# Trouble with leader sequences

**URL:** <https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684>\
**Category:** Programming\
**Created:** [June 26, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684 "2018-06-26T13:31:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/1 "2018-06-26T13:31:57Z")

</div>

So I’m trying to make something with leader sequences where Leader-letter gets you a full stop, space and a capital of that letter, and where Leader followed by anything other than a letter gets you just a full stop and then whatever else you did. I have tried this code both on my current sketch and on the current default firmware, to no avail: it simply doesn’t do anything as far as I can tell. Not sure where I’m going wrong.

The code I add from the baseline is basically this:

#include “Kaleidoscope-Leader.h”  
[0] = KEYMAP\_STACKED  
(…(the rest of the keymap)…LEAD(0)),  
static void leaderFSZ(uint8\_t seq\_index) {  
Serial.println(F(". Z"));  
}

(then imagine I did the same thing for leaders FSA to FSY as well, just leaving only FSZ to illustrate)

static void leaderFS(uint8\_t seq\_index) {  
Serial.println(F("."));  
}  
static const kaleidoscope::Leader::dictionary\_t leader\_dictionary[] PROGMEM =  
LEADER\_DICT({LEADER\_SEQ(LEAD(0), Key\_Z), leaderFSZ},  
{LEADER\_SEQ(LEAD(0)), leaderFS});

(again, imagine I did the same for A-Y)

KALEIDOSCOPE\_INIT\_PLUGINS(Leader)

void setup() {  
Kaleidoscope.setup();  
Leader.dictionary = leader\_dictionary;  
}

As far as I can tell from the example, I’m following it, but I’m sure there’s something I’m not considering.

Also, since the example calls its keymap [0] and then defines LEAD(0), does that mean leader keys always have to match the name of its layer and that you can only have one leader key per layer?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algernon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/algernon/32/4404_2.png) [@algernon](https://community.keyboard.io/u/algernon)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/2 "2018-06-26T13:53:39Z")

</div>

> [@Llamalland](#):
>
> ```c++
> static void leaderFS(uint8_t seq_index) {
> Serial.println(F("."));
> }
> 
> ```

Are you checking the serial port of the keyboard? `Serial.println` will _not_ input the characters via the keyboard, it will print the string to the serial port. If you want to input a string, you’ll want `Macros.type()`

> [@Llamalland](#):
>
> Also, since the example calls its keymap [0] and then defines LEAD(0), does that mean leader keys always have to match the name of its layer and that you can only have one leader key per layer?

No, they do not, the two zeroes are completely unrelated. The Leader plugin supports more than one leader key, is all. Mind you, I’m considering dropping that, and just going with one leader key. I don’t really see how more than one would be useful. It seemed like a good idea back then, less so now.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/3 "2018-06-27T00:23:26Z")

</div>

That did the trick, thank you!!

Thanks for the clarification. Pretty please, do keep the ability to have multiple leader keys if possible, as I intend on having one full stop leader key (as that seems to be much simpler than my previous hope for a macro with a OneShot included, and actually has improved functionality, since following it with a non-letter can cancel the macro-esque behaviour), one exclamation mark leader key, one questionmark leader key, one paragraph leader key and whatever non-punctuation leader keys I might think of. It means lots of lines (one iteration for each letter + 1 per non-letter for each leader key, so 108 iterations in my case, so 324 lines but a lot of copy pasting makes that not so bad), but this is fixing one of the most important things that I want keyboardio to be able to do!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/4 "2018-06-29T05:41:00Z")

</div>

Also, I’m guessing I can also use MACRODOWN with this? Asking since I’ll want to make a series of leader sequences with full stop, enter, enter and capital (2nd letter of leader sequence) as the result, which I don’t think would work with macros.type.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algernon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/algernon/32/4404_2.png) [@algernon](https://community.keyboard.io/u/algernon)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/5 "2018-06-29T06:22:43Z")

</div>

You can use `Macros.play()` (`MACRODOWN` is meant to be used from within `macroActions` only), but `Macros.type()` does support capital symbols, too.

Mind you, if you want to optimize things a bit, and not repeat pretty much the same code for every letter, you will likely end up with something like this:

```auto
void tap(Key key) {
  kaleidoscope::hid::pressKey(key);
  kaleidoscope::hid::sendKeyboardReport();
  kaleidoscope::hid::releaseKey(key);
}

void leaderPeriodAlpha(uint8_t sequence_index) {
  Key key = Key_A;

  key.flags = SHIFT_HELD;
  key.keyCode += sequence_index;

  tap(Key_Period);
  tap(Key_Enter);
  tap(Key_Enter);
  tap(key);
}

```

This assumes that your leader dictionary starts with the sequence that should insert `.\n\nA`. You can use this same function for all of A-Z, and set things up similarly for exclamation mark, question mark, etc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 6:45am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/6 "2018-06-29T06:45:25Z")

</div>

I already have macro.type working for capitals just fine, it was the enters/paragraphs that I didn’t think it supported. What would be the best way to have enter presses as part of a leader sequence output?

Optimising instead of brute forcing would probably be wise, but I understand very little of what you posted there, so I might put that on the backburner.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 6:50am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/7 "2018-06-29T06:50:21Z")

</div>

Oh, and this is not a big deal, but I tried doing a leader sequence consisting of only the leader key being pressed, intending so that when I pressed the full stop leader key and followed it with any key not part of a leader sequence (i.e. any non-letter), it would just give me a full stop on its own. It didn’t work, and I’m assuming that is because a leader sequence can’t be just that leader key.

Am I on the right track? And if so, would it be possible for that to be an option in the future?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algernon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/algernon/32/4404_2.png) [@algernon](https://community.keyboard.io/u/algernon)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 7:01am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/8 "2018-06-29T07:01:52Z")

</div>

> [@Llamalland](#):
>
> What would be the best way to have enter presses as part of a leader sequence output?

```c++
Macros.type(PSTR(".\n\nA"));

```

This should work.

> [@Llamalland](#):
>
> It didn’t work, and I’m assuming that is because a leader sequence can’t be just that leader key.
> 
> Am I on the right track? And if so, would it be possible for that to be an option in the future?

Indeed, it currently requires at least another key. It might be possible to change that, so it can be used on its own - please open an issue about it, and I’ll try to get around to implementing it soon. For the time being, you can use `LEAD(0), LEAD(0)` as a sequence, and get a full stop on double-tap.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![merlin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/merlin/32/3416_2.png) [@merlin](https://community.keyboard.io/u/merlin)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/9 "2018-06-29T11:58:34Z")

</div>

This discussion has got me thinking about the possibility of adding wildcards (`Key_Transparent`) to Leader sequences, and using them as function parameters. Just one such entry at the end of the sequence would be sufficient for @Llamalland’s use cases. In fact, if only one wildcard was allowed, and it was required to be the last entry in the sequence, it could also serve as an alternate sentinel value.

I haven’t yet considered how practical this would be to implement — what do you think, @algernon?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algernon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/algernon/32/4404_2.png) [@algernon](https://community.keyboard.io/u/algernon)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/10 "2018-06-29T13:56:27Z")

</div>

That’s an interesting idea. It’s not impossible to implement, either, but I’m not sure it would be doable in a backwards-compatible way. The idea is worth exploring nevertheless.

Can you open a feature request against `Kaleidoscope-Leader`? O:)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2018, 6:54am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/11 "2018-09-01T06:54:35Z")

</div>

So I’m soon to get the things I’ve mentioned here in gear, and assume I’m going to (at the moment) do the brute force method. Just checking whether something like the “wild card” idea has gotten anywhere?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Llamalland](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/llamalland/32/832_2.png) [@Llamalland](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Llamalland)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:06am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/12 "2018-09-27T08:06:08Z")

</div>

What would be the best way to have enter presses as part of a leader sequence output?

```auto
Macros.type(PSTR(".\n\nA"));

```

@algernon is there any chance there’s a similar thing for input of Key\_Tab?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![algernon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/algernon/32/4404_2.png) [@algernon](https://community.keyboard.io/u/algernon)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/trouble-with-leader-sequences/1684/13 "2018-09-27T13:13:41Z")

</div>

I think `\t` should work to input `Key_Tab`?