KeyQuencer is a nice little macro utility. It allows you to save lots of energy by automating tasks for you with a few keystrokes. What it doesn't do is allow you to have application-specific commands. With KeyQuencer alone, once you define a key command, that key command is taken and cannot be used for different tasks in multiple applications. BeSpecific enables application-specific key commands in KeyQuencer. BeSpecific allows you do assign the same key command to multiple applications and have the command do something different in each application. In fact, each application can have its own complete set of macros!
BeSpecific and KeyQuencer make a powerful combination together. If you use KeyQuencer, then you want to use BeSpecific.
Verified 3/16/99 - BeSpecific also works with KeyQuencer Lite!
Requirements
You must be using KeyQuencer or KeyQuencer Lite version 2.0 or later. BeSpecific was mainly tested with version 2.5.5 of KeyQuencer. It's possible BeSpecific will work with an older version but I haven't tried it. You must have a PowerPC Macintosh.
Installation
Copy the BeSpecific folder to your hard disk. Place an alias to BeSpecific in your Startup Items folder which is located in your System Folder.
Usage
Using BeSpecific is simple. Create a suitcase (using the KeyQuencer Editor) containing the macros that you wish to use for a particular application and then save the suitcase with the same name as the application you want to assign the suitcase to. For example, to assign a suitcase of macros to Note Pad, simple put a bunch of macros into a new suitcase and save it as "Note Pad" (without the quotes). Put this Note Pad suitcase into the Suitcases folder of BeSpecific and launch BeSpecific. If BeSpecific is already running, switch to BeSpecific and use the Rescan Suitcases command (described below in Misc.) to alert BeSpecific to the changes you have made in the suitcase.
Whenever the application Note Pad is frontmost, BeSpecific will match Note Pad to the corresponding suitcase named Note Pad and use those macros only for Note Pad. To create a suitcase of macros for SimpleText, simply create a new suitcase with your SimpleText macros in it and name it SimpleText. Place it in the Suitcases folder, then use the Rescan Suitcases command in BeSpecific to alert it to your change.
To create application-specific macros for all your applications, just make sure that there is a corresponding suitcase with the same name as the application in BeSpecific's Suitcases folder.
Note: The KeyQuencer Macros suitcase will always override the application-specific macro suitcases in the Suitcases folder of BeSpecific. To free a key command for use in multiple applications, first remove the macro using the key command in the Keyquencer Macros Suitcase, then assign application-specific macros to the key command. Think of the KeyQuencer Macros suitcase as the global keystroke suitcase as it has always been.
TIP: Look at your KeyQuencer Macros suitcase (run the KeyQuencer Editor and choose Open Installed Macros from the File Menu) and remove any unnecessary macros in the Suitcase (save a copy of the suitcase first!). For any macros that should apply to a single application only, cut the macro and paste it into a new suitcase with the same name as the application and save it into BeSpecific's Suitcases folder.
Once you have done this, you will end up with your global macros in the KeyQuencer Macros suitcase and application-specific macros in BeSpecific's Suitcases folder; one suitcase per application.
Misc
To Quit BeSpecific, type cmd-Q or choose Quit from the File Menu.
The Rescan Suitcases command alerts BeSpecific of any changes you have made in the suitcases folder (for example: if you add or delete a macro or add or remove a suitcase from the Suitcases folder).
You must choose the Rescan Suitcases comamnd after adding or removing suitcases or macros in the suitcases.
The following KeyQuencer script switches to BeSpecific and selects the Rescan Suitcases command:
-- Choose the Rescan Suitcases command in BeSpecific
SwitchApp 'kQrN' remember
WaitApp 'kQrN'
menu "File" "Rescan Suitcases"
SwitchApp restore
BeSpecific should have enough memory to cover the Suitcases folder size plus 100K more. Use the Get Info command in the Finder to check the size of your Suitcases folder and to set the application memory size of BeSpecific if necessary. The default size of BeSpecific should be fine for most people.
BeSpecific has been tested on Mac OS 8.1 and 8.5.1.
Things to check
If a key command seems to be doing the same command for every application and your application-specific command is not working, check the KeyQuencer Macros suitcase (run the KeyQuencer Editor and choose Open Installed Macros from the File Menu) and remove it from the suitcase. If you want a key command to do something specific for different applications, it needs to be removed from the global KeyQuencer Macros suitcase.
FAQ
Question: I have several versions of a program i.e. Internet Explorer 3.0, Internet Explorer 4.0 etc... Do I need to make a separate suitcase for each one?
Answer: Yes, as of this version. It's pretty easy to duplicate the file and rename it in the Finder or to copy and paste macros from one suitcase to another. Alternately, you may rename the different versions to Internet Explorer and use one suitcase. It is certainly possible to update BeSpecific to use the application signature instead of the suitcase name... However, this would fall under the "further development" part of BeSpecific. Read below under Payment/Registration :-)
Question: Does it work with KeyQuencer Lite?
Answer: Yes! I have tested it with the current version of KeyQuencer Lite and it works fine.
Question: Why do I have to choose Rescan Suitcases when I add/change a macro?
Answer: It is quite possible to have BeSpecific auto-scan a folder when it changes. My main reason was that I didn't want it to periodically scan the disk - especially if you are running on battery power. If enough people ask for it, I could add it in.
Question: Why didn't you make it into a background application so I don't have to see it?
Answer: Mainly to allow you to choose Rescan Suitcases. If I did put into auto-scanning of the suitcases folder, I would probably turn it into a background application.
Question: How can I give you feedback on BeSpecific?
Answer: Write to aron@kagi.com
Limitations
BeSpecific is Power PC accelerated and will not run on a 68K machine.
Registering BeSpecific
BeSpecific is shareware. If you use it, please pay the shareware fee. Use the included Register program to pay for BeSpecific.
BeSpecific is just $10 per user. Paying the shareware fee encourages further development.
If you don't want to use the Register program, send a check or money order (U.S. funds) to:
Aron Nelson
Audio Bytes Corporation
1050 Queen Street #300
Honolulu, HI 96814
write the check to: Aron Nelson
Please include your email address so I can send you the code to register your version of BeSpecific.
Disclaimer
The standard disclaimer applies to this program. The intent was to make your life easier. I am not liable for any actions that result in the use of BeSpecific in any way.
Version Info
Version 1.0.1 3/22/99 fixed bug with even and odd length macro algorithm.
