DONE: Close/run a program when another program is run/closed

[Phoenix232]

The idea is to close/kill Program 1 as Program 2 starts and then when Program 2 is closed, Program 1 is started again. Thinking this might be an easy task I've been trying to modify some scripts I found here but without at any success at all because I'm really new at AHK.

[wraith808]

Are either one of the programs in any danger of idle waits for user interaction?  i.e. trying to close notepad with text in it?  Just figuring it would be a good question for whomever picks it up.

[skwire]

How did you want to match the program(s)?  Process name?  Window title?

[skwire]

At any rate, here's an AHK snippet demonstrating how to do it with process names.  This can be easily adapted to work with window titles instead.

Code: Autohotkey [Select]

1. #Persistent
2. DetectHiddenWindows, On
3.  
4. sProgram1 := "notepad.exe"
5. sProgram2 := "calc.exe"
6. nSeconds  := 1
7. SetTimer, Timer, % nSeconds * 1000
8. Return
9.  
10. Timer:
11. {
12.     Process, Exist, % sProgram1
13.     myProgram1PID := ErrorLevel
14.     Process, Exist, % sProgram2
15.     myProgram2PID := ErrorLevel
16.    
17.     If ( myProgram2PID )
18.     {
19.         Process, Close, % myProgram1PID
20.     }
21.     Else
22.     {
23.         If ( ! myProgram1PID )
24.         {
25.             Run, % sProgram1
26.         }
27.     }
28. }
29. Return

[Phoenix232]

At any rate, here's an AHK snippet demonstrating how to do it with process names.  This can be easily adapted to work with window titles instead.

Code: Autohotkey [Select]

1. #Persistent
2. DetectHiddenWindows, On
3.  
4. sProgram1 := "notepad.exe"
5. sProgram2 := "calc.exe"
6. nSeconds  := 1
7. SetTimer, Timer, % nSeconds * 1000
8. Return
9.  
10. Timer:
11. {
12.     Process, Exist, % sProgram1
13.     myProgram1PID := ErrorLevel
14.     Process, Exist, % sProgram2
15.     myProgram2PID := ErrorLevel
16.    
17.     If ( myProgram2PID )
18.     {
19.         Process, Close, % myProgram1PID
20.     }
21.     Else
22.     {
23.         If ( ! myProgram1PID )
24.         {
25.             Run, % sProgram1
26.         }
27.     }
28. }
29. Return

-skwire (August 02, 2017, 02:36 PM)

This is pretty close of what I was thinking. It's amazing how many lines of code you used to do this. No matter how much I tried I couldn't make it run and even if I could I don't think it would be close to have few lines like yours do. Thank you very much for this.

[skwire]

You're very welcome.  Please let us know if you need further help.   

[skwire]

@Phoenix232: If you don't require further help on this, do you mind if I move this to the Finished section?

[Phoenix232]

@Phoenix232: If you don't require further help on this, do you mind if I move this to the Finished section?

-skwire (August 07, 2017, 02:21 PM)

Not at all. Sorry for the late response.