Unable to Use Macros in Keymap Editor (ZMK build fails with “undefined node label”)

[ali-aljufairi]

Dear Nick,

I hope you’re doing well.

I’m currently using your Keymap Editor (from github.com/nickcoutsos/keymap-editor) to manage my ZMK configuration, but I’ve been unable to get macros working correctly.

Whenever I attempt to use a macro (for example, a simple key sequence macro), the build fails with the following error:

devicetree error: /keymap/default_layer: undefined node label 'my_mail'
CMake Error at zephyr/cmake/modules/dts.cmake:279 (message):
gen_defines.py failed with return code: 1
FATAL ERROR: command exited with status 1

Here’s a brief summary of my setup:
• Board: adv360_left
• ZMK version: 3.5.0
• Build command:

west build -s zmk/app -d build/left -b adv360_left -- -DZMK_CONFIG="${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/config"

Repository: My ZMK Config Repo

I’ve confirmed that my macros.dtsi file is included and referenced in the keymap, but the build continues to fail with the undefined label error. It seems like the macro node isn’t being recognized by the device tree during compilation.

Could you please advise on how to correctly define and reference macros when using Keymap Editor with ZMK 3.5.0?
Even a minimal working example of a macro definition that builds successfully would be a huge help.

Thank you so much for your time and for maintaining this great tool!

Kind regards,
Ali Aljufairi
(ZMK / Adv360 user)
GitHub: ali-aljufairi

[nickcoutsos]

It looks like your problem stems from:

      #include "version.dtsi"
      #ifndef VERSION_MACRO

            ...

        #endif

If you aren't interested in using this version macro I'd recommend removing that include and the wrapping #ifndef/#endif lines.

The app is inserting newly created macros after the last macro node in the keymap file in order to keep things organized, but it doesn't consider preprocessor macros (see preprocessor support for details) your macro beahviors end up getting removed during compilation.

Alternatively, you can manually just move these nodes outside of the #ifndef/#endif and things will start working. If you do take this approach and keep that preprocessor block just know that if you ever delete all macros through the app and try to add another one you'll end up in the same situation.

[ali-aljufairi]

Yup I followed your tip and its working now thank you for you time and tips and sorry for being dumb