Changes to "Type Text (Simulate typing text)" Automation Task

[paulw]

I have two suggestions for the "Type Text (Simulate typing text)" Automation Task:

 

1. Accept {clipboard} as a variable for typing. Currently, the task accepts a defined variable like {var:some_variable}, but using {clipboard} types the literal.
2. Allow typing line feeds. Currently, whether the input is direct in the task, or uses a variable, line feeds are skipped.

Edited June 14 by paulw

[vitor]

2 hours ago, paulw said:

Accept {clipboard} as a variable for typing. Currently, the task accepts a defined variable like {var:some_variable}, but using {clipboard} types the literal.

 

That would have larger consequences for other Automation Tasks. You can use an Arg and Vars Utility right before to send the clipboard.

 

2 hours ago, paulw said:

Allow typing line feeds. Currently, whether the input is direct in the task, or uses a variable, line feeds are skipped.

 

Can I get an example? If you mean literally typing \n, that’s not something which is likely to be added because the goal of the Automation Task is to literally (simulate) type the keys one by one, interpreting codes is out of scope and would be quite complex. You can add a literal newline to the text to have it reproduced.

[paulw]

13 minutes ago, vitor said:

That would have larger consequences for other Automation Tasks. You can use an Arg and Vars Utility right before to send the clipboard.

Ok, understood, thanks.

 

13 minutes ago, vitor said:

You can add a literal newline to the text to have it reproduced.

It turns out it was in VSCode that literal newlines were ignored. In TextEdit, they're reproduced. Do you happen to have any idea why that might be, and/or if there's a way around it?

[vitor]

Unfortunately not, I don’t use VSCode. I’d try lowering the typing speed. Why use this there, though? For VSCode something like pasting directly with a Copy to Clipboard Output should work better. This Automation Task is more useful for situations where pasting isn’t permitted (such as some web forms).

[paulw]

Slower typing speed doesn't change it. But good point, it's not necessary there anyway, I was just obsessively considering it a problem. Thanks!