Switcher Maestro 1
Conduct Your Mac Like a Pro!
Switcher Maestro is a window and application switcher and launcher.
Mac OS X comes installed with a basic application switcher which you can activate with Command-Tab. Switcher Maestro extends that concept by including other commonly used applications and allowing you to quit (even force quit), hide or launch applications.
Switcher Maestro also lets you switch between windows, as well as close and minimize windows.
And Switcher Maestro includes an application launcher, letting you quickly launch applications.
Switcher Maestro is Keyboard Maestro’s little brother, and all these features will be included in a future version of Keyboard Maestro - but if these features are enough, then you can get all of this for a the low price of $9.99.
You may try Switcher Maestro for free for a few weeks, but then you must purchase a license to continue using it.
Switcher Maestro brings new application launching features together with the application and window switching features of Keyboard Maestro to a wider audience by providing a streamlined user interface to configuring these features and at a fantastic price.
Switcher Maestro is a window and application switcher and launcher with three main functions: a powerful application switcher to replace the basic switcher installed with Mac OS X; a useful window switcher to let you switch between the windows of all running applications, as well as close and minimize them; and an application launcher to allow you to quickly launch applications.
Switcher Maestro is engineered by Stairways Software Pty Ltd and distributed by FastSpring. Switcher Maestro is licensed on a per computer basis (individuals can choose to license it on a per user basis).
Customers can purchase Switcher Maestro for US$9.99 by choosing Purchase Switcher Maestro from the Switcher Maestro menu or you can purchase multiple licenses from http://purchase.switchermaestro.com/. A volume discount of 50% is available for purchases of 5 or more copies.
It is our informal policy to have a paid major upgrade roughly once a year. This allows us to have a reasonably consistent revenue stream with which to fund development of Switcher Maestro.
A fully-functional trial version of Switcher Maestro is available for downloaded from http://download.switchermaestro.com/.
For sales enquires, customer service, technical support, or to contact project management, our current contact information is listed at http://contact.stairways.com/.
For more information about anything to do with Switcher Maestro visit http://www.switchermaestro.com/.
This is a very quick taste of Switcher Maestro.
Not Yet Available
You can download Switcher Maestro from http://download.switchermaestro.com/.
You can purchase Switcher Maestro at http://purchase.switchermaestro.com/.
You can look up your current license status and serial numbers at http://enquiry.stairways.com/.
You can join the Keyboard Maestro User Group online community consisting of the developers and Switcher Maestro and Keyboard Maestro users at http://user.keyboardmaestro.com/.
Documentation describing Switcher Maestro is available at http://documentation.switchermaestro.com/.
For sales enquires, customer service, technical support, or to contact project management, our current contact information is listed at http://contact.stairways.com/.
For more information about anything to do with Switcher Maestro visit http://www.switchermaestro.com/.
Switcher Maestro is very easy to use taking just a few minutes to skim through the preferences and you'll be all set.
Launch Switcher Maestro, and the Preferences window will appear.
Enable Launch Engine at Login to allow the silent Switcher Maestro Engine to launch in the background whenever you login. You only need to launch Switcher Maestro to change your preferences.
If you have Keyboard Maestro, you should disable the Application and Window switcher and launchers or ensure they are using different hot keys so they do not conflict.
That is pretty much all you have to do. You will notice a new status menu has appeared in your menu bar. You can activate any of the switchers and launchers using that menu, or by pressing the hot key which conveniently is also listed in the menu so you can be reminded of it as you get used to using the new features. You can also launch or activate any application by selecting it from the menu.
To see how easy it is to launch applications, press Command-Control-Tab now and all your applications will be displayed. Select an application using the mouse, or type the first few letters of its name and press return. Its that easy.
To install Switcher Maestro, simply copy it to your Mac’s Applications folder (or anywhere you like).
When you launch Switcher Maestro it launches an invisible “Switcher Maestro Engine” that continues to run even after you quit Switcher Maestro. The engine is the process that enables all the features. This means that they will continue to work after you quit Switcher Maestro, as long as the engine is still running. You only need to launch Switcher Maestro to change your preferences. You can launch Switcher Maestro by selecting Preferences from the Switcher Maestro status menu.
You can quit or launch the engine manually using the File menu.
You should consider turning on the “Launch Engine at Login” preference in the General preference pane to ensure all of Switcher Maestro’s facilities are available to you as soon as you login or startup your Mac.
Customers can purchase Switcher Maestro for US$9.99 by choosing Purchase Switcher Maestro from the Switcher Maestro menu or you can purchase multiple licenses from http://purchase.switchermaestro.com/. A volume discount of 50% is available for purchases of 5 or more copies.
You can look up your current license status and serial numbers at http://enquiry.stairways.com/.
Thanks for supporting us and enabling us to continue work on Switcher Maestro.
See also the Purchase section.
When you purchase Switcher Maestro you will immediately be emailed your username (email address) and serial number in the “Thanks For Your Purchase” email. Although you can retrieve this information from us at any time in the future, it is a good idea to keep this safe.
If you do not receive your serial number promptly after purchasing, it may be that the email has not reached you, possibly due to spam filtering on your email service. In this case, try looking up your purchase at http://enquiry.stairways.com/ (although that will email you your serial number which might again be lost to over-zealous spam filters).
Once you have your username (email address) and serial number, launch Switcher Maestro and either immediately click the Register Switcher Maestro from the Switcher Maestro menu. Now enter the username (email address) exactly as shown and the serial number exactly as shown and click the button. If you have any problems, recheck that the email address and serial number you are entering is exactly as shown (the serial number’s email address does not change even if you have changed your email address) and also that your license matches the major version number (eg, a version 1 license will work with version 1.x of Switcher Maestro).
button or chooseThe Application Switcher, Window Switcher and Application Launcher can be configured by choosing Preferences from the Switcher Maestro status menu or by launching Switcher Maestro. Each switcher has a hot key and various styles and preferences that you can control in the associated Switcher Maestro preferences pane.
Launch Switcher Maestro and ensure the “Launch Engine at Login” preference in the General preference pane is turned off. Then choose Quit Engine from the File menu to quit the engine, and then choose Quit Switcher Maestro from the Switcher Maestro menu to quit the application. You can then trash the Switcher Maestro application from your Applications folder.
The Application Launcher allows you to launch applications. By pressing the hot key, the Application Launcher enables you to launch any application. Once the launching window appears, you may select the application to launch, and the Application Launcher will take you to it.
In the Launcher preference pane, you can configure the icon size, color tint, opacity. You can also choose which applications to include:
You can also choose to hide other applications when switching (Switcher Maestro also has a preference in the General preference pane to always hide other applications when switching).
You can select an application by typing the start of its name, so you can quickly launch an application just by pressing the hot key, typing a few letters, and then pressing return.
Pro Tip: You can type a sequence like a
You can get various options (such as Get Info, Reveal, Launch & Hide Others, or Quit) by clicking and holding the mouse button on an application to popup an contextual menu.
The Application Switcher enables you to launch, switch, hide, and quit (even force quit) applications. By pressing the hot key, the Application Switcher enables you to switch between all running applications. Once the switching window appears, you may select the application to activate, and the Application Switcher will take you to it.
In the Applications preference pane, you can choose from four themes (vertical list, horizontal icons, icon grid or Cover Flow), as well as configure the icon size, color tint, opacity, and the sort order.
You can also choose to hide other applications when switching (Switcher Maestro also has a preference in the General preference pane to always hide other applications when switching).
You can select various applications to always be displayed, even if they are not currently running, perfect for launching frequently used applications. In the Excluded preference pane, you can configure various applications to never be displayed.
While the Application Switcher window is displayed, you can perform various actions by pressing keys:
You can quit and relaunch an application be pressing q and then l.
You can force quit and relaunch an application by pressing k, k, and then l.
In the Cover Flow view, typing selects the application instead, so you can quickly select an application by typing the start of its name.
You can also get these options by clicking and holding the mouse button on an application to popup an contextual menu.
The Window Switcher enables you to show, hide, and minimize windows. You can switch between all open windows in the any application. Once the switching window appears, you may select the window to activate, and the Window Switcher will bring it to the front.
In the Windows preference pane, you can configure the icon size, color tint, opacity, and the sort order.
While the Window Switcher window is displayed, you can perform various actions by pressing keys:
You can also get these options by clicking and holding the mouse button on a window's icon to popup an contextual menu.
Pressing the arrow keys will allow you to scroll through all the applications, so you can bring any window to the front.
Switcher Maestro provides a status menu on the right hand side of the menu bar so you can easily access its functionality even if you forget any of the hot keys.
The status menu lists all the Recent, Running, Applications and Utilities, as well as allowing you to activate the Application Launcher, Application Switcher and Window Switcher. Conviniently, if you forget what the hot keys are, they are displayed in the menu so you can get back to using a quick key stroke.
The status menu also allows you to edit the preferences (by launching Switcher Maestro) or quit the Switcher Maestro Engine.
To configure Switcher Maestro, first launch Keyboard Maestro and choose Preferences from the Switcher Maestro menu.
The preferences are divided in to various sections, each with its own toolbar icon and preference pane.
In the General preference pane you can:
In the Launcher preference pane, you can set the hot key used to invoke the Application Launcher, and configure the icon size, color tint, opacity and location of the launcher.
You can also choose to hide other applications when switching (Switcher Maestro also has a preference in the General preference pane to always hide other applications when switching).
You can also choose which applications to include:
as well as specific applications to include or exclude.
In the Applications preference pane, you can set the hot key used to invoke the Application Switcher, and you can choose from four themes (vertical list, horizontal icons, icon grid or Cover Flow), as well as configure the icon size, color tint, opacity, and the sort order.
You can also choose to hide other applications when switching (Switcher Maestro also has a preference in the General preference pane to always hide other applications when switching).
You can select specific applications to always be displayed, even if they are not currently running, perfect for launching frequently used applications. In the Excluded preference pane, you can configure various applications to never be displayed.
In the Windows preference pane, you can set the hot key used to invoke the Window Switcher, and you can configure the color tint, opacity, and the sort order.
In the Excluded preference pane you can add and remove applications from the global excluded applications list. Excluded applications will not be shown in the Application Switcher, and are not hidden even if the always hide other applications when switching is enabled in the General preference pane.
This window lets you launch applications, as well as quit or hide applications or quickly launch frequently used programs.
You get this window by pressing the Application Launcher hot key.
To learn more about the Application Launcher, see the Application Launcher section.
This window lets you switch between active applications, as well as quit or hide applications or quickly launch frequently used programs.
You get this window by pressing the Application Switcher hot key.
To learn more about the Application Switcher, see the Application Switcher section.
This window lets you switch between windows in the current application, as well as close or minimize windows.
You get this window by pressing the Window Switcher hot key.
To learn more about the Window Switcher, see the Window Switcher section.
This window lets you configure Switcher Maestro.
You get this window by launching Switcher Maestro and choosing Preferences from the Switcher Maestro menu.
To learn more about the Preferences, see the Preferences section.
This window pane lets you configure general preferences.
This window pane lets you configure the Application Launcher.
This window pane lets you configure the Application Switcher.
This window pane lets you configure the Window Switcher.
This window pane lets you add and remove applications from the global Excluded Applications list.
This window shows you the version of this copy of Switcher Maestro, to whom it is registered, and allows you to visit the web site.
You get this window by launching Switcher Maestro and choosing About Switcher Maestro from the Switcher Maestro menu.
The Switcher Maestro menu contains menu items relating to the Switcher Maestro application as a whole.
The About Switcher Maestro command in the Switcher Maestro menu displays the About Switcher Maestro window.
The Purchase Switcher Maestro command in the Switcher Maestro menu lets you purchase Switcher Maestro online.
The Register Switcher Maestro command in the Switcher Maestro menu displays the serial number entry window allowing you to enter your username (email address) and serial number. Make sure you enter them exactly as sent to you.
The Check For Updates command in the Switcher Maestro menu checks to see if there are any updates to Switcher Maestro and offers to download and install them if there are.
The Preferences command in the Switcher Maestro menu displays the Preferences window.
The Services command in the Switcher Maestro menu is used to perform Mac OS X Services which are shared functions available across multiple applications. You can learn more about Mac OS X Services from your Mac OS X documentation.
The Hide Switcher Maestro command in the Switcher Maestro menu will hide the Switcher Maestro application and all its windows. Click on Switcher Maestro's Dock icon or choose Show All to show Switcher Maestro again.
The Hide Others command in the Switcher Maestro menu will hide all other applications. Choose Show All to show them again.
The Show All command in the Switcher Maestro menu will show all hidden applications.
The Quit Switcher Maestro command in the Switcher Maestro menu will Quit Switcher Maestro. the Switcher Maestro Engine will remain running and all enabled Switcher Maestro features will continue to operate (unless you have specifically quit the Switcher Maestro Engine).
The File menu is where you import or export Macros or launch or quit the Switcher Maestro Engine.
The Close command in the File menu closes the front window.
The Launch Engine command in the File menu lets you start the Switcher Maestro Engine manually. The Switcher Maestro Engine performs all the Application Switcher, Window Switcher and Application Launcher functions even while Switcher Maestro itself is not running. It is launched automatically as a Startup Item when you login if you enable that in the Preferences window) or any time you launch Switcher Maestro. If it is not running for any reason you can start it manually with this command. This menu item only exists while the Switcher Maestro Engine is not running.
The Quit Engine command in the File menu lets you quit the Switcher Maestro Engine. The Switcher Maestro Engine performs all the Application Switcher, Window Switcher and Application Launcher functions even while Switcher Maestro itself is not running. It is launched automatically as a Startup Item when you login if you enable that in the Preferences window. If you quit the Switcher Maestro Engine these functions will no longer operate. This menu item only exists while the Switcher Maestro Engine is running.
The Edit menu contains menu items relating to text and selections.
The Undo command in the Edit menu undoes the previous command. Most operations in Switcher Maestro cannot be undone, so use caution.
The Redo command in the Edit menu redoes the previous undone command. Most operations in Switcher Maestro cannot be undone, so use caution.
The Cut command in the Edit menu copies the current selection to the system clipboard and then deletes the selection.
The Copy command in the Edit menu copies the current selection to the system clipboard.
The Paste command in the Edit menu pastes the current system clipboard into the current selection.
The Delete command in the Edit menu deletes the current selection.
The Select All command in the Edit menu selects all text or items.
The Duplicate command in the Edit menu selects all text or items.
The Window menu contains menu items relating to windows.
The Minimize command in the Window menu minimizes the front window.
The Zoom command in the Window menu zooms the front window.
The Bring All to Front command in the Window menu brings all Switcher Maestro windows to the front.
The Help menu contains menu items relating to Help.
The Switcher Maestro Help command in the Help menu displays the Switcher Maestro local documentation.
The Logs command in the Help menu displays the Switcher Maestro Logs folder.
The Third Party Licenses command in the Help menu displays the licenses folder containing the third party licenses for code used in Switcher Maestro.
The Online Documentation command in the Help menu takes you to the Switcher Maestro web site and displays the documentation.
The Switcher Maestro Web Site command in the Help menu takes you to the Switcher Maestro web site.
The Stairways Software Web Site command in the Help menu takes you to the Stairways Software web site.
The Service and Support command in the Help menu displays the service and support details.
The Switching/Launching was all working fine, but then I restarted or logged out and back in, and now they are not working any more, what’s wrong?
The actions are all enabled by the Switcher Maestro Engine. You can start it by launching the Switcher Maestro application, or have the engine start automatically by enabling the “Launch Engine at Login” preference in the General preference pane.
In order for the Window Switcher to work you must enable access for assistive devices in the Universal Access system preference.
By default, Switcher Maestro uses command-Tab for its Application Switcher, overriding the system default application switcher. If you wish to use a different hot key, you can configure it in the Applications preference pane.
Force Quit requires Mac OS X 10.6+.
The first time you use it, Switcher Maestro will cache some of the application and icon data, so it may be a bit slower. After that, the main performance issue is displaying the icons.
Apple seems to have done a very good job optimizing 10.6, so that the display is much faster. While I haven't made a direct comparison on the same hardware, it appears that 10.6 is 2+ times faster at displaying the icons. Other than recommend upgrading to 10.6, I can't offer any particularly good solutions.
Unfortunately Apple has not enabled developers to control or interrogate Spaces (perhaps they will in 10.7?). Also, the assistive devices API lists only windows in the current Space.
The solution would be to track the visible windows and notice any in other spaces, but this would potentially cause a performance impact when you are not using Switcher Maestro, so I have not implemented this to date. I will look in to this facility in a future version.
For more information about a specific Switcher Maestro feature consult the Switcher Maestro Documentation, post a question to the Keyboard Maestro User Group, visit the Switcher Maestro web site or contact us.
We always respond to email, usually within one or two business days, however email is no longer a guaranteed medium and spam filters can delete your message to us or our message to you. Messages sent using the feedback form will always get to us, emails sent to us will pretty much always get to us, but if you do not receive a response within a couple business day check your spam filters to see if they have trapped our reply. If you use the feedback form and want a reply, make sure you enter your email address!
For sales enquires, customer service, technical support, or to contact project management, our current contact information is listed at http://contact.stairways.com/.
You can join the Keyboard Maestro User Group online community consisting of the developers and Keyboard Maestro users. Keyboard Maestro is Switcher Maestro’s big brother, and discussion of Switcher Maestro is welcome on the Keyboard Maestro mailing list.
You can download Switcher Maestro from http://download.switchermaestro.com/.
You can purchase Switcher Maestro at http://purchase.switchermaestro.com/.
You can look up your license status and serial numbers, at http://enquiry.stairways.com/.
For more information about anything to do with Switcher Maestro visit http://www.switchermaestro.com/.
Switcher Maestro 4 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later. 10.6.5 or later recommended.
You may distribute this program in any way you wish as long as you only distribute the unmodified Switcher Maestro package, as downloaded from www.stairways.com. You may not break Switcher Maestro up into its component files and distribute parts of it separately.
Following on the success of Program Switcher for Classic Mac OS, Michael Kamprath wrote Keyboard Maestro for Mac OS X and released it in early 2002. Incorporating an impressively powerful hot key macro facility, as well as Program and Clipboard Switching facilities, it rapidly became an indispensable tool for many Mac OS X users, including us here at Stairways Software.
Development continued on version 1 through the end of 2002, and then work began on version 2. The first beta of 2.0 was released in early 2003 and development continued until the 2.0b6 beta released in May 2003. After that, life and work got in the way. Keyboard Maestro languished for over a year as Michael found that he did not have the time or energy to continue development.
Around May 2004, we contacted Michael as a concerned user to query the long delay in the eagerly awaited 2.0 release. When we learned that Michael was considering abandoning the program we offered to purchase it from him to ensure that we would not lose this valuable tool, as well as to continue the fine tradition that he had started.
On June 30, 2004 the deal was struck and Stairways Software acquired all the rights to Keyboard Maestro. Our aim was to resolve the outstanding issues with Keyboard Maestro and release 2.0 as soon as possible, which we did in September 2004. Keyboard Maestro 2 introduced many new Macro Triggers, Macro Groups to allow easy control over when macros are active, and many new actions.
Development of Keyboard Maestro competed for resources with development of Interarchy until the latter was sold to lead developer Matthew Drayton in early 2007. After a short break, development on Keyboard Maestro 3 started in earnest and resulted in many new features, including recording, new triggers, built-in web server, new actions, and numerous minor enhancements. Keyboard Maestro 3 was released in April 2008 followed by a succession of releases over the rest of 2008.
Development of Keyboard Maestro 4 began in earnest in late 2008 and was released in late 2009 followed by a succession of releases over the first half of 2010. Version 4 was a complete rewrite of the user interface, bringing with it a fresh look and feel reminiscent of various modern Apple applications.
In mid 2010 development of a spin off Switcher Maestro began, enhancing the application and window switcher and adding an application launcher. All these new features will be rolled in to Keyboard Maestro 5 and are now available as part of the low cost, tightly targeted Switcher Maestro 1.
Thanks to Michael Kamprath for all his work producing Keyboard Maestro.
Thanks to Sam Stephenson and the Prototype Core Team for the Prototype JavaScript Framework.
Thanks to Philippe Martin for early beta testing and proof reading.
Thanks also to:
Thanks to Corentin, Philippe, Stephen and others for their great assistance with beta testing.
Thanks to Andy for great help editing previous versions of this documentation.
Thanks also to the many others who have provided input and support over the past decade.
This program should do what we have described in this document. If it does not, you can simply stop using it. If you purchase it, and within 30 days find that it does not do what we have described here, then you can request a refund and your money will be refunded and we will cancel your license.
Switcher Maestro is copyright 2010 Stairways Software Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. You may use this program for a short trial period and then you must purchase the program or stop using it.
Switcher Maestro is licensed on a per computer basis (individuals can choose to license it on a per user basis). You must purchase a license for each Mac you use it on). We offer steep volume discounts up to 65% off.
Individuals purchasing for non-commercial purposes may license it on a per user basis.
Trademarks owned by Third Parties such as Mac, Mac OS X, and BBEdit, are owned by their respective owners and no license is granted for their use.
Switcher Maestro, switchermaestro.com, Keyboard Maestro, keyboardmaestro.com and stairways.com are the property of Stairways Software Pty Ltd. Stairways Software Pty Ltd hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Stairways Software Pty Ltd will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Stairways Software Pty Ltd or an agent of theirs has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Stairways Software Pty Ltd be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.