Cursor Crane
Overview

Choosing a Usage Style

The examples below assume Control + Space is your activation shortcut, set during setup.

Keep the claw machine active#

Press Control + Space, release it immediately, and the claw machine stays open. You then switch between modes to operate the computer.

Most system and app shortcuts keep working while it is active. Esc leaves the current mode, Control + Esc closes the claw machine, and Shift + Control + Esc closes it from any state.

Works well because you are not reactivating constantly during long sessions, and moving between modes feels continuous.

Costs you an extra step when you want to type: you enter Input Mode or exit first. It can also feel heavy for a single one-off action.

Hold the shortcut temporarily#

Press Control + Space and keep holding at least one of those keys. The claw machine stays open only while you hold. Release everything and you are back to normal.

Works well because a single action completes fast, and you keep typing normally without entering Input Mode.

Costs you finger fatigue when you hold keys through a long stretch of continuous work.

The app distinguishes left and right modifiers, so you can activate with the right Command key while using the left one inside the mode. See Exit and Temporary Exit.

Bind everything to shortcuts#

Every command can take a global keyboard shortcut, so you never open the claw machine interface at all.

Bind Control + Option + C to command.moveCursorToElementAndLeftClick, for example. Pressing it enters the claw machine, waits for you to pick an element, performs the click, and exits on its own.

Works well because actions are direct and you keep typing normally.

Costs you shortcut real estate: each command you want needs a free combination, which gets crowded fast.

Mixing styles#

These are not exclusive. A common combination is keeping the claw machine active for navigation-heavy work, with a handful of shortcuts bound for the two or three actions you run constantly.

Next#

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