 |
DESCRIPTION
Butler makes it easier for you to perform a wide variety of potentially recurring tasks. Just arrange these tasks in Butler's fully customizable configuration and assign one or more triggers to a task.
Available Triggers:
- freely configurable system-wide menus in your menu bar/Butler's docklet
- freely configurable pop-up menus -- triggered via hot key or hot corner (see below)
- abbreviations -- e.g., enter "qt" to launch QuickTime Player
- hot keys -- e.g., hit [F1] make iTunes switch to the next track
- hot corners -- e.g., [shift]-[right mouse button click] in the lower left corner of your screen to pop up a menu that lists all system preference panes
- events -- e.g., launch iChat when Butler starts up and the [option] key is not held
Possible Tasks:
- launch applications
- open files
- access preference panes
- manage bookmarks
- search the web
- run AppleScripts
- extend the pasteboard
- enter text snippets
- simulate keystrokes
- control iTunes
- more...
WHAT'S NEW
Version 4.1.6:
- Butler's status window (the one that's shown in response to your entering hot keys or requesting iTunes information, for instance) no longer captures mouse clicks. If you want to move the status window, do so while holding the command key.
- Worked around a possible interference with Typinator.
- This is not a transient release. See the Many Tricks blog for more info on this.
- Available languages: English, French, German, Japanese -- potential localizers might want to have a look at Butler Help's "Localizations" section.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
| SCREENSHOT
|
|
 |
|  |
 | |  |
| Butler User Reviews (249 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Jul 5 2009 |
TINGTING This is an amazing application. I always heard about it and took so long to finally try it. It's wonderful. Launching Applescript with ease from the menubar is tiptop. Really cool and it helps me tons. So many other cool features too. Wow. Thanks for the excellent app.
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
 | Jun 12 2009 |
This is a MASTERPIECE, everyone should have it! I was able to configure everything I wanted in just 2 minutes, which I never could in QuickSilver. Access anything you want in less than one second, all you need is to remember your shortcuts! As long as you can use your brain, you can do ANYTHING YOU WANT in no time. The only things I miss, and would like to see in Butler: - Transparent smart search window (like the one for websearch, it's stupid but it looks nicer!) - Possibility to execute terminal shell commands automatically by pasting it the same way as text. One last thing: Thanks so much ManyTricks, you rock!
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Nov 12 2008 |
JAZZADDICT Anyone know when 5.0 is gona' drop? I've been using Launchbar for awhile. I chose it over Butler long ago because of its intuitive nature, good documentation, and good support. This kind of app is essential to me so I never wanted to risk using freeware because it's sometimes not dependable when it comes to updates and support (understandably). But now that Butler is going shareware and there's gona' be a big overhaul, I'm definitely interested in checking it out. I don't really like Launchbar's UI. Not flexible enough. It tries to hard to be unobtrusive and ends up being to... I don't know... tiny. I have to refer to the documentation too much to figure out how to do stuff. Features are a bit too buried in my opinion. These apps are all about speed, unobtrusiveness, slickness, intuitive usability, and as I'm finding more need to use Launchbar as I become a more advanced computer user I find it's becoming harder and harder to use the app. Don't get me wrong. The app is still really sick and in my opinion at least as good as the current version of Butler. But I want more.
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jul 31 2008 |
POLARIMETRIC It would appear that my iTunes 7.7 problem was fixed with the iTunes 7.7.1 update. Yay! Now I can get the most out of this great piece of software. Keep up the good work; can't wait for version 5.
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jul 23 2008 |
ACCOUNTCLOSED A sweet app. One consistent glitch I've found is that any hot corner trigger brings up an unexpected momentary square rectangle in the relevant corner before the expected blue hot corner triangle indicator. Not a big deal, but it is distracting, a bit of aesthetic carelessness that clearly shouldn't be there. Two emails to the developer reporting this bug and explicitly asking that he acknowledge receiving the bug report have gone unanswered—amounting to "no comment" and what appears to be a lack of good breeding. Still, Butler is a useful and versatile enhancement to the GUI that lives up to its press here on MU. Made my donation promptly, and more than asked for, as it seemed like a civilized thing to do. Now if we can only get the developer to be a bit more civilized. . .
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
 | Jul 17 2008 |
POLARIMETRIC Fabulous app; been using it for over a year and couldn't live without it. However, it doesn't seem that the iTunes music library fully works with iTunes 7.7. You can still play albums and playlists, but it doesn't seem that you can play individual tracks anymore. It doesn't work for me, anyway. Anyone else having this problem?
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jul 3 2008 |
RAMPANCY Absolutely one of the most essential apps for my Mac and the first thing I install on every Mac I get. I donated as soon as this newest release was put out - I'm surprised it's still donationware, actually.
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 30 2008 |
BONOBO Since I met Butler about 2 years ago I've become dependent of this amazing, I repeat: AMAZING little program and I wouldn't want to use my Mac w/o Butler anymore. Developer is responsive and not only his software but also his price models are very user-friendly. Can't wait for v. 5.0 ...
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jun 30 2008 |
KOFASETIC The best jack-of-all mac launcher, controller, etc has gotten better. From the gate this app is THE one indespensible software that makes the mac experience even better. Extremely configurable.
(Version 4.1.6) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Jan 2 2008 |
JOHN SAWYER CJS Butler is great--I've been using it for years. But the blog entry linked to above, doesn't really explain why the current versions of Butler are in a "transient" state, expiring frequently. There may be a reason, but they haven't explained it very well if at all. The basic reason is probably the standard one for software in transition--they're concerned about bugs (including ones they don't yet know about) in these transitional versions, causing trouble if people keep using them even after an official release version is available.
(Version 4.1.5 Transient) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Jan 17 2008 |
MUDFLAPPER My guess is they're going to start charging for Butler. I don't blame them, it's a fantastic utility. I just hope they don't charge too much.
(Version 4.1.5 Transient) | |
|
| View all 249 posts >> |
|
