Drafts from a game controller
The Drafts layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: Drafts reads keys from this layout like a keyboard. The rows come from the Apple Notes layout; new draft matches, and the checklist key may differ.
Yes, you can capture text in Drafts on a Mac from a game controller, and starting a draft is two buttons: new draft on the big one, dictation on a bumper. The rest is the Notes layout with the pointer and scroll on the sticks. Actions are the point of Drafts, and each one can be a button.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Capture. New draft (Command N) on the bottom face button.
- Notes leftovers. Bold on the right face button, a checklist on the left, copy on the top.
- Point and scroll. The left stick is the pointer, the right stick scrolls, the right trigger clicks, Escape is on Start.
The left face button sends Command Shift L, Apple Notes' checklist key. If Drafts uses a different one, change that row.
Put your actions on buttons
- You: Give three Drafts actions keyboard shortcuts in Drafts, then add D-pad rows that send them, behind a chord.
- InputConfig: Sends each action's shortcut when you hold the chord and press a direction.
- Check: Write a test draft, hold the chord, press D-pad up, and the action runs.
Three actions on the D-pad turn a captured thought into a sent message or a filed note.
Tune it
- Dictation. Add a Start Dictation row on a bumper. Start a new draft, speak, and you are done.
- Capture from anywhere. Put Drafts' global capture shortcut on the touchpad press.
Drafts is where text starts, and with a controller you can start it from bed.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for Drafts and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
Every binding, as a table
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 16) | Cursor left |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 16) | Cursor right |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 16) | Cursor up |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 16) | Cursor down |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Scroll down |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Scroll up |
| Right trigger | Left click | Click |
| A / Cross | Command (Left), N | New note (Cmd+N) |
| B / Circle | Command (Left), B | Bold (Cmd+B) |
| X / Square | Command (Left), Shift (Left), L | Checklist (Cmd+Shift+L) |
| Y / Triangle | Command (Left), C | Copy |
| Start / Options | Escape | Close / Esc |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Does this match the Apple Notes layout?
Yes, it has the same rows as the Apple Notes layout. Drafts' actions are the addition.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
Updated