Karabiner-elements: How to create custom complex modifications

[jimmy-e]

Hi, I want to map the following. How can I do so / how can I create these custom complex modifications? Thanks.

• command + shift + k => down
• command + shift + i => up

[Muirium]

I'm just starting out too. I wanted to use a macro I've had for years on programmable keyboards: Shift + Shift ⇨ Caps Lock and I got it working with this:

"rules": [ { "description": "Shift + Shift ⇨ Caps Lock", "manipulators": [ { "from": { "key_code": "left_shift", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "right_shift" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } }, "to": [ { "key_code": "caps_lock" } ], "type": "basic" }, { "from": { "key_code": "right_shift", "modifiers": { "mandatory": [ "left_shift" ], "optional": [ "any" ] } }, "to": [ { "key_code": "caps_lock" } ], "type": "basic" } ] },
I think this is what you want, but I'm not an expert yet!

            "rules": [
                {
                    "description": "command + shift + k => down",
                    "manipulators": [
                        {
                            "from": {
                                "key_code": "k",
                                "modifiers": {
                                    "mandatory": [
                                        "command",
                                        "shift"
                                    ],
                                    "optional": [
                                        "any"
                                    ]
                                }
                            },
                            "to": [
                                {
                                    "key_code": "down_arrow"
                                }
                            ],
                            "type": "basic"
                        },
                    "description": "command + shift + i => up",
                    "manipulators": [
                        {
                            "from": {
                                "key_code": "i",
                                "modifiers": {
                                    "mandatory": [
                                        "command",
                                        "shift"
                                    ],
                                    "optional": [
                                        "any"
                                    ]
                                }
                            },
                            "to": [
                                {
                                    "key_code": "down_arrow"
                                }
                            ],
                            "type": "basic"
                        }

                    ]
                },
            ]
        },

Now: how to activate it? This is where people with knowledge can help! I just bung this stuff directly into my karabiner.json file manually with BBEdit. This can break things! There's probably a better way. But I'm loving my cAPS lOCK so far!

[MuhammedZakir]

@Muirium :+1:

A few suggestions:

1. For combinations like, Shift + Shift ⇨ Caps Lock, from.simultaneous [1] is a better option.
2. For command + shift + i, I would not use any in from.modifiers.optional. Probably just caps_lock, or none (depending on use case). Else, it will mess with other shortcuts. E.g. command + shift + option/alt + i, command + shift + control + i, etc.

Now: how to activate it? This is where people with knowledge can help! I just bung this stuff directly into my karabiner.json file manually with BBEdit. This can break things! There's probably a better way.

1. An alternative and a safer way is to create a json file in ~/.config/karabiner/assets/complex_modifications and import it from Preferences > Complex Modifications > Add rule. [2][3]

[1] https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/json/complex-modifications-manipulator-definition/from/simultaneous/
[2] https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/json/location/
[3] https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/docs/json/root-data-structure/#custom-json-file-in-configkarabinerassetscomplex_modifications

[Muirium]

Aha! Knew there had to be a better way to do this. Thanks Muhammed!

Karabiner's documentation seems to be split in two. I found the complex modifications gallery easily enough, but actually writing one yourself seems to be a mystery until you're pointed the right direction. Thanks for giving me the tip.

Re: my Shift + Shift macro. I'll look into from.simultaneous as you suggest. I simply reimplemented it from Soarer's AT/XT/PS2 to USB converter which I'm already familiar with, here:

https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2510

[jimmy-e]

Thanks for all of the help. Here are the rules I used:

        "rules": [
          {
            "description": "command + shift + k => down",
            "manipulators": [
              {
                "from": {
                  "key_code": "k",
                  "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                      "command",
                      "shift"
                    ],
                    "optional": [
                      "any"
                    ]
                  }
                },
                "to": [
                  {
                    "key_code": "down_arrow"
                  }
                ],
                "type": "basic"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "description": "command + shift + i => up",
            "manipulators": [
              {
                "from": {
                  "key_code": "i",
                  "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                      "command",
                      "shift"
                    ],
                    "optional": [
                      "any"
                    ]
                  }
                },
                "to": [
                  {
                    "key_code": "up_arrow"
                  }
                ],
                "type": "basic"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "description": "command + shift + l => right",
            "manipulators": [
              {
                "from": {
                  "key_code": "i",
                  "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                      "command",
                      "shift"
                    ],
                    "optional": [
                      "any"
                    ]
                  }
                },
                "to": [
                  {
                    "key_code": "right_arrow"
                  }
                ],
                "type": "basic"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "description": "command + shift + j => left",
            "manipulators": [
              {
                "from": {
                  "key_code": "i",
                  "modifiers": {
                    "mandatory": [
                      "command",
                      "shift"
                    ],
                    "optional": [
                      "any"
                    ]
                  }
                },
                "to": [
                  {
                    "key_code": "left_arrow"
                  }
                ],
                "type": "basic"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]

[MuhammedZakir]

@jimmy-e: Maybe I am nitpicking, but I think it's better to not use "any" in from.modifiers.optional unless you want it to work it with all modifiers.

--snip--
2. For command + shift + i, I would not use any in from.modifiers.optional. Probably just caps_lock, or none (depending on use case). Else, it will mess with other shortcuts. E.g. command + shift + option/alt + i, command + shift + control + i, etc.
--snip--