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## 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>
PowerToys Modules
This section contains documentation for individual PowerToys modules, including their architecture, implementation details, and debugging tools.
Available Modules
| Module | Description |
|---|---|
| Advanced Paste | Tool for enhanced clipboard pasting with formatting options |
| Always on Top | Tool for pinning windows to stay on top of other windows |
| Awake | Tool to keep your computer awake without modifying power settings |
| Color Picker | Tool for selecting and managing colors from the screen |
| Command Not Found | Tool suggesting package installations for missing commands |
| Crop and Lock | Tool for cropping application windows into smaller windows or thumbnails |
| Environment Variables | Tool for managing user and system environment variables |
| FancyZones (debugging tools) | Window manager utility for custom window layouts |
| File Explorer add-ons | Extensions for enhancing Windows File Explorer functionality |
| File Locksmith | Tool for finding processes that lock files |
| Hosts File Editor | Tool for managing the system hosts file |
| Image Resizer | Tool for quickly resizing images within File Explorer |
| Keyboard Manager | Tool for remapping keys and keyboard shortcuts |
| Mouse Utilities | Collection of tools to enhance mouse and cursor functionality |
| Mouse Without Borders | Tool for controlling multiple computers with a single mouse and keyboard |
| NewPlus | Context menu extension for creating new files in File Explorer |
| Peek | File preview utility for quick file content viewing |
| Power Rename | Bulk file renaming tool with search and replace functionality |
| PowerToys Run (deprecation soon) | Quick application launcher and search utility |
| Quick Accent | Tool for quickly inserting accented characters and special symbols |
| Registry Preview | Tool for visualizing and editing Registry files |
| Screen Ruler | Tool for measuring pixel distances and color boundaries on screen |
| Shortcut Guide | Tool for displaying Windows keyboard shortcuts when holding the Windows key |
| Text Extractor | Tool for extracting text from images and screenshots |
| Workspaces | Tool for saving and restoring window layouts for different projects |
| ZoomIt | Screen zoom and annotation tool |
Adding New Module Documentation
When adding documentation for a new module:
- Create a dedicated markdown file for the module (e.g.,
modulename.md) - If the module has specialized debugging tools, consider creating a separate tools document (e.g.,
modulename-tools.md) - Update this index with links to the new documentation
- Follow the existing documentation structure for consistency