New to mac. App to automatically launch and arranging windows/apps?

[Natesac]

Starting to find some neat tweaks. Bettersnaptool is awesome. Was able to create a dock icon that will close all programs with Automater.

Question: Is there a way to create a dock icon that will launch a list of specific apps and move them into place? 90% of the time while on my mac I have Safari on my main display, and a few chat apps on my secondary display. I would love to be able to launch all these apps into place with just one click.

Any suggestions?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

You can always use Applescript/Automator for most things, including what you just asked for.

Edit: Easy guide.

 

[danckwerts]

You can always use Applescript/Automator for most things, including what you just asked for.

Edit: Easy guide.

I'm always surprised how underused Automator is. Extremely easy to use and very powerful.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I'm always surprised how underused Automator is. Extremely easy to use and very powerful.

I think the issue is that it hasn't got a very intuitive GUI for each command available and thus requires a manual to use. I am well adversed in the powers of Applescript, yet don't know the language, and I can never manage to create much in Automator because I misinterpret the commands and end up with a useless script.
Also, Apple practically don't advertize it.

 

[danckwerts]

Also, Apple practically don't advertize it.

That's true. I can't think why. It's particularly useful for repetitive tasks such as batch processing images.

 

[Weaselboy]

Is there a way to create a dock icon that will launch a list of specific apps and move them into place?

http://manytricks.com/moom/

The app Moom will arrange your apps for you. You could make an Applescript something like this to launch apps then save the Applescript as an app itself. Moom is also scriptable, so you could make the Applescript launch the apps then restore a saved Moom arrangement.

tell application "Cookie" to launch
tell application "Contacts" to launch
tell application "Mail" to launch
tell application "Messages" to launch
tell application "iTunes" to launch
tell application "ReadKit" to launch

This Applescript tells Moom to restore my window arrangement called TBD Size for example.

tell application "Moom"
    arrange windows according to snapshot named "TBD Size"
end tell

You could put this all in one Applescript then save it as an app and drag the app to your Dock. Then one click of the app would launch the apps listed and position them according to the Moom saved setup.

 

[Natesac]

http://manytricks.com/moom/

The app Moom will arrange your apps for you. You could make an Applescript something like this to launch apps then save the Applescript as an app itself. Moom is also scriptable, so you could make the Applescript launch the apps then restore a saved Moom arrangement.

tell application "Cookie" to launch
tell application "Contacts" to launch
tell application "Mail" to launch
tell application "Messages" to launch
tell application "iTunes" to launch
tell application "ReadKit" to launch

This Applescript tells Moom to restore my window arrangement called TBD Size for example.

tell application "Moom"
    arrange windows according to snapshot named "TBD Size"
end tell

You could put this all in one Applescript then save it as an app and drag the app to your Dock. Then one click of the app would launch the apps listed and position them according to the Moom saved setup.

Ok this is more like it. Now I just need to find a nice guide to hold my hand through the entire setup.

 

[Weaselboy]

Ok this is more like it. Now I just need to find a nice guide to hold my hand through the entire setup.

Let me know if you get stuck and I'll try and help you out.

 

[Natesac]

Let me know if you get stuck and I'll try and help you out.

Thank You!

At the moment I am trying to see if there is an alternative to using Moom since I just bought Bettersnaptool last night. It Appears that Bettersnaptool does not have the snapshot feature that Moom has.

 

[Weaselboy]

Thank You!

At the moment I am trying to see if there is an alternative to using Moom since I just bought Bettersnaptool last night. It Appears that Bettersnaptool does not have the snapshot feature that Moom has.

Moom has a free trial, so you might want to try that out before you purchase to make sure you like it.

I have Moom setup to automatically detect when I attach my Thunderbolt Display and resize everything from the smaller 13" laptop size. Then a second setting to do the reverse when I disconnect the display.