Don't feel like moving the mouse up to the menu bar? Then try a keyboard shortcut instead. Open System Preferences and click on Keyboard & Mouse. Navigate to the Keyboard Shortcuts pane and click on the plus (+) sign below the list of existing shortcuts. Choose iTunes as the Application, and enter Rate 6 Stars as the Menu Title (or whatever you named your script). In the Keyboard Shortcut field, enter the shortcut you want to use to run the script; I chose Command-Option-6. Click on Add, and you're done. From now on, you can press your chosen keyboard shortcut to activate the script.

Other uses

Not interested in expanding your track ratings? You can use the same method described to tag tracks that you want to listen to on your commute, mark tracks you don't like and want to delete, or find songs to which you'd like to add lyrics of artwork, to name a few. All you have to do is decide what comment text you want to use for each situation, and set up your script and playlist accordingly.

[Perceval McElhearn is an 18-year old Apple enthusiast and aspiring Web designer. His Web site will have something interesting soon.]