Keyboard Shortcut question

[kcjimmyk]

I have set up a workspace under "favorite workspaces" in the library pane. It contains several tool tabs and a text tab. If I highlight a word in a different workspace and click on the favorite workspaces, Accordance opens the workspace and performs searches to set all the panes to the selected word. So-far-so-good. The name of my workspace now shows up under favorites in the amplify menu. Now the part I can't figure out

[Joe Weaks]

Jim,

First of all, KUDOS to you for getting the most out of your Mac and Accordance by integrating OSX functionality. You're ahead of the curve.

 

I duplicated your scenario, and it is working correctly for me. I highlight a word in a new text and then hit the system-wide key combo I've assigned to the Favorite Workspace using the Keyboard System Prefs and it brings up a new workspace and performs the search for that word in each of the tabs.

One thing to look for:

 

The key combo will use the first incidence of the menu item name at the the highest hierarchical level that it encounters in the menus. For instance, if you have the key shortcut selecting the menu item name "MyWorkspace", and you already have that workspace open, it is actually selecting the menu item in the open windows list found at the bottom of the Window menu, and not the occurrence of the menu item found nested inside a submenu of the Amplify menu. This would effectively only bring the workspace to the front, same as if you had selected that from the menu.

 

Is this maybe what you're seeing? The quick solution is always have the workspace otherwise closed. Bummer.

 

Or, you would need to have a Favorited workspace whose name inside the Favorites menu was different than the title of the workspace. We might can brainstorm a workaround if you're interested.

[kcjimmyk]

Thanks for the quick response. You are right, that is exactly what is happening. Is there a way to change the name of the favorited workspace inside the menu? Or is that question too elementary, should I go back to the Guide?

 

Thanks again

 

Jim

[Joe Weaks]

Is there a way to change the name of the favorited workspace inside the menu?

Jim,

I'm afraid the answer here is no. I think we're at an impasse using the standard Keyboard preference global keyboard assignments. I do not think it is possible to specify an secondary occurrence of a menu item with the same name.

However, there is another solution, hardly any trickier. Create a Service in Automator with the simple Applescript command that can call a specific menu item. Then, you can assign it a keyboard shortcut inside the Keyboard System Prefs and get what you're looking for.

 

I can walk you through doing that.

[Joe Weaks]

Here's a detailed description of how to create a new Service in Snow Leopard to achieve the desired result discussed here:

Creating a Service to Select a Menu Item in Your Application

[kcjimmyk]

Thanks Joe!! That worked like el-charmo!. I see by your blog you live in the KC area. I am the Pastor of Beth Haven church in KC North. I live in Gladstone.

 

Again, thanks for the help. It went above and beyond!

 

Jim

[circuitrider]

Here's a detailed description of how to create a new Service in Snow Leopard/quote]

 

Can this kind of thing be done in 10.5.8?

 

Thanks!

[Joe Weaks]

Here's a detailed description of how to create a new Service in Snow Leopard/quote]

 

Can this kind of thing be done in 10.5.8?

 

Thanks!

Not in this way. The using of Automator to create Services is new in Snow Leopard.

You CAN create your own service using XCode if you know Cocoa. Barring that, there is a utility that lets you create Applescript-based Services in 10.5 Leopard. It is called ThisService and you can read more about it here.

 

However, at that point, you're better off installing Quicksilver (or a pay version like Butler or LaunchBar) and set a trigger for a simple script that calls the menu command you want.

[circuitrider]

Thanks for the reply Joe!

 

I guess it is time for me to upgrade to Snow Leopard anyway.

 

Cirtuitrider