Keyboard automation

environment

o.s. = debian stretch (this will work with any linux)
xserver = xserver-xorg-core 2:1.19.2-1+deb9u5
xdotool = 1:3.20160805.1-3

problem

need to program keyboard keys (macros) to send keyboard input or launch programs

solution

install xdotool and configure

"snooping" keyboard input keycodes

in a terminal run program xev (comes with xserver-xorg-core i think) and then just hit the keyboard key of interest. you will see output such as...

KeyPress event, serial 37, synthetic NO, window 0x3600001,
   root 0x4a0, subw 0x0, time 9652301, (164,120), root:(2235,492),
   state 0x10, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
   XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
   XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
   XFilterEvent returns: False

make a note of the state and keycode which are to be input into the xdotool config

example keyboard input

here we will program the "windows" key (between left ctrl and alt) to send "hahah lol" text as if entered by the keyboard.

edit $HOME/.xbindkeysrc, add a section like the one below. first line is a comment, 2nd is the commands to execute, 3rd line is the keycode line where 0x10 is from the state above and 133 is the keycode.

## "windows" key macro
"sleep 0.2 && xdotool type --delay 15 'hahaha lol';"
   m:0x10 + c:133

save .xbindkeysrc

start or restart xbindkeys

$ killall xbindkeys; xbindkeys

in a terminal or text editor test you keyboard input by pressing you "windows key"

it should output...

hahaha lol

example keyboard input

same steps as above, add the following section to $HOME/.xbindkeys (did this after installing screengrab). my printscreen keycode was 107, yours may be different.

1. 1. printscreen keyboard shortcut

"/usr/bin/screengrab"

   m:0x10 + c:107

start or restart xbindkeys

test by hitting you printscreen button, hope it works!