Mac Power Users 484: Unlocking Keyboard Maestro



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From trigger to actions, variables to debugging, Stephen and I go through the powerhouse that is Keyboard Maestro and discuss my new Field Guide on the subject on the latest installment of Mac Power Users.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • SaneBox: Stop drowning in email!

  • TextExpander from Smile: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander from Smile.

  • Backblaze: Unlimited cloud backup for Macs and PCs for just $6/month.

  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Announcing Release of the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide



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I’m pleased to announce the release of the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide, available now.

Here’s the short version:

  • over 4 hours of streaming or downloadable video

  • 76 separate videos, 8 separate sections

  • many downloadable Keyboard Maestro scripts

  • heaps of dangerous knowledge, tricks, and hacks to make your Mac dance

Introductory price of $24 is for a limited time only.

Here’s the long version:

Keyboard Maestro is perhaps the most powerful automation tool available for your Mac. Best of all, anyone can do it. Keyboard Maestro does not rely on scripting languages but instead on a common-sense approach to triggers and actions. For instance:

1. Trigger: You plug your scanner into your Mac.

2. Action: Your Mac hides any apps that are currently open and opens your scanner application and the Finder to manage all of the scans you are about to make.

It’s that easy. You can do the above, and so much more, without a lick of programming. Indeed, the above workflow is one of the featured videos in this course.

With Keyboard Maestro, you can automate just about anything. In addition to teaching you all of the mechanics of Keyboard Maestro, this course includes a number of walkthroughs of automation workflows you can use, download, or alter to automate your own Mac. A few examples include:

  • Have your Mac log out of social media, turn down the volume, and open your productivity apps as soon as you log into your local coffee shop’s Wi-Fi.

  • Create custom app setups for different work modes such as email, writing, and planning, just to name a few. Then trigger them with a simple keyboard combination.

  • Set Twitter to automatically hide itself after a few minutes so you can get back to work.

  • Add automation to the startup and shutdown of your Mac. Want certain apps to open when you get started? Keyboard Maestro can do that.

  • Automate meeting notes.

  • Create Pages and Word document templates that ask you a few questions, and then generate multiple documents.

There are 76 lovingly crafted screencasts totaling over four hours of content. Each tutorial includes a full transcript and closed captioning. Where appropriate, the tutorials also include downloadable Keyboard Maestro scripts that you can install and run alongside the video.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction

Learn the basics of Keyboard Maestro, including installation and interface. This section covers basic application concepts and how it organizes your scripts. Also, build your first script.

2. Triggers

With Keyboard Maestro, there are a lot of ways to kick off your automation. It can be something you physically trigger, such as a keyboard shortcut or plugging in an external drive, or something automated, like at a specific time or when you log into Wi-Fi. You can even trigger a script by playing a note on a MIDI keyboard. It’s great! This section includes 14 videos explaining every possible Keyboard Maestro trigger.

3. Actions

Once you have figured out all of the triggers, you will want to start making your Mac dance. Just like triggers, Keyboard Maestro is capable of so many actions including the ability to control applications; sort and place windows; add notifications; type text; make a better clipboard; manage, move, and alter files and folders; control the interface; move and click the mouse; and run a script, just to name a few. There is so much that Keyboard Maestro can do. This section includes 18 videos showing off all of Keyboard Maestro’s tricks.

4. Palettes

As the number of scripts you create increases, Keyboard Maestro’s excellent interface tool Palettes will help you quickly sort, find, and trigger your scripts. This section explains all of the flavors of Keyboard Maestro palettes and how to create, customize, and use them.

5. Programming and Debugging

While Keyboard Maestro does not require programming knowledge, there are some essential programming tools and actions, including debugging, to make Keyboard Maestro even more powerful.

6. Useful Scripts

Here you will find a laundry list of useful Keyboard Maestro scripts. This section includes 23 screencasts of useful tutorials and downloadable scripts to get more out of your Mac. You can download and start using these scripts immediately, or use all the knowledge that you will have picked up to customize these scripts and make them your own.

7. Settings, Syncing, and Additional Features

Dive deeper on Keyboard Maestro’s additional settings and tools, including improved Keyboard Maestro application switcher. Also, learn how to sync your scripts between two Macs.

I am so pleased to be able to release this course. It is the result of much hard work and many long hours, and I truly believe this can help you automate your Mac like never before. The introductory price is only for a short time, so get it now.

Don’t Have Keyboard Maestro? There’s Also a Discount on the App.

If you don’t have the Keyboard Maestro application yet, no problem. Keyboard Maestro’s developer digs the new Field Guide so much that he is giving 20% off the purchase of the Keyboard Maestro app for a limited time to celebrate the release of the new Field Guide. Just use the the offer code “KMFG” when purchasing the Keyboard Maestro application.

Mac Power Users 483: Being a Compulsive Maker, with Tiff Arment



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Artist and podcaster Tiff Arment joins Stephen and I on the latest episode of Mac Power Users to talk about her background in photography and analog and digital art, as well as the work that goes into recording and editing podcasts. 

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore. 

  • The Omni Group: We’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone and iPad. 

  • Direct Mail: Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.

Ten Years of Mac Power Users


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This month marks ten years of the Mac Power Users. It is hard to believe it’s been that long because it seems like it was just yesterday that I was on the phone with Katie hashing out show concepts and planning.

The show started independent, then went on one network, then on to another network. We have now had three hosts, a lot of guests, and many good times. As I write this, we’ve released 482 episodes (483 is already in the can). That is something like 723 hours of nerdy podcasting. If you listened to the back catalog non-stop, it would take you 30 days.

Time flies. Since the show premiered, the iPhone became a big thing, and the iPad became a thing. Apple changed, for the better in some ways and for the worse in other ways.



One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is how much I enjoy coming up with ideas for the show, putting shows together, working with guests, and, most of all, sitting behind that mic once a week. I love making the Mac Power Users. Thanks to everyone for all of your support.

The Updated inShort (Sponsor)

This week MacSparky is sponsored by inShort for macOS.

inShort is an advanced diagramming and planning tool that lets you specify processes, resources, and how they all fit together. All of this is built around a unique interface that enables you to drill down into the details of a project or move back up to the overview and see the project in its entirety. The interface is brilliant.

Since the last time I featured inShort on this website, there have been several significant updates. The application now works with layers (for pro subscribers), which add a new dimension to your diagrams, successfully combining related schemes in a common space.

If your project works in cycles, there’s new logic available in the application that lets you take into account several schedules for one object. One of the most interesting new features to me is the introduction of failed tasks. You can map out what happens if the task fails in your project planning. This lets you log and analyze how what happens if things break, and it even updates the Gantt chart to display the failure.

Other improvements include the ability to customize your chart presentation style, a dark theme, and several other minor improvements.

If you’d like to bring some powerful tools to your planning, check out inShort.


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Focused 73: Productivity and Art with Bob Reynolds



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Mike and I are interview professional saxophonist Bob Reynolds on the latest episode of Focused. We talk about the importance of productivity when creating art.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • FreshBooks: Online invoicing made easy.

  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

  • Hover: Extensions for anything you’re passionate about. Grab a .ME domain for $9.99.

Mac Power Users 482: Color Me Interested



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Join Stephen and me on the latest episode of Mac Power Users. We share our confessions about the iPad Pro, then we discuss managing client data before doing some wishcasting for WWDC.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore. 

  • TextExpander from Smile: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander from Smile.

  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

  • MOO: Custom business printing and design. Use promo code PRINT15 for 15% off.

Automators 23: Diving into Drafts Automation with Tim “The Drafts Man” Nahumck



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In the latest episode of Automators, Rosemary and I get Tim “The Drafts Man” Nahumck to talk about how he uses Drafts, sharing actions, tips and tricks.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

  • TextExpander, from Smile: Try the new release with the visual editor. Get 20% off your first year.

  • Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code AUTOMATORS at checkout for 10% off.