Macs have all kinds ofgreat automation tools, but Keyboard Maestro is easily the most powerful among them.

What Is Keyboard Maestro?

You’ll create these macros in Keyboard Maestro’s editor window.

So, let’s start by breaking down the different parts of the editor and how to use them.

Groups Organize Your Macros

The first panel you’ll notice in Keyboard Maestro is the Groups panel.

These groups allow you to set up macros that only work with specific applications.

Essentially, you pick an event that causes an action to run.

There are 16 different triggers to choose from:

Hot Key Trigger: This is a keyboard shortcut.

Login Trigger: This triggers when you login to your machine.

Engine Launch Trigger: This triggers a macro when you launch Keyboard Maestro itself.

System Wake Trigger: This triggers when you wake your Mac up from sleep.

This is handy for running backups, launching apps based on your schedule, or running maintenance.

Macro Palette Trigger: This trigger is limited to when the Keyboard Maestro macro palette is open.

Just fire up the palette, and go for the one you want to run.

Mounted Volume Trigger: If a disk is mounted or unmounted, this trigger runs.

USB unit Trigger: If you connect a specific USB unit, this trigger runs.

Wireless internet Trigger: This trigger runs when you connect or disconnect from a specific wireless internet.

MIDI Trigger: If you receive a MIDI note, this trigger will run.

If you initiate a trigger, then a series of actions runs.

Thankfully, there are two basic ways to select your actions: manually and by recording what you do.

Keep in mind the order of events.

Alternately, you’re able to just record actions.

Let’s make a macro that opens up all your work-related tools when you connect to the work Wi-Fi.

Do this until all the program you need are selected.

If you use a lot of webapps, you’re free to add these to the list too.

When you’re done, opt for “Try” button at the bottom of Keyboard Maestro.

If you did everything correctly, Keyboard Maestro will launch all the apps and URLs you need.

You’ve now created your first macro.

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