Automation & Power User Workflows

Advanced productivity automation for form filling, app switching, window management, and repetitive task elimination.

Overview

Conductor enables power users to automate complex workflows that traditional macro tools can’t handle. Use velocity sensitivity for multi-function buttons, context-aware profiles for app-specific shortcuts, and sequences for multi-step automation.

What You’ll Learn:

• Form automation (one-button form filling)
• App-specific macro sets with per-app profiles
• Window management and workspace automation
• Context-aware mappings (time-based, app-based)
• Advanced sequences and conditional actions

Quick Start: One-Button Form Filling

Automatically fill web forms with saved data using a single button press.

[device]
name = "Form Automation"
auto_connect = true

[[modes]]
name = "Form Fill"
color = "green"

# Complete Form Fill (Name, Email, Phone, Address)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 1: Fill Contact Form"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "Note"
note = 36
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Sequence"
actions = [
    { Text = { text = "John Doe" } },
    { Keystroke = { keys = "Tab" } },
    { Text = { text = "john.doe@example.com" } },
    { Keystroke = { keys = "Tab" } },
    { Text = { text = "(555) 123-4567" } },
    { Keystroke = { keys = "Tab" } },
    { Text = { text = "123 Main St, City, ST 12345" } }
]

# Velocity-Sensitive Form Options
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 2 Soft: Fill Work Email"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "VelocityRange"
note = 37
min_velocity = 0
max_velocity = 40
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Text"
text = "john.doe@company.com"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 2 Hard: Fill Personal Email"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "VelocityRange"
note = 37
min_velocity = 81
max_velocity = 127
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Text"
text = "john.personal@gmail.com"

Time Saved: 30-60 seconds per form × 10 forms/day = 5-10 minutes daily

Per-App Profile Switching

Different mappings for different applications automatically.

Browser (Chrome/Firefox)

# Browser-Specific Profile
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A Button: New Tab (Browser)"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Conditional"
conditions = [
    {
        type = "AppActive",
        app_name = "Google Chrome",
        action = { Keystroke = { keys = "t", modifiers = ["cmd"] } }
    },
    {
        type = "AppActive",
        app_name = "Firefox",
        action = { Keystroke = { keys = "t", modifiers = ["cmd"] } }
    }
]

# Browser Navigation
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Left: Back"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 134
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "LeftArrow"
modifiers = ["cmd"]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Right: Forward"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 135
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "RightArrow"
modifiers = ["cmd"]

Email Client (Mail/Outlook)

# Email-Specific Actions
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A: New Email (Mail.app)"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Conditional"
conditions = [
    {
        type = "AppActive",
        app_name = "Mail",
        action = { Keystroke = { keys = "n", modifiers = ["cmd"] } }
    }
]

# Quick Replies
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Pad 1: Reply with Template"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "Note"
note = 36
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Sequence"
actions = [
    { Keystroke = { keys = "r", modifiers = ["cmd"] } },  # Reply
    { Delay = { duration_ms = 200 } },
    { Text = { text = "Thanks for your email. I'll get back to you shortly.\n\nBest,\nJohn" } }
]

Window Management Automation

Advanced workspace and window control.

macOS Mission Control & Spaces

[[modes]]
name = "Window Management"
color = "cyan"

# Workspace Navigation
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Left: Previous Desktop"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 134
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "LeftArrow"
modifiers = ["ctrl"]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Right: Next Desktop"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 135
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "RightArrow"
modifiers = ["ctrl"]

# Mission Control
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Up: Mission Control"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 132
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "F3"

# Show Desktop
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "D-Pad Down: Show Desktop"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 133
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "F11"

# Window Snapping (requires Rectangle.app or similar)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LB: Snap Left Half"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 136
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "LeftArrow"
modifiers = ["ctrl", "opt"]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "RB: Snap Right Half"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 137
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "RightArrow"
modifiers = ["ctrl", "opt"]

# Maximize
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LB+RB: Maximize Window"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonChord"
buttons = [136, 137]
timeout_ms = 50
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "Return"
modifiers = ["ctrl", "opt"]

App Launcher Matrix

Quick launch common apps with button grid.

# App Launching (Face Buttons)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "A: Launch Browser"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Google Chrome"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "B: Launch Terminal"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 129
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Terminal"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "X: Launch VS Code"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 130
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Visual Studio Code"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Y: Launch Slack"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 131
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Slack"

# Chord Combinations for More Apps
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LB+A: Launch Finder"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonChord"
buttons = [136, 128]
timeout_ms = 50
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Finder"

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LB+B: Launch Spotify"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonChord"
buttons = [136, 129]
timeout_ms = 50
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Launch"
application = "Spotify"

Context-Aware Automation

Time-Based Mappings

# Morning Routine (6am-9am)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Morning: Launch Email + Calendar"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 128
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Conditional"
conditions = [
    {
        type = "TimeRange",
        start_time = "06:00",
        end_time = "09:00",
        action = {
            Sequence = {
                actions = [
                    { Launch = { application = "Mail" } },
                    { Delay = { duration_ms = 500 } },
                    { Launch = { application = "Calendar" } }
                ]
            }
        }
    }
]

# Evening Routine (6pm-11pm)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Evening: Launch Spotify + Dimming"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 131
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Conditional"
conditions = [
    {
        type = "TimeRange",
        start_time = "18:00",
        end_time = "23:00",
        action = {
            Sequence = {
                actions = [
                    { Launch = { application = "Spotify" } },
                    { Shell = { command = "osascript -e 'tell app \"System Events\" to key code 107'" } }  # F14 for dimming
                ]
            }
        }
    }
]

Clipboard Management

Advanced clipboard operations.

# Clipboard History (requires Alfred or Clipboard Manager)
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LT: Paste from Clipboard History"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadTrigger"
trigger = 132
threshold = 64
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "v"
modifiers = ["cmd", "shift"]  # Alfred clipboard history

# Paste as Plain Text
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "RT: Paste Plain Text"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadTrigger"
trigger = 133
threshold = 64
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "v"
modifiers = ["cmd", "shift", "opt"]

System Automation

Screenshot & Screen Recording

# Screenshots
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Select: Full Screenshot"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButton"
button = 141
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "3"
modifiers = ["cmd", "shift"]

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Select (Hold): Selection Screenshot"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonHold"
button = 141
duration_ms = 1000
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "4"
modifiers = ["cmd", "shift"]

# Screen Recording
[[modes.mappings]]
description = "Start (Hold 2s): Start Recording"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonHold"
button = 140
duration_ms = 2000
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "5"
modifiers = ["cmd", "shift"]

Lock Screen & Sleep

[[modes.mappings]]
description = "LB+RB+Start: Lock Screen"
[modes.mappings.trigger]
type = "GamepadButtonChord"
buttons = [136, 137, 140]
timeout_ms = 50
[modes.mappings.action]
type = "Keystroke"
keys = "q"
modifiers = ["ctrl", "cmd"]

Troubleshooting

Text Not Typing Correctly

• Problem: Text actions type gibberish or incomplete
• Solution: Add delays between Text and Keystroke actions (100-200ms)
• Example: { Delay = { duration_ms = 150 } }

Per-App Profiles Not Switching

• Problem: Same mappings work across all apps
• Solution: Ensure app names match exactly (check Activity Monitor)
• Case-Sensitive: “Google Chrome” ≠ “google chrome”

Sequences Executing Out of Order

• Problem: Actions in Sequence trigger in wrong order
• Solution: Increase delays between actions (try 200-300ms)

Time Savings Calculator

Next Steps

• See Developer Workflows - Git automation
• See Streaming Examples - OBS automation
• Learn Sequences - Multi-step actions
• Explore Conditionals - Context-aware mappings