Typical complex_modifications examples
Swap ; and :
- Equal to swap
;andshift-;: from.modifiers
{
"description": "Swap ; and :",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "semicolon",
"modifiers": {
"mandatory": ["shift"],
"optional": ["caps_lock"]
}
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "semicolon" }]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "semicolon",
"modifiers": {
"optional": ["caps_lock"]
}
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "semicolon", "modifiers": ["left_shift"] }]
}
]
}
Change control-h to delete
- Change
control-htodelete: from.modifiers - Change
control-option-htooption-delete.
{
"description": "Change control-h to delete",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "h",
"modifiers": {
"mandatory": ["control"],
"optional": ["caps_lock", "option"]
}
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "delete_or_backspace" }]
}
]
}
Change caps_lock to escape on the built-in keyboard
- An example of using modifiers.optional == [“any”]: from.modifiers
- Device-specific rule: device_if, device_unless, device_exists_if, device_exists_unless
{
"description": "Change caps_lock to escape on the built-in keyboard",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "caps_lock",
"modifiers": {
"optional": ["any"]
}
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "escape" }],
"conditions": [
{
"type": "device_if",
"identifiers": [{ "is_built_in_keyboard": true }]
}
]
}
]
}
Change left_command+3 -> 2, left_shift+3 -> @ on the built-in keyboard
- An example of using modifiers.optional == [“any”] with modifiers.mandatory: from.modifiers
- Device-specific rule: device_if, device_unless, device_exists_if, device_exists_unless
{
"description": "Change left_command+3 -> 2, left_shift+3 -> @ on the built-in keyboard",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "3",
"modifiers": {
"mandatory": ["left_command"],
"optional": ["any"]
}
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "2" }],
"conditions": [
{
"type": "device_if",
"identifiers": [{ "is_built_in_keyboard": true }]
}
]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "3",
"modifiers": {
"mandatory": ["left_shift"],
"optional": ["any"]
}
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "2", "modifiers": ["left_shift"] }],
"conditions": [
{
"type": "device_if",
"identifiers": [{ "is_built_in_keyboard": true }]
}
]
}
]
}
Disable command-l on Finder
- Application-specific rule: frontmost_application_if, frontmost_application_unless
{
"description": "Disable command-l on Finder",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "l",
"modifiers": {
"mandatory": ["command"],
"optional": ["caps_lock"]
}
},
"conditions": [
{
"type": "frontmost_application_if",
"bundle_identifiers": ["^com\\.apple\\.finder$"]
}
]
}
]
}
Post escape if left_control is pressed alone
- Post events when a key is pressed alone: to_if_alone
- Post events when a key is held down: to_if_held_down
- The lazy modifier: to.lazy
{
"description": "Post escape if left_control is tapped",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "left_control",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"to": [
{
"key_code": "left_control",
"lazy": true
}
],
"to_if_alone": [{ "key_code": "escape" }],
"to_if_held_down": [{ "key_code": "left_control" }],
"parameters": {
"basic.to_if_alone_timeout_milliseconds": 100,
"basic.to_if_held_down_threshold_milliseconds": 100
}
}
]
}
This uses
"lazy": true to prevent left_control from being sent immediately after the key is pressed. Instead, it explicitly sends left_control using to_if_held_down when the key is held down for a short period.
Open Safari if escape is held down
- Post events when a key is pressed alone: to_if_alone
- Post events when a key is held down: to_if_held_down
- Open an application: open_application
{
"description": "Open Safari if escape is held down",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "escape",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["caps_lock"] }
},
"parameters": {
"basic.to_if_alone_timeout_milliseconds": 250,
"basic.to_if_held_down_threshold_milliseconds": 250
},
"to_if_alone": [{ "key_code": "escape" }],
"to_if_held_down": [
{
"software_function": {
"open_application": {
"bundle_identifier": "com.apple.Safari"
}
}
}
]
}
]
}
Paste (command+v) if escape is held down
- Post events when a key is pressed alone: to_if_alone
- Post events when a key is held down: to_if_held_down
{
"description": "Paste (command+v) if escape is held down",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "escape",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"parameters": {
"basic.to_if_alone_timeout_milliseconds": 250,
"basic.to_if_held_down_threshold_milliseconds": 250
},
"to_if_alone": [{ "key_code": "escape" }],
"to_if_held_down": [
{
"key_code": "v",
"modifiers": ["left_command"],
"repeat": false
}
]
}
]
}
Change right_shift x2 to mission_control
- Use variable:
- to_delayed_action
{
"description": "Change right_shift x2 to mission_control",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "right_shift",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"to": [
{ "apple_vendor_keyboard_key_code": "mission_control" },
{ "key_code": "vk_none" }
],
"conditions": [
{
"type": "variable_if",
"name": "right_shift pressed",
"value": 1
}
]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "right_shift",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"to": [
{
"set_variable": {
"name": "right_shift pressed",
"value": 1
}
},
{ "key_code": "right_shift" }
],
"to_delayed_action": {
"to_if_invoked": [
{
"set_variable": {
"name": "right_shift pressed",
"value": 0
}
}
],
"to_if_canceled": [
{
"set_variable": {
"name": "right_shift pressed",
"value": 0
}
}
]
}
}
]
}
Change double press of q to escape
This example is available since Karabiner-Elements 15.3.7.
- Use variable:
- to_delayed_action
{
"description": "Change double press of q to escape",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "q",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"to": [
{ "set_variable": { "name": "q pressed", "value": false } },
{ "key_code": "escape" }
],
"conditions": [
{ "type": "variable_if", "name": "q pressed", "value": true }
]
},
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"key_code": "q",
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"to": [{ "set_variable": { "name": "q pressed", "value": true } }],
"to_delayed_action": {
"to_if_invoked": [
{
"key_code": "q",
"conditions": [
{
"type": "variable_if",
"name": "q pressed",
"value": true
}
]
},
{ "set_variable": { "name": "q pressed", "value": false } }
],
"to_if_canceled": [
{
"key_code": "q",
"conditions": [
{
"type": "variable_if",
"name": "q pressed",
"value": true
}
]
},
{ "set_variable": { "name": "q pressed", "value": false } }
]
}
}
]
}
Change equal+delete to forward_delete if these keys are pressed simultaneously
{
"description": "Change equal+delete to forward_delete if these keys are pressed simultaneously",
"manipulators": [
{
"type": "basic",
"from": {
"simultaneous": [
{ "key_code": "equal_sign" },
{ "key_code": "delete_or_backspace" }
],
"modifiers": { "optional": ["any"] }
},
"to": [{ "key_code": "delete_forward" }]
}
]
}