How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Special Keys

Overview

Simulate keyboard input including typing, special keys, arrow keys, and keyboard shortcuts. VCR# writes the standard raw terminal byte sequence for every key and modifier chord, so input reaches your shell or TUI exactly as if you had typed it.

For the complete grammar, see the tape syntax reference.

Basic Typing

Simulate character-by-character typing:

tape

Type "echo 'Hello World'"

Special Keys

Common keys:

tape

Enter           # Press Enter/Return
Backspace       # Delete previous character
Tab             # Tab key
Escape          # Escape key
Space           # Space bar

Arrow keys (with optional repeat count):

tape

Up              # Move up one line
Down 5          # Press Down 5 times
Left 10         # Move left 10 characters
Right           # Move right one character
Down@100ms 3    # Press Down 3 times with 100ms delay between presses

Navigation keys:

tape

PageUp          # Page up
PageDown        # Page down
Home            # Move to start of line
End             # Move to end of line
Delete          # Delete character at cursor
Insert          # Toggle insert mode

Keyboard Shortcuts

Combine modifier keys with other keys:

Common Ctrl combinations:

tape

Ctrl+C          # Interrupt/cancel
Ctrl+D          # EOF/exit
Ctrl+Z          # Suspend
Ctrl+L          # Clear screen
Ctrl+A          # Jump to line start
Ctrl+E          # Jump to line end
Ctrl+W          # Delete word
Ctrl+U          # Delete to line start

Other modifiers:

tape

Alt+Backspace   # Delete previous word
Shift+Tab       # Reverse tab
Ctrl+Alt+Delete # Multiple modifiers

Chords can stack any combination of Ctrl, Alt, and Shift in any order, ending in a special key or letter (for example Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Tab). Each chord is emitted as the terminal escape sequence the application expects — Ctrl+Right, for instance, sends ESC[1;5C.

String Quoting

Double quotes support escape sequences:

tape

Type "First line\nSecond line"        # \n = newline
Type "Tab\there"                      # \t = tab
Type "Quote: \"Hello\""               # \" = literal quote
Type "Backslash: \\"                  # \\ = literal backslash

Single quotes and backticks are literal:

tape

Type 'No escape sequences: \n \t'     # Types literally
Type `Also literal: \n`               # Types literally

For Windows paths, use single quotes or escape backslashes:

tape

Type 'C:\Users\Alice\Documents'       # Single quotes: literal
Type "C:\\Users\\Alice\\Documents"    # Double quotes: escape backslashes

Custom Typing Speed

To override typing speed for one Type command:

tape

Set TypingSpeed 50ms                  # Slightly faster than the 60ms default
  
Type "Normal speed text"
Enter
  
Type@10ms "Fast typing here"          # Override: type very fast
Enter
  
Type@200ms "Slow deliberate typing"   # Override: type slowly
Enter

Use slow typing for emphasis:

tape

Type "# Watch this carefully:"
Enter
Sleep 1s
Type@150ms "rm -rf /tmp/old-files"   # Slow typing draws attention
Sleep 500ms
Enter
Wait

Examples

Navigate an interactive TUI:

tape

Exec "npm create vite@latest"
Wait /Project name/
Type "my-app"
Enter
Wait /framework/
Down 2          # Navigate to React
Enter
Wait /variant/
Down 1          # Navigate to TypeScript
Enter
Wait

Edit a command with cursor movement:

tape

Type "echo 'Helo, World!'"
Sleep 300ms
Left 9          # Move cursor back to the typo
Backspace       # Delete 'o'
Type "lo"       # Type 'lo' to make 'Hello'
Enter
Wait

Use keyboard shortcuts:

tape

Type "ping 127.0.0.1"
Enter
Sleep 4s
Ctrl+C          # Interrupt the ping
Wait

Troubleshooting

Key encoding is deterministic: every key and modifier chord is written as the standard terminal byte sequence (for example Backspace sends the usual delete byte, and Ctrl+Right sends ESC[1;5C). You do not need to substitute alternate keys to coax a particular code out of the terminal.

If a TUI doesn't react to a key: The application may not have finished redrawing. VCR# already paces keys roughly 24ms apart, but a busy or slow TUI can need more time between presses. Add a brief Sleep, or Wait for the screen to update, before the next key:

tape

Down            # Move the selection
Sleep 100ms     # Give the TUI time to redraw
Enter           # Confirm

If arrow keys don't work in TUI applications: Make sure the application has fully started before sending arrow keys. Use Wait to block until its prompt or menu appears:

tape

Exec "npm create vite@latest"
Wait /Project name/   # Wait for the prompt
Down 2                # Now arrow keys land in the running app

If special characters don't appear correctly: Use escape sequences in double quotes or switch to single quotes:

tape

Type "Path: C:\\Windows\\System32"    # Escaped backslashes
Type 'Path: C:\Windows\System32'      # Or single quotes