Just hit "command space" and start typing the application name you want to start. then "return" to start it. I stopped using the doc many years ago to launch.

Just hit "command space" and start typing the application name you want to start. then "return" to start it. I stopped using the doc many years ago to launch. Occasionally its useful for dragging files into an editor or such. There was an app called "quick silver" https://qsapp.com https://qsapp.com was a similar keyboard launcher.