Detecting active file with WinActive/WinExist

[Dummie1138]

Hi. I have the following code.

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arduinoLink := "C:\Users\User\Documents\Arduino\456_Arduino_String\456_Arduino_String.ino"
;Arduino
#HotIf WinActive("ahk_exe arduinoLink")   ;Close file if already active.
!+a:: WinClose

#HotIf WinExist("ahk_exe arduinoLink")    ;Make file active.
!+a:: WinActivate

#HotIf
!+a:: run arduinoLink     ;Activate file.

I am having trouble with

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#HotIf WinActive("ahk_exe arduinoLink")

and

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#HotIf WinExist("ahk_exe arduinoLink")

. Namely that they do not seem to detect when my file at the location arduinoLink is active. I am not sure how to proceed; the documentation has stated that prefacing the location with "ahk_exe" is needed, which I have already done so.

[swagfag]

ahk_exe expects an exe name(which usually end with ".exe", look in Task Manager > Details tab). what is the exe name of the program that Running C:\Users\User\Documents\Arduino\456_Arduino_String\456_Arduino_String.ino launches? (then use that name to query against)

[CptRootBeard]

If your .ino file is source code (which I think it is, but it's been a minute since I've worked with Arduino), and you are trying to open/close it in the Arduino IDE, you will need to change your approach.
The .ino file will not own the window - as swag has said, the executable running the file will. A text file (which is what the source code is) is not 'active' in the same way as a running program.

Are you trying to make a keyboard shortcut to activate the editor tab that contains your code? If so, you might be able to just use

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Run(arduinoLink)

again. In many editors (including Notepad++, which is the most comparable thing I have on hand) trying to open a file that is already open will bring its editor tab to the front.

If you want to force the editor to close the file, you could use the same Run() command again to force the editor tab into focus, then use Send() to send the keyboard shortcut required to close the file.
That shortcut varies between editors, but in Notepad++ it is Ctrl+W.

Forgive me if I'm off base, but it seems this may be what you are trying to accomplish.

[Dummie1138]

@swagfag

The following is my new code based on your suggestions.

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arduinoLink := "C:\Users\User\Documents\Arduino\456_Arduino_String\456_Arduino_String.ino"
arduinoLocation := "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe"
;Arduino
#HotIf WinActive("ahk_exe arduinoLocation arduinoLink")
!+a:: WinClose

#HotIf WinExist("ahk_exe arduinoLocation arduinoLink")
!+a:: WinActivate

#HotIf
!+a:: run arduinoLink

Sadly the issues I had persist; my window does not close when the executable at arduinoLocation running the file at arduinoLink is active.

[Dummie1138]

The .ino file will not own the window - as swag has said, the executable running the file will. A text file (which is what the source code is) is not 'active' in the same way as a running program.

I have also tried this based on your suggestions, with the HotIf only containing the text executable location.

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arduinoLink := "C:\Users\User\Documents\Arduino\456_Arduino_String\456_Arduino_String.ino"
arduinoLocation := "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe"
;Arduino
#HotIf WinActive("ahk_exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe")
!+a::{
MsgBox "In WA."
WinMinimize
}

#HotIf WinExist("ahk_exe arduinoLocation")
!+a::{
 MsgBox "In WE."
 WinActivate
 }
 
 #HotIf
!+a:: run arduinoLink
 

Sadly, the code never entered WinExist and WinActive even when C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino.exe was active or existed.

What I'm trying to achieve is opening and closing the file, but also activating the file with a hotkey, but thank you very much for bringing the shortcut Ctrl+W to my attention, it's been very helpful.

[hd0202]

I am also new to V2 and think, that your variables 'arduinoLink' and 'arduinoLocation' must not be between the quotation marks

Hubert

[swagfag]

i dont think i suggested doing any of that(ie using the full path as an exe name). reread what i actually wrote