How can I define shortcut keys to run apps, files and folders, OS X?

You will need launch your system preferences and then click on keyboard then click keyboard shortcuts then click the Application Shortcuts, click the plus sign to add a new shortcut.

Take a look at this link, http://support.apple.com/kb/ph3957

To define keyboard shortcuts use the keyboard Preferences > Shortcuts panel in the Preferences.

• Create an Automatotor service, to open the folder you want,
• Install that service in your User Library "Services" folder (for example named "OpenPicturesFolder)
• Then bind that service to the keycombination you want.

A simple service to open the "Pictures" folder could look like this:

First, an action "Get Specified Finder Items" to select the "Pictures" folder,

Then "Open Finder Items" to open that folder.

You do not need to create a service, if there are already menu commands that do what yu want. Then simply bind the menu command to the key combination.

Good Luck

Léonie

Install BetterTouchTool (it is free). It has the ability to create Hotkeys. And as an added bonus you can create many additional touch pad gestures, such that the multi-button mouse users will envy you 🙂