Things 3 from a game controller
The Things 3 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: Things 3 reads its shortcuts from this layout. The catalog's rows come from the Notes layout, so three face buttons need Things' keys, listed below.
Yes, you can get around Things 3 on a Mac from a game controller, once three face buttons get Things' own keys. The catalog entry borrows the Notes layout, which is close: Command N is a new to-do in Things too. With dictation, adding a to-do from the sofa is two buttons.
The layout, control by control
What to change for Things
New to-do (Command N) on the bottom face button works as is. The right, left and top face buttons send Notes' bold, checklist and copy.
- You: Change the right face button to complete (Command K), and give the D-pad Inbox, Today, Upcoming and Anytime (Command 1 to 4).
- InputConfig: Sends Things' own shortcuts from those buttons.
- Check: Select a to-do and press the right face button. It is marked complete.
The left stick is the pointer, the right stick scrolls, the right trigger clicks, and Escape is on Options. Complete on a face button and the lists on the D-pad make it a Things layout.
Capture from anywhere
- Dictation. On a bumper: new to-do, dictate, Return.
- Quick Entry. Things' global Quick Entry shortcut works from any app. Put it on the touchpad press.
- Someday. Command 5, behind a chord.
Todoist and OmniFocus have their own entries. Quick Entry and dictation catch a to-do from any app.
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 Things 3 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
Why do some buttons do the wrong thing?
The rows come from the Notes layout. Change them to Things' shortcuts as above.
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