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)

#Persistent
DetectHiddenWindows, On

sProgram1 := "notepad.exe"
sProgram2 := "calc.exe"
nSeconds  := 1
SetTimer, Timer, % nSeconds * 1000
Return

Timer:
{
    Process, Exist, % sProgram1
    myProgram1PID := ErrorLevel
    Process, Exist, % sProgram2
    myProgram2PID := ErrorLevel
    
    If ( myProgram2PID )
    {
        Process, Close, % myProgram1PID
    }
    Else
    {
        If ( ! myProgram1PID )
        {
            Run, % sProgram1
        }
    }
}
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)

#Persistent
DetectHiddenWindows, On

sProgram1 := "notepad.exe"
sProgram2 := "calc.exe"
nSeconds  := 1
SetTimer, Timer, % nSeconds * 1000
Return

Timer:
{
    Process, Exist, % sProgram1
    myProgram1PID := ErrorLevel
    Process, Exist, % sProgram2
    myProgram2PID := ErrorLevel
    
    If ( myProgram2PID )
    {
        Process, Close, % myProgram1PID
    }
    Else
    {
        If ( ! myProgram1PID )
        {
            Run, % sProgram1
        }
    }
}
Return

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?

Not at all. Sorry for the late response.