Commands
Commands are integral to the operation of any computing system, enabling users to execute specific actions or sets of actions. They are especially beneficial for improving workflow efficiency, automating tasks, and enhancing the overall user experience.
Application Commands can be used to open, close, hide, unhide activate or peek at applications. By binding a single key or a combination of keys to an application, users can quickly access their frequently used applications. Should the application already be activated, Keyboard Cowboy will elevate all open windows to the top of the window stack within the current space.
When using Peek as the action, it will work like the normal Open action, with one small additional feature. If the user holds the keyboard shortcut longer than one second, the application will hide again when the keys are released.
If the application is situated in a separate space, Mission Control will guide you to the appropriate location. This feature also functions seamlessly with Stage Manager. It effortlessly transitions to the appropriate window group, with the 'appropriate' in this context being the top window of the application as per the macOS window stack. Typically, this refers to the document or window you engaged with prior to switching applications.
Using Parallels as a part of your workflow? No problem, Keyboard Cowboy has got you covered. You can add the Parallels application folder as an additional application folder and Keyboard Cowboy will index them. Then, you are free to assign any keyboard shortcut of your choice to these applications, and they will work just like any other application installed on your system.
Adding additional search directories can be accessed in the Keyboard Cowboy's settings.
Finally, if it resides on a different monitor, it will be activated, brought to the forefront, and prepared for your input.
Application Commands have additional options that you can toggle.
In background Will open the application without making it the frontmost application.
Hide when opening Will hide the application as soon as it gets launched.
Add to Stage Will try and add the application to the current stage when using Stage Manager. This is a best-effort approach and might not always give you the desired outcome because Stage Manager lacks the ability to have proper accessibility identifiers and only a single click target when applications are a part of a stage bundle.
If not running Will only launch the application if the it not already running.
Wait for App to launch When used in a serial workflow, it waits until the application is fully launched before executing the next command in the workflow.
Tip
If you create a scoped workflow group for a specific app, you can easily make open & hide workflows that toggle the visibility of an application, reducing the amount of shortcuts that you need to navigate between applications. E.g. fn-t activates Terminal, in any other app fn-t hides Terminal when it is the frontmost application
Turn your focus onto a specific app by bringing all of its open windows to the front and optionally hiding other windows. Think of it as Workspaces but for a single application. This feature also supports window tiling.
Important
Window Tiling is exclusive to macOS Sequoia.
Bundle a collection of apps together and place them prominently in the front and center of the screen, while also arranging them according to your personal preference. Additionally, you have the option to conceal any other applications that are currently visible on the active screen. However, this feature does not affect apps on other screens.
Important
Window Tiling is exclusive to macOS Sequoia.
If you want to use a menubar item that's part of the app's menu bar, you can easily do that with our menubar command. This command can also flip values on and off if the menu item's name changes when it's toggled. Plus, it lets you go as deep as you need to get to the stuff you want.
URL commands can be used to open web pages or other web-based resources. You can decide which browser you want the URL to open in.
If you're using Safari and you've already got the website you want open, the Safari window will pop right up. Plus, it'll switch between tabs for you without any hassle.
When choosing folders or files to open, you have the option to designate a specific application to open the selected file. If you refrain from setting this option, macOS will automatically utilize the default application associated with that file type.
The Open Command feature is super handy when you want to quickly get to places you often use, like the Applications, Home, iCloud, Developer, or Downloads folder.
You can pretend to press a bunch of keyboard shortcuts with the Keyboard Shortcut command. Just one tap or a series of them can set off a whole bunch of keystrokes, all prepped up to do the heavy lifting for you.
Apple's Shortcuts app is pretty much a superhero of an app, and Keyboard Cowboy? Well, it's like its trusty sidekick, always ready to lend a hand.
Keyboard Cowboy is all set and ready to run all your cool shortcuts.
Scripts are a powerful way to automate tasks. We provide support for executing Apple Scripts, complete with an integrated memory caching feature to optimize repeated runs. Additionally, you have the flexibility to execute shell scripts.
Both variations support either having the script run inline or you can point to a script on the file system.
The type command is there to input text for you. It can be used to input text into a text field, a search field, or a text area. Or write an email signature. It can be configured with two options, either typing or instant, which are both pretty self-explanatory.
In Keyboard Cowboy, a macro is a tool that enables you to capture and store a series of keystrokes or workflow actions that streamline repetitive tasks. Initiating the recording process is as simple as pressing the record button. Following this, select a keyboard shortcut to which your new macro will be assigned. Commence your desired operations—be it running workflows or tapping various keys. Once you’ve completed the recording, press the initial key used to start the process to conclude the session. Your tailor-made macro is now saved to the designated shortcut key, ready for use at your command.
It’s important to note that macros in Keyboard Cowboy are designed with a temporary nature in mind; they reside only in your in memory. Should you reboot your computer or restart Keyboard Cowboy, you will be greeted with a clean slate, as all macros will be cleared.
System commands are used to execute system-level actions, such as moving focus between open windows, showing the desktop, minimizing all open windows or invoking Mission Control.
There are a couple of different Move Focus to Window commands.
The first pair is Move Focus to Next Window of Active Application and Move Focus to Previous Window of Active Application. These commands will move the focus to the next or previous window of the active application, respectively.
The second pair is Move Focus to Next Window and Move Focus to Previous Window. These commands will move the focus to the next or previous window, regardless of the application. But it only applies to visible windows, meaning that if you use Stage Manager, windows are that are not apart of the current stage are not included.
Last but not least, we have the Move Focus to Next Window (All Windows) and Move Focus to Previous Window (All Windows). These commands will move the focus to the next or previous window, regardless of the application. It includes all windows, even those that are hidden or minimized that is a part of the current Space.
All the next and previous commands wrap around, so if you get to the end of the collection, it will wrap around to the beginning. That way, you can easily just tap away at the keys until you find the window you're looking for.
Here is a list of all available system commands:
- Activate Last Application
- Application Windows (Mission Control)
- Minimize All Open Windows
- Mission Control
- Show Desktop
- Move Focus to Next Window of Active Application
- Move Focus to Previous Window of Active Application
- Move Focus to Next Window
- Move Focus to Previous Window
- Move Focus to Next Window (All Windows)
- Move Focus to Previous Window (All Windows)
- Move Focus to Window Upwards
- Move Focus to Window on Left
- Move Focus to Window on Right
- Move Focus to Window Downwards
- Move Focus to Upper Left Quarter
- Move Focus to Upper Right Quarter
- Move Focus to Lower Left Quarter
- Move Focus to Lower Right Quarter
- Move Focus to Window in Center
macOS Sequoia has a built-in window tiling feature that's pretty cool, but it could be improved. Sometimes, when you don't have enough windows to fit the tiling mode, you don't get the desired result. Keyboard Cowboy comes to the rescue! It analyzes how many windows you have open and suggests the best tiling mode to use.
Example:
Activating Quarters with:
- window will use
Fill - windows will use
Left & Right - windows will use
Left & Quarters - windows will use
Quarters
List of available commands
- Window › Move & Resize › Left
- Window › Move & Resize › Right
- Window › Move & Resize › Top
- Window › Move & Resize › Bottom
- Window › Move & Resize › Top Left
- Window › Move & Resize › Top Right
- Window › Move & Resize › Bottom Left
- Window › Move & Resize › Bottom Right
- Window › Center
- Window › Fill
- Window › Zoom
- Window › Move & Resize › Left & Right
- Window › Move & Resize › Right & Left
- Window › Move & Resize › Top & Bottom
- Window › Move & Resize › Bottom & Top
- Window › Move & Resize › Left & Quarters
- Window › Move & Resize › Right & Quarters
- Window › Move & Resize › Top & Quarters
- Window › Move & Resize › Bottom & Quarters
- Window › Move & Resize › Dynamic & Quarters
- Window › Move & Resize › Quarters
Important
Only available on macOS Sequoia