Troubleshoot workflow hotkey fails silently

[aaronsurrain]

I can't get a simple workflow with a Hotkey (^⌘T) and a Launch Apps/Files (iTerm) to work. When I type the hotkey it fails silently. The one exception seems to be that if I type the hotkey when I'm in finder and no finder window has the focus, the OS dings as it would had I typed any unassociated hot key (⌘V, for instance).

 

In Alfred preferences I have tried many other hotkey character combinations, changed the argument and passthrough settings, linked it to other apps, and watched the debug window but nothing seems to affect it and nothing appears in the debug window except for the default text: Starting debug for 'Apps'.

 

I have another computer that is set up similarly to the computer I'm having trouble with and am having the same trouble.

 

I could use any tips on troubleshooting basic stuff like how to see if (and which) other apps are conflicting with Alfred or if there is a more general log for Alfred that might have a clue about what's going on.

 

Thank you,

Aaron

-- NORMAL --

[raguay.customct]

It sounds like you have the "Argument" set to "OS Selection" on your hotkey and you do not have the hotkey box connected to the "Launch Apps/Files".  Or, you have the action in the hotkey to "Show Alfred". If the action isn't "Pass through" then the next block will not be triggered.

[aaronsurrain]

Thanks for the ideas of things to check, but they were all set as you advised and it's still not working. Argument is none, HotKey box is connected to Launch Apps/Files, and HotKey action is Pass Through to Workflow.

 

Sorry about my delayed response. Either I missed the email or I didn't know you have to follow conversations your start, which I did now so I should be quicker to reply.

 

Thanks again,

Aaron

-- NORMAL --

Edited February 19, 2016 by aaronsurrain

[Vero]

 

Thanks for the ideas of things to check, but they were all set as you advised and it's still not working. Argument is none, HotKey box is connected to Launch Apps/Files, and HotKey action is Pass Through to Workflow.

 

Sorry about my delayed response. Either I missed the email or I didn't know you have to follow conversations your start, which I did now so I should be quicker to reply.

 

Thanks again,

Aaron

-- NORMAL --

 

 

 

Could you either share your workflow, or screenshots of the workflow and the hotkey's settings so that we can take a look?

[aaronsurrain]

Thanks!

 

My attempts to upload png screenshots are met errors. If there's another way to share a workflow, can you walk me through it or direct me to instructions?

[Vero]

 

Thanks!

 

My attempts to upload png screenshots are met errors. If there's another way to share a workflow, can you walk me through it or direct me to instructions?

 

 

 

You can upload it to Dropbox and use the shareable link here or you can pop it into an email to info@alfredapp com and I'll help you out directly (though the latter could take longer, as there are clever people here in the forum 24/7, while I sometimes need to sleep in order to stay clever )

[aaronsurrain]

Here's a link to 4 screenshots on DropBox.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6ilavys13amyiap/AAB570R3PE5I2R9hqrRzKDHfa?dl=0

 

Thanks!

Aaron

-- NORMAL --

[rice.shawn]

While this doesn't address the problem of why it's not working, you could always just attach the hotkey to a Run Script (type Bash) with the contents:

open /Applications/iTerm.app

[Vero]

 

Here's a link to 4 screenshots on DropBox.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6ilavys13amyiap/AAB570R3PE5I2R9hqrRzKDHfa?dl=0

 

Thanks!

Aaron

-- NORMAL --

 

 

 

Have you tried using a different hotkey, in case there's a clash with that particular hotkey?

 

Also, there are a few versions of iTerm out there - As far as I can see, the app seems to be correct as the app icon is there, but try removing and dragging the app back in to ensure the path to it is correct?

 

Let me know how you get on

[aaronsurrain]

-- NORMAL --

I have tried many different hotkey combos. Hooking the hotkey to a bash script also didn't help. Removing the app and dragging it on, as well as trying many different apps didn't help.

 

Is there a log I should send someone or pick at myself? Is there any way to systematically see where it's failing?

 

Thanks!

Aaron

[Vero]

 

-- NORMAL --

I have tried many different hotkey combos. Hooking the hotkey to a bash script also didn't help. Removing the app and dragging it on, as well as trying many different apps didn't help.

 

Is there a log I should send someone or pick at myself? Is there any way to systematically see where it's failing?

 

Thanks!

Aaron

 

 

 

Pop an email to info@alfredapp com with a copy of your workflow so that I can take a look.

 

Cheers,

Vero

[aaronsurrain]

I have new information that might help.

 

The hotkey I'm trying to use is control+command+T which, when I have finder open, works for finder. It adds the current folder to the sidebar. When I created a new account on my mac and made the same hotkey, Alfred recognized it. The same conflict existed on the new account, but Alfred prevailed. But on my primary user account, Alfred is no match for finder. In our last exchange, it was suggested that I have another hotkey conflict, but I think this demonstrates that I do not because that conflict would have also intercepted my hotkey before finder could get it. Finder is getting the hotkey that Alfred should be intercepting.

 

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you,

Aaron

[Andrew]

 

I have new information that might help.

 

 

 

You are referring to a Finder keyboard shortcut which is different to a globally registered hotkey. Globally registered hotkeys should always take precedence over application shortcut keys as they are intercepted by OS X and passed to the app which has registered them instead.

 

In your case, it's like the hotkey has been intercepted before being passed to Alfred - I suspect that there is something installed on your main user profile(s) which is doing this.

 

Vero will reply to your email shortly

 

Cheers,

Andrew

[aaronsurrain]

-- NORMAL --

Andrew,

 

Thanks for weighing in.

 

I think I understand what you're saying, but I can't reconcile it with my understanding. If globally registered hotkeys take precedence over application keyboard shortcuts like finder, then I would think an application that is blocking Alfred from hearing the key press would also block finder from hearing it. How would a conflicting process hear the key press, do nothing itself, then pass it down the chain in such a way that it skipped Alfred but not skip the lower priority application? It just seems to me like Alfred is not successfully registering hotkeys for workflows.

 

I haven't gotten through Vero's instruction to quit processes until Alfred works again. I'll be working on that next.

 

Thank you,

Aaron