Class `awful.keygrabber`

A keyboard grabbing and transaction object.

This module allows to grab all keyboard inputs until stopped. It is used to gather input data (such as in awful.prompt), implement VI-like keybindings or multi key transactions such as emulating the Alt+Tab behavior.

Note that this module has been redesigned in Awesome 4.3 to be object oriented and stateful. The use of the older global keygrabbing API is discouraged going forward since it had problem with recursive keygrabbers and required a lot of boiler plate code to get anything done.

Using keygrabber as transactions

The transactional keybindings are keybindings that start with a normal keybindings, but only end when a (mod)key is released. In the classic “Alt+Tab” transaction, first pressing “Alt+Tab” will display a popup listing all windows (clients). This popup will only disappear when “Alt” is released.

awful.keygrabber {
    keybindings = {
        {{'Mod1'         }, 'Tab', awful.client.focus.history.select_previous},
        {{'Mod1', 'Shift'}, 'Tab', awful.client.focus.history.select_next    },
    },
    -- Note that it is using the key name and not the modifier name.
    stop_key           = 'Mod1',
    stop_event         = 'release',
    start_callback     = awful.client.focus.history.disable_tracking,
    stop_callback      = awful.client.focus.history.enable_tracking,
    export_keybindings = true,
}

In that example, because export_keybindings is set to true, pressing alt+tab or alt+shift+tab will start the transaction even if the keygrabber is not (yet) running.

Using keygrabber for modal keybindings (VI like)

VI-like modal keybindings are trigerred by a key, like Escape, followed by either a number, an adjective (or noun) and closed by a verb. For example <Escape>+2+t+f could mean “focus (f) the second (2) tag (t)”. <Escape>+2+h+t+f would “focus (f) two (2) tags (t) to the right (h)”.

Here is a basic implementation of such a system. Note that the action functions themselves are not implemented to keep the example size and complexity to a minimum. The implementation is just if/elseif of all action and the code can be found in the normal rc.lua keybindings section:

local map, actions = {
    verbs = {
        m = 'move' , f = 'focus' , d = 'delete' , a = 'append',
        w = 'swap' , p = 'print' , n = 'new'    ,
    },
    adjectives = { h = 'left'  , j = 'down' , k = 'up'    , l = 'right' , },
    nouns      = { c = 'client', t = 'tag'  , s = 'screen', y = 'layout', },
}, {}

function actions.client(action, adj) print('IN CLIENT!') end --luacheck: no unused args
function actions.tag   (action, adj) print('IN TAG!'   ) end --luacheck: no unused args
function actions.screen(action, adj) print('IN SCREEN!') end --luacheck: no unused args
function actions.layout(action, adj) print('IN LAYOUT!') end --luacheck: no unused args

local function parse(_, stop_key, _, sequence)
    local parsed, count = { verbs = '', adjectives = '', nouns = '', }, ''
    sequence = sequence..stop_key

    for i=1, #sequence do
        local char = sequence:sub(i,i)
        if char >= '0' and char <= '9' then
            count = count .. char
        else
            for kind in pairs(parsed) do
                parsed[kind] = map[kind][char] or parsed[kind]
            end
        end
    end

    if parsed.nouns == '' then return end
    for _=1, count == '' and 1 or tonumber(count) do
        actions[parsed.nouns](parsed.verbs, parsed.adjectives)
    end
end

awful.keygrabber {
    stop_callback = parse,
    stop_key   = gears.table.keys(map.verbs),
    root_keybingins = {
        {{'Mod4'}, 'v'}
    },
}

Using signals

When the keygrabber is running, it will emit signals on each event. The format is “key_name”..“::”..“pressed_or_released”. For example, to attach a callback to Escape being pressed, do:

mykeygrabber:connect_signal("Escape::pressed", function(self, modifiers, modset)
    print("Escape called!")
end)

The self argument is the keygrabber instance. The modifiers is a list of all the currently pressed modifiers and the modset is the same table, but with the modifiers as keys instead of value. It allow to save time by checking if modset.Mod4 then … end instead of looping into the modifiers table or using gears.table.

Info:

Copyright: 2012 dodo,2017 Emmanuel Lepage Vallee
Author: dodo,Emmanuel Lepage Vallee <[email protected]>

Functions

awful.keygrabber (args)	A wrapper around the keygrabber to make it easier to add keybindings.
awful.keygrabber.run (g)	A lower level API to interact with the keygrabber directly.
awful.keygrabber.connect_signal (name, callback)	Connect to a signal for all keygrabbers at once.
awful.keygrabber.disconnect_signal (name, callback)	Disconnect to a signal for all keygrabbers at once.
awful.keygrabber.emit_signal (name, ...)	Emit a signal on the keygrabber module itself.

Object properties

timeout	The keygrabber timeout.
stop_key	The key on which the keygrabber listen to terminate itself.
stop_event	The event on which the keygrabbing will be terminated.
mask_event_callback	Whether or not to execute the key press/release callbacks when keybindings are called.
mask_modkeys	Do not call the callbacks on modifier keys (like `Control` or `Mod4`) events.
export_keybindings	Export all keygrabber keybindings as root (global) keybindings.
root_keybindings	The root (global) keybinding to start this keygrabber.
keybindings	The keybindings associated with this keygrabber.
allowed_keys	If any key is pressed that is not in this list, the keygrabber is stopped.
sequence	The sequence of keys recorded since the start of the keygrabber.

Signals

property::current_instance	The global signal used to track the current_instance.
started	When the keygrabber starts.
stopped	When the keygrabber stops.

Deprecated functions

awful.keygrabber.stop [deprecated]	Stop grabbing the keyboard for the provided callback.
awful.keygrabber.run [deprecated]	Run a grabbing function.

Callback functions prototype

awful.keygrabber.start_callback	A function called when a keygrabber starts.
awful.keygrabber.stop_callback	The callback when the keygrabbing stops.
awful.keygrabber.timeout_callback	The function called when the keygrabber stops because of a timeout.
awful.keygrabber.keypressed_callback	The callback function to call with mod table, key and command as arguments when a key was pressed.
awful.keygrabber.keyreleased_callback	The callback function to call with mod table, key and command as arguments when a key was released.

Fields

awful.keygrabber.current_instance	The current (running) instance of this keygrabber.
awful.keygrabber.is_running	If a keygrabber is currently running.

Methods

awful.keygrabber:start ()	Start the keygrabber.
awful.keygrabber:stop ()	Stop the keygrabber.
awful.keygrabber:add_keybinding (mods, key, callback[, description])	Add a keybinding to this keygrabber.
awful.keygrabber:emit_signal (name, ...)	Emit a signal.
awful.keygrabber:connect_signal (name, func)	Connect to a signal.
awful.keygrabber:weak_connect_signal (name, func)	Connect to a signal weakly.

Functions

Methods

awful.keygrabber (args)

A wrapper around the keygrabber to make it easier to add keybindings.

This is similar to the awful.prompt, but without an actual widget. It can be used to implement custom transactions such as alt+tab or keyboard menu navigation.

Note that the object returned can be used as a client or global keybinding callback without modification. Make sure to set stop_key and stop_event to proper values to avoid permanently locking the keyboard.

args
- stop_event string Release event (“press” or “release”) (default "press")
- stop_key string or table The key that has to be kept pressed. (default nil)
- keybindings table All keybindings.
- timeout number The maximum inactivity delay. (default -1)
- mask_event_callback boolean Do not call keypressed_callback or keyreleased_callback when a hook is called. (default true)
- start_callback function (optional)
- stop_callback function (optional)
- timeout_callback function (optional)
- keypressed_callback function (optional)
- keyreleased_callback function (optional)
- allowed_keys table or nil A table with all keys that wont stop the keygrabber. (default nil)
- root_keybindings table The root (global) keybindings. (optional)
- export_keybindings boolean Create root (global) keybindings. (default false)
- autostart boolean Start the grabbing immediately (default false)
- mask_modkeys boolean Do not call the callbacks on modifier keys (like Control or Mod4) events. (default false)

awful.keygrabber.run (g)

A lower level API to interact with the keygrabber directly.

Grab keyboard input and read pressed keys, calling the least callback function from the stack at each keypress, until the stack is empty.

Calling run with the same callback again will bring the callback to the top of the stack.

The callback function receives three arguments:

a table containing modifiers keys
a string with the pressed key
a string with either “press” or “release” to indicate the event type.

Here is the content of the modifier table:

Modifier name	Key name	Alternate key name
Mod4	Super_L	Super_R
Control	Control_L	Control_R
Shift	Shift_L	Shift_R
Mod1	Alt_L	Alt_R

A callback can return false to pass the events to the next keygrabber in the stack.

g The key grabber callback that will get the key events until it will be deleted or a new grabber is added.

Returns:

g

Usage:

-- The following function can be bound to a key, and be used to resize a
-- client using the keyboard.

function resize(c)
  local grabber
  grabber = awful.keygrabber.run(function(mod, key, event)
    if event == "release" then return end

    if     key == 'Up'    then c:relative_move(0, 0, 0, 5)
    elseif key == 'Down'  then c:relative_move(0, 0, 0, -5)
    elseif key == 'Right' then c:relative_move(0, 0, 5, 0)
    elseif key == 'Left'  then c:relative_move(0, 0, -5, 0)
    else   awful.keygrabber.stop(grabber)
    end
  end)
end

awful.keygrabber.connect_signal (name, callback)

Connect to a signal for all keygrabbers at once.

name string The signal name.
callback function The callback.

awful.keygrabber.disconnect_signal (name, callback)

Disconnect to a signal for all keygrabbers at once.

name string The signal name.
callback function The callback.

awful.keygrabber.emit_signal (name, ...)

Emit a signal on the keygrabber module itself.

Warning, usually don’t use this directly, use my_keygrabber:emit_signal(name, …). This function works on the whole keygrabber module, not one of its instance.

name string The signal name.
... Other arguments for the callbacks.

Object properties

timeout

The keygrabber timeout.

Usage:

awful.keygrabber {
    autostart      = true,
    timeout        = 1, -- second
    timeout_callback  = function()
        print('The keygrabber has expired')
    end,
}

stop_key

The key on which the keygrabber listen to terminate itself.

When this is set, the running keygrabber will quit when [one of] the stop key event occurs.

By default, the event is press. It is common for use case like the awful.prompt where return (enter) will terminate the keygrabbing. Using release as an event is more appropriate when the keygrabber is tied to a modifier key. For example, an Alt+Tab implementation stops when mod1 (Alt) is released.

It can also be a table containing many keys (as values).

Please note that modkeys are not accepted as stop_keys. You have to use their corresponding key names such as Control_L.

Type:

string |table stop_key (default nil)

Type:

string

Type:

boolean (default true)

Type:

boolean (default false)

Type:

boolean (default false)

root_keybindings

The root (global) keybinding to start this keygrabber.

Instead of adding an entry to root.keys or rc.lua globalkeys section, this property can be used to take care of everything. This way, it becomes easier to package modules using keygrabbers.

Usage example output:

Is now active!  nil
A key was pressed:  a   with    0   modifier!
A key was pressed:  i   with    1   modifier!
Called again!

Usage:

awful.keygrabber {
    mask_modkeys = true,
    root_keybindings = {
        {{'Mod4'}, 'i', function(self)
            print('Is now active!', self)
        end},
    },
    keybindings = {
        {{'Mod4', 'Shift'}, 'i', function(self)
            print('Called again!')
            self:stop()
        end},
    },
    keypressed_callback  = function(_, modifiers, key)
        print('A key was pressed:', key, 'with', #modifiers, 'modifier!')
    end,
}

-- The following will **NOT** trigger the keygrabbing because it isn't exported
-- to the root (global) keys. Adding export_keybindings would solve that
root._execute_keybinding({'Mod4', 'Shift'}, 'i')
assert(#keybinding_works == 0)

-- But this will start the keygrabber because it is part of the root_keybindings
root._execute_keybinding({'Mod4'}, 'i')

-- Note that that keygrabber is running, all callbacks should work:
root.fake_input('key_press'  , 'a')
root.fake_input('key_release'  , 'a')

-- Calling the root keybindings now wont work because they are not part of
-- the keygrabber internal (own) keybindings, so keypressed_callback will
-- be called.
root._execute_keybinding({'Mod4'}, 'i')

-- Now the keygrabber own keybindings will work
root._execute_keybinding({'Mod4', 'Shift'}, 'i')

keybindings

The keybindings associated with this keygrabber.

The keybindings syntax is the same as awful.key or awful.prompt.hooks. It consists of a table with 4 entries.

mods A table with modifier keys, such as shift, mod4, mod1 (alt) or control.
key The key name, such as left or f
callback A function that will be called when the key combination is pressed.
description A table various metadata to be used for awful.hotkeys_popup.

Type:

table

Type:

allowed_keys table or nil The list of keys. (default nil)

Usage:

awful.keygrabber {
    autostart      = true,
    allowed_keys   = {'a', 'w', 'e', 's', 'o', 'm', 'e'},
}

sequence

The sequence of keys recorded since the start of the keygrabber.

In this example, the stop_callback is used to retrieve the final key sequence.

Please note that backspace will remove elements from the sequence and named keys and modifiers are ignored.

Type:

string

Usage:

awful.keygrabber {
    autostart      = true,
    stop_key    = 'Return',
    stop_callback  = function(_, _, _, sequence)
        naughty.notify{text='The keys were:'..sequence}
    end,
}

Signals

property::current_instance: The global signal used to track the current_instance.
started: When the keygrabber starts.
stopped: When the keygrabber stops.

Deprecated functions

awful.keygrabber.stop [deprecated]: Stop grabbing the keyboard for the provided callback.

When no callback is given, the last grabber gets removed (last one added to the stack).
param:

g The key grabber that must be removed. (optional)
awful.keygrabber.run [deprecated]: Run a grabbing function.

Calling this is equivalent to keygrabber.run.
param:

g The key grabber callback that will get the key events until it will be deleted or a new grabber is added.

See also:

keygrabber.run

Callback functions prototype

awful.keygrabber.start_callback

A function called when a keygrabber starts.

Parameters:

keygrabber keygrabber The keygrabber.

awful.keygrabber.stop_callback

The callback when the keygrabbing stops.

Parameters:

self table The current transaction object.
stop_key string The key(s) that stop the keygrabbing (if any)
stop_mods table The modifiers key (if any)
sequence sting The recorded key sequence.

Usage:

local function my_done_cb(self, stop_key, stop_mods, sequence)
   -- do something
end

awful.keygrabber.timeout_callback

The function called when the keygrabber stops because of a timeout.

Note that the stop_callback is also called when the keygrabbers timeout.

Parameters:

self table The current transaction object.
mod table The current modifiers (like “Control” or “Shift”).
key string The key name.
event string The event (“press” or “release”).

Usage:

local function my_keypressed_cb(mod, key, command)
   -- do something
end

awful.keygrabber.keyreleased_callback

The callback function to call with mod table, key and command as arguments when a key was released.

Parameters:

self table The current transaction object.
mod table The current modifiers (like “Control” or “Shift”).
key string The key name.
event string The event (“press” or “release”)

Usage:

local function my_keyreleased_cb(mod, key, command)
   -- do something
end

Fields

awful.keygrabber.current_instance

The current (running) instance of this keygrabber.

The keygrabber instance is created when the keygrabber starts. It is an object mirroring this keygrabber object, but where extra properties can be added. It is useful to keep some contextual data part of the current transaction without poluting the original object of having extra boilerplate code.

current_instance keygrabber

Methods

awful.keygrabber:start ()

Start the keygrabber.

Note that only a single keygrabber can be started at any one time. If another keygrabber (or this one) is currently running. This method returns false.

Returns:

boolean

awful.keygrabber:stop ()

Stop the keygrabber.

awful.keygrabber:add_keybinding (mods, key, callback[, description])

Add a keybinding to this keygrabber.

Those keybindings will automatically start the keygrabbing when hit.

mods table A table with modifier keys, such as shift, mod4, mod1 (alt) or control.
key string The key name, such as left or f
callback function A function that will be called when the key combination is pressed.
description A table various metadata to be used for awful.hotkeys_popup.
- description string The keybinding description
- group string The keybinding group

awful.keygrabber:emit_signal (name, ...)

Emit a signal.

name string The name of the signal.
... Extra arguments for the callback functions. Each connected function receives the object as first argument and then any extra arguments that are given to emit_signal().

awful.keygrabber:connect_signal (name, func)

Connect to a signal.

name string The name of the signal.
func function The callback to call when the signal is emitted.

awful.keygrabber:weak_connect_signal (name, func)

Connect to a signal weakly.

This allows the callback function to be garbage collected and automatically disconnects the signal when that happens.

Warning: Only use this function if you really, really, really know what you are doing.

name string The name of the signal.
func function The callback to call when the signal is emitted.

awesome

Contents

Classes

Libraries

Sample files

Documentation

Class awful.keygrabber

Using keygrabber as transactions

Using keygrabber for modal keybindings (VI like)

Using signals

Info:

Functions

Object properties

Signals

Deprecated functions

Callback functions prototype

Fields

Methods

Functions

Returns:

Usage:

Object properties

See also:

Usage:

Type:

See also:

Type:

See also:

Type:

See also:

Type:

See also:

Type:

See also:

Usage:

Type:

See also:

Type:

Usage:

Type:

Usage:

Signals

Deprecated functions

param:

param:

See also:

Callback functions prototype

Parameters:

Parameters:

See also:

Usage:

See also:

Parameters:

Usage:

Parameters:

Usage:

Fields

See also:

Methods

Returns:

Class `awful.keygrabber`