Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@fredrikw
Created November 15, 2012 11:07
Show Gist options
  • Save fredrikw/4078034 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Save fredrikw/4078034 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Python script to control the mediakeys on OS X. Used to emulate the mediakey on a keyboard with no such keys. Easiest used in combination with a launcher/trigger software such as Quicksilver.
#!/usr/bin/python
# CLI program to control the mediakeys on OS X. Used to emulate the mediakey on a keyboard with no such keys.
# Easiest used in combination with a launcher/trigger software such as Quicksilver.
# Main part taken from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11045814/emulate-media-key-press-on-mac
# Glue to make it into cli program by Fredrik Wallner http://www.wallner.nu/fredrik/
import Quartz
import sys
# NSEvent.h
NSSystemDefined = 14
# hidsystem/ev_keymap.h
NX_KEYTYPE_SOUND_UP = 0
NX_KEYTYPE_SOUND_DOWN = 1
NX_KEYTYPE_PLAY = 16
NX_KEYTYPE_NEXT = 17
NX_KEYTYPE_PREVIOUS = 18
NX_KEYTYPE_FAST = 19
NX_KEYTYPE_REWIND = 20
supportedcmds = {'playpause': NX_KEYTYPE_PLAY, 'next': NX_KEYTYPE_NEXT, 'prev': NX_KEYTYPE_PREVIOUS, 'volup': NX_KEYTYPE_SOUND_UP, 'voldown': NX_KEYTYPE_SOUND_DOWN}
def HIDPostAuxKey(key):
def doKey(down):
ev = Quartz.NSEvent.otherEventWithType_location_modifierFlags_timestamp_windowNumber_context_subtype_data1_data2_(
NSSystemDefined, # type
(0,0), # location
0xa00 if down else 0xb00, # flags
0, # timestamp
0, # window
0, # ctx
8, # subtype
(key << 16) | ((0xa if down else 0xb) << 8), # data1
-1 # data2
)
cev = ev.CGEvent()
Quartz.CGEventPost(0, cev)
doKey(True)
doKey(False)
if __name__ == "__main__":
try:
command = sys.argv[1]
assert(command in supportedcmds)
HIDPostAuxKey(supportedcmds[command])
except (IndexError, AssertionError):
print "Usage: %s command" % (sys.argv[0],)
print "\tSupported commands are %s" % supportedcmds.keys()
@Alexandro1112
Copy link

I already installed quartz.However your code is working, despite the error.

@Alexandro1112
Copy link

And I want to ask you, where did you find Quartz documentation? I have seen the official Quartz documentation but have not found an explanation for it methods this framework.

@fredrikw
Copy link
Author

I just copied the main thing from the StackOverflow answer that is linked in the top comment of the script. My only contribution was adding the CLI.

@aleksandersumowski
Copy link

I've updated the script for python 3 and worked out the correct egg to install:
https://gist.github.com/aleksandersumowski/a296a910fd3c6722744a2c3b0a1b5bf5

the script assumes python 3 installed via homebrew on a M* computer

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment