Macropy

Keyboard listener, hotkey manager, word expander, task automation, and more!

Big Update - Cython

Cython is used to compile python source code and make it faster. Cython creates .c files that can be compiled into python binary extension modules.

The macropy/cython_extensions directory contains all the Cython code for all the script modules. For each module, there are two files:

• xxx.pyx: Python source code written in Cython, which can later be compiled into a .c file.
• xxx.c: The compiled version of the Cython extension module, which can later be compiled into .pyd binary source files.

The actual files that are imported and used are the .pyd files. I have uploaded the .c files that were generated with Cython, so it is not necessary to have Cython to recompile the existing extension modules. To build the Cython extensions, run:

python setup.py build_ext --inplace

By default, setup.py builds the extension from the .pyx files and falls back to the .c files if Cython is not installed. If you wish to build using the .c files (for example, to ensure that the build doesn't fail due to particular Cython version issues), you must set USE_CYTHON=False in setup.py.

To use this script, you can pip install it as follows:

pip install kb_macropy

Note that the package name for download is kb_macropy. However, to start the script, run macropy.

You can also clone this repository and simply run the __main__.py file, or install it by running:

python setup.py install

Why did I write this script?

A lot of times I found myself repeating one or more tasks. Some of these tasks are tedious and may be performed more than one time a day. Other tasks may be faster if they are performed without interacting with GUI elements. Combine all this with my low-performance laptop and you can see why I have written this script.

Description

This script can be described as a keyboard listener. However, unlike normal keyboard listeners provided by existing modules like keyboard, pynput, etc., this script has two huge advantages. The first is the ability to use any key combination for triggering a hotkey, and multiple key combinations can be specified easily to trigger the same hotkey. The second advantage is the ability to use any keyboard keys (even keys like FN) as long as the key is reported by the os.

This script relies heavily on windows API and focuses on tasks that involve windows explorer. These tasks are triggered by a hotkey. There is also support for word expansion where you type a colon followed by an abbreviation, and a substitution will be added accordingly.

Features

Below are some of the windows explorer operations that the script can perform:

• Creating a new file -> Ctrl + Shift + ['m' or 'M'].

• Copying the full path to the selected files in the active explorer/desktop window -> Shift + F2.

• Merging the selected images from the active explorer window into a PDF file -> Ctrl + Shift + ['p' or 'P'].

• Converting the selected word files from the active explorer window into PDF files -> Backtick + ['o' or 'O'].

• Converting the selected powerpoint files from the active explorer window into PDF files -> Backtick + ['p' or 'P'].

• Reopening closed file explorer windows (currently only keeps track of closed explorers by Alt + F4 or Ctrl + W).

• Converting .mp3 audio files into .wav files.

• Flattening directories by moving all the files/folders inside to the same level.

Next are some of the supported window manipulation operations:

• Moving the window around (up, right, down, right) -> Backtick + (↑ or → or ↓ or ←).

• Making the window always on top -> FN + Ctrl + ['a', 'A'].

• Decreasing/increasing the opacity of a window -> Backtick + (['+', '='] or ['-', '_']).

Next are some of the supported system manipulation operations:

• Putting the device into sleep mode -> Win + FN + Ctrl + ['s', 'S'].

• Shutting down the system -> Win + FN + Ctrl + ['q', 'Q'].

• Increasing/Decreasing the system volume -> Ctrl + Shift + (['=', '+'] Or ['-', '_']).

• Increasing/Decreasing brightness -> Backtick + ('F2' Or 'F3').

• Sending hotkeys and keyboard key sequences.

• Scrolling up/down (by sending mouse wheel scrolls) -> While ScrLck is active: W or A or S or D.

Next are some of the supported text expansion operations:

• Expanding text (e.g., try pressing the next keys -> :name).

• Opening a file or a folder (e.g., try pressing the next keys -> !paint).

Extra

• The script does not receive keyboard events when the active process is elevated. A notification message will be printed every 10 seconds with a sound when this happens. You can run the script with elevated privileges to receive keyboard events in this scenario.

• To terminate the script, press the hotkey -> FN + ESC.

• To make sure the script is running (by displaying a toast notification), press the hotkey -> FN + /.

• To clear the terminal, press the hotkey -> Ctrl + FN + C.

• To suppress/silence the terminal output, press the hotkey -> FN + Alt + S.

• To suppress keyboard keys (hotkeys still work), press the hotkey -> Ctrl + Alt + D.

• The script will not allow more than one active instance at a time.