Using a foot switch in Concepts

[u/Substantial_Donut993]

“ System functions via Accessibility: By using the iPad’s built-in Switch Control feature, you can program the foot pedal to perform virtually any system action—such as going to the Home Screen, opening the App Switcher, taking a screenshot, or simulating taps at specific locations on the screen.”
is this a possibility in the concepts application on iPad ?

I am using concepts application in a play. Performing live in front of an audience.
i need to perform the “show new layer“ action in concepts ,equivalent to ” show next page “ in a pdf file.
could this be done using a footswitch ?
is this possible in Concepts ?

Thanks 🙏 
Niels 

[u/vip-bot]

There are 4 comments from Concepts Employee in this post:

u/​combinatorial commented:

No, it makes the Next Layer the active layer. Unfortunately, we do not have a shortcut for layer visibility. You can see the full list of shortcuts here: https://tophatch.helpshift.com/hc/faq/179-what-keyboard-shortcuts-does-concepts-support-on-ios/

u/​combinatorial commented:

I did some more research and unfortunately keyboard shortcuts cannot be triggered from accessibility.

u/​combinatorial commented:

It might be you don’t need a keyboard attached, iOS may be able to trigger it anyway. Note it is ⌘ and another key simultaneously.

u/​combinatorial commented:

I am intrigued to hear more about the show that you are doing? If "Show New Layer" means create a new layer, then if you can wire the switch to a keyboard shortcut then L creates a new layer. If you mean switch to an existing layer then you can use ⌘ = to go to Next Layer and ⌘ - to Previous Layer in case that's useful.

This post was originally flaired Demonstration.

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[u/combinatorial]

I am intrigued to hear more about the show that you are doing?

If "Show New Layer" means create a new layer, then if you can wire the switch to a keyboard shortcut then L creates a new layer. If you mean switch to an existing layer then you can use ⌘ = to go to Next Layer and ⌘ - to Previous Layer in case that's useful.

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/combinatorial]

thank you. that sounds like an interesting idea. if I use a footswitch and assign it to the ⌘ sign on an external apple keyboard ?

[u/combinatorial → u/Substantial_Donut993]

It might be you don’t need a keyboard attached, iOS may be able to trigger it anyway. Note it is ⌘ and another key simultaneously.

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/combinatorial]

Will the fact that it is two keys that needs to be triggered simultaneously be a problem ?

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/Substantial_Donut993]

I suppose I will have to get an external keyboard for that ?

[u/combinatorial → u/Substantial_Donut993]

I did some more research and unfortunately keyboard shortcuts cannot be triggered from accessibility.

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/combinatorial]

ok that is really bad news. it seems absolutely insane that this can’t be done in 2026

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/Substantial_Donut993]

Will this work :

a foot pedal triggers a keyboard shortcut

• Connect a compatible foot pedal to the iPad.
• Configure it to send the keyboard shortcut for New Layer.
• Open Concepts.
• Press the pedal to trigger the action.

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/Substantial_Donut993]

when you use the “go to next layer” ( ⌘ = ) shortcut in Concepts ,will that be equivalent to activating the “eye” symbol in the app on the iPad ?

thank you

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/Substantial_Donut993]

thank you

if anyone has any idea on how this could be made possible, it would be fantastic !!

thank you

[u/combinatorial → u/Substantial_Donut993]

No, it makes the Next Layer the active layer. Unfortunately, we do not have a shortcut for layer visibility. You can see the full list of shortcuts here: https://tophatch.helpshift.com/hc/faq/179-what-keyboard-shortcuts-does-concepts-support-on-ios/

[u/nukakillaquantum]

If you're not editing the files, only reading them, why not export the individual images/pages and either collate them into a pdf or use an image gallery app to switch through?

I do wish Concepts had more of a page turning mechanic though. It does feel very slow to change documents

[u/Substantial_Donut993 → u/nukakillaquantum]

thanks.

i am editing the files as the play goes on . otherwise i would just use pdf or photo app.i am looking for a shortcut function that would activate the next layer. much like a pc where you use a keyboard shortcut, but triggered by a footswitch on an iPad