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OS and desktop actions

This section groups actions related to desktop presentation setup and operating system controls. Most actions on this page are macOS-only, while desktop icon visibility is available on both macOS and Windows.

Enable Focus Mode

Enable Focus Mode (Do Not Disturb) on macOS. This action requires a Shortcuts automation named “Enable Do Not Disturb” to be set up on your Mac.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.enableFocusMode"
}

Create the shortcut like this:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on macOS.
  2. Create a new shortcut named Enable Do Not Disturb.
  3. Add the Set Focus action.
  4. Click the Focus field in that action and explicitly choose Do Not Disturb from the dropdown.
  5. Configure it to set Do Not Disturb to On.
  6. Save the shortcut.

Disable Focus Mode

Disable Focus Mode (Do Not Disturb) on macOS. This action requires a Shortcuts automation named “Disable Do Not Disturb” to be set up on your Mac.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.disableFocusMode"
}

Create the shortcut like this:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on macOS.
  2. Create a new shortcut named Disable Do Not Disturb.
  3. Add the Set Focus action.
  4. Click the Focus field in that action and explicitly choose Do Not Disturb from the dropdown.
  5. Configure it to set Do Not Disturb to Off.
  6. Save the shortcut.

Hide Menu Bar

Hide the macOS menu bar by enabling auto-hide.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.hideMenubar"
}

Show Menu Bar

Show the macOS menu bar by disabling auto-hide.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.showMenubar"
}

Mute Volume

Mute the system volume on macOS. This is useful for presentations where you want to ensure no unexpected sounds interrupt your demo.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.muteVolume"
}

Unmute Volume

Unmute the system volume on macOS.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.unmuteVolume"
}

Enable Caffeine

Prevent the system from sleeping during presentations. You can enable it indefinitely or for a specific duration in minutes.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.enableCaffeine"
}

Parameters

  • duration (optional): Duration in minutes to prevent sleep. If not specified, prevents sleep indefinitely.

Disable Caffeine

Re-enable system sleep after a presentation. This stops all running caffeinate processes.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.disableCaffeine"
}

Hide Dock

Hide the macOS dock by enabling auto-hide. This provides a cleaner workspace during presentations by automatically hiding the dock until you move your cursor to the bottom of the screen.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.hideDock"
}

Show Dock

Show the macOS dock by disabling auto-hide. This restores the dock to always be visible.

Supported on: macOS

{
  "action": "macos.showDock"
}

Hide Desktop Icons

Hide all desktop icons for a distraction-free presentation.

Supported on: macOS, Windows

{
  "action": "hideDesktopIcons"
}

Show Desktop Icons

Restore desktop icons after a presentation.

Supported on: macOS, Windows

{
  "action": "showDesktopIcons"
}

Presentation Mode Example

Here’s a comprehensive example of how to set up your Mac for presentation mode at the start of a demo:

{
  "title": "Start Presentation Mode",
  "description": "Set up Mac for presenting",
  "steps": [
    {
      "action": "macos.enableCaffeine",
      "duration": 90
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.muteVolume"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.enableFocusMode"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.hideMenubar"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.hideDock"
    },
    {
      "action": "setPresentationView"
    }
  ]
}

And to restore your Mac after the presentation:

{
  "title": "End Presentation Mode",
  "description": "Restore Mac settings",
  "moves": [
    {
      "action": "macos.disableFocusMode"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.showMenubar"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.showDock"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.unmuteVolume"
    },
    {
      "action": "macos.disableCaffeine"
    },
    {
      "action": "unsetPresentationView"
    }
  ]
}