CommandPost has a very easy to use and powerful plugins functionality, and because Lua is quite a simple language to use, it's really easy to throw together your own CommandPost Plugins!
CommandPost will load any 3rd Party Plugins located in:
~/Application Support/CommandPost/Plugins
Internally, all the user interface and features for CommandPost are also plugins. They are automatically loaded from:
CommandPost.app/Contents/Resources/plugins/
This means if you build a plugin that's really awesome, it's very easily to add it to the main CommandPost Application when it's ready.
A CommandPost Plugin is simply a macOS bundle which contains Lua scripts (and any other resources you want to throw in it).
When you first run CommandPost it will register the .cpPlugin extension in macOS, which means if you create a folder called SOMETHING.cpPlugin it will prompt you with:
If you click Add it will turn that newly created folder into a CommandPost Plugin Bundle.
You view the contents of the bundle, simply right click and select Show Package Contents.
At a very minimum, the plugin should contain a single .lua file, which will be the Lua code that's executed.
CommandPost Plugins can either be pure Lua or a mixture of Lua and Objective-C (although since they are just dynamically loaded libraries, they could ultimately be compiled in almost any language such as Swift.
Below is a simple Plugin example that adds a button to the very bottom of the CommandPost menubar, and when click it displays the CommandPost version in a dialog box.
- To make things easy for others to understand, and to help with automatic documentation generation, we recommend you use these naming conventions when building your own plugins.
- You can learn more about the plugins API here.
- You can learn more about
cp.confighere.
--- === plugins.core.example ===
---
--- An example plugin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- EXTENSIONS:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- CommandPost Extensions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local config = require("cp.config")
local dialog = require("cp.dialog")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- THE MODULE:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local mod = {}
--- plugins.core.example.displayVersion() -> nil
--- Function
--- Displays a Dialog Box that displays the CommandPost Version.
---
--- Parameters:
--- * None
---
--- Returns:
--- * None
function mod.displayVersion()
dialog.displayMessage("The CommandPost Version is: " .. config.appVersion)
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- THE PLUGIN:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local plugin = {
id = "core.example",
group = "core",
dependencies = {
["core.menu.bottom"] = "bottom",
}
}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- INITIALISE PLUGIN:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function plugin.init(deps)
deps.bottom:addSeparator(9999999999):addItem(99999999999, function()
return { title = "Example Menu Item", fn = mod.displayVersion }
end)
return mod
end
return pluginHere's a more advanced example plugin for adding CINEMA 4D support to CommandPost:
--- === plugins.cinema4D ===
---
--- Example Cinema4D Commands Plugin throw together for Sarah Kimberly Euschen.
---
--- Sorry, this looks way more complicated than it actually is... I promise!
---
--- You can learn more about Lua coding here:
--- https://dev.commandpost.io/lua/overview/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- EXTENSIONS:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Hammerspoon Extensions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local log = require("hs.logger").new("cinema4D")
local application = require("hs.application")
local eventtap = require("hs.eventtap")
local filter = require("hs.window").filter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- CommandPost Extensions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local commands = require("cp.commands")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- THE MODULE:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local mod = {}
--- plugins.cinema4D.id() -> none
--- Constant
--- The ID used internally by CommandPost to identify CINEMA 4D.
mod.id = "cinema4D"
--- plugins.cinema4D.appName() -> none
--- Constant
--- The application name used for Window Detection.
mod.appName = "CINEMA 4D Lite" -- You probably want to change this to something else, maybe just "CINEMA 4D"?
--- plugins.cinema4D.init() -> none
--- Function
--- Initialises the Plugin
---
--- Parameters:
--- * None
---
--- Returns:
--- * None
function mod.init()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Setup Translations:
-- Documentation: https://dev.commandpost.io/api/i18n/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i18n.set("en.plugin_group_" .. mod.id, mod.appName) -- This sets the label used by the Group dropdown boxes.
i18n.set("en.shortcut_group_" .. mod.id, mod.appName) -- This sets the label used by the Shortcut Group dropdown box.
i18n.set("en." .. mod.id .. "_midi_label", mod.appName) -- This sets the label used in the Plugins Preference Page.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Creates New CINEMA 4D Command Collection:
-- Documentation: https://dev.commandpost.io/api/cp/cp.commands.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mod.cmds = commands.new(mod.id)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Subscribe to Window Events using `hs.window.filter`:
-- Documentation: https://dev.commandpost.io/api/hs/hs.window.filter.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mod._filter = filter.new{mod.appName}
:subscribe(filter.windowFocused, function()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Window has focus:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
log.df("Cinema 4D Focussed") -- This is just debugging code. It will write the result to the CommandPost Error Log.
mod._manager.groupStatus(mod.id, true)
mod.cmds:enable()
end)
:subscribe(filter.windowUnfocused, function()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Window has lost focus:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
log.df("Cinema 4D Unfocussed") -- This is just debugging code. It will write the result to the CommandPost Error Log.
mod._manager.groupStatus(mod.id, false)
mod.cmds:disable()
end)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Set up Application Watcher using `hs.application.watcher`:
-- Documentation: https://dev.commandpost.io/api/hs/hs.application.watcher.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mod._appWatcher = application.watcher.new(function(name, event, app)
if name == mod.appName then
if event == application.watcher.activated then
log.df("Cinema 4D Activated") -- This is just debugging code. It will write the result to the CommandPost Error Log.
mod._manager.groupStatus(mod.id, true)
mod.cmds:enable()
elseif event == application.watcher.deactivated then
log.df("Cinema 4D Deactivated") -- This is just debugging code. It will write the result to the CommandPost Error Log.
mod._manager.groupStatus(mod.id, false)
mod.cmds:disable()
end
end
end):start()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Using a table to generate shortcuts:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local shortcuts = {
["example1"] = { ["label"] = "Example 1",
["fn"] = function()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Selects a menu item:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local app = application.frontmostApplication()
app:selectMenuItem({"CINEMA 4D Lite", "About CINEMA 4D Lite"})
end,
},
["example2"] = { ["label"] = "Example 2",
["fn"] = function()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Selects a menu item:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local app = application.frontmostApplication()
app:selectMenuItem({"CINEMA 4D Lite", "About CINEMA 4D Lite"})
end,
},
}
for id, v in pairs(shortcuts) do
i18n.set("en." .. id .. "_title", v.label)
mod.cmds:add(id):whenPressed(v.fn)
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Add "About Cinema 4D" Shortcut:
-- This is an example of how to trigger menu items.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i18n.set("en.cinema4DHelpAbout_title", "About CINEMA 4D")
mod.cmds:add("cinema4DHelpAbout")
:activatedBy():ctrl():alt():cmd("1") -- This is the default shortcut.
:whenPressed(function()
local app = application.frontmostApplication()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Selects a menu item:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
app:selectMenuItem({"CINEMA 4D Lite", "About CINEMA 4D Lite"})
end)
:groupedBy("cinema4D")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Add "New" Shortcut:
-- This is an example of how to simulate keypresses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i18n.set("en.cinema4DNew_title", "New")
mod.cmds:add("cinema4DNew")
:activatedBy():ctrl():alt():cmd("2") -- This is the default shortcut.
:whenPressed(function()
log.df("New CINEMA 4D Shortcut Pressed!") -- This is just debugging code. It will write the result to the CommandPost Error Log.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Simulates a keystroke:
-- Documentation: https://dev.commandpost.io/api/hs/hs.eventtap.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
eventtap.keyStroke({"command"}, "n")
end)
:groupedBy("cinema4D")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Add "Trigger Python" Shortcut:
-- This is an example of how to trigger Terminal Commands:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i18n.set("en.cinema4DPython_title", "Trigger Python")
mod.cmds:add("cinema4DPython")
:activatedBy():ctrl():alt():cmd("3") -- This is the default shortcut.
:whenPressed(function()
log.df("CINEMA 4D Python Shortcut Pressed!") -- This is just debugging code. It will write the result to the CommandPost Error Log.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Triggers a Terminal command:
-- Documentation: https://dev.commandpost.io/api/hs/hs.html#execute
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local command = [[osascript -e 'tell app "]] .. mod.appName .. [[" to display dialog "Hello World"']]
hs.execute(command)
end)
:groupedBy("cinema4D")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Setup Action Handler. This basically takes all our above "commands" and turns
-- them into actions (i.e. things that can be selected in the Console popups).
-- The reason we confusingly have both "Commands" and "Actions" is because of
-- the feature that allows you to control Final Cut Pro shortcuts from within
-- Final Cut Pro's own Command Editor. One day we'll make this cleaner.
-- https://dev.commandpost.io/api/plugins/plugins.core.action.handler.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i18n.set("en." .. mod.id .. "_cmds_action", mod.appName .. " Commands")
mod._handler = mod._actionmanager.addHandler(mod.id .. "_cmds", mod.id)
:onChoices(mod.onChoices)
:onExecute(mod.onExecute)
:onActionId(mod.getId)
end
--- plugins.cinema4D.onChoices(choices) -> nothing
--- Function
--- Adds available choices to the selection.
---
--- Parameters:
--- * `choices` - The `cp.choices` to add choices to.
---
--- Returns:
--- * Nothing
function mod.onChoices(choices)
for _,cmd in pairs(mod.cmds:getAll()) do
local title = cmd:getTitle()
if title then
local group = cmd:getSubtitle()
if not group and cmd:getGroup() then
group = i18n(cmd:getGroup().."_group")
end
group = group or ""
local action = {
id = cmd:id(),
}
choices:add(title)
:subText(i18n("commandChoiceSubText", {group = group}))
:params(action)
:id(mod.getId(action))
end
end
end
--- plugins.cinema4D.getId(action) -> boolean
--- Function
--- Gets an Action ID.
---
--- Parameters:
--- * `action` - A table representing the action, matching the following:
--- * `id` - The specific Command ID within the group.
---
--- Returns:
--- * `true` if the action was executed successfully.
function mod.getId(action)
return string.format("%s:%s", ID, action.id)
end
--- plugins.cinema4D.execute(action) -> boolean
--- Function
--- Executes the action with the provided parameters.
---
--- Parameters:
--- * `action` - A table representing the action, matching the following:
--- * `id` - The specific Command ID within the group.
---
--- Returns:
--- * `true` if the action was executed successfully.
function mod.onExecute(action)
local group = mod.cmds
if group then
local cmdId = action.id
if cmdId == nil or cmdId == "" then
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- No command ID provided:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dialog.displayMessage(i18n("cmdIdMissingError"))
return false
end
local cmd = group:get(cmdId)
if cmd == nil then
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- No matching command:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dialog.displayMessage(i18n("cmdDoesNotExistError"), {id = cmdId})
return false
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Ensure the command group is active:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
group:activate(
function() cmd:activated() end,
function() dialog.displayMessage(i18n("cmdGroupNotActivated"), {id = group.id}) end
)
return true
end
return false
end
--- plugins.cinema4D.reset() -> nothing
--- Function
--- Resets the set of choices.
---
--- Parameters:
--- * None
---
--- Returns:
--- * Nothing
function mod.reset()
mod._handler:reset()
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- THE PLUGIN:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
local plugin = {
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- This is the internal ID used by CommandPost:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
id = "cinema4D",
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- This is the internal plugin group ID used by CommandPost:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
group = "cinema4D",
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Below are a list of dependancies of other CommandPost plugins:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dependencies = {
["core.midi.manager"] = "manager",
["core.action.manager"] = "actionmanager",
}
}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- INITIALISE PLUGIN:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function plugin.init(deps)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Load dependancies to Module:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mod._manager = deps.manager
mod._actionmanager = deps.actionmanager
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Load the module:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
return mod.init()
end
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- POST INITIALISATION:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function plugin.postInit()
-- You can do Plugin Post Initialisation stuff here if needed.
end
return plugin