Can I create a shortcut to open a specific application on OS X?

Question

I want to create a shortcut to i.e. open Firefox while I am working in another application. I know I can use ⌘T when I am in Firefox to open a new tab.

I haven't found a way to create that kind of shortcuts in System Preferences.

Any ideas?

Update : Alfred (wwww.alfredapp.com) allows you to launch any app via a hotkey. You need to buy the powerpack to use this feature.

Answer 1

Applications that support assigning shortcuts to opening applications:

Alfred, Apptivate, BetterTouchTool, Butler, iKey, Keyboard Maestro, KeyLauncher, Keymando, Launch it!, NuKit, Quickeys, Quicksilver, RocketShip, Shortcuts, Spark, Twitch

You could also assign shortcuts to shell commands like open -a itunes. open /Applications/iTunes.app/ doesn't seem to be any faster. Scripts like this are blocked until the application finishes opening:

tell application "iTunes"
    reopen -- open a new default window if there are no open windows
    activate -- make the application frontmost
end tell

Another option would be to use Automator services:

There is a bug in 10.7 and 10.8 where the shortcuts for Automator services don't always work until you hover over the services menu from the menu bar. There is also a small delay before services are run, and the shortcuts are not available in applications that don't have a services menu.

If you have the Powerpack for Alfred 2, you can create a workflow like this:

Changing the trigger behavior reduces the delay for hotkeys:

Answer 2

Alfred

Alfred, in its Power Pack version, can map shortcuts to applications, among many other features.

Answer 3

Get Quicksilver, http://www.blacktree.com/, it will allow you to set keyboard shortcuts to open apps. There are actually more many more apps that do this (Alfred, Keyboard Maestro etc etc.)

Mac OS X actually has a built-in way of doing that, but it doesn't work for Firefox, because it doesn't support services! http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20090903085255430

Update Jan 2012: Blacktree no longer updates Quicksilver--the developer went to Google and has released Google Quick Search Box. Quicksilver lives on, but it has a new home at qsapp.com.

Answer 4

If you do not want to use third party apps.
Then you can use Automator (Services ), and the Built in keyboard shortcuts.

Here is how in an answer to a similar question.

Very simple.

In Step 3, of creating the service.
Set it to 'any application' .

i.e,
set Service receives to: 'no input' in 'any application' (Do this by using the drop downs at the top.)