JabeKay

Thanks for you response.

I suspected Excel's load time was to blame but the wording in the config seemed to offer a solution. Especially as I only had one application in that action. 

I'm something of a novice with workflows, admittedly. Perhaps it may be worth updating the config dialog box or the help page (http://support.alfredapp.com/workflows:config:actions-launch-apps-files) to include your above response?

A little more clarity might help others trying to get to grips with this functionality.

In the meantime I'll look into 'delay' in applescript.

Thanks again.

I've created a workflow that opens several webpages and an excel spreadsheet. 

Ideally the workflow would end with the webpages in Safari active (to the front).

I've checked the 'toggle visibility' box on the config screen of the 'Launch Apps / Files' action which launches Excel.

But it doesn't work. It doesn't hide Excel like I assume it should.

When the workflow ends the spreadsheet is always hovering over the webpages.

A little help?

Typing the keyword "email" brings up the Apple Mail icon even when the default mail client is set to Outlook for Mac.

Hitting return after adding a contact name to the string launches Outlook for Mac.