Script to add keyboard shortcut to Tool Presets

[Andymc7]

So this may be an odd request right off the bat, because I know switcing tool presets can be recorded with an action, then bound to a "F-key" keyboard shortcut. But of course this isn't what I want. I'm picky like that. Here's why:

The pen tool in Photoshop CC (only in Win7, interestingly) is STILL broke. Badly. Not only is there a horrible and frustrating 1/2 second lag for each point that's clicked, the user is also no longer able to preset path operations with the "-" and "=" keys. I've used the pen tool for a very long time, and am very accustomed to quickly toggling path operations with these keys. SO.. Is there a way to script and bind "regular" keyboard shortcuts to pen tool path operations (would love the same keys as they're supposed to be) that will circumvent this bug until... ahem... Adobe releases an update for CC that will hopefully fix the pen tool?

I know, I'm being picky. But for me, I already have lots of actions already bound to shortcuts and I'd really rather not use Ctrl+F3 to set my path operation to Combine.

Truly, any help would be GREATLY appreciated,

Thanks,

-Andy

[boo_radley_2013]

before I can offer suggestions, I need to know exactly what do the shortcut keys "-" and "=" do? I can't test this on my own as I've remapped all my keyboard shortcuts years ago...

[Andymc7]

Hi, thanks for the quick response!

While using the pen tool, the "=" changes the path operation to Combine shapes, and the "-" switches it to Subtract. There are other path operation options as well, but I seldom use them.

[boo_radley_2013]

I'm not very familiar with the pen tool. Is 'subtract' mode and 'combine shapes' mode something that can be programmed in Photoshop's keybopard shortcuts?

[boo_radley_2013]

Ok I see what you mean. One way to do it is to select the pen tool, then select the 'combine' option, then save this as a tool preset entitled 'Pen Combine Mode' (or whatever). Next, with the pen still selected, change 'combine' to 'subtract' and then again save it as a tool preset entitled 'Pen Subtract Mode' (or whatever you want to call it again).

Now you want a way to assign these tool presets to keyboard shortcuts. Like you said, you could use actions to do this, but from what I've seen, there are a limited amount of programmable actions and once you've used them up, that's it. So because of this limitation, I've never used them since. Other than that, I don't think there's a way to assign keyboard shortcuts to tool presets within Photoshop. The solution is to:

a) use the scriptlistener in Photoshop that will convert that tool preset into an executable script, and

b) use 3rd party software, like AutoHotKey or PowerPro which will allow you to press any key or mouse button(or combination of both) to run that script, which will ultimately act as a keyboard shortcut. Complicated at first, but once learned, the possibilities are infinite and there are no more restrictions with keyboard shortcuts, tool presets, etc.

First, look into the scriptlistener function for Photoshop, then look into AutoHotKey which provides you with unlimited keyboard shortcuts for all sorts of things.

But if you can't be bothered to go that deep, then the only other way I can think of is to always leave open the tool preset panel and just select your pen presets from there once you've saved them.

[cbuliarca]

Hi I've created some Ui that will listen for keyboard shortcuts, this way you can extend the ps shortcuts.

Maybe this will help you a bit.

You can check a short video about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_x1LerZfek

to download it you can go here:

http://www.buliarca.net63.net/counter/counter.php?btn=BCM_ExtendShortcuts&lnk=http://www.buliarca.ne...

[Andymc7]

Hi cbuliarca,

I've download your UI and watched the YT vid, but after I create my keyboard shortcut buttons and close the window, as you do in your video, I can't find the shortcuts anywhere, and they don't work. What step am I missing?

Thanks

[cbuliarca]

you need first to make a Photoshop shortcut for the script, go to Edit>KeyboardShortcuts and you can find the BCM_extensShortcutsUI in File>Scripts, than just use this shortcut to open the script and after that press the custom shortcut you have added for your buttons.

in short is like the shortcuts from the Zbrush Brushes, where you are pressing a seqence of keys to select what you need.

[Andymc7]

cbuliarca, I appreciate your input and method of automating the tool presets, but I'm looking to find a script that doesn't require running an extra UI and just one keystroke instead of two. Thanks anyway

[r-bin]

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function select_pentool(name)

    {

    try {

        var desc = new ActionDescriptor();

        var ref = new ActionReference();

        ref.putClass( stringIDToTypeID( "penTool" ) );

        desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );

        executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "slct" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );

        ref = null;

        desc = null;

        //reset_tool();

        if (name) select_preset(name);

        }

    catch (e) {}

    }

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function select_preset(name)

    {

    try {

        var desc = new ActionDescriptor();

        var ref = new ActionReference();

        ref.putName( stringIDToTypeID( "toolPreset" ), name );

        desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );

        executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "slct" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );

        ref = null;

        desc = null;

        }

    catch(e) { }

    }

[Andymc7]

r-bin,

I'm sorry, I'm not an advanced scripter in PS, would you mind telling me how I'd go about getting your script to work?

Thanks