Use Modifiers with "Prompt With List"

Hi, @gruber. During my testing of Prompt with List, I found that there were only five modifier combinations that can be used with <return>–:

1 Modifier Key

  • ⌃⏎ YES
  • ⌥⏎ YES
  • ⇧⏎ YES
  • ⌘⏎ PWL stalls and beeps

2 Modifier Keys

  • ⌃⌥⏎ PWL stalls and removes Select Entry
  • ⌃⇧⏎ YES
  • ⌃⌘⏎ PWL stalls
  • ⌥⇧⏎ YES
  • ⌥⌘⏎ PWL fails with no selection
  • ⇧⌘⏎ PWL stalls and beeps

3 Modifier Keys

  • ⌃⌥⇧⏎ PWL stalls and removes Select Entry
  • ⌃⌥⌘⏎ PWL stalls
  • ⌃⇧⌘⏎ PWL stalls
  • ⌥⇧⌘⏎ PWL stalls

4 Modifier Keys

  • ⌃⌥⇧⌘ PWL stalls

On a related note, although it's not perfect, I found it helpful to provide a legend as the first line, e.g., with Markdown Link Tool:


The legend line in the Prompt with List can be effectively deactivated by using a double-underscore prefix in combination with an Until action:

Keyboard Maestro Export

DOWNLOAD Macro Actions:
Until.kmactions (1.6 KB)
WARNING: After downloading this macro, if you are editing a macro and import these actions, they will be inserted into the macro you are editing.


UPDATE: 2022-10-01

Keyboard Maestro v10.2 incudes a new related token: %PromptWithListModifiers%

This token makes it much simpler to provide alternate behavior when a modifier is down when a selection is made.

Also, with Keyboard Maestro v10.2, Prompt With List selections can be made with the Return in combination with more modifiers:

1 Modifier Key

  • ⌃⏎ YES
  • ⌥⏎ YES
  • ⇧⏎ YES
  • ⌘⏎ YES

2 Modifier Keys

  • ⌃⌥⏎ *PWL stalls and removes the Select Entry
  • ⌃⇧⏎ YES
  • ⌃⌘⏎ YES
  • ⌥⇧⏎ YES
  • ⌥⌘⏎ YES
  • ⇧⌘⏎ YES

3 Modifier Keys

  • ⌃⌥⇧⏎ *PWL stalls and removes Select Entry
  • ⌃⌥⌘⏎ *PWL stalls and removes Select Entry
  • ⌃⇧⌘⏎ YES
  • ⌥⇧⌘⏎ YES

4 Modifier Keys

  • ⌃⌥⇧⌘ *PWL stalls and removes Select Entry

Although the four combinations noted above do not seem to work in combination with Return, if the PWL selection is made by double-clicking the entry, the selection is made and the %PromptWithListModifiers% token properly indicates the state of the modifiers.


@peternlewis, thank you for making this awesome improvement! As one that prefers to use the keyboard and avoid the mouse when possible (to prevent ergonomic strain), %PromptWithListModifiers% is invaluable.