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I am looking for a trick in which to open the same app twice. Let me explain.
For example, I have an app called SQLite Database Browser but it can only handle one SQL DB at a time. I would like to start another SQLite DB Browser so I can open another SQL DB file. How do I do that?
okysabeni
Posted 2011-07-19T17:49:05.070
Reputation: 499
24
If you use open from the command line you can pass a parameter to start a new instance:
open -n /Applications/TextEdit.app
Another way is to find the Unix executable in the app bundle and run it:
/Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit &
user151019
Posted 2011-07-19T17:49:05.070
Reputation: 5 312
2just alias it, eg. alias textedit='open -n /Applications/TextEdit.app' – VH-NZZ – 2015-06-03T07:17:37.297
In both: Linux and Windows, I just middle-click the app on the taskbar, or click on it from the app list (about 1-2s depending on the screen resolution and mouse distance to the icon). Having 2 application profiles pointing to the same app is IMO not a good solution: what if I need 3 or 4 instances? Will it take 2 spaces on my taskbar if I use none? Will I have to choose which of the two icons I already have open and which I have to click? Apple have a looooot to learn from KDE taskbar, or even Windows taskbar. – Adrian Maire – 2019-08-23T16:17:50.190
2One could use Automator.app to create a small application that uses this command line to launch a second instance. That would eliminate the need to always type that into a Terminal. – slhck – 2011-07-19T20:35:13.273
@Mark. Excellent. The open -n works great. I haven't tried the Unix executable but I'll keep that in mind. @ slhck. scripting will do the trick. If I need to use the command over and over again, I'll definitely make one. Thanks everybody!!! – okysabeni – 2011-07-20T14:46:29.410
@slhck When using Automator, select "Services" and "Shell Script". Use clover-S to save, and go to keyboard shortcuts, "Services" to find this script and assign it to a shortcut. http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/24063/create-global-shortcut-to-run-command-line-applications/40887#40887
– Droogans – 2013-10-28T15:58:46.3871
I know with CarbonCopyCloner I can make another copy of the application itself and I can open two instances of CCC at the same time. Have you tried something like that?
mdgarci3
Posted 2011-07-19T17:49:05.070
Reputation: 11
@Mark Classy example of advertising your answer - but good job on yours. – User that is not a user – 2018-06-18T14:51:27.120
So, use CCC to create another copy of the SQLite application? – okysabeni – 2011-07-19T19:04:02.430
2No @mdgarci was just giving CCC as an example - just copy your app with finder -- but for better way see my answer – user151019 – 2011-07-19T19:24:50.713
I do this with Firefox occasionally by creating multiple browser profiles. OS X then sees each instance of Firefox with a unique profile as a separate application. – Somantra – 2011-07-19T18:16:44.897