Trigger Autohotkey on new window

Question

How do I set an action to trigger whenever a new window opens in autohotkey? For instance, I could set any Windows Explorer window to be marked as "Always on Top" as soon as it comes up. Or I could set any new Skype windows to always open on the second monitor, or always be semi-transparent, etc...

I think autohotkey can achieve this, but I don't know how. I need it to perform some arbitrary action on a new window as soon as it comes up.

Answer 1

AutoHotkey is an off-spin created specifically for hot keys...

You might want to try the original AutoIt instead, it has a lot of automation features, including window events!

More specific, you can find a script here that tracks windows and acts on new windows.

#include <Array.au3>

; Initialize tracking arrays
Global $avWinListPrevious[1][2] = [[0, ""]], $avWinListCurrent

; Monitor unique window handles
While 1
    $avWinListCurrent = WinList("[REGEXPTITLE:.+[ \- ]GIMP]", "GNU Image Manipulation Program")
    For $n = $avWinListCurrent[0][0] To 1 Step -1
   ; Check has title and visible
        If ($avWinListCurrent[$n][0] <> "") And BitAND(WinGetState($avWinListCurrent[$n][1]), 2) Then
       ; Check for already seen
            $fFound = False
            For $i = 1 To $avWinListPrevious[0][0]
                If $avWinListCurrent[$n][1] = $avWinListPrevious[$i][1] Then
                    $fFound = True
                    ExitLoop
                EndIf
            Next

       ; New window found
            If Not $fFound Then
                WinMove("[REGEXPTITLE:.+[ \- ]GIMP]", "GNU Image Manipulation Program", 169, 0, 893, 771 )
            EndIf
        Else
            _ArrayDelete($avWinListCurrent, $n)
        EndIf
    Next
    $avWinListCurrent[0][0] = UBound($avWinListCurrent) - 1
    $avWinListPrevious = $avWinListCurrent
    Sleep(500)
WEnd

Answer 2

Something like this would work nicely: http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic63673.html

and in case the link changes or goes down for any reason:

;========================================================================
; 
; Template:     WinTrigger (former OnOpen/OnClose)
; Description:  Act upon (de)activation/(un)existance of programs/windows
; Online Ref.:  http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63673
;
; Last Update:  15/Mar/2010 17:30
;
; Created by:   MasterFocus
;               http://www.autohotkey.net/~MasterFocus/AHK/
;
; Thanks to:    Lexikos, for improving it significantly
;               http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic43826.html#267338
;
;========================================================================
;
; This template contains two examples by default. You may remove them.
;
; * HOW TO ADD A PROGRAM to be checked upon (de)activation/(un)existance:
;
; 1. Add a variable named ProgWinTitle# (Configuration Section)
; containing the desired title/ahk_class/ahk_id/ahk_group
;
; 2. Add a variable named WinTrigger# (Configuration Section)
; containing the desired trigger ("Exist" or "Active")
;
; 3. Add labels named LabelTriggerOn# and/or LabelTriggerOff#
; (Custom Labels Section) containing the desired actions
;
; 4. You may also change CheckPeriod value if desired
;
;========================================================================

#Persistent

; ------ ------ CONFIGURATION SECTION ------ ------

; Program Titles
ProgWinTitle1 = ahk_class Notepad
WinTrigger1 = Exist
ProgWinTitle2 = Calculator
WinTrigger2 = Active

; SetTimer Period
CheckPeriod = 200

; ------ END OF CONFIGURATION SECTION ------ ------

SetTimer, LabelCheckTrigger, %CheckPeriod%
Return

; ------ ------ ------

LabelCheckTrigger:
  While ( ProgWinTitle%A_Index% != "" && WinTrigger := WinTrigger%A_Index% )
    if ( !ProgRunning%A_Index% != !Win%WinTrigger%( ProgWinTitle := ProgWinTitle%A_Index% ) )
      GoSubSafe( "LabelTriggerO" ( (ProgRunning%A_Index% := !ProgRunning%A_Index%) ? "n" : "ff" ) A_Index )
Return

; ------ ------ ------

GoSubSafe(mySub)
{
  if IsLabel(mySub)
    GoSub %mySub%
}

; ------ ------ CUSTOM LABEL SECTION ------ ------

LabelTriggerOn1:
LabelTriggerOff1:
LabelTriggerOn2:
  MsgBox % "A_ThisLabel:`t" A_ThisLabel "`nProgWinTitle:`t" ProgWinTitle "`nWinTrigger:`t" WinTrigger
Return

; ------ END OF CUSTOM LABEL SECTION ------ ------

Please note I did not write this code.