Windows – Is there a way to create a custom hotkey in Windows that will close the current window or sub-window

autohotkeykeyboard shortcutswindows 7

First of all, let me point out that I'm certainly familiar with the age-old Alt+F4 shortcut, so that's not exactly what I want.

Probably half the programs I use on a regular basis have the Ctrl+W shortcut that closes the current tab (in browser), spreadsheet (in Excel), or text file (in Notepad++) – just a few examples. I've grown so accustomed to using Ctrl+W that it really irks me when a program does not utilize the same hotkeys.

I've never used AutoHotkey before, but I've seen plenty of articles on its usefulness. Is this task something within the scope of an AutoHotkey script? I would want the shortcut to close the current tab or sub-window, but then close the current program after the final tab is closed.

In Chrome, this is default behavior, but I haven't seen the same in too many other applications. I love the functionality, though, and would like to port it to all Windows apps.

Best Answer

In AutoHotkey you can easily remap Ctrl+W per application. For instance in EditPlus Ctrl+F4 closes an MDI window.

#IfWinActive EditPlus - 
^w::Send ^{F4}

If say a menu's Close doesn't have a hotkey, you can use AltFC to open the File menu and use the accelerator.

If that fails you can use ControlClick (e.g. on a toolbar icon).
If that fails you can use PostMessage/SendMessage.

A more advanced script could certainly close the application after its children, if it doesn't already do so.

Related Solutions

Switching between taskbar tasks sequentially

You can probably get away with an Auto Hot Key Script.

However, I am not an expert... The best I can come up with is...

#Tab Up::Send {Enter}

return

However, this sends the return the moment that Windows Key and Tab is pressed and not when the Windows Key is released. I am not sure of the correct syntax... Hopefully I am along the right lines and someone can come along to fix.

Windows – keyboard shortcut to close windows from the Windows 7 taskbar window selector

As other have mentioned, there is no built-in keyboard shortcut. However, we can work some magic with AutoHotkey. I am going to use the Backspace key to close the highlighted Taskbar window:

LastNumber := ""

~*1::LastNumber := "1"
~*2::LastNumber := "2"
~*3::LastNumber := "3"
~*4::LastNumber := "4"
~*5::LastNumber := "5"
~*6::LastNumber := "6"
~*7::LastNumber := "7"
~*8::LastNumber := "8"
~*9::LastNumber := "9"
~*0::LastNumber := "0"

*BackSpace::
    IfWinActive, ahk_class TaskListThumbnailWnd
    {
        WinKey := "LWin"
        if (GetKeyState("RWin"))
            WinKey := "RWin"
        
        SendInput, {Enter}
        WinClose, A
        
        SendInput, {%WinKey% Down}{%LastNumber% Down}{%LastNumber% Up}
    }
    else
        SendInput, {BackSpace}
    return

Instructions:

Press and hold the Windows key down. Do not release it until instructed!
Press a number key until the target window is highlighted.
Press the Backspace key. The highlighted window will be closed! If the there is only one window left, then that window will be activated, otherwise the window group list will return.
Repeat steps 2 to 3 to close more windows.
Finally, release the Windows key to be done.

This should work with Taskbar thumbnails enabled or disabled (as shown in the question).

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Switching between taskbar tasks sequentially

Windows – keyboard shortcut to close windows from the Windows 7 taskbar window selector

Instructions:

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