Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Tip 323
Make a “Quit All” App
Ever wanted to quit every single open application? Perhaps you want to free
up memory for the launch of another app.
You can create an app using AppleScript Editor that you can place in the
Dock and that will quit all open apps when clicked. Here are the steps:
1.
Start AppleScript Editor by double-clicking its entry in the
UTILITIES
folder
of Applications in Finder. If no new file (
UNTITLED
) window is visible, click
File→New.
2.
In the main code area, type the following:
TELL APPLICATION "SYSTEM EVENTS" TO SET QUITAPPS TO NAME OF EVERY
APPLICATION PROCESS WHOSE VISIBLE IS TRUE AND NAME IS NOT "FINDER"
REPEAT WITH CLOSEALL IN QUITAPPS
QUIT APPLICATION CLOSEALL
END REPEAT
3.
Click the Compile button on the toolbar to check the code to ensure it's
correct. If it's OK, the code will be colored and indented properly. If it's
incorrect, you'll see an error message, so try typing the code again.
4.
Click File→Save, and choose to save the new app in your Applications
folder. Call it something memorable—I chose “Quit Everything!” In the
File Format drop-down list, choose Application. Then click the Save button.
5.
Close AppleScript Editor, and navigate to your Applications list within
Finder. Then drag and drop your new app onto the Dock, ready for use.
When using it, remember that you'll still have to deal with any dialog
boxes that appear within apps asking you to confirm the saving of changes
to files. Additionally, some apps such as Microsoft Word can take up to
a minute to quit.
To add an appropriate icon to your app, search Google Images with a
search term like
quit icon
, and then download something that looks
how to give your app a new icon.
