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autohotkeyremote-desktopparallels

Using the §-key instead of the TAB key in ALT+TAB with Autohotkey


I have a need to use something else than the TAB key to achieve ALT+TAB functionality in Windows 10. (long story short - I'm using Parallells and remote desktop on a Mac, and need to keep the Remote Desktop setting "Apply Windows Key Combinations" set to "On this computer", so I can't just forward everything to the remote computer).

Using Autohotkey on the remote computer, I thought I could simply do something like

§::Send {Tab}

to be able to press ALT+§ instead of ALT+TAB, and have Parallells ignore it and just forward it as any other key (for example SHIFT+A to type an "A"). But it doesn't seem to work that way, nothing happens when holding down ALT and pressing § except a "pling" sound. Just pressing § alone prints a TAB character if I'm in a text editor.

I tried

^!§::Send ^!{Tab}

as well, same result.

For now I settled on using the following script instead, which lets me press § to bring up the ALT+TAB window, where I can either use arrow keys or the § key to select an application, and then Enter to switch to it:

§::Send ^!{Tab}

This is not bad, but it's annoying to have to use the Enter key to activate the window. So, is there any way to simply replace ALT+TAB with ALT+§ and get the normal functionality of the ALT+TAB window-switcher?


Solution

  • Use the hotkey <!§::AltTab.
    <! means left alt and you can read more about AltTab here.

    Also, AltTabMenuDismiss might be worth looking into related to the problem you outlined in the comments.