Open new apps in background

Question

is there a way to open new apps in the background?
right now, when opening a new application, the system will automatically switch to the new app once it is loaded.
i.e. i am woking on a word document, and while typing, i start excel from the dock.
excel will take 30+ second to load/start.
in the meantime i am still using word.
after 30 sec, excel loads and automatically switch from word to excel even if i am in the middle of typing.
is there any way to prevent the auto switch and load the new app in the background?

Answer 1

There is a way ...
1. Create your script in Apple Script Editor:
do shell script "open -g \"/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Microsoft Excel.app\" "
tell me to quit
2. Then, in Apple Script Editor, select File -> Export
In the Export dialog window, name your application and select File Format: Application
Finally, click "Save"
3. You now have an .app file you can double-click to run your app in background.
Drag & drop this app to your dock to create an alias
You now have a dock item you can click to start your app in background.
To make it perfect, you can even copy / paste the app icon and paste it to your newly created app before dragging it to your Dock:
- select your original app in Finder
- get info (Command + I)
- click once on the app icon in the "get Info" window
- copy it (Command + C)
- then select your newly created app in Finder
- get info (Command + I)
- click once on the app icon in the "get Info" window
- paste (Command + V)
This way, you have an alias to your script-app in the Dock, showing the original app icon (Excel in my example)
Have fun