Make custom key command to open Calculator?

[wonderings]

I got my boss to switch to an M3 MacBook Pro a few months ago. He wants to make a shortcut to open the calculator. I thought this would be an easy thing but it does not seem to be working. I tried just going in settings, keyboard shortcuts and doing it there, but that does not work. I tried with automator and that does not work. This is in Sonoma latest update. He wants to use F13 on an Apple keyboard. Does anyone have a step by step on how to do this? I must be missing something here but can't figure it out.

***Edit***
I figured it out, the simple step of turning on "keyboard shortcuts" in the settings so they actually works helps!

 

[haralds]

Create an Automator Service that opens the Calculator.
Once it shows up in services, you can assign a Keyboard Shortcut.

 

[wonderings]

Create an Automator Service that opens the Calculator.
Once it shows up in services, you can assign a Keyboard Shortcut.

Seems like an unnecessary added step. Simply went into settings for the keyboard and did it there, no need for automator.

 

[titanlife]

Seems like an unnecessary added step. Simply went into settings for the keyboard and did it there, no need for automator.

can you please guide us on how you did it?

 

[vanc]

Use automation service seems the only way, at least according to ChatGPT.

On a Mac, you can use keyboard shortcuts to launch apps quickly. However, by default, macOS doesn't have a built-in global keyboard shortcut to open specific apps. You can, however, create a custom keyboard shortcut using Automator. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Open Automator:
   • Go to your Applications folder.
   • Open the "Automator" application.
2. Create a New Service:
   • When Automator opens, choose "Service" as the document type.
3. Configure the Service:
   • At the top of the workflow, you should see "Service receives selected" with a dropdown menu. Set it to "no input."
4. Add Action to Launch Application:
   • In the left sidebar, find "Utilities" and then double-click on "Run AppleScript" in the main area.
5. Enter AppleScript Code:
   • Replace the default AppleScript code with the following:
     applescriptCopy code
     tell application "Calculator" to activate
   • Replace "Calculator" with the exact name of the app you want to launch. The app name is case-sensitive.
6. Test the Script:
   • Click the "Run" button (▶) in the top-right corner of the Automator window to test your script. It should open the specified app.
7. Save the Service:
   • Go to File > Save and give your service a name (e.g., "Launch Calculator").
   • Make sure to save it as a service.
8. Assign a Keyboard Shortcut:
   • Open System Preferences from the Apple menu or by searching for it.
   • Navigate to "Keyboard" and then "Shortcuts."
   • In the left sidebar, select "Services."
   • Scroll down to the "General" section in the right pane.
   • Find your service under the "Services" list (it should be under "Text" or "General").
   • Click on the right side of your service's name and enter a keyboard shortcut.

Now, when you use the keyboard shortcut you've assigned, it should launch the specified app. Keep in mind that you may need to grant permission for your service in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility. If the service doesn't work immediately, check this preference pane and make sure Automator or your chosen app has the necessary permissions.

 

[bogdanw]

Use automation service seems the only way, at least according to ChatGPT.

You don’t have to do all that in Automator, just use Launch application.


I am curious what @wonderings meant, I don’t understand it.

 

[gilby101]

He wants to make a shortcut to open the calculator.

There is more than one way to achieve what he wants. Rather than using F13 and getting embroiled in Automator and Keyboard shortcuts, try this with Spotlight:
Tell him to use Command-Space (hold command key and press space) and then C, and A, and L, etc. and hit return when Calculator is the top hit. Once you have done that a few times, Command-Space, C and Return will often be sufficient.

 

[bogdanw]

Tell him to use Command-Space (hold command key and press space) and then C, and A, and L, etc. and hit return when Calculator is the top hit. Once you have done that a few times, Command-Space, C and Return will often be sufficient.

That's presuming the most searched app will be Calculator and not Chrome, Calendar, ....

 

[wonderings]

In Sonoma

System Settings>Keyboard>Keyboard shortcuts>App Shortcuts> add the calculator in there with the key you want

 

[bogdanw]

In Sonoma

System Settings>Keyboard>Keyboard shortcuts>App Shortcuts> add the calculator in there with the key you want

It requires a Menu title.

 

[jsaintrocc]

The approach mentioned above, `System Settings>Keyboard>Keyboard Shortcuts>App Shortcuts> ...` won't work for launching the Calculator app. This method adds a shortcut for an existing menu item in the application. For example, if you want to make a shortcut for the `clear` menu item inside the Calculator application, it's not for launching it. You need to create the Automation and then associate a keyboard shortcut in the `Keyboard Shortcuts>Services` menu. This video does a great job of explaining the process. I used the key combo [⌃⌥⌘C] as it doesn't seem to conflict with any existing shortcuts. The one in the video, [⌃⌘C] didn't work consistently for me.

 

[wonderings]

The approach mentioned above, `System Settings>Keyboard>Keyboard Shortcuts>App Shortcuts> ...` won't work for launching the Calculator app. This method adds a shortcut for an existing menu item in the application. For example, if you want to make a shortcut for the `clear` menu item inside the Calculator application, it's not for launching it. You need to create the Automation and then associate a keyboard shortcut in the `Keyboard Shortcuts>Services` menu. This video does a great job of explaining the process. I used the key combo [⌃⌥⌘C] as it doesn't seem to conflict with any existing shortcuts. The one in the video, [⌃⌘C] didn't work consistently for me.

It does work, I have it set that way which is why I posted it.

 

[jsaintrocc]

It does work, I have it set that way which is why I posted it. (Picture removed)

Interesting. I still can't get it to work as you describe it; my description of how App Shortcuts works is directly from Apple's documentation, which states, "You can create keyboard shortcuts only for existing menu commands. You can’t create keyboard shortcuts for general-purpose tasks, such as opening an app". That note is specific to the App Shortcuts context as you can launch an app using a keyboard shortcut in the Services context with the Automation. I wonder if it has something to do with F13? I guess you have an Apple Magic Keyboard to get that non-standard F key, and maybe there's some additional magic happening there. Is anyone else able to get @wonderings approach to work?

 

[wonderings]

Interesting. I still can't get it to work as you describe it; my description of how App Shortcuts works is directly from Apple's documentation, which states, "You can create keyboard shortcuts only for existing menu commands. You can’t create keyboard shortcuts for general-purpose tasks, such as opening an app". That note is specific to the App Shortcuts context as you can launch an app using a keyboard shortcut in the Services context with the Automation. I wonder if it has something to do with F13? I guess you have an Apple Magic Keyboard to get that non-standard F key, and maybe there's some additional magic happening there. Is anyone else able to get @wonderings approach to work?

I do use an Apple Keyboard, the one I currently has has the finger print reader in it, but it worked with the non finger print reader as well.

This works as well for my boss on an M3 Pro MacBook Pro, he is using the Apple keyboard without the finger reader.

 

[jsaintrocc]

Weird. I have a MBP M1 and have no luck with that approach. I don't understand how this works for you and your boss. Does he have the same keyboard with the F13 key? In any case, I did get the Automation approach to work.

 

[jdb8167]

I also don’t understand how this could work. I have the extended keyboard with TouchId and it has nothing to do with the F13 key. If you choose Calculator and then type in Launch Calculator in the menu input box nothing much happens. If you hit F13, it just beeps. The only explanation I can think of is that he has some extra software installed that supports this.

 

[Adora]

I also don’t understand how this could work. I have the extended keyboard with TouchId and it has nothing to do with the F13 key. If you choose Calculator and then type in Launch Calculator in the menu input box nothing much happens. If you hit F13, it just beeps. The only explanation I can think of is that he has some extra software installed that supports this.

I was so annoyed about the macOS keyboard settings especially for 3rd Party Keyboards, that I am now using a free App called Karabiner-Elements, what can do almost anything with every keyboard and I think mice too.

Karabiner-Elements

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[bogdanw]

It does work, I have it set that way which is why I posted it. View attachment 2406036

That doesn't work for me (MBA Sonoma 14.6.1 23G93) and I don't see how it could work, as app shortcuts are available only in the app they are created for. That's how you can have the same shortcut working differently in different apps.

 

[zevrix]

I do use an Apple Keyboard, the one I currently has has the finger print reader in it, but it worked with the non finger print reader as well.

This works as well for my boss on an M3 Pro MacBook Pro, he is using the Apple keyboard without the finger reader.

As others have already mentioned, you have some 3rd-party software installed that allows this. There's no built-in functionality to allow for this approach to work.

 

[Adora]

As others have already mentioned, you have some 3rd-party software installed that allows this. There's no built-in functionality to allow for this approach to work.

I just tried it too and it stayed decreasing the brightness. When I disable that it just makes a sound.

But it's working for both keyboards at the same time if I set it in the other app's first section. The "Function Keys" section in that app is ending at 12. So there seems to be something special about those higher numbers.

This App also helped me to control volume with F10 to F12 on my other Windows Gaming Keyboard what has a wheel for that in the upper right corner like this Roccat here too, but the other one's wheel is also for changing the backlight brightness and you have to hold a button in the middle of that wheel for turning on and off the backlight or making it brighter and then changing the sound level wasn't possible at the same time, what had been really annoying.

 

[Adora]

Next day when my Mac woke up again the F13 key was reactivated for screen brightness in system settings and after deactivating it, it made just that noise on both keyboards. But my app still showed opening calculator for that key.

I also had some crashes of the keyboard settings. So it might be a just a problem of the beta macOS or because it's a first release of that App for macOS 15 and it still has bugs. I can't see it's also a beta but the version number is 15.0.0. So it never got a fix and I am even on macOS 15.1.