In Menu shortcut override Global shortcut

[beefeater7]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
I'm working on a 'global' hotkey that adapts to its environment. If CopyQ focused, do X, if not, do Y. This is how far I got.

[Command]
Name=Contextual Shortcut
Command="
    copyq:
    popup(str(input()) || str(clipboard()))"
Input=text/plain
InMenu=true
IsGlobalShortcut=true
Icon=\xf15b
Shortcut=shift+f3, shift+f4
GlobalShortcut=shift+f4

• Try S-F3 in app, S-F4 outside app: Works.
• Try S-F4 in app. input() falls through to clipboard() because Global overrides App.

Describe the solution you'd like
S-F4 works like S-F3 when app is focused.

Describe alternatives you've considered
I can always use S-F3 and S-F4 depending on context, but this seems neater.

Another option is to let Global shortcuts access app functions like input, if application is focused.

[pbodnar]

@beefeater7, this is an interesting problem. In the Convert Markdown to ... command, I fallback to copy() + clipboard() if not getting anything from input(), so the command works from the main window (i. e. "application") as well, even though I define just a global shortcut for the command. But yes, it would be nice to find an easier way of how to handle those situations, maybe like you suggest:

Another option is to let Global shortcuts access app functions like input, if application is focused.

[beefeater7]

That's a nice workaround @pbodnar.

[beefeater7]

I actually thought I had a magic solution here - the temporary kind at least...

[Command]
Name=Workaround
Command="
    copyq:
    var winTitle = currentWindowTitle().match(/- (.*?)$/)
    var program = winTitle[winTitle.length-1]
    
    if (program == 'CopyQ') {
        popup(program)
        copy()
    }
    
    popup(str(clipboard()))"
Input=text/plain
IsGlobalShortcut=true
Icon=\xf15b
GlobalShortcut=shift+f4

Using the copy()+clipboard() idea as base, I fleshed it out with some checks. This doesn't actually work though. 80% of the time, this triggers an error when used in the application. (the regex works fine though, feel free to use it)

ScriptError: Exception in command "Workaround": Failed to copy to clipboard!

[beefeater7]

Ok, this is getting weird. It's safe to say we need a proper fix at this point. @pbodnar, you sure that trick is working for you?

[Command]
Name=input() substitute
Command="
    copyq:
    copy()
    popup(clipboard())
    
    //<EMPTY> leads to ScriptError
    //Copy in application once doesn't work,
    //but spamming the command 
    //allows items to pass through"
IsGlobalShortcut=true
Icon=\xf15b
GlobalShortcut=shift+f4

[hluk]

Let me share a few hints. I'm not exactly sure what you need to do, but I hope this helps.

You can use focused() to check if the CopyQ main window has focus.

You can also check, if needed, the shortcut that triggered the command:

var shortcut = str(data(mimeShortcut))
if (shortcut == "shift+f4")
    ...

The input() returns a valid value only when the command is triggered from main window (not by a global shortcut) or ran from command line.

The copy() without any arguments basically sends Ctrl+C to current window, it raises the exception (Failed to copy) in case it doesn't detect clipboard change in an interval.

See also: https://copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/scripting-api.html

[pbodnar]

Using the copy()+clipboard() idea as base, I fleshed it out with some checks. This doesn't actually work though. 80% of the time, this triggers an error when used in the application. (the regex works fine though, feel free to use it)

ScriptError: Exception in command "Workaround": Failed to copy to clipboard!
...
Ok, this is getting weird. It's safe to say we need a proper fix at this point. @pbodnar, you sure that trick is working for you?

In fact for me (on Windows 10), this seems to depend on the shortcut used. When using for example shift+f4, copy() always succeeds. But when using meta+alt+c, it looks like Windows or something steals focus from the actual window if the c key is not released fast enough, co copy() fails possibly because of that. Maybe file a new issue for that? I was too lazy to do that previously. ;)

@hluk, thanks for your useful tips, mainly the focused() function can come handy, it seems...

[beefeater7]

@hluk Huh, I completely overlooked the mimetype variables, thanks! However focused() doesn't help here.

[Command]
Name=Check Focus
Command="
    copyq:
    if (focused()) {
        copy()
    }
    popup(clipboard())
"
IsGlobalShortcut=true
Icon=\xf15b
GlobalShortcut=ctrl+\xa7, shift+f4

@pbodnar This issue actually lies at the core of this. It was resolved in a past commit, but I hopped on a later build without the fix.

I tried pressing the hotkeys super quick and the script works. With v3.12.0 in the pipeline it's a done deal.

However, my feature request stands. It would be useful for app menu shortcuts to override global.

[hluk]

I tried pressing the hotkeys super quick and the script works. With v3.12.0 in the pipeline it's a done deal.

Glad it works for you. Version 3.12.0 is fresh out of the press! :)

However, my feature request stands. It would be useful for app menu shortcuts to override global.

I'll take a look into this if I have time. But currently I don't see this as being a big problem since I don't see benefit in using both application and global shortcut in the commands I used or have created in the past.

[hluk]

Changing it to following:

If global shortcut for a menu command is triggered when the main window
is active, the command will be executed as if it has been triggered from
menu - i.e. with item selection and item data available.

Basically, if you check "In Menu" and "Global Shortcut" in a command and press the global shortcut when the main window has focus, then input(), currentItem() and similar functions will work.

Does it make sense?

[beefeater7]

Absolutely! Nice one 😄