solved Can Alfred send keystrokes to applications?

[Toontje]

I want to send keystrokes to OBS Studio to switch scenes. Is this possible?

[vitor]

Seems like you’re looking for the Dispatch Key Combo Output. Do note sending keystrokes falls into GUI automation, which can be finicky. If they have a programatic way to do what you want, that would be preferable as it’s more reliable.

[Vero]

17 hours ago, Toontje said:

I want to send keystrokes to OBS Studio to switch scenes. Is this possible?

 

Have a look at whether it can be scripted instead, which would be a more reliable way to control it. I have a vague recollection that it can be, from looking into it a few years ago.

[Toontje]

Thanks!!

[Tekl]

I'm also looking for a way to send keys to processes like BetterTouchTool can do. Using System Events in AppleScript does need the process to be frontmost. Maybe someone knows how to use AppleScriptObjC to solve this? Maybe something using CGEventCreateKeyboardEvent.

[Tekl]

Well, this swift script seems to work (it sends Cmd+Up to Roon), but it only works when the Command Line Tools are installed.

 

#!/usr/bin/env swift
import Cocoa

func sendShortcutToProcess(bundleIdentifier: String, keyCode: CGKeyCode, modifierFlags: CGEventFlags) {
    if let targetProcess = NSRunningApplication.runningApplications(withBundleIdentifier: bundleIdentifier).first {
        let pid = targetProcess.processIdentifier
        guard let eventSource = CGEventSource(stateID: .hidSystemState) else {
            print("Failed to create event source")
            return
        }
        
        let keyDownEvent = CGEvent(keyboardEventSource: eventSource, virtualKey: keyCode, keyDown: true)!
        keyDownEvent.flags = modifierFlags
        keyDownEvent.postToPid(pid)
        
        let keyUpEvent = CGEvent(keyboardEventSource: eventSource, virtualKey: keyCode, keyDown: false)!
        keyUpEvent.flags = modifierFlags
        keyUpEvent.postToPid(pid)
    }
}

// Usage: Call the function with the desired bundle identifier, key code, and modifier flags
sendShortcutToProcess(bundleIdentifier: "com.roon.Roon", keyCode: 126, modifierFlags: .maskCommand)

 

[vitor]

2 minutes ago, Tekl said:

but it only works when the Command Line Tools are installed.

 

Unless you compile it to a binary.

 

Having the Command Line Tools isn’t an issue, though.

[Stephen_C]

6 minutes ago, Tekl said:

it sends Cmd+Up to Roon

A simple workflow that allows volume control of Roon from Alfred without bringing the Roon app to the front would be of interest, I'm sure, to some of us. 😉

 

Stephen

[Tekl]

54 minutes ago, vitor said:

 

Unless you compile it to a binary.

 

Having the Command Line Tools isn’t an issue, though.

Ah, good idea. But then changing scripts is more complicated and compiling Is not enough. I have to codesign and notarize it. And I don't know how to compile universal binaries. Sorry, I'm no developer, I don't want it complicated. 😁 It seems that a corresponding makefile will be bigger than the simple swift script. 

[Tekl]

1 hour ago, Stephen_C said:

A simple workflow that allows volume control of Roon from Alfred without bringing the Roon app to the front would be of interest, I'm sure, to some of us. 😉

 

Stephen

Here's my first version:

https://tekl.de/downloads/alfred-workflows/Volume Control for Roon.alfredworkflow

[Stephen_C]

Many thanks for that. I'll probably not now have the chance to try it until tomorrow morning (UK time) but will definitely have a look at it. It was something I was thinking about only the other day but I'm much less of a programmer than you clearly are!

 

Stephen

[RickB]

I just downloaded this and it doesn't seem to be working.

 

It is registering that Roon is running, (it shows the volume up/down icon on the screen as the script indicates) but the volume doesn't change.

 

Any ideas?

[Stephen_C]

Welcome the forum.

 

I use that workflow daily and it works perfectly for me so we have to try to discover why it's not working for you.

 

To do that:

• make sure Roon is running;
• turn on the debugger;
• run the workflow and try to change the Roon volume.

Copy and paste the dbugger output into a new post in this thread so that we can take a look at it.

 

It might be helpful at the same time to confirm your macOS, Alfred and Roon version numbers.

 

Stephen

[RickB]

From the debugger I saw an xcrun error.  I reinstalled the Command Line tools and that fixed it!!

 

That was my first experience working with the Alfred debugger.  

 

Thanks for responding!!

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stephen_C]

I'm glad it's sorted: it's a really useful little workflow.

 

Stephen

[RickB]

So I tried editing the workflow to add a Play/Pause Roon. 

 

My thinking was that keycode 49 would send the spacebar to Roon.

 

I copied the workflow block, changed the keycode sent to 49 and updated the on-screen message.

 

When I run it, I get the on-screen message so it's triggering, but nothing happens with Roon.

 

Any ideas?

 

 

[Stephen_C]

1 hour ago, RickB said:

So I tried editing the workflow to add a Play/Pause Roon. 

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Swift. I simply use the pause function key on my MacBook Pro keyboard which works when Roon is playing.

 

Stephen