Vimium for Google Docs

Question

I like to use Vimium all the time, but I'm having some difficulty understanding how to use it for Google Docs. In Google Docs, I can't seem to stop the cursor from blinking (i.e. it's as though I'm perpetually in insert mode - no matter how many times I press Esc). This means that, when I go to issue a command to Vimium, I end up merely typing the command verbatim into the Google Doc.
I've googled around online with no success. Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

You basically can't. Google Docs is super zealous about dropping you back into insert mode (as you observed). Best just disable Vimium on Google Docs (https?://docs.google.com/document/*).

Answer 2

In order to use Vimium shortcuts the focus of the page can't be on the cursor. What I do is move the page focus to the menu using Google Docs' own shortcuts. Using the shortcut Alt + F the 'File' menu opens and focus goes there, enabling me to use Vimium.

Before I discovered this I used Chrome shortcuts to go to another tab and continued there (e.g., Ctrl + 1)

There is 1 option I know of to get back and edit the page (other than clicking it). Here is how it goes:

1. use Vimium command f to follow links
2. choose editing scroll menu on the top right (editing/suggesting/viewing)
3. choose editing with arrows and enter key

Thy idea behind this method is to use the Google Docs menu in order to get back to editing.

Answer 3

AFAIK it's not possible for Chrome extensions to interact with Google Docs editors, instead you could try to use Google Apps Script or Google Docs editors add-ons.

It's worth to say that Google Apps Script/Google Docs editors doesn't include event listeners for keyboard combinations.

Answer 4

You can use Vimium with google docs!

press "esc" and "f" at the same time and you'll get all the vimium option to pop up and overlay the screen/browser.