MacOS – program that allows you to create keyboard shortcuts that consist of regular keys

customizationmacosshortcut

I'm looking for a method that will allow me to turn custom, nonstandard key combinations into a currently-unused intermediary key (like F16 or something). The intermediary key would then be able to be recognized in other applications (such as FastScripts), so that I can finally assign this intermediary keyboard shortcut to whatever action within that application that I desire.

By "nonstandard key combinations," I mean combinations that do not incorporate any modifier key (that is, ⌘ command, ⌥ option, ⌃ control, fn, or ⇧ shift).

Examples of nonstandard key combinations, pressed simultaneously:

  • 1 + 0

  • A + D

  • space bar + V

  • W + 5

  • tab + Q

I have installed Karabiner, but I don't see a way to accomplish this in Karabiner.

Are there any programs that can do what I am looking for?

OS X El Capitan, version 10.11.6.

Best Answer

This can be done in Karabiner, but is counter-intuitive and turns common keyboard usage upside down (check the first sentences of Monomeeth's answer).

An example for [M+N] to F13 is already provided in the presets of Karabiner:

enter image description here

Mapping 1+0 to F16 would require to add the following snippet to private.xml:

<item>
  <name>Simultaneous Key Presses [0+1] to F16</name>
  <identifier>remap.simultaneouskeypresses_012f16</identifier>
  <autogen>__SimultaneousKeyPresses__ KeyCode::KEY_0, KeyCode::KEY_1, KeyCode::F16</autogen>
</item>

By defining an additional vk_lazy key (i.e. 0) it should also be possible to first press 0 and then 1 and depending on the first key up either send an F16 or write 01, which is a more comfortable behavior typing "shortcuts" on a keyboard.

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