How to get highlighted text from apps like Mail.app in macOS

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Below is a snippet that prints highlighted text, however, it does not work with all apps. For instance, one app I know it does not work with is Mail.
What attributes should I be searching for to get the highlighted text in apps like Mail :)
func getHighlightedText() -> AnyObject? {
let systemWideElement = AXUIElementCreateSystemWide()
var focusedElement: AnyObject?
let focusedCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(systemWideElement, "AXFocusedUIElement" as CFString, &focusedElement)
if (focusedCode == AXError.success) {
var selectedText: AnyObject?
let textCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(focusedElement as! AXUIElement, "AXSelectedText" as CFString, &selectedText)
if (textCode == AXError.success) {
return selectedText
}
}
return nil
}
sleep(3) #enough time to switch to another app and highlight the text
print(getHighlightedText())
swift macos accessibility
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Below is a snippet that prints highlighted text, however, it does not work with all apps. For instance, one app I know it does not work with is Mail.
What attributes should I be searching for to get the highlighted text in apps like Mail :)
func getHighlightedText() -> AnyObject? {
let systemWideElement = AXUIElementCreateSystemWide()
var focusedElement: AnyObject?
let focusedCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(systemWideElement, "AXFocusedUIElement" as CFString, &focusedElement)
if (focusedCode == AXError.success) {
var selectedText: AnyObject?
let textCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(focusedElement as! AXUIElement, "AXSelectedText" as CFString, &selectedText)
if (textCode == AXError.success) {
return selectedText
}
}
return nil
}
sleep(3) #enough time to switch to another app and highlight the text
print(getHighlightedText())
swift macos accessibility
New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Possible duplicate of macOS accessibility API on WebKit applications with AXTextMarker
– Willeke
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Below is a snippet that prints highlighted text, however, it does not work with all apps. For instance, one app I know it does not work with is Mail.
What attributes should I be searching for to get the highlighted text in apps like Mail :)
func getHighlightedText() -> AnyObject? {
let systemWideElement = AXUIElementCreateSystemWide()
var focusedElement: AnyObject?
let focusedCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(systemWideElement, "AXFocusedUIElement" as CFString, &focusedElement)
if (focusedCode == AXError.success) {
var selectedText: AnyObject?
let textCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(focusedElement as! AXUIElement, "AXSelectedText" as CFString, &selectedText)
if (textCode == AXError.success) {
return selectedText
}
}
return nil
}
sleep(3) #enough time to switch to another app and highlight the text
print(getHighlightedText())
swift macos accessibility
New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Below is a snippet that prints highlighted text, however, it does not work with all apps. For instance, one app I know it does not work with is Mail.
What attributes should I be searching for to get the highlighted text in apps like Mail :)
func getHighlightedText() -> AnyObject? {
let systemWideElement = AXUIElementCreateSystemWide()
var focusedElement: AnyObject?
let focusedCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(systemWideElement, "AXFocusedUIElement" as CFString, &focusedElement)
if (focusedCode == AXError.success) {
var selectedText: AnyObject?
let textCode = AXUIElementCopyAttributeValue(focusedElement as! AXUIElement, "AXSelectedText" as CFString, &selectedText)
if (textCode == AXError.success) {
return selectedText
}
}
return nil
}
sleep(3) #enough time to switch to another app and highlight the text
print(getHighlightedText())
swift macos accessibility
swift macos accessibility
New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago


HarsilSPatel
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New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Possible duplicate of macOS accessibility API on WebKit applications with AXTextMarker
– Willeke
yesterday
add a comment |
Possible duplicate of macOS accessibility API on WebKit applications with AXTextMarker
– Willeke
yesterday
Possible duplicate of macOS accessibility API on WebKit applications with AXTextMarker
– Willeke
yesterday
Possible duplicate of macOS accessibility API on WebKit applications with AXTextMarker
– Willeke
yesterday
add a comment |
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HarsilSPatel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
HarsilSPatel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Possible duplicate of macOS accessibility API on WebKit applications with AXTextMarker
– Willeke
yesterday