UltraLaunch allows you to launch applications and documents with a hot key, to launch them at predetermined times, or to launch them directly from the UltraLaunch app. The following documentation is adapted from the Online Army Knife manual. We start with a simple tutorial, and finish with a reference that documents all of the features.
Getting Started
The Mission Control control panel must be installed and enabled for launching to occur. Drag Mission Control on to your System Folder icon, or drag it directly to the Control Panels folder. Restart your computer to activate Mission Control.
Tutorial: You Wanna Do Launch?
This tutorial demonstrates UltraLaunch, the OAK addition which allows you to launch applications and documents at the touch a key, or at specified times. UltraLaunch requires Mission Control, so it won╒t do much if you╒ve booted with extensions off, or if the Mission Control control panel is not enabled.
Ñ Launch UltraLaunch.
Ñ Click the New button or press -N to create a new entry. The standard ╥open file╙ dialog will appear.
Ñ Locate a favorite file-using application and highlight it.
Ñ Press Return. The Quit button changes to Save and your application appears as the first entry in the list. It is also displayed in the App field at the top left.
Ñ Click the Doc button or press -D to add a document for your application to open when it is launched.
Ñ Select an appropriate document. The first list entry is renamed to the file's name and the Doc field is filled in.
A document and supporting application have been defined, but we haven╒t determined how to access them.
Ñ Click the Set Hot Key button or press -K, and then press option-control-W for the hot key (think Welcome).
Ñ Click the day of the week button corresponding to today, and then select an hour and time coming up shortly. For example, if it╒s 7:31 PM right now, click the 7 PM button and the :35 button. If it╒s already 7:34, skip ahead to the :40 button.
Ñ Select the Auto-Launch on these days checkbox or press -L to enable timed auto-launching.
Ñ Click the Rename button or press -R. Enter ╥Welcome Test╙ for the task name.
Ñ Press Return to install your new UltraLaunch task in the Mission Control Prefs file and quit the UltraLaunch application. Mission Control will take over from this point.
Ñ Press option-control-W. Assuming Mission Control is installed (did you reboot after installation?), it launches your application and tells it to load the document.
Ñ Quit from the application and sit back with your favorite beverage.
At the preset time, Mission Control will magically launch the same app/doc combination, thereby proving that UltraLaunch can launch apps at a predetermined time as well as with hot keys.
Note: UltraLaunch tasks are installed upon exit, so you have to quit before trying a new task. Previously installed tasks can be launched while UltraLaunch is active. Use the Launch button, the Launch menu item, -L, or the hot key associated with the task.
Tip of the Day: Define a hot key for UltraLaunch itself.
Using UltraLaunch
New╤click this button or press -N to create a new entry. A dialog will appear, allowing you to select the desired application which will be launched. The entry is given the name of the application.
Launch╤click this button or press -L to launch the highlighted entry.
Erase╤click this button or press -E to erase (delete) the highlighted entry.
Rename╤click this button or press -R to rename the highlighted entry.
Set Hot Key╤click this button or press -K to define a hot key for the current entry, and then press the desired hot key combination. You may use modifiers such as shift, control, option or . Function keys F1 through F12 may be used alone or with modifiers, but the system commandeers F13 through F15 for its own purposes. Define key combinations that none of your applications use or that you don╒t mind giving up. OAK and UltraLaunch hot keys will take precedence over menu commands in applications.
Cancel╤click this button or press Esc to exit UltraLaunch, discarding any changes. You╒re given the option of changing your mind and saving any changes.
Quit/Save╤click this button or press -Q or press Return to exit from UltraLaunch, saving any changes to the Mission Control Prefs file. Mission Control will then control launching until you use UltraLaunch again to add to or edit the existing settings. If you trash the Mission Control Prefs file, you╒ll lose all UltraLaunch entries.
App╤click this button or press -A to change the application assigned to the current UltraLaunch entry. The entry is given the name of the application.
Doc╤click this button or press -D to change the document assigned to the current UltraLaunch entry. It must be a document type that the application is capable of opening. The entry is given the name of the document.
Auto-Launch on these days╤this checkbox controls timed launches. If it╒s unchecked, no timed launches will occur. If it is checked, the various day and time buttons control the launch schedule. Press -T to toggle the checkbox setting.
Repeat each week╤this checkbox determines if a timed launch pattern is one-time only, or if it will be repeated each week. If the option is set, the entire set of launch times and days will be executed each week. If unselected, only the first launch time will be executed and it will not repeat. You can press -W to toggle the checkbox setting.
Day buttons╤the Sunday through Saturday buttons indicate the days on which the current entry will be auto-launched. You can select any number of day buttons (well, up to seven).
AM/PM Hour buttons╤the 12 AM through 11 PM buttons indicate the hours during which the current entry will be auto-launched. You can select any number of hour buttons. They will be triggered for each day that is selected.
Minute buttons╤the :00 through :55 buttons specify the exact times at which the current entry will be auto-launched. You can select any number of time buttons. They are applied to each hour and each day. That is, you can╒t set an auto-launch for 11:30 AM Tuesday and 3:05 PM Friday. When those six buttons are selected, the auto-launches will occur at 11:05 AM, 11:30 AM, 3:05 PM and 3:30 PM of both Tuesday and Friday.
