How to send keystrokes to minimized window

[seamoon]

I want to send {ALTDOWN}{F4}{ALTUP} to minimized application without bring to front. I can minimize it but can't do the rest of it.

Code: Select all

DetectHiddenWindows On

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min ; 
ControlSend,, {ALTDOWN}{F4}{ALTUP}, Genius Gaming Keyboard LuxeMate 525;
#NoTrayIcon

[gregster]

It's better to put a space between keyname and state (although AHK perhaps accepts your syntax, not sure): {ALT DOWN}
But is there really a ; at the end of the wintitle Genius Gaming Keyboard LuxeMate 525; ? If not, remove it! You don't put semicolons at the end of AHK code lines.
(it would be okay, if would put a space or tab before the ; - then it would start an inline comment.)

[seamoon]

No luck. Any solution offer. It shouldn't be so hard to send keystrokes or close command to minimized app.

[thinkRand]

This should work

Code: Select all

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min, pid 
WinWait ahk_pid %pid%
ControlSend,ahk_parent, {ALT DOWN}{F4}{ALT UP}, ahk_pid %pid%
#NoTrayIcon

[seamoon]

This should work

Code: Select all

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min, pid 
WinWait ahk_pid %pid%
ControlSend,ahk_parent, {ALT DOWN}{F4}{ALT UP}, ahk_pid %pid%
#NoTrayIcon

I created this but it didn't send keystrokes.

Code: Select all

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min, 1548 
WinWait ahk_1548 %pid%
ControlSend,ahk_parent, {ALT DOWN}{F4}{ALT UP}, ahk_1548 %pid%
#NoTrayIcon

[seamoon]

BTW if you test it yourself. The application is this:
https://drivers.softpedia.com/get/KEYBOARD-and-MOUSE/GENIUS/Genius-LuxeMate-525-Keyboard-Driver-10.shtml

[pto]

; is for only commenting in code. Every character afterwards until the end of the line is mostly for readability and understanding of code execution.

Since your goal is a minimized window (hence not hidden) you don't need DetectHiddenWindows On

Code: Select all

#NoTrayIcon ; if you don't want a related to this script icon on your desktop tray
exeApp := "C:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe"
string := "{ALTDOWN}{F4}{ALTUP}"

Run % exeApp,, min, exeAppPId ; run application and get process id to the variable "exeAppPId"
ControlSend,, % string, % "ahk_pid " . exeAppPId ; send the "string" variable to the program binded by PID

[seamoon]

; is for only commenting in code. Every character afterwards until the end of the line is mostly for readability and understanding of code execution.

Since your goal is a minimized window (hence not hidden) you don't need DetectHiddenWindows On

Code: Select all

#NoTrayIcon ; if you don't want a related to this script icon on your desktop tray
exeApp := "C:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe"
string := "{ALTDOWN}{F4}{ALTUP}"

Run % exeApp,, min, exeAppPId ; run application and get process id to the variable "exeAppPId"
ControlSend,, % string, % "ahk_pid " . exeAppPId ; send the "string" variable to the program binded by PID

The code doesn' work, it only minimize, can't close the app.

[thinkRand]

This should work

Code: Select all

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min, pid 
WinWait ahk_pid %pid%
ControlSend,ahk_parent, {ALT DOWN}{F4}{ALT UP}, ahk_pid %pid%
#NoTrayIcon

I created this but it didn't send keystrokes.

Code: Select all

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min, 1548 
WinWait ahk_1548 %pid%
ControlSend,ahk_parent, {ALT DOWN}{F4}{ALT UP}, ahk_1548 %pid%
#NoTrayIcon

You modified the script wrong.

Code: Select all

Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min, pid  ;pid is the name of the variable in which to store the newly launched program's unique Process ID (PID).

;After the Run command retrieves a PID, any windows to be created by the process might not exist yet. To wait for at least one window to be created, use
;WinWait ahk_pid %OutputVarPID%.

WinWait ahk_pid %pid% 
ControlSend, ahk_parent, {ALT DOWN}{F4}{ALT UP}, ahk_pid %pid%  ;Use ahk_pid PID in WinTitle to identify a window belonging to a specific process
#NoTrayIcon

[pto]

The code doesn' work, it only minimize, can't close the app.

You don't need ControlSend to close an application if you have its process id, wich you can easely get when you use Run command to launch:

Code: Select all

exeApp := "C:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe"

Run, % exeApp,, min, exeAppPId ; run application and get process id to the variable "exeAppPId"

WinClose, % "ahk_pid " . exeAppPId ; sends a close message to a window  by providing its process id

[seamoon]

The code doesn' work, it only minimize, can't close the app.

You don't need ControlSend to close an application if you have its process id, wich you can easely get when you use Run command to launch:

Code: Select all

exeApp := "C:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe"

Run, % exeApp,, min, exeAppPId ; run application and get process id to the variable "exeAppPId"

WinClose, % "ahk_pid " . exeAppPId ; sends a close message to a window  by providing its process id

I've pasted your code as it is (without any change) but didn't close the app.

[mikeyww]

A few issues with PIDs: some Run commands will not return a PID. In other cases, programs can use multiple processes, making it more difficult to identify the right PID. You might want to use a window handle instead. This can be retrieved after a WinWait.

[seamoon]

A few issues with PIDs: some Run commands will not return a PID. In other cases, programs can use multiple processes, making it more difficult to identify the right PID. You might want to use a window handle instead. This can be retrieved after a WinWait.

But how can I add winwait command.

[mikeyww]

Code: Select all

GroupAdd, np, ahk_exe notepad.exe
WinMinimize, ahk_group np
Run, notepad
WinWaitActive, ahk_group np,, 5
If ErrorLevel
 MsgBox, 48, Error, An error occurred while waiting for the window.
hWnd := WinActive()
SoundBeep, 1500
Sleep, 500
WinClose, ahk_id %hWnd%
SoundBeep, 1000

[seamoon]

Code: Select all

GroupAdd, np, ahk_exe notepad.exe
WinMinimize, ahk_group np
Run, notepad
WinWaitActive, ahk_group np,, 5
If ErrorLevel
 MsgBox, 48, Error, An error occurred while waiting for the window.
hWnd := WinActive()
SoundBeep, 1500
Sleep, 500
WinClose, ahk_id %hWnd%
SoundBeep, 1000

But in your code, the application window visible for a half-second. I want to launch it minimized to tray then without seeing the window close it.
Launching as minimized is possible in my app with this command but I can't close it in minimized state.
Run, "c:\Program Files\KYE\LuxeMate525\LuxeMate525.exe",,min

[mikeyww]

Code: Select all

winTitle = ahk_exe notepad.exe
WinGet, before, List, %winTitle%
Run, notepad,, Min
Loop {
 Sleep, 50
 WinGet, after, List, %winTitle%
} Until (after > before)
newest := after1
SoundBeep, 1500
Sleep, 500

; F3::
WinClose, ahk_id %newest%
SoundBeep, 1000
Return

Windows TASKKILL is another way to end a process (broadly). Also: Process.

[seamoon]

Code: Select all

winTitle = ahk_exe notepad.exe
WinGet, before, List, %winTitle%
Run, notepad,, Min
Loop {
 Sleep, 50
 WinGet, after, List, %winTitle%
} Until (after > before)
newest := after1
SoundBeep, 1500
Sleep, 500

; F3::
WinClose, ahk_id %newest%
SoundBeep, 1000
Return

Windows TASKKILL is another way to end a process (broadly). Also: Process.

Thank you very much mikeyww. It worked great.