Dr. Mac's OS X Tip-of-the-Day  

When last we spoke, we were chatting about programs that let you assign shortcuts to function keys or create keyboard shortcuts that launch items.

Which brings us to Proteron's marvelous MaxMenus...

I'm a huge MaxMenus fan. In fact, my quote about MaxMenus is right on the front of the Web site.

For those too busy to surf all the way over there just to see a little quote, let me save you the trouble. Here's what it says:

"MaxMenus rocks! Any menu you want, anything in it you want, using any key combo you want. What's not to like?"

But wait, there's more: MaxMenus also lets you drag-and-drop items onto any item in any MaxMenus menu. Last, but not least, you can add a keyboard shortcut to any MaxMenus menu by merely highlighting the item and typing the shortcut you desire.

Check it out in these screen pictures I made:

Dragging a file (Keyboard Maestro) from a Finder window onto a MaxMenus menu and into a folder on a different disk (AppsNonCom).

Adding a keyboard shortcut for any item is as easy as selecting an item (iTunes) in any MaxMenu and then pressing the appropriate key or keys you want to activate that item (F-13).

MaxMenus. $29.95

Finally, Keyboard Maestro is reputed to be a poor man's QuicKeys. I've only looked at it briefly but every time I mention QuicKeys, there's someone there to tell me to try Keyboard Maestro. But alas, I'm old and set in my ways, and learning to do it a different way at this late date doesn't appeal to me.

Since I don't know that much about it, here's what the Keyboard Maestro Web site says about the latest version:

The Maestro has done it again! The Maestro has put together a new version of Keyboard Maestro with many new and improved features since it's last release! Check it out:

Multi-Action Hot Keys and Drag-and-Drop Editing of Hot Keys make Keyboard Maestro the

Strategic application control is now just a finger touch away with the new Move or Click Mouse Action.

It's now easy as 1, 2, 3 to Restart or Shutdown you computer, put your computer to Sleep, Activate your Screen Saver, and Open or Close the CD Tray.

Keyboard Maestro has integrated its Open File or Folder action with Default Folder X v1.5 to allow the selection of files or folders in any active Open/Save dialog with Keyboard Mastro hot keys.

Improved saving of application data will prevent Keyboard Maestro from forgetting your applications even if you upgrade them and their names change!

Ahh...convenience! Program Switcher feature no longer has a use limitation in the Lite version.

Did we mention that you can now use Program Switcher indefinitely for FREE?!?!

Download a free copy of Keyboard Maestro today. Before long, you'll wonder how you could have ever worked without it!

Keyboard Maestro. $20

To discuss this tip (or anything you like) in Dr. Mac's OSXFAQ Forum, click here:

Bob LeVitus is a leading authority on Mac OS and the author of 38 books, including Mac OS X For Dummies and The Little iTunes Book.