I’m trying to find a way to simulate keyboard input in Google Docs using JavaScript. My goal is to programmatically add or remove characters at the cursor position. I’ve already tried simulating keypress events, both with and without jQuery, but it didn’t work.
After digging deeper, I noticed Google Docs uses a virtual keyboard. When you click on the virtual keys, it calls a function that looks like this:
someObject.someFunction = function(keyCode) {
this.triggerEvent(new CustomEvent('action', {keyCode: keyCode}))
};
Does anyone know how to properly trigger this event using JavaScript? Or are there any other methods to simulate keyboard input in Google Docs? I’m really stuck and would appreciate any help or guidance on this.
I’ve actually encountered a similar challenge when working on a browser extension for Google Docs. From my experience, directly simulating keyboard events or trying to manipulate the virtual keyboard is tricky and prone to breaking with updates.
Instead, I found success by interacting with Google Docs’ internal API. You can access it through the global ‘googledocs’ object in the page’s JavaScript context. There’s a method called ‘insertText’ that allows you to add text at the cursor position.
Here’s a rough example of how you might use it:
var doc = googledocs.getActiveDocument();
doc.insertText('Your text here');
Keep in mind that this approach isn’t officially supported, so it might change without notice. Also, be cautious about how you use it to avoid disrupting users’ work.
For a more robust solution, you might want to look into Google Apps Script. It provides officially supported methods for interacting with Google Docs programmatically, although it runs on Google’s servers rather than in the browser.
hey, I’ve messed around with this before. instead of tryin to simulate keyboard input, u could use the google docs API. it’s way easier and more reliable. check out the docs.body.insertText() method. it lets u add text wherever u want. just remember to set up authentication first. good luck!
Having worked extensively with Google Docs automation, I can say that simulating keyboard input is a challenging approach. A more reliable method is to utilize the Google Docs API, as others have mentioned. However, if you’re set on client-side manipulation, you might consider exploring the MutationObserver API to detect changes in the document’s structure and then inject your modifications. This approach bypasses the need for direct keyboard simulation but requires careful implementation to avoid conflicts with Google Docs’ own update mechanisms. Remember to thoroughly test any solution, as Google Docs’ internal workings can change without notice, potentially breaking custom scripts.