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PowerToys/.github
Clint Rutkas af45c3ec7c Add press-and-hold activation mode to Quick Accent (#48937)
## Summary of the Pull Request

Adds an opt-in **press-and-hold** activation mode to Quick Accent, like
iOS / macOS: hold an accent-capable letter (e.g. `a`) and after a short,
configurable delay the accent picker opens automatically — no separate
trigger key (Space/arrows) required.

This is purely additive. The existing trigger-key modes (`Left/Right
arrow`, `Space`, `Both`) and all serialized settings values are
unchanged.


https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/faec298c-e42c-4fd1-84bd-6e74d1b481a0


### What it does

- Holding a letter types the base letter immediately, then arms the
picker. After the **Hold duration** (default **500 ms**) the toolbar
appears.
- Navigate the options with the arrow keys / Space, then **release the
letter** to insert the selected accent (it replaces the base letter).
- A quick tap types just the letter. Holding and releasing without
selecting leaves the base letter as-is.
- `Ctrl` / `Alt` / `AltGr` / `Win` + letter combinations are left
untouched, so shortcuts like `Ctrl+A` still work.

## PR Checklist

- [ ] **Closes:** N/A — feature enhancement (happy to link a tracking
issue if one is preferred)
- [x] **Communication:** Discussed direction with maintainers;
coordinated with #48891 (see below)
- [ ] **Tests:** No automated tests added — the activation decision
lives in the C++ low-level keyboard hook and isn't reachable from the
existing managed unit-test project. Validated manually (steps below).
Open to guidance on the preferred test surface.
- [x] **Localization:** All new end-user strings are in
`Settings.UI/Strings/en-us/Resources.resw` with translator comments.
- [x] **Dev docs:** `doc/devdocs/modules/quickaccent.md` updated with
the new mode.
- [x] **New binaries:** None.
- [x] **Documentation updated:** Dev docs updated; public Learn docs can
follow once shipped.

## Detailed Description of the Pull Request / Additional comments

- **`PowerAccentKeyboardService` (C++ hook):**
- Append `PressAndHold` to the internal `PowerAccentActivationKey` enum
(value `3`, appended to preserve serialized `0/1/2`).
- Add a `holdDuration` setting and `UpdateHoldDuration(Int32)` to the
WinRT projection (`.idl`).
- In `OnKeyDown`, arm the picker on the held letter itself; the base
letter still types on first press and auto-repeat is swallowed (reuses
the existing `m_toolbarVisible` repeat guard from #36853).
- In `OnKeyUp`, use the hold duration as the minimum-hold release
threshold for this mode (trigger modes keep using `inputTime`).
  - Modifier guard: Ctrl/Alt/AltGr/Win do not arm the mode.
- **Settings model (`Settings.UI.Library`):** append `PressAndHold` to
`PowerAccentActivationKey`; add `hold_duration_ms` (`IntProperty`,
default 500). Existing `settings.json` without the field falls back to
the 500 ms default.
- **`PowerAccent.Core`:** read and forward the hold duration to the
hook, and use it as the popup delay when `PressAndHold` is active.
- **Settings UI:** add the **"Press and hold the letter"** activation
option and a **"Hold duration (ms)"** control that is shown only when
that mode is selected.

### Enum sync note

`PowerAccentActivationKey` exists in both the C++ hook and the managed
settings library and is kept in sync by integer value. `PressAndHold`
was **appended** (never reordered) so existing serialized settings
(`0/1/2`) keep their meaning.

### Coordination with #48891 (Quick Accent WinUI migration)

This lands as its own atomic change on `main`. The overlap with the
in-progress WinUI migration (#48891) is tiny: only `PowerAccent.cs`'s
mode-aware popup delay (a single `Task.Delay` line). The C++ hook,
settings enum/model, and Settings UI are not touched by #48891, so it
can rebase onto this with minimal effort.

## Validation Steps Performed

- Built the full chain in `Debug|x64`:
- `PowerAccent.UI.csproj` → rebuilds the C++
`PowerAccentKeyboardService` projection (incl. `UpdateHoldDuration`) +
`PowerAccent.Core` + `Settings.UI.Library`. **0 errors.**
- `PowerToys.Settings.csproj` → Settings UI XAML / ViewModel / `.resw`
(XamlIndexBuilder search index regenerated). **0 errors.**
- Manual trial of the running module (`PowerToys.PowerAccent.exe`) with
`activation_key = 3`:
- Hold `a` → base letter types immediately; picker opens after ~500 ms;
arrows/Space navigate; releasing inserts the accent (replacing the base
letter).
- Quick tap → base letter only. Hold + release without selecting → base
letter remains.
  - `Ctrl+A` / `Alt`+letter unaffected.

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
2026-07-03 03:43:37 +00:00
..