A Better Way to "Show Desktop" in Mac Osx (aka Hide All) Using Quicksilver

Ever since I got a mac I missed the functionality of "show desktop" that windows has, with its keyboard shortcut: windows key+D.
F11 simply doesn't cut it, creating messy borders at the edge of the screen.

This is my goal: hiding all windows using a keyboard shortcut.

This is a newer version of my last instructable, in this one you only need to download one application (Show desktop), if you already have Quicksilver.

Step 1: Downloads

you'll need to download 2 freeware applications, and install them:

1) Show Desktop
This will hide all the windows
http://www.everydaysoftware.net/showdesktop/

2) Quicksilver
We will use Quicksilver to create a HotKey Trigger
(that means we'll tell a keyboard key we choose, its new job is to show desktop)
http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/

Step 2: Show Desktop

Open Show Desktop.

When you press on the Show desktop icon in the Dock it will hide all applications (depending on the preferences).

go to the preferences in Show Desktop, and see the different options, this is something you should do with every new program you get so as to use it the best way you can.

I set my prefrences this way (see picture):

Step 3: Quicksilver

Open Quicksilver.

Go to the triggers window (see image 1) and make sure you're in "Custom Triggers" (No.1 in image 1).
now press the plus sign (No. 2 in image 1) and choose "HotKey, this will open a menu (see image 2).

Start writing "show desktop" until it shows you the correct application, leave the action as "open", and save.

You will return to the Triggers menu, now press on the area I can only describe as No.3 in image 3.

A drawer will open, press on edit (No.4 in image 4), then press the F8 key (or any other key you want).

close the triggers window.

That's it!

Comments

[flyingpontail]

 FYI>>> This instructable is now outdated. Four finger swipe up shows the desktop.

[dr15]

Thank you :-)

[datafeaster]

try this: tell application "Finder" activate set visible of every process whose visible is true and name is not "Finder" to false close every window end tell ---you can also sve it as an application package, and stick it in the dock, or make a trigger for it in quicksilver --(I haven't tried the latter) :)

[TheScientist]

i like this solution better than your last one :) very neat (and quicksilver is a wonderful little tool!) made me think though: i wonder if you can just do this as applescript? so google came up with: tell application "Finder" activate set visible of every process whose visible is true and name is not "Finder" to false end tell if you compile that in script editor (on a mac) and save it, then to show desktop you can just run it. i've put it in my dock for now, and might bind a hotkey or a mouse gesture to it using quicksilver. feel free to post an instructable if you decide to try it out. (i still like your method!)

[dr15]

I agree with you that using applescript has much more class, I tried to compile the code you found, but it wouldn't compile. also It won't hide finder windows, which is something I really want (I tried to change the applescript so it would, but I cant code...). anyway, I really like your method too! and thank you for your comment :-)