chose string from menu, write it into tab on the left side (xterm), hit enter

cmd2left.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import sys
import exceptions
import time
from autopy import key


if len(sys.argv) != 2:
    sys.stderr.write('usage:: {} <file containing commands>\n'.format(sys.argv[0]))
    sys.exit(1)


def enterCommandInLeftTab(cmd):
    key.tap(key.K_PAGEUP, key.MOD_CONTROL) 
    first = True
    for cmdChip in cmd.split(':'):
        if first:
            first = False
        else:
            key.tap(':', key.MOD_SHIFT) 

        key.type_string(cmdChip) 
    key.tap(key.K_RETURN)
    #time.sleep(1)
    #key.tap(key.K_PAGEDOWN, key.MOD_CONTROL) 

def dumpMenu(list, question):
    idx = 1
    answers = []
    for entry in list:
        if entry == '':
            print
            continue

        print('\033[32;1m{:2d}\033[0m ) {}'.format(idx, entry))
        answers.append(entry)
        idx += 1

    answerIdx = None
    ansLimit = len(answers)
    while answerIdx == None:
        try:
            answer = raw_input(question)
            if answer == '':
                continue
            print('ans: '+answer)
            answerIdx = int(answer) - 1
            if answerIdx < 0 or answerIdx >= ansLimit:
                answerIdx = None
                print('out of range .. {}'.format(answerIdx))
        except (exceptions.SyntaxError, exceptions.ValueError) as e:
            #print(e.__class__, e)
            answerIdx = None
            print('wtf? .. {}'.format(e))


    return [answerIdx, answers[answerIdx]]


cmds = ['EXIT']
with open(sys.argv[1], 'r') as commands:
    for line in commands:
        line = line.strip()
        if len(line) > 0 and line[0] == '#':
            continue
        cmds.append(line)



ans = None
while True:
    ans = dumpMenu(cmds, "Enter choice.. ")
    if ans[0] == 0:
        break

    print('answer: {}'.format(ans[1]))
    enterCommandInLeftTab(ans[1])