Numbers from a game controller
The Numbers 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: Numbers moves between cells on the arrow keys and confirms on Return, which this layout sends. Nothing to enable.
Yes, you can move through a Numbers spreadsheet from a game controller on a Mac: the D-pad moves one cell per press and Return on a face button confirms it. Values come from dictation or from the Numeric Keypad layout's rows added to this one. It is the Excel layout with Numbers' habits.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Move between cells. The D-pad moves one cell per press.
- Confirm a cell. Return on the left face button.
- Copy, paste, undo. Copy and Paste on the bottom and right face buttons, Undo on the top.
- Reach the rest. The left stick is the pointer, the right stick scrolls, and the right trigger clicks.
A D-pad is a grid controller and a spreadsheet is a grid. The D-pad moves the cell, and the left face button confirms it.
Tune it for Numbers
- One direction at a time. On the preset's page, turn on D-pad one direction at a time, so an angled press never moves two ways.
- Run down a column. Turn on Repeat keys while held in the D-pad rows to run down a long column by holding.
- Tab. On a bumper, to confirm and move right.
- Jump and select. Command and the arrows jumps to the edge of the table. Shift and the arrows selects. Put each set behind a chord.
- Digits. The Numeric Keypad layout has 0 to 9 on the pad. Copy its rows in.
- Dictation. Start Dictation into the selected cell, then Return.
The first two are settings, not new rows, and take a minute. Turn on one direction at a time first, and the cursor goes where you meant.
The short version
- D-pad and Return. That is most of the job.
- Two settings. Set one direction at a time, and turn on Repeat keys while held.
- Numbers in. Use keypad rows or dictation.
Excel has its own entry, and Google Sheets in a browser takes the same arrow keys and Return. Moving and checking cells is all on the D-pad.
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 Numbers 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 |
| D-pad up | Up | Cell up |
| D-pad down | Down | Cell down |
| D-pad left | Left | Cell left |
| D-pad right | Right | Cell right |
| A / Cross | Command (Left), C | Copy |
| B / Circle | Command (Left), V | Paste |
| X / Square | Return | Confirm cell (Enter) |
| Y / Triangle | Command (Left), Z | Undo |
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 enter numbers in Numbers with a controller?
With the Numeric Keypad layout's rows added, or by dictation into the cell.
Does it work in Excel and Google Sheets?
Yes. Excel has its own entry, and Sheets in a browser takes the same arrow keys and Return.
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