This interface describes the methods and properties of the global popclip object.

interface PopClip {
    appear(): void;
    context: Context;
    copyContent(content, options?): Promise<void>;
    copyText(text, options?): Promise<void>;
    input: Input;
    modifiers: Modifiers;
    openTemplateUrl(urlTemplate, query, options?): Promise<void>;
    openUrl(url, options?): Promise<void>;
    options: Options & AuthOptions;
    pasteContent(content, options?): Promise<void>;
    pasteText(text, options?): Promise<void>;
    performCommand(command, options?): Promise<void>;
    pressKey(key, modifiers?, options?): Promise<void>;
    pressKeys(sequence, options?): Promise<void>;
    revealFile(path): void;
    runAppleScript(source, options?): Promise<AppleScriptResult>;
    runAppleScriptFile(path, options?): Promise<AppleScriptResult>;
    runShortcut(name, options?): Promise<AppleScriptResult>;
    settingsRequiredError(message?): Error;
    share(serviceName, items): Promise<void>;
    showFailure(): void;
    showSettings(): void;
    showSuccess(): void;
    showText(text, options?): void;
    signInRequiredError(message?): Error;
}

Properties

context: Context

The current context.

input: Input

The current selection.

modifiers: Modifiers

The state of the modifier keys when the action was invoked in PopClip.

During the execution of the population function, all the modifiers will read as false.

options: Options & AuthOptions

The current values of the options.

Methods

  • Trigger PopClip to appear again with the current selection.

    Returns void

  • Place mixed content on the pasteboard, optionally showing "Copied" notification to the user. Same promise semantics as copyText.

    Parameters

    Returns Promise<void>

  • Place the given string on the pasteboard, optionally showing "Copied" notification to the user.

    Returns a promise that resolves once the items are committed to the pasteboard, and rejects if the pasteboard refuses the write.

    Parameters

    • text: string

      The plain text string to copy

    • Optional options: CopyOptions

    Returns Promise<void>

  • Fill a query into a template URL and open it. This is the mechanism used by URL actions, exposed to JavaScript.

    The query is trimmed of surrounding whitespace and URL-encoded, then substituted into the template in place of the placeholders *** and {popclip text}. Any {popclip option <name>} placeholders are replaced with the URL-encoded values supplied in the options sub-dictionary. The resulting URL is then opened as by openUrl, and that open's promise is returned.

    When the copy option is set, the query text is also copied to the clipboard.

    Parameters

    • urlTemplate: string

      The URL template containing placeholders.

    • query: string

      The text to substitute into the template's query placeholders.

    • Optional options: {
          activate?: boolean;
          app?: string;
          backgroundTab?: boolean;
          clean?: boolean;
          copy?: boolean;
          options?: {
              [key: string]: string;
          };
          plus?: boolean;
          verbatim?: boolean;
      }

      Options.

      • Optional activate?: boolean

        Whether to request that macOS activate the target app. (Default: true)

      • Optional app?: string

        Bundle identifier of the app to open the URL with. For example "com.google.Chrome".

      • Optional backgroundTab?: boolean

        When opening a web URL in a supported browser, whether to open the URL in a background tab. (Default: false)

      • Optional clean?: boolean

        Collapse runs of internal whitespace in the query to a single space. Mirrors the clean query property of URL actions. (Default: false)

      • Optional copy?: boolean

        Whether to copy the query text to the clipboard, overriding the app's default behaviour for this call.

      • Optional options?: {
            [key: string]: string;
        }

        A mapping of option names to values, used to fill any {popclip option <name>} placeholders in the template.

        • [key: string]: string
      • Optional plus?: boolean

        Encode spaces in the query as + instead of %20. Some search engines (for example Amazon) expect this format. Mirrors the spaces as plus property of URL actions. (Default: false)

      • Optional verbatim?: boolean

        Wrap the query in double quotes for an exact-phrase search. If unspecified, defaults to the state of the Option (⌥) key when the action was invoked.

    Returns Promise<void>

    Example

    popclip.openTemplateUrl("https://www.google.com/search?q=***", popclip.input.text);
    
  • Open a URL in a browser or other application.

    If a target application bundle identifier is specified via the app option, PopClip will ask that app to open the URL.

    If no target app is specified:

    • If the URL is a web URL (http or https scheme) and the current app is a browser, the URL is opened in the current app.
    • Otherwise, PopClip asks macOS to open the URL in the default handler for its scheme.

    Any parameters etc. in the URL must be appropriately percent-encoded. JavaScript provides the encodeURIComponent() function for this. Alternatively you can use the URL class, which is available as a global in PopClip's JavaScript environment.

    Returns a promise that resolves once the request has been delivered to the browser or OS.

    Parameters

    • url: string | UrlObject

      URL string or a UrlObject representing the URL to open.

    • Optional options: {
          activate?: boolean;
          app?: string;
          backgroundTab?: boolean;
      }

      Options.

      • Optional activate?: boolean

        Whether to request that macOS activate the target app. (Default: true)

      • Optional app?: string

        Bundle identifier of the app to open the URL with. For example "com.google.Chrome".

      • Optional backgroundTab?: boolean

        When opening a web URL in a supported browser, whether to open the URL in a background tab. (Default: false)

    Returns Promise<void>

    Example

    // examples using string URLs
    popclip.openUrl("https://xkcd.com"); // open in current/default browser
    popclip.openUrl("https://xkcd.com", {app: "com.brave.Browser"}); // open in Brave browser

    // example using URL class
    const mailUrl=new URL("mailto:support@pilotmoon.com");
    mailUrl.searchParams.append("subject", "What's up?");
    popclip.openUrl(mailUrl); // the mailto: link will open in the default mail application
  • Paste mixed pasteboard content. Same promise semantics as pasteText.

    Parameters

    Returns Promise<void>

  • If the target app's Paste command is available, this method places the given string on the pasteboard and then invokes the target app's Paste comand. If the restore flag is set in the options, it will then restore the original pasteboard contents.

    If the target app's Paste command is not available, it behaves as copyText instead.

    Parameters

    • text: string

      The plain text string to paste

    • Optional options: PasteOptions

    Returns Promise<void>

    Example

    // place "Hello" on the clipboard and invoke Paste
    await popclip.pasteText("Hello");
    // place "Hello", then restore the original pasteboard contents
    await popclip.pasteText("Hello", {restore: true});

    Returns a promise that resolves once the paste command has been delivered to the app, after the pasteboard write was confirmed and — if restore is set — after the pasteboard was restored. It rejects if the write never appears on the pasteboard or the restore fails.

  • Invokes a command in the target app.

    Returns a promise. For cut and copy it resolves once the app has placed the resulting content on the pasteboard and any transform has been applied. For paste it resolves once the once the command has been delivered to the app. An unknown command or transform value throws immediately, doing nothing.

    Parameters

    • command: "copy" | "cut" | "paste"

      Either cut, copy or paste.

    • Optional options: {
          transform?: "none" | "plain";
      }

      Options for the command.

      • Optional transform?: "none" | "plain"

        Transformation to apply to the pasteboard contents. (Default: none)

        • none: regular pasteboard operation
        • plain: strips away everything but plain text

    Returns Promise<void>

    Example

    await popclip.performCommand("copy")
    
  • Simulate a key press by the user.

    Parameters

    • key: string | number

      The key to press. When this parameter is a string, PopClip will interpret it as in Key Press actions. When this parameter is a number, PopClip will use that exact key code.

    • Optional modifiers: number

      An optional bit mask specifiying additional modifier keys, if any.

    • Optional options: {
          target?: "session" | "app" | "hid";
      }

      Options for the key press.

      The target option says where PopClip posts the key events:

      • session (the default) posts to the session event tap, kCGSessionEventTap.
      • app posts to the process of the application PopClip is acting on, using CGEventPostToPid(). This is the only target aimed at a particular process, so the keys arrive there whatever holds keyboard focus at the time.
      • hid posts to the HID event tap, kCGHIDEventTap.

      Where the events go from a tap is up to the system. If a key combo does not have the effect you expect with one target, it is worth trying the others.

      • Optional target?: "session" | "app" | "hid"

    Returns Promise<void>

    A promise that resolves once the press has been made, and rejects if it fails. Await it when a later step depends on the press completing.

    await popclip.pressKey('command c');
    popclip.pressKey('command space', 0, { target: 'hid' });

    To press a sequence of combos, with waits between them if needed, see pressKeys().

    Examples

    // press the key combo ⌘B
    await popclip.pressKey('command B');
    // press the key combo ⌥⌘H
    await popclip.pressKey('option command H');
    // press the return key
    await popclip.pressKey('return');
    await popclip.pressKey(util.constant.KEY_RETURN); // equivalent
    // press option and the page down key
    await popclip.pressKey('option 0x79');
    await popclip.pressKey(0x79, util.constant.MODIFIER_OPTION); // equivalent

    Some key code and modifier constants are available in util.constant.

  • Simulate a sequence of key presses, with optional waits between them.

    The sequence runs as one unit: PopClip makes the presses in order on its key-press queue, and no other press can interleave mid-sequence.

    Parameters

    • sequence: (string | number)[]

      The presses to make, in order. Each entry is a key press in the same form as pressKey()'s key parameter — a string such as 'command b' or a numeric key code — or a wait, written 'wait <milliseconds>' (up to 5000). If any entry does not parse, the call throws and nothing is pressed.

    • Optional options: {
          target?: "session" | "app" | "hid";
      }

      The same options as pressKey(): target says where the presses are posted (session, the default, or app or hid).

      • Optional target?: "session" | "app" | "hid"

    Returns Promise<void>

    A promise that resolves once the whole sequence has run, and rejects if the presses could not be made.

    // press ⌘space, give Spotlight a moment, then paste
    await popclip.pressKeys(['command space', 'wait 100', 'command v'], { target: 'hid' });
  • Show a file or folder in the Finder. A file is selected inside its enclosing folder; a folder is opened as the window's own root.

    The path must be an absolute path on the user's disk — the kind found in popclip.input.data.paths.

    Throws if the path is omitted or does not exist.

    Parameters

    • path: string

      An absolute path to an existing file or folder. A leading ~ is expanded to the user's home folder.

    Returns void

    Example

    popclip.revealFile(popclip.input.data.paths[0]);
    popclip.revealFile("~/Downloads");
  • Run an AppleScript, supplied as source text.

    Requires the script entitlement, and may only be called during the action phase.

    To call a specific handler (subroutine) in the script, name it in the options — see AppleScriptOptions.

    Bad input throws immediately, and nothing runs. A script that runs and errors rejects the promise with an error carrying the AppleScript error number as its errorNumber property.

    Parameters

    Returns Promise<AppleScriptResult>

    A promise for the script's return value — see AppleScriptResult.

    Example

    const script = `
    on addReminder(theName)
    tell application id "com.apple.reminders"
    make new reminder with properties {name:theName}
    end tell
    end addReminder`;
    await popclip.runAppleScript(script, {
    handler: "addReminder",
    parameters: [popclip.input.text],
    permissions: ["reminders"],
    });
  • Run an AppleScript from a file in the extension package.

    The same as runAppleScript() in every way except where the script comes from: path names a script file inside the package, relative to the package root. An .applescript file is read as source text; an .scpt (compiled script) file is opened by the script runner directly. Other file types, and paths outside the package, are refused.

    Parameters

    Returns Promise<AppleScriptResult>

    A promise for the script's return value — see AppleScriptResult.

    Example

    const result = await popclip.runAppleScriptFile("scripts/lookup.applescript", {
    handler: "lookup",
    parameters: [popclip.input.text],
    });
  • Run a shortcut from the user's Shortcuts library, by name.

    May only be called during the action phase.

    Bad input (a missing name, a non-string input) throws immediately, and nothing runs. A shortcut that could not be run, or that errors, rejects the promise.

    Parameters

    • name: string

      The name of the shortcut, exactly as it appears in the Shortcuts app.

    • Optional options: {
          input?: string;
      }

      input: text passed to the shortcut as its input; omitted means none.

      • Optional input?: string

    Returns Promise<AppleScriptResult>

    A promise for the shortcut's result — see AppleScriptResult. The result is the shortcut's output: what its last action produces, or what it passes to a "Stop and Output" action. A shortcut that produces no output resolves to undefined.

    Example

    const result = await popclip.runShortcut("My Shortcut", { input: popclip.input.text });
    
  • Returns an Error to throw to send the user to the settings UI without clearing the sign-in (for example a required option is missing or invalid).

    Parameters

    • Optional message: string

      Optional message for logs/diagnostics.

    Returns Error

  • Share items with a named macOS sharing service.

    Parameters

    • serviceName: string

      The name of the sharing service to use.

    • items: (string | UrlObject | RichString)[]

      An array of items to share. Each item can be a string, a RichString object, or a UrlObject.

    Returns Promise<void>

    Example

    // share a string with the Messages service
    popclip.share("com.apple.share.Messages.window", ["Hello, world!"]);
    // share a URL with the Safari Reading List service
    popclip.share("com.apple.share.System.add-to-safari-reading-list", [{ url: "https://example.com" }]);
    // share a an html string with the Notes service
    const item = new RichString("Some <b>simple</b> html", { format: html })
    popclip.share("com.apple.Notes.SharingExtension", [item]);

    The list of available sharing services is determined by the user's system configuration.

    Returns a promise that resolves when the share completes (or when the user cancels the share UI), and rejects if macOS reports that the share failed. The share UI can stay open indefinitely, so only await this if your action needs to wait for the outcome.

    Throws

    If the service name is not recognized, or if the service cannot handle the supplied items, an error is thrown.

  • PopClip will show an "X" symbol to indicate failure.

    Returns void

  • PopClip will open the settings UI for this extension.

    If the extension has no settings, this method does nothing.

    Returns void

  • PopClip will show a checkmark symbol to indicate success.

    Returns void

  • Display text to the user.

    Parameters

    • text: string

      The text to display.

    • Optional options: {
          preview?: boolean;
          style?: "compact" | "large";
      }

      Options.

      • Optional preview?: boolean

        Applies to compact display mode only. If true, and the app's Paste command is available, the displayed text will be in a clickable button, which clicked, pastes the full text.

      • Optional style?: "compact" | "large"

        Display style:

        • compact (default): Show the text inside PopClip's popup. It will be truncated to 160 characters when shown.
        • large: Show as "Large Type" in full screen.

    Returns void

  • Returns an Error to throw when the stored sign-in credential is no longer valid (for example the server rejected or revoked the token). PopClip clears the saved secret — so the extension appears signed out — and opens the settings UI to sign in again.

    Parameters

    • Optional message: string

      Optional message for logs/diagnostics.

    Returns Error

    Example

    if (isAuthError(e)) throw popclip.signInRequiredError();