On OS X you can use an AppleScript to launch the app then create a new doc based on your settings. I've used this approach extensively, though not to create new docs.

On OS X you can use an AppleScript to launch the app then create a new doc based on your settings. I've used this approach extensively, though not to create new docs.

I haven't written AS in a while so I'll leave the complicated stuff to a more qualified person. But I can give you some example solutions.

1. To launch the app or just activate it:
   launch application "Adobe Illustrator"
2. Direct AS to the file you want to open (like a template) with a path or a prompt like so:
   set theDoc to choose file with prompt "Select the document"
3. Then tell Illy to open the file:
   tell application "Adobe Illustrator" to open theDoc

You can also set up some options to present in a prompt when the script is launched.

• Choose between opening various common template files without the prompt
• Create a new doc with the default settings
• Point the applescript to a javascript that steps in once the Finder interaction is over
• Activate a specific Workspace, depending on the project you're working on
• Synchronize settings with a server or Dropbox directory

Spending a little time setting up the script at the start can result in noticeable cumulative time savings.