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I use the Calculator.app, and after hitting the ENTER key, I would like it to automatically do an ALT + TAB to go to the previous App I was using: Excel or Firefox or Chrome, ... you name it.

I have the same question for just .lua, but if it can't be done with .lua I'd like to do it with AppleScript or with the Automator.

What's the hot key for TAB in .lua? hammerspoon?

UPDATE:

As user3439894 says, CMD + TAB works fine.

But in my end, the TAB is not released, therefore, I keeps on showing all the open apps. So, I tried to put a RETURN as of the documentation. I also tried ENTER , but non of them work.

hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"cmd"}, "tab")
hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"return"})
-- hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"enter"})
sebseb
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  • Do you mean **⌘-Tab** as **⌥-Tab** is not the **App Switcher** _keyboard shortcut_. – user3439894 Dec 13 '21 at 13:39
  • This works for me: `hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"cmd"}, "tab")` – user3439894 Dec 13 '21 at 13:47
  • Thanks user3439894 , you are right, it's cmd and not tab. But how do I release the tab? I noticed it works, but keeps on showing all the open apps. It's like the tab key is not released. I don't understand what's the " App Switcher " you mention. – sebseb Dec 13 '21 at 14:44

1 Answers1

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Assuming your are using this in conjunction of one of the answers I gave you back in mid November regarding Calculator, then the modified Lua code below works for me to switch to the previous application when pressing the enter key while in Calculator.

Example Lua code:

    --  Create a hotkey used to trap the enter key and disable it.
    --  It will then be enabled/disabled as Calculator is focused/unfocused
    --  When enabled and the enter key is pressed it presses = then command C.

applicationCalculatorEnterHotkey = hs.hotkey.bind({}, "return", function()
        --  Press the '=' key to finish the calculation.
    hs.eventtap.keyStroke({}, "=")
        --  Copy the result to the clipboard.
    hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"cmd"}, "C")
        --  Bring up the App Switcher.
    hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"cmd"}, "tab")
        --  Act on the selected App in the App Switcher.
        --  This works in testing with Calculator, however
        --  may not work in other applications.
    hs.eventtap.keyStroke({}, "=")  
end)
applicationCalculatorEnterHotkey:disable()

Notes:

I've added two hs.eventtap.keyStroke to the original code with comments.

Executing hs.eventtap.keyStroke({"cmd"}, "tab") in the Console Hammerspoon does automatically switch to the previous application without showing the App Switcher, however when used in the applicationCalculatorEnterHotkey function it shows the App Switcher as if ⌘-Tab has been pressed and the ⌘ key not released. This may be a bug, not sure as not enough testing/research into the issue was done as the obvious solution would be to follow up with programmatically pressing the enter key, however that can not be done from within the applicationCalculatorEnterHotkey function because it is already trapping the enter key in Calculator.

In this particular use case, however this is where hs.eventtap.keyStroke({}, "=") is used to act as if the enter key had been pressed again and is unique to Calculator.

user3439894
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  • Thanks, @user3439894 that worked perfectly, please let me know how can I send you a paypal donation, via chat mode. – sebseb Dec 13 '21 at 20:42
  • I just did so @user3439894. You could also answer the other question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70142261/whats-the-hot-key-for-tab-in-lua-hammerspoon ..., with a link to this one. And if you change your mind, just let me know, because I learnt so much and all this will save me a lot of time and clicks/moves. Thanks again – sebseb Dec 14 '21 at 14:14