Double tap p to dollar working but not ideal .. currently requires delete or backspace.

[momomo]

I have the following below, with an attempt to output p for normal typing, and $ for double tap.

This works, but currently requires me to delete the p that is being as well as the dollar output.

Is there another way? Tested a bunch of options.

If you propose something, please make sure to test it first as one might think something works, but in reality Karabiner does not behave as one expect it to do.

         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
        // Double p to dollar. 
        // However was not able to pull it off without delete_or_backspace.   
        ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////   
        {
                "type": "basic",
                "conditions": [
                        { "type": "variable_if", "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": 1 }
                ],
                
                "from": { "key_code": "p" },
                
                "to": [ 
                        { "key_code": "delete_or_backspace", "modifiers": [ "left_shift" ] }, 
                        { "key_code": "4", "modifiers": [ "left_shift" ] } 
                ],
                
                "to_after_key_up": [
                        { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": 0 } }
                ]
        },                                                                 
        {
                "type": "basic",
                "from": { "key_code": "p" },
                
                "to": [  
                        { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": 1 } },
                        { "key_code": "p" }
                        
                ],
                
                "to_delayed_action": {
                        "to_if_invoked": [
                                { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": 0 } }
                        ],
                        "to_if_canceled": [
                                { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": 0 } }
                        ]
                },
                
                "parameters": { "basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds": 150 }
        }

[tekezo]

Thanks for the feedback. This requires a feature introduced in the beta version.
I’ve added an example, so please try replicating it.

https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/json/typical-complex-modifications-examples/#change-double-press-of-q-to-escape

How to upgrade to the latest beta version:

[momomo]

@tekezo

That update overwrote my entire karabiner file!

{
"global": {
"check_for_updates_on_startup": false,
"show_profile_name_in_menu_bar": true
},
"profiles": [
{
"name": "Default profile",
"selected": true,
"virtual_hid_keyboard": { "keyboard_type_v2": "ansi" }
}
]
}

I should be able to restore it but not great!

[momomo]

It does even when I replace it and restart the application!

[momomo]

I think that when it detects an error on startup on teh karabiner file it will default to cleaning it away.

This is an issue that only works for first time installers or launchers.

If there is already a working karabiner version, karabiner will not switch nor replace. Just log the error.

But if you are launching karabiner and there is an error, bye bye!

Probably should be fixed!

[momomo]

This is working:

        ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
        // Double p to dollar. 
        // However was not able to pull it off without delete_or_backspace.
        ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////   
        {
                "type": "basic",
                "conditions": [
                        { "type": "variable_if", "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": true }
                ],
                
                "from": {
                        "key_code": "p"
                },
                
                "to": [
                        { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": false } },
                        { "key_code": "4", "modifiers": [ "left_shift" ] }
                ]
                
        },
        
        {
                "type": "basic",
                "from": {
                        "key_code": "p"
                },
                
                "to": [{ "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": true } }],
                
                "to_delayed_action": {
                        "to_if_invoked": [
                                {
                                        "key_code": "p",
                                        "conditions": [
                                                {
                                                        "type": "variable_if",
                                                        "name": "mmm.p.dollar",
                                                        "value": true
                                                }
                                        ]
                                },
                                { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": false } }
                        ],
                        "to_if_canceled": [
                                {
                                        "key_code": "p",
                                        "conditions": [
                                                {
                                                        "type": "variable_if",
                                                        "name": "mmm.p.dollar",
                                                        "value": true
                                                }
                                        ]
                                },
                                { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": false } }
                        ]
                },
                
                "parameters": { "basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds": 175 }
        }
        
        ```
        
        Note that the optional:['any']  in the example does no good and leads to weird behaviour ... for this case i don't see why any kind of combo should be allowed. 

[momomo]

@tekezo How come karabiner does not su$port ( first issue with the idea of double p encountered!) the output of say swedish characters?

Is there soem technical limitation as to why that doesn't work?

Can one not provide utf or unicode chars? I see in the docs output of japanese characters work, but I couldn't get that to work either!

[tekezo]

It's simply a matter of differing responsibilities.

The role of a keyboard device is to pass scancodes to the OS, and interpreting those scancodes as specific characters is the responsibility of macOS's Input Source.
Since Karabiner-Elements functions as a virtual keyboard device, it only sends scancodes and doesn't inherently carry character information. This means that even Japanese characters cannot be directly output.

Therefore, character output must be handled on the input source side, or scancodes that the input source can interpret to produce the desired character must be sent from Karabiner-Elements. For example, sending option+t to output †.

[momomo]

But why don't you allow us to send any scancode by us to be interpreted OS, like relevant scan code out for Swedish, or Japanese characters then?

One can then figure out what they are and type them in from a de-serializable string.

I can get a keyboard that comes with ÅÄÖ ... so karabiner should be able to be such a virtual keyboard, no?

Although I understand your point, but it would be nice if karabiner was the ultimate force. Its much more rigid to use ukulele where karabiner is a good tool to iterate with.

The thing is that currently also karabiner limits the amount of target keys we can use to map things to ... and we have four mods, shift, control, option, command to play with ... any combo of these might lead to conflicts when setting up a super or severalother mod keys for different layers.

[momomo]

I changed it to slash ... however I noticed that on double tap and hold ... the output leads to many dollars ... it should be on release only and only if not previously held down.

[momomo]

Latest working version:

        ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
        // Double quote to dollar
        ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
           
        {
                "conditions": [ { "type": "variable_if", "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": true } ],
                
                "from": { "key_code": "quote" },
                
                "to": [{ "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": false } }, { "key_code": "4", "modifiers": [ "left_shift" ] }], "type": "basic"
        },
        
        {
                "from": { "key_code": "quote" },
                
                "to": [{ "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": true } }],
                
                "to_delayed_action": {
                        "to_if_invoked": [
                                { "key_code": "quote", "conditions": [{"type": "variable_if", "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": true}]},
                                { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": false } }
                        ],
                        "to_if_canceled": [
                                { "key_code": "quote", "conditions": [{"type": "variable_if", "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": true}]},
                                { "set_variable": { "name": "mmm.p.dollar", "value": false } }
                        ]
                },
                
                "parameters": { "basic.to_delayed_action_delay_milliseconds": 150 }, "type": "basic"
        }