New Stream Deck – KM Link Not Working

Questions & Suggestions
#1

Hello!
Just received my Stream Deck XL. Very excited, after experimenting with the Software Version I wanted to to go the whole hog.

Unfortunately, the software version nor the hardware version works with the KM Link Plugin. I can trigger "regular" shortcuts (mainly via Hotkey), but nothing directly with KM. I have uninstalled an re-installed the plugin, restarted the SD software, all no help unfortunately.

If I close the KM Engine and trigger a Macro via KM Link the Engine does reopen, but still nothing happens. I figure that some information is sent to KM from the SD, but it isn't translated in to anything actionable. The StreamDeck App, KM & KM Engine all have full access in System Preferences - Security and Privacy - Privacy. I am running a Mac mini 2018 i3, 16GB RAM, macOS 12.0.1.

Any Idea where the problem may be? Thanks in advance!

#2

I use the KM Link plugin a lot and have had occasional issues with it in the past.

I think the problem is with your macro, not the KM Link. Since you've newly-joined this forum my guess is you're also new to KM.

My problem is I don't like having to guess as it's usually a waste of time - yours and mine.

So, post a copy of your macro as a reply - both the macro itself and an image of it and we'll take it from there. If you don't know how to do that, look here: Forum [Keyboard Maestro Wiki]

#3

Thanks for the reply. Have had KM for approx a year, but use cases have been fairly superficial when compared to many users on the forum. Still, very helpful!

Here is a simple Macro that I would like to trigger via the SD: Hide applications, activate Word, and open my side apps (the keystroke triggers a saved layout on my 2nd display in moom).

Microsoft Word Macro (v9.2)

Microsoft Word.kmmacros (2.3 KB)

Do I need to add a trigger of sorts? Or has it got something to do with the remote access? I couldn't find any installation info for KM Link. here ist the shot of the SD application:

Screen Shot 2021-11-25 at 14.09.56

#5

You’re welcome - I’ve had KM quite a bit longer but there’s always something new to learn or try!

Anyway - thanks for posting your macro. I see you first hide all the running apps and then activate Word but, if it’s already at the front, you hide it too (why would you do that? So you might want to change that.)

The end result, you say, is nothing happens or seems to happen.

I’m wondering if you’re running into a timing issue in that KM can actually run your macro faster than your Mac and its displays can respond. To test that idea, I would insert a Pause for 0.2 seconds action after both the Hide and the Activate actions. Can you give that a go and see what happens?

#6

Forgot to address these questions: everything you’ve done on the SD configuration looks fine. Remote access is irrelevant and your SD is triggering your macro using its name, so no need for anything else… unless you have 2 macros called Microsoft Word?

1 Like
#7

If it's already at the front, I just won't use that button :slight_smile:

After Adding pauses, more frustration, eating food, and a few other distractions I tried a Macro from a different folder...and realised the folder with the "Word" Macro had a funny black squircle on it. Turns out when show/hide palette with hot key is activated, KM Link no likey. After disabling that, all working well.

Screen Shot 2021-11-25 at 14.55.54

So, taking a closer look at KM itself helped. Thanks for the pointers!

#8

Well @flobach - I didn't quite understand what you meant by this until it just happened to me!

@corcules - I did not expect the KM Link plugin to fail to run macros when those macros are inside a macro group configured like this (for example):
KM 0 2021-11-27_17-43-11

Macros inside groups that don't have the palette showing by hot key work fine.

Is this a feature of the KM Link plugin? Or is it something you can work around?

Thanks for your excellent plugin and any time you can spend on this!!

1 Like
KM link broken? (Stream Deck 5.1.3)
#9

Hello guys,

@tiffle well This is not a feature of kmlink… :thinking: it’s a rather tricky use case and i need to investigate and do some tests around…
I’ll do that next week, stay tune…

3 Likes
KM link broken? (Stream Deck 5.1.3)
#10

Hi @tiffle

I guess there is an obvious reason for that behavior. See my answer to that other topic.

KM link broken? (Stream Deck 5.1.3)

And @cdthomer found the obvious solution, using the condition :

« Always activated and shows a palette for one action when »
Instead of
« Shows a palette for one action when »

2 Likes
#11

That's the key and the solution! Thank you so much!

#12

This kind of subtlety that make me fall in love with KM everyday :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

1 Like