#Xmenu for mac help how to#
#Xmenu for mac help mac os x#

Close the preferences dialog box, then open Finder and tap Shift+Cmd+G. Under the Menu heading of the dialog box remove all checks in boxes and put one alongside User-Defined. Open it, and then click its menu icon and select XMenu > Preferences.

Via the menu bar: Another set of slightly complicated instructions but you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly: 1.

You can now close System Preferences, and try the shortcut to ensure it works. type something like Option (Alt)+Shift+Cmd+O). At the right of the entry in the list, where “none” appears, click and then click again, then actually hit the keyboard shortcut you want to use to open the file (i.e. Locate your new service in the list on the right. Then select the Services entry in the list on the right. Click the Keyboard icon, then select the Shortcuts tab. Close Automator, then open System Preferences. Something like Open file shortcut will be fine. Tap File > Save and give the new service a name. In the right of the window, delete the word cat and type open, then a space, before dragging and dropping the file onto the text cursor’s position. Then drag the single result beneath this to the right of the window to where it reads Drag Actions Or Files Here To Build Your Workflow. In the search field of Automator, type Run Shell Script. Then click the Service icon, which is that of a cog.

If a file chooser appears, click New Document. Open Automator, which you’ll find in the Applications list of Finder.

Via a keyboard shortcut: This one’s a bit more complicated but only needs to be done once for each file you want to assign a shortcut to: 1.

Via Spotlight: Open Spotlight (Cmd+Space), type the file’s name, ensure the file is top-most in the list, and hit Enter.

Bonus tip: Right-click this button to get a choice of apps.

Via Quick Look: Click the file, tap Space, and then click the Open With button at the top right.

Type the app’s name as it appears in the Application list. For example, open -a “Microsoft Word” file.rtf. Bonus tip: Type open -a and then the name of the specific app to avoid using the default, before dragging the file onto the Terminal window.

Via the command line: Open Terminal, type open, tap the spacebar, then drag and drop the file onto the Terminal window.

Then drop it on to a window belonging to the app.

Via Mission Control/Expose: Start dragging the file and then invoke Mission Control using its keyboard shortcut.

Bonus tip: You can increase/decrease the size of the App Switcher to make this easier.

Via the App Switcher: Start dragging the file from the desktop or a Finder window, and then invoke the App Switcher (Cmd+Tab).

In future you can drag files on top of this new icon to open them without having to switch to the Applications view. Bonus tip: Hold down Cmd+Option (Alt) and drag the app icon to the Finder toolbar.

In a Finder window: Switch to the Applications list and drop a file on top of the app icon.

In a Finder window, or on the desktop #2: Select the file (which can be done via the keyboard’s cursor keys), then tap Cmd+down.

This will set the default app for that file – but NOT all files of that type, as with the File Info dialog box! Bonus tip: Hold down Option (Alt) to select Always Open With.

In a Finder window, or on the desktop: Right-click the file and select Open With.To remove it, just drag it up and hold for a second or two. The file will be added as a one-file Stack and will open when clicked. On the desktop via the Dock #2: Drag the file to the right of the Dock, just to the left of the Trash and to the right of any Stacks you have there.OS X doesn’t think the file is one the app compatible with), drag the file to the Dock icon for the app and hold down Option (Alt) + Cmd. Bonus tip: If the app’s icon won’t “accept” the file (i.e. On the desktop via the Dock: Drag the file to the Dock icon for the app.Bonus tip: If you can see the file in a Finder window or on the desktop, drag it on top of the File Open dialog box to automatically switch to that directory and select the file. Within the app itself: Within the app itself click File > Open, or tap Cmd+O, and choose the file.The tips are numbered for ease of reference but they’re in no particular order. Some tips below setup shortcuts that make it a one-click procedure in future to open the file – or even a no-click procedure! Read on to learn how!

#Xmenu for mac help mac os x#

So, I thought it fun to write one of those Wikipedia-style posts about every possible way to open a file on Mac OS X – or at least every method that I’m aware of.

#Xmenu for mac help how to#

I’ve been using Mac OS X for over a decade and have written books about how to use it, but today learned of a new way of opening files via the App Switcher. Every possible way to open a file on Mac OS X