[Bug]: The system input method candidate word window does not pop up

[XHB911]

Before submitting your bug report, please confirm you have completed the following steps

• Searched the issue is not already listed in the Issue List (I've searched it)
• Searched in the Quicksilver Users' Group for questions relating to tech support.
• Downloaded the latest version of Quicksilver for your system and confirmed the issue still persists.

Bug description

When I use the shortcut key to call Quicksilver in full screen mode of other applications and enter, Just like this:

However, in non-full screen mode, it will display normally:

Steps to reproduce

1. Install Quicksilver
2. Switch to another full-screen app
3. Press the shortcut key to wake up
4. Keyboard input

Expected behavior

The system input method candidate word window should display

MacOS Version

macOS 14.4.1

Quicksilver Version

2.4.3

Relevant Plugins

No response

Crash Logs or Spindump

No response

Screenshots

No response

Additional info

No response

[n8henrie]

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Are you referring to how the letters are spaced irregularly in your first screenshot?

Mine is currently overtop of a full-screen app and looks normal:

[XHB911]

Not really. You can see that there is an input method prompt box in the second picture, but not in the first one. There is also no such box in the picture you replied to. No candidate word box displayed.

Maybe you need to switch the input method?

[XHB911]

This issue has nothing to do with the irregular spacing of the letters.

[XHB911]

I re-took the screenshots. The first one is in full screen mode, and the second one is in non-full screen mode.

[n8henrie]

Sorry, I'm still not entirely sure. Is it the blue rectangle that you're concerned about? Isn't that just the system "spell check" suggestion box?

I don't see that blue rectangle when I type vvvvvv into QS, even when overtop of a full-screen app.

How long have you used QS? Is this a new behavior? If not, when did you start using it? Any recent OS updates?

[n8henrie]

Sorry, I missed you response with the red box -- yes it is clearly the blue rectangle.

[n8henrie]

I don't know much about input methods. This is the same thing as changing the keyboard's language setting, correct?

I added a second language (Settings -> Language & Region) and still don't see any blue rectangle.

When I go to Keyboard settings and enabled using the fn key to change input sources, I'm able to change in both regular and full-screen mode without difficulty. It doesn't give me the blue rectangle in either.

I'm on macOS 15, so maybe that's the difference?

[n8henrie]

When I got to Settings -> Keyboard Shorcuts -> Input Sources, I see that ctrlspace is selected by default.

Is this your default shortcut to invoke QS?

Does toggling this on or off affect your experience?

[XHB911]

I'm not very familiar with the system keyboard either.

Perhaps you can add a new input method by going to Settings ->Keyboard ->Input Method ->Edit. For some languages (such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), there will be a candidate word prompt box, but for English, there is no candidate word prompt box.

I think that's why your computer doesn't have a blue rectangle.

For Chinese input methods, there will be a blue rectangle setting (候选字窗口):

But for English input methods, there is no candidate word prompt box(候选字窗口):

[n8henrie]

Wait, rereading -- you want the blue box? I thought you were hoping to get rid of it.

Assuming your QS hotkey is set to ctrlspace, you might be able to get rid of it by deselecting that checkbox in keyboard shorcuts -> input sources. Having both set to the same hotkey seems like a recipe for trouble.

Otherwise, I want to makes sure I'm understanding:

• Normally, in an app other than Quicksilver, when you type vvvv -- what happens? Does that blue box pop up? If so, why? What do you do with it?
• In QS, when in full-screen mode, you are not seeing that blue box, and you think you should be seeing it, so that you can accomplish the same thing as the prior question?

@pjrobertson may understand what's going on, as he's been living in a non-English speaking country for a while now and I suppose may have more experience with other input sources than I have.

[XHB911]

yeah, I need the blue box.

My QS hotkeys do not conflict with ctrl + space.

1. Normally, in an app other than Quicksilver, there will be the blue box, and I need it as a prompt (required in non English speaking countries), like this below:
   

2. In QS, when in full screen mode, I need to see it. Just like the built-in focused search feature on macOS:
   

@pjrobertson Hello, can you help me?

[n8henrie]

Fascinating, thanks for those details.

yeah, I need the blue box.

A few more details to see if I can reproduce the issue, thanks for your patience and dialog.

• What do you do to make it pop up (outside of quicksivler)?
  • Does it come up automatically when you type?
  • Do you have to "invoke" it somehow (Siri, clicking a menu, a trackpad gesture)?
• What do you do with it once it appears? What is its function?
  • Does it function like text replacement / spelling autocorrect, where it's predicting what you're planning to type (or input on the trackpad)?
  • I'm confused about the presence of both English words and foreign symbols at the same time -- Is it translating between languages?

My QS hotkeys do not conflict with ctrl + space.

Good to know, thank you.

Sorry for requesting so many details -- I don't think I'll be much help until I can reproduce your workflow on my end, and from there can hopefully see what we can do to best resolve the problem in full screen mode.

[XHB911]

Thanks. Here are the answers to these detailed information:

1. Add new input method, You need to reset your input method (set to Chinese) through Settings ->Keyboard ->Input Method ->Edit . As I mentioned in my previous comment

   • It will automatically appear when typing. Ensure that you have switched to the correct Chinese input method (using Ctrl+Space)

2. When it appears, it exists like a prompt box. When you input through the keyboard, it will convert the letters you input into the corresponding language (such as the set Chinese). Its main function is to prompt you for the text you input.

   • Does it function like text replacement / spelling autocorrect, where it's predicting what you're planning to type (or input on the trackpad)?

   • Yes, that's how it works, It is equivalent to translating English into other languages

[XHB911]

Here is a demonstration animation for keyboard input on other software:

[fheckl]

I can reproduce this behavior.

However, I am not quite sure if it is really a bug and if so whose fault it is. I tried the same using e.g. LaunchBar and the suggestion window is missing there too when activated on top of an app that is acting in full screen mode.

So that makes already two tools not showing the suggestions. Maybe it's a bug with macOS itself not drawing the box with the correct z-index?

BTW: I'm on 15.1 as well so that would make it even two different OS releases showing the same strange behavior.

[XHB911]

I tried activating the LaunchBar in non full screen mode, the suggested window does not exist either.

I am trying to find other similar products, such as Alfred. When activating Alfred for keyboard input, the suggested window will not be lost, as shown below:

I am currently looking for other open source projects with similar functionality and would like to know how they implement it.

If you know of a project with similar functionality, please let me know. Thank you.

@fheckl

[fheckl]

If you know of a project with similar functionality, please let me know. Thank you.

Right off the top of my head I would also have mentioned "Alfred".
A quick search for "macos app launcher" also revealed this: https://ueli.app/

[XHB911]

I tried downloading Ueli, but it cannot be displayed in full screen mode.
At present, only Alfred is known to be able to achieve the function mentioned above, but unfortunately, it is unknown how Alfred implemented it.
I'm not sure if GitHub has a product that can achieve it.