automefi: entering a sequence of keystrokes on a mac. Free software?

July 20, 2009 12:54 PM

I'd like to automate my mac to do keystrokes. Like, flicking between an excel spreadsheet and firefox. I'd like free software to do this. Any suggestions?

The keystrokes are simple:
cmd c (copy excel cell)
down (to next cell)
cmd tab (change to nex application - firefox)
cmd t (new tab)
cmd v (paste excel cell into firefox URL field)
enter (load page)
cmd tab (change to next application - back to excel)

I'd like to be able to run the automation by hitting a key, like one of the f buttons. I've used AutoIT on Windows 2000, and just about got used to it. Is there a Mac equivalent? Does the mac itself have this kind of thing on it? (macro?) Mac OSX 10.5

posted by omnigut to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Butler
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:57 PM on July 20, 2009 [2 favorites]

AppleScript can probably do this on its own, maybe even within Automator, but it depends how accessible Excel and Firefox are.
posted by rokusan at 1:01 PM on July 20, 2009

Response by poster: Butler seems to have a confusing interface. I've used the 30 day trial for quick keys before, and could do it fairly easily. Is there an easy way of doing these keystrokes in Butler?

Thanks. Sorry, I'm trying to save time today :)
posted by omnigut at 1:24 PM on July 20, 2009

or quicksilver
posted by hereticfig at 3:20 PM on July 20, 2009

Best answer: QuicKeys is my preferred macro program and has a ton of features including the ability to record your steps as you perform them. It costs $60, but should allow you to keep using it forever in trial mode.

Keyboard Maestro is another. I've never used it so I can't say much about ease of use. It costs $36.
posted by the biscuit man at 3:53 PM on July 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Best answer: First find the relevant key codes with this Then plug the values into an Applescript
e.g.:
tell application "System Events"

-- activate Find box - Command-Option-F
key code 3 using {command down, option down}

-- paste the clipboard - Command-V
key code 9 using command down
end tell

You will want something like:

tell application "Microsoft Excel"
...
tell application "Firefox" activate
...
See Dougs Applescripts for more examples
posted by Lanark at 4:25 PM on July 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

You can also use Automator's record function to capture the steps to a workflow.

Then set a Quicksilver trigger to run the workflow with a single keystroke.
posted by neilbert at 8:21 PM on July 20, 2009