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autokey-autohotkey-vim-nav

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Scripts for Windows autohotkey to allow vim like navigation in all programs.

// repository documentation

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# autokey-autohotkey-vim-nav

Scripts for Windows AutoHotKey:

* allow vim like navigation across the OS.
* allow mouse scroll and navigation with keyboard (useful when using bad touchpads)
* allow quick recall of applications by title (see [app_switch_by_name.ahk](app_switch_by_name.ahk))
* allow quick binding of current ALT-TAB ordered windows to shortcut keys: quick window layout switching

*vim.ahk* file to be loaded by Windows AutoHotKey.

When this script is running CAPS LOCK is hijacked to enable the above.

## Key Bindings

All key bindings below require CAPS LOCK to be held down.

CAPS LOCK is no longer used as CAPS LOCK: a pretty useless key made useful, in my opinion.

### Application Window Binding

I tried various virtual windows managers over the years including bug.n, etc.  I find the mental task of dealing with virtual windows annoying.  I find binding running applications' windows to a shortcut key the simplest.

#### Preconfigured Recall

This approach has pre-configured keybindings that always work as soon as this script is loaded by AutoHotKey.

The following hotkeys are pre-configured:

`a,s,d,f,g,z,x,c,v,b`

To cycle/recall an application window hold CAPS LOCK + ALT then tap the corresponding key.  If the keybind currently has multiple associated applications open, they will cycle in "near" ALT-TAB order.  As you cycle through the applications, the will come into focus and the mouse will be moved to the center of each.  An overlay tooltip will indicate the title of the application for easy identification.

Douple tapping CAPS LOCK + ALT and a corresponding key will recall the most recent desired open app in ALT-TAB order.

The specific applications recalled are controlled by the [app_switch_by_name.ahk](app_switch_by_name.ahk) script.

To reconfigure you must edit the [app_switch_by_name.ahk](app_switch_by_name.ahk) and restart the [vim.ahk](vim.ahk) script in your taskbar.

Looking at the [app_switch_by_name.ahk](app_switch_by_name.ahk) script you will find several TITLES[".."] setters after the `;; COFIGURE APP TITLES TO RECALL ;;` comment.

The letter indexing each array element indicates which keyboard key (pressed together with `CAPS LOCK + ALT`) is bound to restore apps with provided title.

The string values of each array element is part of the application's window title to match on; each application with title matching one of these values is automatically part of the corresponding hotkey's recall.

Find this title using AutoHotKey's *Window Spy* application.

For example `TITLES["x"] := ["WhatsApp"]` means that the `x` hotkey is tied to any window with *WhatsApp* in the title: any *WhatsApp* instance.

Many different title substrings (different apps) can be added to a signle hotkey's recall.

#### Memorization to a Group

This approach allows binding of running applications' windows ALT-TAB order to shortcut keys.

This is useful for memorizing and recalling layout on multi-display setups.

The following keys allow memorization of application windows' ALT-TAB order for quick restore:

`1,2,3,4,5`

To memorize an order hold CAPS LOCK then press SPACE and tap one of the above keys (while holding CAPS LOCK):

`CAPS LOCK + SPACE, CAPS LOCK + 1` bind current app to group 1 (you can use 1 through 5)

To restore an order hold CAPS LOCK + ALT tap the corresponding key:

`CAPS LOCK + ALT + 1` to resore apps' ALT-TAB order as per group 1 (you can use 1 through 5)

#### Memorize and Restore Screen Layout

This allows saving off current layout of all applications.

This is useful when docking/undocking or using a KVM switch:  whenever Windows is about to mess-up your applications layout because of a change in the number of monitors.

The layout is saved to a file called `WinPos.txt`.

To save current layout:

`CAPS LOCK + SPACE, CAPS LOCK + \``

To restore layout:

`CAPS LOCK + ALT + \``

The script remembers distinct layouts for different monitor configurations.

#### Preconfigured Apps to Run

Looking at the [app_switch_by_name.ahk](app_switch_by_name.ahk) script you will find several `APP_TO_RUN_ON_KEY[".."] := "..."` statements after the `;; COFIGURE APP TO RUN ;;` comment.

These are the apps that can be started with pressing one of the following hotkeys after pressing CAPS + SPACE:

`a,s,d,f,g,z,x,c,v,b`

To run the app defined with `APP_TO_RUN_ON_KEY["a"]` press CAPS + SPACE the "a".

Some apps do not start a new instance but just switch to a current instance.  To speed this up you can switch to the instance based on the window title.  Configure this with `APP_TITLE_TO_SWITCH_TO_ON_KEY[".."] := "..."` statements.

If you want to add your own keybindings and not affect the git repo, add your binding overrides to [overrides.ahk](overrides.ahk).  Notice that [overrides.ahk](overrides.ahk) is `#Include`'d after the above definitions in [app_switch_by_name.ahk](app_switch_by_name.ahk), and it's `.gitignore`'d.

### Window Management Key bindings

I like to quickly snap Windows to the left-half of a wide screen, right-half of a wide screen, or to take up the full screen:

`CAPS + ALT + y` make top 4 windows (in ALT TAB order) snap to screen corners in order top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right, preserving ALT TAB order.

**2x** `CAPS + ALT + y` restore top 4 windows back from being snapped to corners: reverse `CAPS + ALT + y`.

`CAPS + ALT + q` snap window to left

**2x** `CAPS + ALT + q` snap window to top

`CAPS + ALT + e` snap window to right

**2x** `CAPS + ALT + e` snap window to bottom

`CAPS + ALT + w` snap window to top

**2x** `CAPS + ALT + w` maximize window

`CAPS + ALT + r` snap window to bottom

`CAPS + ALT + t` move window to next monitor clockwise

`CAPS + ALT + RIGHT` move window to next monitor clockwise

`CAPS + ALT + LEFT` move window to next monitor counter-clockwise

`CAPS + SHIFT + ALT + t` toggle task bar visibility on/off

### Mouse scrolling and Navigation

Unfortunately Windows laptops have varying qualities of touchpads, and scrolling with two fingers is annoying.  I like to move the cursor over a window with the right hand and use my left hand to scroll with the keyboard:

`CAPS+s` wheel down

`CAPS+a` wheel up

`CAPS+z` wheel left

`CAPS+x` wheel right

Mouse keys for navigating within browsers are very nice for most editors, map them:

`CAPS+c` browser back, alt left

`CAPS+v` browser forward, alt right

`CAPS+SHIFT+c` ctrl alt left // for some applications going back is this combo

`CAPS+SHIFT+v` ctrl alt right  // for some applications going forward is this combo

### VIM Editing Key Bindings

Laptop keyboards are notorious for different annoying layouts.  Vim navigation to the rescue:

`CAPS+h` left

`CAPS+j` right

`CAPS+k` up

`CAPS+l` down

`CAPS+g` ctrl home // start of document

`CAPS+SHIFT+g` ctrl end // end of document

`CAPS+b` page up

`CAPS+f` page down

`CAPS+e` ctrl up arrow // one line up, sort of not needed with mouse scrolling

`CAPS+y` ctrl down arrow // one line down

`CAPS+w` jump word, ctrl right // in most apps jumps a word

`CAPS+q` reverse jump word, ctrl left // in most apps reverse jumps worked

`CAPS+d` delete

`CAPS+0` start of line, home

`CAPS+-` end of line, end

`CAPS+i` 5 x up key

`CAPS+u` 5 x down key

The above work with SHIFT key down, for navigation while selecting.

## Repo Code Deprecation

I used to have code for Linux/Python AutoKey in this repo as well.

I find myself never switching to Linux anymore.  I've removed all the AutoKey code, especially since it's deprecated.

Commit [faea51a0c1c366816cc0957fb208b642f7ed27f9](https://github.com/JakubNer/autokey-autohotkey-vim-nav/commit/faea51a0c1c366816cc0957fb208b642f7ed27f9) is the last commit before removal of:

* Linux/Python AutoHotKey
* mouse scrolling helper scripts (AutoHotKey)
* xmouse (auto focus) PowerShell script
* desktop switching AutoHotKey scripts
* PowerShell script to make task preview windows bigger: never worked with Windows 10

autokey-autohotkey-vim-nav

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