Windows – OS X equivalent of Windows Run box

macmacoswindows

Windows has a very convenient Run box (WinKey + R) that

  • from one box, can
    • can launch programs by exact path to the executable
    • launch any program in the PATH directories by executable name
    • open files in default applications
    • open an Explorer window into a local directory
    • open an Explorer window into a network share
    • open any URL with its default handler (e.g. a browser)
  • has tab completion (well, really up/down arrow completion)
  • has a history function

This is an amazing time saver for any power user, and I'm looking for something equivalent for a Mac. I know that there are some utilities that have some of the features (e.g. the "Open Directory" command in Finder, Spotlight, Quicksilver), but I haven't found any one that does everything or almost everything.

Does anyone know of some close equivalent?

Best Answer

It doesn't, but Terminal is very similar to both the run box and the command prompt (cmd) in Windows. In Terminal, open is your friend.

  • can launch programs by exact path to the executable

  • launch any program in the PATH directories by executable name

In Terminal, you can use open -a Application.app to launch an application that lives in the /Applications folder, or open <exact path to applcation> to launch an application that is anywhere on your computer.

  • open files in default applications

Just us open <file>. open song.mp3 will open song.mp3 in the default audio player (in my case iTunes)

  • open an Explorer window into a local directory

  • open an Explorer window into a network share

open /Path/to/dir/ will launch the folder in Finder

  • open any URL with its default handler (e.g. a browser)

open http://google.com will launch the default browser and open the url. It also works for FTP (but i have not tested anything else)

For more, just run man open in Terminal or see this page.

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