Allow {TAB} for Snippets

[hfr]

Hi,

 

I would like to auto-fill forms with Snippets (v.3). Therefore I'd like to use the TAB command to navigate from one field (e.g. name) to the next (e.g. address).

 

The example would be:

 

---

 

John Doe {TAB}

123 Fakestreet {TAB}

Mytown

 

---

 

Or is there already a workaround for that?

 

Thanks.

Edited May 18, 2016 by hfr

[fredcallaway]

Going further, it would be awesome to have arbitrary modifier keys as well, e.g. "this is {cmd+B} really {cmd+B} important."

[csaborio]

Yes, this would be amazing to have, +1.

[_Sascha_]

+1 | Like here suggested in example 2

[linuslundahl]

+1 on tab or ability to set delimiters.

[juliosecco]

I am afraid that nothing can be done on Alfred side,

but it's more a problem about how forms work.

You can already insert tabs in snippets but a form will not use them to change field, just like you can create in a text editor a string containing tabs and the forms will still not fill.

 

 

Hi,

 

I would like to auto-fill forms with Snippets (v.3). Therefore I'd like to use the TAB command to navigate from one field (e.g. name) to the next (e.g. address).

 

 

[hfr]

I am afraid that nothing can be done on Alfred side,

but it's more a problem about how forms work.

You can already insert tabs in snippets but a form will not use them to change field, just like you can create in a text editor a string containing tabs and the forms will still not fill.

 

I have no idea how complicated this would be - but it should be possible (see Typinator or KeepassX). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Edited May 22, 2016 by hfr

[juliosecco]

I have no idea how complicated this would be - but it should be possible (see Typinator or KeepassX). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Yes, I see now...

you are right, I did try Typinator and effectively is able to do it.

 

I believe that simple tabs in text does not work, but typinator is able to paste the first field and then simulate a tab key, and so on...

 

you are right is feasible

 

    Giulio

[fredcallaway]

> You can already insert tabs in snippets but a form will not use them to change field

 

I think there is confusion here between:

 

1. TAB to cycle between fields in an external form (on a webpage) 

2. TAB to cycle between fields of a snippet that has placeholders

[hfr]

> You can already insert tabs in snippets but a form will not use them to change field

 

I think there is confusion here between:

 

1. TAB to cycle between fields in an external form (on a webpage) 

2. TAB to cycle between fields of a snippet that has placeholders

 

I'm referring to option 1 - cycling through fields in an external form.

 

(Typinator is capable of doing that, Alfred not at the moment)

Edited May 27, 2016 by hfr

[Jay]

This is the reason I haven't moved all my snippets over from aText... would be awesome to have them all in one place, and Alfred makes them much more searchable.

[Jay]

Seems like this just needs to be combined with the new "dispatch key combo" workflow output. Would be awesome to include delays in snippets, too.

[deanishe]

I am afraid that nothing can be done on Alfred side,

but it's more a problem about how forms work.

You can already insert tabs in snippets but a form will not use them to change field, just like you can create in a text editor a string containing tabs and the forms will still not fill.

 

 

I'm not sure that's absolutely true.

 

I've had an issue with a Typinator snippet that should insert the symbol for Backspace but instead performs a backspace and deletes the preceding character.

 

That's most likely a bug, but it also shows that snippet expanders can "perform" a TAB as well as insert one.

[hfr]

Seems like this just needs to be combined with the new "dispatch key combo" workflow output. Would be awesome to include delays in snippets, too.

 

Yes, that's what I thought, too. There is no way to combine this yet, is there?

Edited September 4, 2016 by hfr

[deanishe]

Yes, that's what I thought, too. There is no way to combine this yet, is there?

Only from the other direction, unfortunately. If you use AppleScript to keystroke a snippet keyword, Alfred expands the snippet.

 

So assuming zzname is a snippet Keyword for your name and zzemail is a snippet keyword for your email address, this AppleScript will type the snippet triggers (which Alfred or another snippet expander app will expand), tabbing between fields in between:

tell application "System Events"
    keystroke "zzname"
    delay 0.3
    -- Simulate TAB keypress
    key code 48
    delay 0.1
    keystroke "zzemail"
    delay 0.3
end tell

Nowhere near as convenient as kicking it off via a snippet Keyword, but it might be of use to somebody. Edited September 4, 2016 by deanishe

[hfr]

Only from the other direction, unfortunately. If you use AppleScript to keystroke a snippet keyword, Alfred expands the snippet.

 

So assuming zzname is a snippet Keyword for your name and zzemail is a snippet keyword for your email address, this AppleScript will type the snippet triggers (which Alfred or another snippet expander app will expand), tabbing between fields in between:

tell application "System Events"
    keystroke "zzname"
    delay 0.3
    -- Simulate TAB keypress
    key code 48
    delay 0.1
    keystroke "zzemail"
    delay 0.3
end tell

Nowhere near as convenient as kicking it off via a snippet Keyword, but it might be of use to somebody.

 

 

Thanks for the workaround! Let's see what future updates will bring.