” and put a checkmark in the box before “Show Input menu in menu bar”. This will put an icon on your menu bar, that when clicked on, will open a small keyboard in a window. If you hold down option, it will show you what all the keys do when you hold down option. If you hold down option+shift, it will show you what all the keys do when you hold down option+shift. Etc… It will also show you emoji.


To be clear, I did it with Automator and I have no programming knowledge nor scripting either.

Figuring out how to do it took a while, and figuring out how to solve the error message took a while, but actually doing it took seconds.

Automator is a powerful tool indeed, but these commands are everyday commands used by novices. If you don't feel comfortable with it, I get it. I don't feel comfortable downloading apps.

It's a rewarding feeling to learn something new and accomplish a helpful task. Programming is not reserved for the gods, they are mere mortals too, who once knew nothing.

-If you click ctrl+command+space you get that menu I believe

Can you do the automation with Shortcuts? It is the successor to Automator but lots of non-developers use it to automate tasks.

Shortcuts is like the dumbed down Automator. Automator can be programmed with script language. Its too powerful and under utilized.

Shortcuts is for people like me, the majority, who needs something simpler. I would use Shortcuts but I am not on Monterey yet. I am afraid its not stable yet?!

 

[SpeQ]

-If you click ctrl+command+space you get that menu I believe

I get emoji with that command, not keyboard options.

Shortcuts is like the dumbed down Automator. Automator can be programmed with script language. Its too powerful and under utilized.

Shortcuts is for people like me, the majority, who needs something simpler. I would use Shortcuts but I am not on Monterey yet. I am afraid its not stable yet?!

I watched a video about it earlier after @Tagbert mentioned it. It appears to be just as powerful as Automator. It has to be because it will probably replace Automator. It does allow scripts. It has a different user interface, I wouldn't call it dumbed-down, I would say maybe it appears a little more user-friendly. To me, it was not quite as intuitive as Automator. Shortcuts allowed me to import the EXIF action I created in Automator. Shortcuts is a poor name choice. Searching for info about the app is hidden by all the results for keyboard shortcuts.

The stability of Monterey is questionable. I'm afraid we're past the days of stable Mac OS. They'll continue to make improvements and offer new function, but they'll never get all the bugs out before they change to something new.

 

[MacBH928]

I get emoji with that command, not keyboard options.



I watched a video about it earlier after @Tagbert mentioned it. It appears to be just as powerful as Automator. It has to be because it will probably replace Automator. It does allow scripts. It has a different user interface, I wouldn't call it dumbed-down, I would say maybe it appears a little more user-friendly. To me, it was not quite as intuitive as Automator. Shortcuts allowed me to import the EXIF action I created in Automator. Shortcuts is a poor name choice. Searching for info about the app is hidden by all the results for keyboard shortcuts.

The stability of Monterey is questionable. I'm afraid we're past the days of stable Mac OS. They'll continue to make improvements and offer new function, but they'll never get all the bugs out before they change to something new.

Apple actually bought this app, it used to be called Workflow. I do not know why they did that since they already have automator. I thought maybe it was easier but you say it was not as intuitive as Automator

 

[Tagbert]

Apple actually bought this app, it used to be called Workflow. I do not know why they did that since they already have automator. I thought maybe it was easier but you say it was not as intuitive as Automator

Workflow was the basis for Shortcuts. they bought Workflow and put that team on the Shortcuts project. Shortcuts has been running on iOS/iPADOS for a couple of years. Monterey was the first launch of Shortcuts on Mac OS. The early builds were a little rough. I've heard is is more stable now. I would expect them to refine the Mac version in Mac OS 13.x.

 

[Pecka]

I'm trying to use Automator to do a repetitive task in Brave browser but can't get it to work.

It says: "The action “Watch Me Do” encountered an error: “Application Brave is not running when it is expected to."

Anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

 

[MacBH928]

I'm trying to use Automator to do a repetitive task in Brave browser but can't get it to work.

It says: "The action “Watch Me Do” encountered an error: “Application Brave is not running when it is expected to."

Anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

i do not know but better open a thread in the developers forum:-
Developers