0

i'm new on Superuser and sorry if i ask on a wrong place.

I have two apps (vs code & emulator Nox), and because i'm not maximise a vscode, i want to group an emulator with my vscode, so if i'm alt+tab vscode or emulator, i want to show up these two apps together not only one, it is possible?

something like this:

enter image description here

flix
  • 101
  • 3
  • "is it possible?" - If it's possible third-party software would be required. I am not aware of any software that would do what you describe. – Ramhound Nov 15 '19 at 02:37
  • i don't mind if i need to installed 3rd-party software, but i'm not find it, so i think someone would suggest me if i asking – flix Nov 15 '19 at 02:40

2 Answers2

1

Yes and no.

No, this is not possible with ALT+TAB. The behavior of ALT+TAB is to switch between graphical applications, which means that only one can have focus.

However, you can use WIN+TAB to use multiple desktops and this will get you what you're after ("application groups") and you can couple that along with ALT+TAB to switch between apps within each desktop.

Open vscode and nox as you normally would. Press WIN+TAB and click + New Desktop to create a second Desktop. Use WIN+TAB to switch to the second desktop and open the "other" applications you use (browser, email, whatever) on the second desktop. When you want to switch to vscode and nox just press WIN+TAB again and select that desktop from the list. Press again to switch back.

shawn
  • 875
  • 7
  • 15
  • upvoted for a trick, but i would avoid it since `WIN`+`TAB` is more slowly than `ALT`+`TAB` – flix Nov 15 '19 at 03:53
  • of course it is, you're switching between application groups not just applications. you can disable desktop animation to reduce most of the lag. (`Settings`, `Ease of Access`, `Display`, `Show animations in Windows`) – shawn Nov 15 '19 at 03:57
0

Windows doesn't natively support what you are after, but you can achieve it using free automation software, such as Autohotkey.

Install Autohotkey, create a script (just create a text file then change the file extension to .ahk), then paste this:

#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
; #Warn  ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors.
SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.

Start:

GroupAdd, WindowGroup, ahk_class YOURWINDOW1
GroupAdd, WindowGroup, ahk_class YOURWINDOW2
WinWaitActive, ahk_group WindowGroup
Winactivate, ahk_class YOURWINDOW1
Winactivate, ahk_class YOURWINDOW2
WinwaitNotActive, ahk_group WindowGroup

Goto Start

Ahk_class is just an identifier for windows on your desktop. Like a label. Where it says YOURWINDOW in the above code, replace it with the ahk_classes of the windows of the apps you want to group together so they both appear together when you switch to either one of them using Alt-Tab.

To find out the ahk_class of the window for your apps, you need to install a little app (or a portable version so no install) which tells you the name of windows on your desktop. For example, AU3-Spy, Window Detective, Winspy, or some other such app.

Run the window identifier software, click on the window you want to find the ahk_class for, and look at where it says the window's ahk_class. Just put whatever is there in place of YOURWINDOW1, then do the same for the other window and replace where it says YOURWINDOW2.

Dale Newton
  • 79
  • 2
  • 8