Getting unique choice keys in a palette of macros

Questions & Suggestions
1

Hello, KM community —

I have a palette of macros created using the “Show Palette of Macros” action. The macros I’ve added have the following names (for reveal.js presentations):

  • Insert ‘fade-semi-out’
  • Insert ‘fade-in-then-semi-out’
  • Insert ‘highlight-current-red’

I’ve noticed that, when the palette is shown, KM doesn’t choose unique letters to select options but, instead, picks ‘f’ as the key for selecting the first two (see attached screenshot).

Screenshot 2025-10-11 at 20.44.07
Screenshot 2025-10-11 at 20.44.07534×280 49.5 KB

Just an idea, but it would be great if KM would — if possible — pick unique letters for selecting macros from the name, if they exist. For example, in my case it could use ‘f’ for the first macro and then use ‘s’ for the second. The algorithm could be as simple as 'pick the first unique letter at the start of a word which has not been assigned to a previous macro, if it exists'.

J

2

The workaround I use for this is using a group palette, and then for every macro inside that group I assign a single letter hotkey.

3

Pardon me for questioning your idea, but using that method, the first macro in your list start with the letter "i" and so "i" would be the shortcut for that item, right? Then the second macro would be "f" and the third would be "h".

4

Yes — you’re right! That’s what it would be.

Sorry about the mistake in explaining my own idea. :roll_eyes:

J

5

The issue with this is that the chosen hot key would be very unstable, highly dependent on the order and contents of the palette.

If you want to force control of the desired letter, I suggest you name your macros in a way that is consistent, for example:

  • insert (i) 'fade-in-then-semi-out'
  • Insert (s) 'fade-semi-out'
  • Insert (h) 'highlight-current-red'
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