ydotool

ydotool cmd args [ , cmd args … ]

ydotool cmd –help

ydotool lets you programmatically (or manually) simulate keyboard input and mouse activity, etc. It does this by writing directly to /dev/uinput so it generally needs to run as root.

It’s possible to chain multiple commands together, separated by a comma between two spaces.

Currently implemented command(s):

type Type a string key Press keys mousemove Move mouse pointer to absolute position click Click on mouse buttons recorder Record/replay input events sleep sleep for a while

key [–up] [–down] [–next-delay ] [–key-delay ] [–repeat ] [–repeat-delay ]

Type a given keystroke. Examples being "alt+r", "ctrl+J",
"ctrl+alt+n", "backspace".

Options:

*--up*
    Only keyup
    
*--down*
    Only keydown

*--delay* _<ms>_
    Delay before starting to output keystrokes. Default 100ms.

*--key-delay* _<ms>_
    Delay time between keystrokes. Default 12ms.

*--repeat* _<times>_
    Times to repeat the key sequence.

*--repeat-delay* _<ms>_
    Delay time between repetitions. Default 0ms.

Generally, any valid name from _/usr/include/linux/input-event-codes.h_ will work. Multiple keys are separated by '+'.

Each key sequence can be any number of modifiers and keys, separated by plus (+)

For example: alt+r Alt+F4 CTRL+alt+f3 aLT+1+2+3 ctrl+Backspace 

Since we are emulating keyboard input, combinations like Shift+# is invalid because typing a `#' involves pressing Shift and 3.

Example: Switch to tty1:
    ydotool key ctrl+alt+f1

Example: Close a window in graphical environment:
    ydotool key Alt+F4

type [–next-delay ] [–key-delay ] [–texts arg] [–file ] “texts”

Types text as if you had typed it on the keyboard.

Options:

*--next-delay* _<ms>_
    Delay before starting typing. Default 100ms.

*--key-delay* _<ms>_
    Delay time between keystrokes. Default 12ms.

*--texts* _arg_
    Texts to type

*--file* _<filepath>_
    Specify a file, the contents of which will be typed as if passed as an argument. The filepath may also be '-' to read from stdin.

Example: to type 'Hello world!' you would do:
    ydotool type 'Hello world!'

mousemove Move the mouse to the specific relative X and Y coordinates on the screen.

Options:
*--absolute*
    Use absolute position

Example: to move the cursor to absolute coordinates (100,100):
    ydotool mousemove --absolute 100 100

click [–next-delay ] button Send a click. Buttons are: left, right or middle

Options:

*--next-delay* _<ms>_
    Delay before click. Default 100ms.

*--up*
    Only mouseup

*--down*
    Only mousedown

*--buttons* _<arg>_
    Buttons to press (left, right, middle)

Example: Mouse middle click:
    ydotool click middle

recorder [–record ] [–replay ] [–display] [–duration ] [–devices ] [–file ]

Options:

*--record* _<devices>_
    Devices to record from. Default is all, including non-keyboard devices.

*--replay* _<input files>_
    The record file can't be replayed on an architecture with different endianness.

*--display*
    Display

*--duration* _<ms>_
    Record duration. Otherwise use SIGINT to stop recording.

*--devices* _<path>_
    Devices, separated by comma, to record from. Default is all devices (default: "")

*--file* _<path>_
    File to record to / replay from

When ydotool(1) runs and creates a virtual input device, it will take some time for your graphical environment (eg X11/Wayland) to recognize and enable the virtual input device. (Usually done by udev)

If the delay is too short, the virtual input device may not be recognized & enabled by the graphical environment in time.

In order to solve this problem, there is a persistent background service, ydotoold(1), to hold a persistent virtual device, and accept input from ydotool(1). When ydotoold(1) is unavailable, ydotool(1) will work without it.

AGPLv3

ydotoold(8) Project site: https://github.com/ReimuNotMoe/ydotool

ydotool was written by ReimuNotMoe.

This man page by bob.hepple@gmail.com