Make Active Window Obvious on Taskbar with AutoHotkey Script
If you're a Windows 10 user looking for a way to make the active window more obvious on the taskbar, you're in luck. In this article, we'll explore a solution that involves using an AutoHotkey (AHK) script. By the end of this article, you'll have a solid understanding of how to use this script to enhance your Windows 10 experience.
What is AutoHotkey?
AutoHotkey is a powerful scripting language for Windows. It allows users to automate repetitive tasks, create custom keyboard shortcuts, and interact with the Windows operating system in new and interesting ways. The scripting language is open-source and has a large community of users who create and share scripts for a wide variety of purposes.
Finding a Solution
The solution we'll be exploring in this article was found in a thread where a user was looking for a way to make the active window more obvious on the taskbar in Windows 10. The solution involved downloading an AHK script that would highlight the active window on the taskbar by changing its color.
Downloading the AHK Script
To download the AHK script, simply navigate to the thread where the solution was found and download the attached file. The file will be in the .ahk format, which is the native file format for AutoHotkey scripts.
Using the AHK Script
To use the AHK script, simply double-click on the .ahk file. This will open the script in the AutoHotkey application. From here, you can run the script by clicking on the "Play" button. Once the script is running, you should notice that the active window on the taskbar is now highlighted with a different color, making it much more obvious.
Formatting the AHK Script
If you're interested in modifying the AHK script to suit your needs, it's important to understand how to properly format the code. The script is written in the AutoHotkey scripting language, which uses its own unique syntax. Here's an example of what the code for the script might look like:
#NoEnv
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#Persistent
#SingleInstance, Force
SetTitleMatchMode, 2
WinGet, active_id, ID, A
WinActivate, ahk_id %active_id%
WinGetClass, active_class, Class, A
Loop, 10
{
SetTitleMatchMode, 2
WinGet, id, List, ,, % "HWND" active_class
if ErrorLevel
break
WinActivate, ahk_id %id%
}
In this example, the script uses the #NoEnv directive to turn off environment variables, sets the working directory to the location of the script, and uses the #Persistent directive to keep the script running in the background. The script then uses the WinGet function to get the ID and class of the active window, and loops through a list of windows with the same class to find the active window. Once the active window is found, it's activated using the WinActivate function.
In this article, we explored a solution for making the active window more obvious on the taskbar in Windows 10 using an AutoHotkey script. We covered the basics of AutoHotkey, how to download and use the script, and how to format the code. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can enhance your Windows 10 experience and make the active window more obvious on the taskbar.