tab as modifier?

[karkraeg]

Hi! Is it possible to use the tab key as a modifier in combination with other keys and as tab key when pressed alone? Right now, when I use something like hs.hotkey.bind(tab, 's', function() hs.application.launchOrFocus("Safari") end) I can launch or focus Safari by pressing tab and s but I still press tab everytime…

[karkraeg]

Not relevant

[jhegedus42]

i would like to know how to do this as well.... any hints ?

[karkraeg]

Hi @jhegedus42 I did not pursue this, I was trying to recreate the Karabiner Applauncher Mode with Hammerspoon in 10.12 but since I didn’t find anything I let go of the idea. If you should be successfull keep me posted 😉

[jhegedus42]

myModifierMode = hs.hotkey.modal.new()

myModifierMode:bind({}, 'b', 
  function()
    myModifierMode.triggered = true
    -- do something
    hs.notify.new({title="Hammerspoon", informativeText="Hello World"}):send()
  end
)
	
myModifier = hs.hotkey.bind({}, "tab",
  function()
    myModifierMode:enter()
    myModifierMode.triggered = false
  end,
  function()
    myModifierMode:exit()
    if not myModifierMode.triggered then
      myModifier:disable()
      hs.eventtap.keyStroke({}, "tab")
      myModifier:enable()
    end
  end
)	

seems to work ...

[karkraeg]

Wow, thanks! Works nice to launch Apps. However, if they are already running I now can switch to them but it’ll press tab once nonetheless. Anyhow, great to be able to use tab as a modifier now!

[knu]

You probably need to change myModifier:enable() to something like hs.timer.doAfter(0.1, function() myModifier:enable() end) because the key stroke generated above is sent after the enclosing function exits.

[jhegedus42]

this is an example for more bindings (with repeating key functionality):
(took me a while to get this right)

this way you can implement home row keys, diamond navigation, whatever....

replacement for karabiners keyoverlaid modifier

myModifierMode = hs.hotkey.modal.new()

function binder(from,to,mods)
	local function f ()
	    myModifierMode.triggered = true
	    hs.eventtap.keyStroke(mods, to, 1000) 
  	end
	myModifierMode:bind({}, from, f,nil,f )
end
	
myModifier = hs.hotkey.bind({}, "tab",
  function()
    myModifierMode:enter()
    myModifierMode.triggered = false
  end,
  function()
    myModifierMode:exit()
    if not myModifierMode.triggered then
      myModifier:disable()
      hs.eventtap.keyStroke({}, "tab")
      myModifier:enable()
    end
  end
)		
			

binder('b','c')																																									
binder('e','t')		

[jhegedus42]

for two modifier keys this was the best i could do:

 function builder(mmm,key,var)
	 var = hs.hotkey.bind({}, key,
	  function()
	    mmm:enter()
	    mmm.triggered = false
	  end,
	  function()
	    mmm:exit()
	    if not mmm.triggered then
	      var:disable()
	      hs.eventtap.keyStroke({}, key)
	      var	:enable()
	    end
	  end
	)
end


		

function binder(from,to,mods,mmm)
	local function f ()
	    mmm.triggered = true
	    hs.eventtap.keyStroke(mods, to, 1000) 
  	end
	mmm:bind({}, from, f,nil,f )
end
								
mmtab = hs.hotkey.modal.new()
mm1=builder(mmtab,"tab")

mmz = hs.hotkey.modal.new()
mm2=builder(mmz,"z")

binder('b','c',nil,mmtab)																																									
binder('e','t',nil, mmtab)																																															
		
binder('b','c',nil,mmz)																																									
binder('e','t',nil, mmz)