Microsoft OneNote from a game controller
The Microsoft OneNote 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: Native on the Mac. The layout sends OneNote's shortcuts, with nothing to enable.
Yes, you can get around OneNote on a Mac from a game controller. OneNote is a notebook you flip through, and the D-pad flips pages. Click and right click are on the face buttons, for people who prefer thumbs to triggers, with a new page and find next to them, and dictation can do the words.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Click. The bottom face button clicks and the right one right-clicks. The right trigger clicks too, and held it drags to select.
- Pages. The top face button makes a new page (Command N) and the left finds on the page (Command F). D-pad up and down flip to the previous and next page.
- Edit. Undo and redo (Command Y) are the bumpers, and the left trigger selects everything on the page (Command A).
- Move around. The left stick moves the pointer, the right stick scrolls, and D-pad left and right move the text cursor.
- File. Save and sync is Options, and print is Create.
The D-pad flips pages, so reading a notebook takes one thumb.
Tune it
- Dictation. Give a stick click the Start Dictation output. Both are free.
- To-do tag. Put Command 1 on the touchpad press.
- Sections. Put Command Shift and the brackets on chords on the D-pad.
With Start Dictation on a stick click, you can write notes without the keyboard.
If the D-pad does not flip pages
D-pad up and down send Option Command and an arrow. If your OneNote does not move, change those two rows' output to Command Page Up and Command Page Down, the page shortcuts Microsoft lists for OneNote on a Mac. Change two rows, and the D-pad flips pages again.
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 Microsoft OneNote 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 |
|---|---|---|
| A / Cross | Left click | Click (place cursor / select) |
| B / Circle | Right click | Right click (context menu) |
| Y / Triangle | Command (Left), N | New page (Cmd+N) |
| X / Square | Command (Left), F | Find on page (Cmd+F) |
| LB / L1 | Command (Left), Z | Undo (Cmd+Z) |
| RB / R1 | Command (Left), Y | Redo (Cmd+Y) |
| Start / Options | Command (Left), S | Save / sync (Cmd+S) |
| Back / Share / Select | Command (Left), P | Print (Cmd+P) |
| D-pad up | Alt / Option (Left), Command (Left), Up | Previous page in section |
| D-pad down | Alt / Option (Left), Command (Left), Down | Next page in section |
| D-pad left | Left | Cursor left |
| D-pad right | Right | Cursor right |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 20) | Move pointer right |
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 20) | Move pointer left |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 14) | Move pointer down |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 14) | Move pointer up |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Scroll page up |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Scroll page down |
| Right trigger | Left click | Left click (hold to drag-select) |
| Left trigger | Command (Left), A | Select all on page (Cmd+A) |
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
Can I write notes with this?
With dictation for the words, yes. Give a stick click the Start Dictation output and talk.
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