3 Macros allow you to send multiple keystrokes when pressing just one key. QMK has a number of ways to define and use macros. These can do anything you want: type common phrases for you, copypasta, repetitive game movements, or even help you code.
5 {% hint style='danger' %}
6 **Security Note**: While it is possible to use macros to send passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information it is a supremely bad idea to do so. Anyone who gets ahold of your keyboard will be able to access that information by opening a text editor.
9 ## The new way: `SEND_STRING()` & `process_record_user`
11 Sometimes you just want a key to type out words or phrases. For the most common situations we've provided `SEND_STRING()`, which will type out your string (i.e. a sequence of characters) for you. All ASCII characters that are easily translated to a keycode are supported (e.g. `\n\t`).
13 For example, you could write in your `keymap.c`:
16 enum custom_keycodes {
17 MY_CUSTOM_MACRO = SAFE_RANGE
20 bool process_record_user(uint16_t keycode, keyrecord_t *record) {
21 if (record->event.pressed) {
24 SEND_STRING("QMK is the best thing ever!");
32 To activate this macro, assign the keycode `MY_CUSTOM_MACRO` to one of your keys in your keymap.
34 What happens here is this:
35 We first define a new custom keycode in the range not occupied by any other keycodes.
36 Then we use the `process_record_user` function, which is called whenever a key is pressed or released, to check if our custom keycode has been activated.
37 If yes, we send the string `"QMK is the best thing ever!"` to the computer via the `SEND_STRING` macro (this is a C preprocessor macro, not to be confused with QMK macros).
38 We return `false` to indicate to the caller that the key press we just processed need not be processed any further.
40 You might want to add more than one macro.
41 You can do that by adding another keycode and adding another case to the switch statement, like so:
44 enum custom_keycodes {
45 MY_CUSTOM_MACRO = SAFE_RANGE,
49 bool process_record_user(uint16_t keycode, keyrecord_t *record) {
50 if (record->event.pressed) {
53 SEND_STRING("QMK is the best thing ever!");
56 SEND_STRING(SS_LCTRL("ac")); // selects all and copies
66 You may want to use keys in your macros that you can't write down, such as `Ctrl` or `Home`.
67 You can send arbitary keycodes by wrapping them in:
69 * `SS_TAP()` presses and releases a key.
70 * `SS_DOWN()` presses (but does not release) a key.
71 * `SS_UP()` releases a key.
75 SEND_STRING(SS_TAP(X_HOME));
77 Would tap `KC_HOME` - note how the prefix is now `X_`, and not `KC_`. You can also combine this with other strings, like this:
79 SEND_STRING("VE"SS_TAP(X_HOME)"LO");
81 Which would send "VE" followed by a `KC_HOME` tap, and "LO" (spelling "LOVE" if on a newline).
83 There's also a couple of mod shortcuts you can use:
89 These press the respective modifier, send the supplied string and then release the modifier.
90 They can be used like this:
92 SEND_STRING(SS_LCTRL("a"));
94 Which would send LCTRL+a (LCTRL down, a, LCTRL up) - notice that they take strings (eg `"k"`), and not the `X_K` keycodes.
96 ### Alternative keymaps
98 By default, it assumes a US keymap with a QWERTY layout; if you want to change that (e.g. if your OS uses software Colemak), include this somewhere in your keymap:
100 #include <sendstring_colemak.h>
102 ### Strings in memory
104 If for some reason you're manipulating strings and need to print out something you just generated (instead of being a literal, constant string), you can use `send_string()`, like this:
107 char my_str[4] = "ok.";
111 The shortcuts defined above won't work with `send_string()`, but you can separate things out to different lines if needed:
114 char my_str[4] = "ok.";
115 SEND_STRING("I said: ");
117 SEND_STRING(".."SS_TAP(X_END));
120 ## The old way: `MACRO()` & `action_get_macro`
122 {% hint style='info' %}
123 This is inherited from TMK, and hasn't been updated - it's recommend that you use `SEND_STRING` and `process_record_user` instead.
126 By default QMK assumes you don't have any macros. To define your macros you create an `action_get_macro()` function. For example:
129 const macro_t *action_get_macro(keyrecord_t *record, uint8_t id, uint8_t opt) {
130 if (record->event.pressed) {
133 return MACRO(D(LSFT), T(H), U(LSFT), T(I), D(LSFT), T(1), U(LSFT), END);
135 return MACRO(D(LSFT), T(B), U(LSFT), T(Y), T(E), D(LSFT), T(1), U(LSFT), END);
142 This defines two macros which will be run when the key they are assigned to is pressed. If instead you'd like them to run when the key is released you can change the if statement:
144 if (!record->event.pressed) {
148 A macro can include the following commands:
150 * I() change interval of stroke in milliseconds.
153 * T() type key(press and release).
154 * W() wait (milliseconds).
157 ### Mapping a Macro to a key
159 Use the `M()` function within your `KEYMAP()` to call a macro. For example, here is the keymap for a 2-key keyboard:
162 const uint16_t PROGMEM keymaps[][MATRIX_ROWS][MATRIX_COLS] = {
168 const macro_t *action_get_macro(keyrecord_t *record, uint8_t id, uint8_t opt) {
169 if (record->event.pressed) {
172 return MACRO(D(LSFT), T(H), U(LSFT), T(I), D(LSFT), T(1), U(LSFT), END);
174 return MACRO(D(LSFT), T(B), U(LSFT), T(Y), T(E), D(LSFT), T(1), U(LSFT), END);
181 When you press the key on the left it will type "Hi!" and when you press the key on the right it will type "Bye!".
183 ### Naming your macros
185 If you have a bunch of macros you want to refer to from your keymap while keeping the keymap easily readable you can name them using `#define` at the top of your file.
191 const uint16_t PROGMEM keymaps[][MATRIX_ROWS][MATRIX_COLS] = {
198 ## Advanced macro functions
200 There are some functions you may find useful in macro-writing. Keep in mind that while you can write some fairly advanced code within a macro if your functionality gets too complex you may want to define a custom keycode instead. Macros are meant to be simple.
202 ### `record->event.pressed`
204 This is a boolean value that can be tested to see if the switch is being pressed or released. An example of this is
207 if (record->event.pressed) {
214 ### `register_code(<kc>);`
216 This sends the `<kc>` keydown event to the computer. Some examples would be `KC_ESC`, `KC_C`, `KC_4`, and even modifiers such as `KC_LSFT` and `KC_LGUI`.
218 ### `unregister_code(<kc>);`
220 Parallel to `register_code` function, this sends the `<kc>` keyup event to the computer. If you don't use this, the key will be held down until it's sent.
222 ### `clear_keyboard();`
224 This will clear all mods and keys currently pressed.
228 This will clear all mods currently pressed.
230 ### `clear_keyboard_but_mods();`
232 This will clear all keys besides the mods currently pressed.
234 ## Advanced Example: Single-key copy/paste
236 This example defines a macro which sends `Ctrl-C` when pressed down, and `Ctrl-V` when released.
239 const macro_t *action_get_macro(keyrecord_t *record, uint8_t id, uint8_t opt) {
242 if (record->event.pressed) {
243 return MACRO( D(LCTL), T(C), U(LCTL), END );
245 return MACRO( D(LCTL), T(V), U(LCTL), END );