Triggers
Triggers are the secret sauce that makes Keyboard Cowboy such an indispensable tool. They are commands that activate specific workflows, either through keyboard shortcuts or application-based instructions.
Imagine being able to perform complex operations with a few keystrokes. With keyboard shortcut triggers, this is no longer a dream, but a reality.
Keyboard Cowboy is a tool that utilizes triggers to activate specific workflows. These triggers can be either keyboard shortcut triggers, which are sequences of keystrokes, or application triggers, which run automatically based on the user's configuration.
Unique features include a 'passthrough' function, which allows events to reach the system events handler, and a 'Hold for X seconds' function, which requires the user to hold down a keyboard shortcut for a set period before activating a workflow.
Triggers in Keyboard Cowboy are essentially commands that are waiting to be activated. There are two main types of triggers: keyboard shortcut triggers and application triggers.
Keyboard shortcut triggers are sequences of keystrokes that activate specific workflows when executed in the correct order. This feature offers flexibility as it allows users to define global single keystroke triggers or more complex sequences tailored to their specific needs.
This option indicates whether the command should be repeated if the key is held down. It can be useful for enabling keyboard rebindings.
If you have multiple shortcuts that start with the same sequence and you enable 'Keep Last Partial Match', it'll keep that as the path for shortcuts until you release all the modifiers. So, as long as you keep the modifiers pressed, you can run the commands that are bundled together.
Keyboard Cowboy offers a unique feature known as 'passthrough'. When a keyboard shortcut trigger is marked as passthrough, the event that follows will always reach the system events handler. This means that Keyboard Cowboy will not intercept the event and prevent it from moving forward.
Another feature of Keyboard Cowboy is the 'Hold for X seconds' function. This feature requires the user to hold down the keyboard shortcut for a specified number of seconds before the workflow is executed. This adds an extra layer of verification to ensure that the workflow is not activated accidentally.
Application triggers in Keyboard Cowboy work as an automation tool. Depending on your configuration, these triggers can automatically run when you launch or quit an application, or when an application becomes the front-most application on your screen.
Support is available for adding multiple applications as triggers.
Snippet triggers are sequences of characters that activate specific workflows when typed.
Keyboard Cowboy is continuously evolving, with plans to introduce more contextual triggers in the future. This will further enhance the user's ability to customize their workflows and improve their overall productivity.