I’m trying to figure out how to automatically type and delete text at the cursor location in Google Docs using JavaScript. The usual keypress event simulation methods aren’t working for me, even when I try them with or without jQuery.
I did some digging and found out that Google Docs uses a virtual keyboard system. When you click the virtual keyboard buttons, it triggers this function:
D.POb = function(b) {
this.dispatchEvent(new R(Ud, {keyCode: b}))
};
In this code, Ud appears to be the string “action” and R looks like some kind of Event constructor.
Can anyone tell me the proper way to trigger this event using JavaScript? Are there any alternative methods to simulate typing in Google Docs that actually work?
That virtual keyboard hack you found? It’s basically reverse engineering Google’s obfuscated code, and it breaks every time they update. I wasted weeks on similar approaches before giving up - it’s just not worth the headache.
Instead of fighting their DOM weirdness, try Google Apps Script if you need to insert text programmatically. You get legit API access to the document content. For browser automation, the Google Docs API with proper auth beats trying to fake user input every time.
If you’re stuck doing client-side stuff, go with clipboard operations and paste events instead of simulating keystrokes. Google Docs handles clipboard data way better than fake keyboard events.
totally agree, injecting js can be a pain! and yeah, they update their stuff often so using the Docs API is def the way to go. much more stable and reliable for inputting text.
Hit this same problem last year building an automation tool. DOM manipulation won’t work - Google Docs uses canvas elements and custom event handlers that get minified and change constantly. I got document.execCommand working, but you have to focus the contenteditable area first and dispatch a proper ‘input’ event after changing content (not just keyboard events). Problem is this method’s deprecated and Chrome killed support. If you need reliable text insertion, just use Puppeteer or Selenium. They handle the messy DOM stuff way better than raw JavaScript and can actually simulate user interactions that Google Docs recognizes.