Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro has an extensive library of “actions” that can be encapsulated in “macros” and triggered in various ways. Macros can be as simple as switching to an app or opening a file, but they can also include long sequences of actions and conditional logic (e.g., launching OmniFocus if it isn’t already running).

Triggering Keyboard Maestro Macros

These macros are commonly triggered by “hot keys,” but Keyboard Maestro also supports a wide variety of other triggers. For example, a macro can be triggered by plugging in a USB device, connecting to a wireless network, or even typing specific text. Additionally, macros can be configured to run periodically or at specific times.

Keyboard Maestro makes it very convenient to access OmniFocus’ features and perspectives. For example, pressing a global hotkey of ^⌥⌘1 could automatically launch OmniFocus if it’s not already running and switch to the Inbox. A global hotkey of ^⌥⌘O could give you convenient access to OmniFocus’ Quick Open feature. Keyboard Maestro can also run AppleScripts and Omni Automation plug-ins, which opens up all kinds of possibilities for automated workflows.

Keyboard Maestro Trial and Discount

Stairways Software, the creators of Keyboard Maestro, have kindly offered a 20% discount to everyone in the Learn OmniFocus community. To apply the discount, enter the coupon code LOF20 when purchasing Keyboard Maestro. You can also download and test drive Keyboard Maestro before purchasing.

Keyboard Maestro Macros for OmniFocus

To help you get started, download these Keyboard Maestro Macros for OmniFocus. Most macros reference built-in perspectives and features and will work without additional modification. Still, a few (e.g. Jump to Important, Search Available, and Search Remaining) rely on custom perspectives.  Take the OmniFocus 4: Beyond the Basics course to learn how to create custom perspectives.

Please note that it will be necessary to remap the hot keys contained within these macros if they conflict with other keyboard shortcuts that you’re using. These macros are provided without warranty and are not guaranteed to work in future versions of OmniFocus.

Other Resources

Keyboard Maestro Video Field Guide — David Sparks has an excellent Keyboard Maestro Field Guide that will help you get the most out of Keyboard Maestro. It doesn’t assume any prior knowledge of Keyboard Maestro and is an excellent resource for both new and seasoned Keyboard Maestro users.

Using OmniFocus — Kourosh Dini shared a Keyboard Maestro macro to Quickly Access and Hide Features using Keyboard Maestro. While the macro will work without modification, you may want to make some adjustments. For example, you can customize the size of the expanded and minimized windows.