====== Switch/Case Action ======

The //Switch/Case action// is used to perform different actions based on different values of a common _parameter_.  It is very similar to the [[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Statements/switch|JavaScript Switch]] statement.

The _Switch_ Action is a good alternative to using multiple, nested, [[action:If_Then_Else|If/Then]] Actions.

The actions in the first section that matches will be executed. If no section matches, then no actions will be executed and the execution will continue after the Switch/Case action. Under no circumstances will actions from more than one section be executed - that is, execution does not “fall through” to following sections as happens in some languages.

===== Parameters =====

The Switch _parameter_ may be any of the following:
  * [[:Clipboards|System Clipboard]]
  * [[:Clipboards#Named_Clipboards|Named Clipboard]]
  * [[token:TriggerClipboard|Trigger Clipboard]]
  * [[manual:Variables|Keyboard Maestro Variable]]
  * Text (which can use [[:Tokens|Tokens]])
  * [[manual:Calculations|Calculation]]
  * File

===== Default Configuration =====

When you insert the _Switch_ Action, it is configured to switch based on the _System Clipboard_, but can be easily changed to other parameters.  It initially looks like this:

{{:action:switch-case.png?nolink|}}

For each _Condition_ that you add, you can enter zero or more _Actions_ that will be executed when that _Condition_ is met.  After those _Action(s)_ are executed, or if no _Conditions_ are met, the _Switch_ Action is exited.

===== Conditions =====

The _Conditions_ available depend on the _Parameter_ that is chosen (for example, you cannot use *has an image* with a calculation).

The _Conditions_ are defined as follows:

^Condition^Definition^
|is empty|The text is contains no characters.|
|is not empty|The text is contains some characters.|
|has text |Clipboard has at least one item containing text of some sort.|
|does not have text |Clipboard does not have any text items.|
|has image |Clipboard has one or more images.|
|does not have image |Clipboard does not have any images.|
|is |is exactly (case insensitive) the specified string.|
|is not |is not exactly (case insensitive) the specified string.|
|contains |contains (case insensitive) the specified string.|
|does not contain |does not contain (case insensitive) the specified string.|
|starts with |starts with the specified string.|
|ends with |ends with the specified string.|
|is before |is alphabetically before the specified string. (v7.2+)|
|is after |is alphabetically after the specified string. (v7.2+)|
|matches |matches the specified regular expression.|
|does not match |does not match the specified regular expression.|
|is <|is numerically less than.|
|is <=|is numerically less than or equal.|
|is =|is numerically equal.|
|is >=|is numerically greater than or equal.|
|is >|is numerically greater than.|
|is !=|is numerically not equal.|
|conforms to |Clipboard has an item with the UTI class that conforms to the specified [Uniform Type Identifier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Type_Identifier).|
|does not conform to |Clipboard does not have an item with the UTI class that conforms to the specified Uniform Type Identifier.|
|otherwise |will execute if none of the Conditions in the Switch, that are entered above _otherwise_, are met.|


The _Otherwise_ _Condition_ will execute if none of the previous _Conditions_ are met.  The _Switch_ Action will then exit.  So, the _Otherwise_ _Condition_ should always be placed as the last _Condition_ in the _Switch_ Action.

===== See Also =====

=== Actions ===

* [[action:If Then Else|If Then Else]]
* [[action:Pause_Until|Pause Until Conditions Met]]
* [[action:Until|Execute Action Until Conditions Met]]
* [[action:While|Execute Action While Conditions Met]]
* [[:Actions|See all Actions]]

=== Conditions ===

* [[:Conditions|See all Conditions]]

==== Forum ====

- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/action-switch-case-based-on-frontmost-app/7294|ACTION: Switch Case Based on FrontMost App]]
- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/search?q=Switch%20action|Keyboard Maestro Forum topics about Switch or Case action]]