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Take Control of Automating Your Mac, 5th Edition
Work faster, increase your efficiency, and have more fun with automation!
Version 5.0, updated January 29, 2024
Ever wondered if automation could make your life easier? In Take Control of Automating Your Mac, Fifth Edition, Mac expert Joe Kissell shows you how to save time and aggravation by using numerous built-in macOS tools, as well as helpful third-party apps, to automate routine tasks and procedures.
Looking for ways to work smarter and faster with your Mac? In this updated and expanded fifth edition of his popular guide to Mac automation, Joe Kissell shows how anyone, at any level of experience, can save time and effort, and avoid unnecessary errors, by using automation techniques that range from the simplest keyboard shortcut to the most complicated script.
In this book, Joe teaches you how to automate routine tasks in a wide variety of ways. You can begin by making the most of productivity features such as Siri, Spotlight (for launching apps), and text replacement—and then move on to the more sophisticated automation tools built into macOS, such as Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, services, and shell scripts.
In addition, Joe gives extensive information about third-party automation apps that can make a huge difference to your work efficiency, such as Keyboard Maestro, TextExpander, OmniGraffle, and many more. As an extra bonus, the book includes coupons for discounts on seven automation apps!
Whether you’re new to automation, you just need a refresher, or you’re experienced with automation but want to go deeper, this book can teach you the skills you need to automate with ease. Take back your time, work more efficiently, and have more fun with your Mac, with Take Control of Automating Your Mac, Fifth Edition!
With this book, you’ll learn how
Get started with the built-in macOS automation tools, including Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, and shell scriptsTake full advantage of input devices to save clicks and keystrokesCustomize toolbars and your Touch Bar to put hard-to-find controls at your fingertipsUse your voice to control your Mac with Siri and Voice Control/Dictation CommandsAutomate text expansion for faster, more consistent typingControl the Finder with a launcher and by organizing files with HazelSupercharge your clipboard to remember and reformat previous copiesWrite macros in Microsoft Office and Nisus Writer ProCreate rules to file email automatically in Apple Mail and OutlookLog in to websites faster with a password managerAutomate cloud services with IFTTT and ZapierSet up automatic backup and syncingRun tasks automatically with Login Items, Calendar events, or launchdUse Omni Automation for JavaScript-based automation tasksControl nearly anything on your Mac with Keyboard Maestro We’ve included discount coupons for seven of the key apps Joe 15% to 30% off on Keyboard Maestro, LaunchBar, Hazel, Nisus Writer Pro, Script Debugger, TypeIt4Me, and Typinator—look for coupons at the end of the book!
Version 5.0, updated January 29, 2024
Ever wondered if automation could make your life easier? In Take Control of Automating Your Mac, Fifth Edition, Mac expert Joe Kissell shows you how to save time and aggravation by using numerous built-in macOS tools, as well as helpful third-party apps, to automate routine tasks and procedures.
Looking for ways to work smarter and faster with your Mac? In this updated and expanded fifth edition of his popular guide to Mac automation, Joe Kissell shows how anyone, at any level of experience, can save time and effort, and avoid unnecessary errors, by using automation techniques that range from the simplest keyboard shortcut to the most complicated script.
In this book, Joe teaches you how to automate routine tasks in a wide variety of ways. You can begin by making the most of productivity features such as Siri, Spotlight (for launching apps), and text replacement—and then move on to the more sophisticated automation tools built into macOS, such as Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, services, and shell scripts.
In addition, Joe gives extensive information about third-party automation apps that can make a huge difference to your work efficiency, such as Keyboard Maestro, TextExpander, OmniGraffle, and many more. As an extra bonus, the book includes coupons for discounts on seven automation apps!
Whether you’re new to automation, you just need a refresher, or you’re experienced with automation but want to go deeper, this book can teach you the skills you need to automate with ease. Take back your time, work more efficiently, and have more fun with your Mac, with Take Control of Automating Your Mac, Fifth Edition!
With this book, you’ll learn how
Get started with the built-in macOS automation tools, including Shortcuts, Automator, AppleScript, and shell scriptsTake full advantage of input devices to save clicks and keystrokesCustomize toolbars and your Touch Bar to put hard-to-find controls at your fingertipsUse your voice to control your Mac with Siri and Voice Control/Dictation CommandsAutomate text expansion for faster, more consistent typingControl the Finder with a launcher and by organizing files with HazelSupercharge your clipboard to remember and reformat previous copiesWrite macros in Microsoft Office and Nisus Writer ProCreate rules to file email automatically in Apple Mail and OutlookLog in to websites faster with a password managerAutomate cloud services with IFTTT and ZapierSet up automatic backup and syncingRun tasks automatically with Login Items, Calendar events, or launchdUse Omni Automation for JavaScript-based automation tasksControl nearly anything on your Mac with Keyboard Maestro We’ve included discount coupons for seven of the key apps Joe 15% to 30% off on Keyboard Maestro, LaunchBar, Hazel, Nisus Writer Pro, Script Debugger, TypeIt4Me, and Typinator—look for coupons at the end of the book!
- GenresTechnology
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
14 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Joe Kissell
84Ìýbooks28ÌýfollowersJoe Kissell is the author of more than 60 books and hundreds of articles on technology topics. In 2017, he also became the publisher of Take Control Books, when alt concepts—the company he runs along with his wife, Morgen Jahnke—acquired the Take Control imprint from TidBITS Publishing Inc. He was the winner of a 2009 Neal award for Best How-to Article, and formerly wrote for publications such as Macworld, TidBITS, and Wirecutter. Before he began writing full-time in 2003, Joe managed software development for Nisus Software and Kensington Technology Group. In his hypothetical spare time, Joe likes to walk, cook, read, and practice tai chi. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, with Morgen and their sons.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 26, 2020
A very good overview of the many opportunities to automate an iMac. Now I’ll need to go through it again, more slowly, and try out a number of his suggestions.
June 7, 2018
This is a nice quick general overview of automation software for macOS. I found that I already knew about a third of the stuff in this book, another third was stuff that wasn't applicable/interesting to me, and the remaining third was stuff that was both new and interesting/useful for me. So that's a pretty good ratio, for someone like me who has been using Macs for about 20 years.
The version I read was fairly up to date (as of June 2018). There might have been a few dead links in the book, but there wasn't really anything that was so outdated as to be useless. And there was coverage of some fairly recent stuff, like the Omni Group's new JavaScript stuff.
I'd recommend this book if you're a Mac user that wants to automate some stuff but doesn't know where to start. (Automator, AppleScript, JavaScript, bash scripts...?) Or if you're a long-time Mac user that knows a bit, but wants to fill some gaps. The book doesn't get deep into any one subject, but gives you enough to get started and figure out where to get more info on any subject that you need to learn more about.
The version I read was fairly up to date (as of June 2018). There might have been a few dead links in the book, but there wasn't really anything that was so outdated as to be useless. And there was coverage of some fairly recent stuff, like the Omni Group's new JavaScript stuff.
I'd recommend this book if you're a Mac user that wants to automate some stuff but doesn't know where to start. (Automator, AppleScript, JavaScript, bash scripts...?) Or if you're a long-time Mac user that knows a bit, but wants to fill some gaps. The book doesn't get deep into any one subject, but gives you enough to get started and figure out where to get more info on any subject that you need to learn more about.
July 18, 2022
Some useful stuff here, but it was a very broad look so covered tons of stuff of no interest to me - and the stuff that was interesting is covered only very lightly. Probably better for someone new to Macs and/or new to the very concept of automating work on one’s computer. It did spur me on to look for ways I could automate some repetitive stuff I do, so that may end up being worth the price of the book.
April 17, 2023
An excellent step-by-step guide to using automation on an Apple Mac.
The book walks you through various forms of automation, from those built into the Mac OS to 3rd party apps designed for file management, clipboard libraries and beyond.
As usual with Take Control books, the content is well balanced for both the beginner and those with a lot of experience in the Mac Ecosystem. Joe Kissell's writing style is easy to read and understand, and his examples of using various automation are well-chosen and easy to amend.
The book walks you through various forms of automation, from those built into the Mac OS to 3rd party apps designed for file management, clipboard libraries and beyond.
As usual with Take Control books, the content is well balanced for both the beginner and those with a lot of experience in the Mac Ecosystem. Joe Kissell's writing style is easy to read and understand, and his examples of using various automation are well-chosen and easy to amend.
June 20, 2017
Definitely for Mac newbies. Nothing in this book says "Power Users Welcome" except the shell script section. For that, I give it two stars. It's definitely good for those new to OSX.
Shelved as 'on-pause'
January 5, 2016Been on pause for ... ever?
February 25, 2024
A good overall presentation of automation possibilities for the Mac
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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