WASD instead of arrow keys?

RachaelMiller

Hi! Is there a way to change my Robofont preferences to make the wasd keys work as my arrow keys? I feel like this could really speed up my workflow!

Not sure how to do this if not in preferences, I am new to python scripts and drawbot, etc.
Let me know if you have any ideas!

connor

I updated it based on @frederik's comments and added a few objects:

from vanilla import FloatingWindow
from mojo.events import addObserver, extractNSEvent

class WASDTool:

    def __init__(self):
        addObserver(self, "keyWasPressed", "keyDown")

    def keyWasPressed(self, info):
        glyph = info["glyph"]
        if glyph:

            event = info["event"]
            characters = event.characters()
            shiftDown = extractNSEvent(info)['shiftDown']
            commandDown = extractNSEvent(info)['commandDown']
            
            x = 1
            if shiftDown:
                x = 5
                if commandDown:
                    x = 100
                    
            KEYMAPPING = {
                "w":(0,x),
                "a":(-x,0),
                "s":(0,-x),
                "d":(x,0),
            }

            objects = []
            objects.extend(glyph.selectedBPoints)
            objects.extend([p for p in glyph.selectedPoints if p.type == "offcurve"])
            objects.extend(glyph.selectedComponents)
            objects.extend(glyph.selectedAnchors)
            
            if objects != []:
                # convert to lowercase so we dont have to use a huge dict
                if characters.lower() in KEYMAPPING.keys():
                    move = KEYMAPPING[characters.lower()]
                    if move:
                        glyph.prepareUndo("movePoints")
                        for obj in objects:
                            obj.moveBy(move)
                        
                        glyph.changed()    
                        glyph.performUndo()

WASDTool()

ArrowType

Cool idea and script! Thanks for sharing.

@frederik, would glyph = info["glyph"] replace these two lines (and the indent), or am I understanding?

@connor said in WASD instead of arrow keys?:

self.glyph = CurrentGlyph()
if self.glyph:

connor

Ahhh thanks for the tips! I always forget that info has a “glyph”.

frederik

some small notes:

the event info dictionary has a key glyph which is the current glyph: glyph = info["glyph"]
dont keep a reference to the glyph object in self.glyph this will just clutter your memory

connor

You're very welcome @RachaelMiller and thanks @frederik :)

RachaelMiller

@connor Oh my goodness thank you so much Ill try it out!

frederik

nice example Connor!

connor

Hey, @RachaelMiller! I wrote something pretty close a while back and tweaked a few things. It doesn't work if you have any other shortcuts on any of these keys so be careful.

from vanilla import FloatingWindow
from mojo.events import addObserver, extractNSEvent

class WASDTool:

    def __init__(self):
        self.glyph = None
        addObserver(self, "keyWasPressed", "keyDown")

    def keyWasPressed(self, info):
        self.glyph = CurrentGlyph()
        if self.glyph:
            
            event = info["event"]
            characters = event.characters()
            shiftDown = extractNSEvent(info)['shiftDown']
            commandDown = extractNSEvent(info)['commandDown']
            
            x = 1
            if shiftDown:
                x = 5
                if commandDown:
                    x = 100
                    
            KEYMAPPING = {
                "w":(0,x),
                "a":(-x,0),
                "s":(0,-x),
                "d":(x,0),
            }

            points = self.glyph.selectedBPoints
            
            if points:
                # convert to lowercase so we dont have to use a huge dict
                if characters.lower() in KEYMAPPING.keys():
                    move = KEYMAPPING[characters.lower()]
                    if move:
                        self.glyph.prepareUndo("movePoints")
                        for bPoint in points:
                            bPoint.moveBy(move)
                        
                        self.glyph.changed()    
                        self.glyph.performUndo()

WASDTool()

SOLVED WASD instead of arrow keys?