[PowerToys Run] Inline calculations fail when including parentheses -- utilising operator precedence

[jcphua]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

I expect operator precedence (use of parentheses) for inline calculations should at the least be supported by PowerToys Run.

Currently when attempting to perform non-complex calculations involving parentheses, the input stops being treated as a calculation.

For comparison, macOS equivalent Spotlight supports parentheses without issue.

Scenario when this would be used?

Useful when trying to perform only slightly more complex calculations using PowerToys Run.

Supporting information

Simple inputs such as:

• (25+20)
• (1+2)/3
• etc.

[davidegiacometti]

Hi @jcphua
I can repro this.
Calculation with parentheses are supported only if the Calculator plugin is called with the action keyword (default is=).
Not sure if a bug or if by design.

[jcphua]

Hi @jcphua I can repro this. Calculation with parentheses are supported only if the Calculator plugin is called with the action keyword (default is=). Not sure if a bug or if by design.

Nice. Wasn't aware of the = prefix. Good to know.

My response to this new knowledge, and whether to deem this issue (closed) is whether as per your comment it's a bug or by design-- is PowerToys is targeted for simpletons like me, or for power users (or those attentive enough to have seen any docs mentioning this = calculation prefix)?

[davidegiacometti]

Default activation commands are documented here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/run#direct-activation-commands and can be customized in the plugin manager.
In the Calculator plugin docs parentheses are not mentioned: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/run#calculator-plugin

Let's keep this opened: I will look at source code and clarify this behavior.

[davidegiacometti]

Oh thats pretty simple: ( is the default activation command for Time and Date plugin.
You have to disable the plugin or change the activation command.

@jaimecbernardo @crutkas is this something we want to change?
xref #14495

[crutkas]

I think we should change the default key. One issue we do face is period for math as well. I think ( is too math centric so we should tweak that.

Maybe a warning box for “this action command will impact math calculations” for period and (

[htcfreek]

@crutkas
What do you suggest as new activation command for the 'Time and Date' pulgin and for the Program plugin?

[crutkas]

Program I think is hard as period is pretty powerful in the context of quickness.

For date time, It could be as easy as shifting to )

[Jay-o-Way]

For date time, It could be as easy as shifting to )

Let's not do that 🤣🤣💩

crutkas edited his own quote oops

[crutkas]

Eek. Let edit that

[htcfreek]

Program I think is hard as period is pretty powerful in the context of quickness.

I looked at the keyboard but there is no other character at this position which we can use. The , is used as thousand/digit separator. What about * or #?

For date time, It could be as easy as shifting to )

Had to look twice to see the difference between the old ( and your suggested ) 😄

[htcfreek]

Eek. Let edit that

What does "Eek" mean? Don't know this phrase.

[Jay-o-Way]

Eek. Let edit that

What does "Eek" mean? Don't know this phrase.

The same as "oops".
It's also the name of a silly cartoon.

[htcfreek]

@crutkas
As I understand you prefer ) as new activation command for time and date plugin.

Dou you have an idea for program plugin now?

@niels9001
What is needed to add a warning on some activation commands?

[crutkas]

I don’t have a massive preference on this. Could be a more complex activation as well such as ‘time’

[htcfreek]

I don’t have a massive preference on this. Could be a more complex activation as well such as ‘time’

@crutkas
What about * for program?

After some investigation we should war on the following character as they break calc on global queries: ., ,, (, +, -

[crutkas]

Period was picked cause it was a no-shift key in pretty much all (if not all) keyboard layouts. It also has advantage of being east reach where on US keyboards, asterisk fails both those criteria

[crutkas]

Why are we messing with program here? Why don’t we just make the activate “time”?

[Jay-o-Way]

I think the period is changed in case somebody wants to start a calculation with (e.g.) .5 * pi

[htcfreek]

Why are we messing with program here? Why don’t we just make the activate “time”?

This comes from you. You suggested to change program plugin.

I think the period is changed in case somebody wants to start a calculation with (e.g.) .5 * pi

And yes this is true.

[crutkas]

While valid, That should be done outside this targeted issue and the PR. That is a much larger discussion and thinking point due to two years of muscle memory for everyone and have very few complaints of the scenario.

[htcfreek]

@crutkas
Is this issue fixed or should we keep open for the dot keyword used in program plugin? For me it feels closed. (See 0.62.0 release notes.)

[crutkas]

this targeted that since keyword so yes. I do think we should rethink what is on by default.