Change "Select the next result in the list" hotkey from "↓" to "TAB"

[timonbimon 2]

When looking at search results in Alfred I'd like to be able to cycle through them with a Tab, instead of with the up and down arrows. (With TAB, my hand does not need to change position). Is there a way to achieve this? 

Thanks a lot!
Timon

[Mr Pennyworth 46]

Quite likely not possible with just Alfred.

If you don't mind using https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ which is free and open source, it is easy.

 

Note: for this to work, you'll have to set Alfred Preferences > Appearance > Options > Focusing to "Compatibility Mode"

 

Just add the following rule to ~/.config/karabiner/karabiner.json:

{
  "description": "Tab as down arrow in Alfred",
  "manipulators": [
    {
      "conditions": [
        {
          "bundle_identifiers": [
            "^com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred"
          ],
          "type": "frontmost_application_if"
        }
      ],
      "from": {
        "key_code": "tab"
      },
      "to": [
        {
          "key_code": "down_arrow"
        }
      ],
      "type": "basic"
    }
  ]
}

 

For reference, here's an example of how the entire file would look like:

{
  "global": {
    "check_for_updates_on_startup": true,
    "show_in_menu_bar": true,
    "show_profile_name_in_menu_bar": false
  },
  "profiles": [
    {
      "complex_modifications": {
        "parameters": {
          "basic.simultaneous_threshold_milliseconds": 50,
          "basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds": 500,
          "basic.to_if_alone_timeout_milliseconds": 1000,
          "basic.to_if_held_down_threshold_milliseconds": 500,
          "mouse_motion_to_scroll.speed": 100
        },
        "rules": [
          {
            "description": "Tab as down arrow in Alfred",
            "manipulators": [
              {
                "conditions": [
                  {
                    "bundle_identifiers": [
                      "^com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred"
                    ],
                    "type": "frontmost_application_if"
                  }
                ],
                "from": {
                  "key_code": "tab"
                },
                "to": [
                  {
                    "key_code": "down_arrow"
                  }
                ],
                "type": "basic"
              }
            ]
          },
        ]
      },
      "devices": [],
      "fn_function_keys": [
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f1"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "display_brightness_decrement"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f2"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "display_brightness_increment"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f3"
          },
          "to": {
            "key_code": "mission_control"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f4"
          },
          "to": {
            "key_code": "launchpad"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f5"
          },
          "to": {
            "key_code": "illumination_decrement"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f6"
          },
          "to": {
            "key_code": "illumination_increment"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f7"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "rewind"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f8"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "play_or_pause"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f9"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "fastforward"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f10"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "mute"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f11"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "volume_decrement"
          }
        },
        {
          "from": {
            "key_code": "f12"
          },
          "to": {
            "consumer_key_code": "volume_increment"
          }
        }
      ],
      "name": "Default profile",
      "parameters": {
        "delay_milliseconds_before_open_device": 1000
      },
      "selected": true,
      "simple_modifications": [],
      "virtual_hid_keyboard": {
        "country_code": 0,
        "mouse_key_xy_scale": 100
      }
    }
  ]
}

 

Edited February 15 by Mr Pennyworth

[deanishe 1,449]

16 hours ago, timonbimon said:

Is there a way to achieve this?

 

TAB is already used for autocomplete or File Actions. If you re-assign it via a hack (as above), you'll break some of Alfred's functionality.

 

You can use ^P and ^N (previous and next) instead.

[timonbimon 2]

Thanks for the answer! And yes I'm aware. Changing the autocomplete to instead looping through the results is exactly what I'd like to achieve (never really understood the point of the autocomplete?)

Edited February 15 by timonbimon

[deanishe 1,449]

Just now, timonbimon said:

never really understood the point of the autocomplete?

 

It's primarily useful in workflows that supply suggestions, not answers (e.g. search suggestions), or where you can drill down, like Alfred's file-navigation mode.

[timonbimon 2]

Ah ok that makes sense! I guess I haven't been using any of those yet