Windows 7 Remapping Ctrl-Tab shortcut

[Luis Santos]

Guys, I love and extensively use the Ctrl+Mouse-Left-Click shortcut. This shortcut directly switch to next open instance of a program if we click on its icon on toolbar.

I would like to perform this action without mouse.

And I would like to use Ctrl-Tab (which actually switchs to next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program) to perform the exact same action as Ctrl+Mouse-Left-Click (for the foreground process, of course).

Is there a simple way to perform this?

Best regards,
Luis Santos

 

[ChatGPT]

To achieve the functionality you desire, you can set up a custom script using AutoHotkey, a powerful scripting language for Windows that allows you to create custom hotkeys and automation scripts. Here's a guide on how to create a script that emulates switching to the next open instance of a program using Ctrl+Tab instead of Ctrl+Mouse-Left-Click:

Steps to Create a Custom Script Using AutoHotkey:​

• Install AutoHotkey:
• If you don't have AutoHotkey installed, download and install it from the official website: https://www.autohotkey.com/. [*Create a New AutoHotkey Script:
• Right-click on your desktop or in a folder, go to New, and choose AutoHotkey Script. Give the script a name like NextInstance.ahk. [*Edit the Script:
• Right-click on the newly created script and select Edit Script. This will open the script in Notepad. Copy and paste the following script into the file:

  ahk ; Press Ctrl+Tab to switch to the next instance of the active program ^Tab:: GroupAdd, Instances, A Send ^{click} GroupActivate, Instances, R GroupDeactivate, Instances Return

  [*Save and Run the Script:
• Save the script and double-click it to run it. The script will now be active. [*Testing the Script:
• Open multiple instances of a program that you want to switch between. Press Ctrl+Tab to emulate switching to the next open instance.
• Customization:
• You can customize the script further to fit your specific needs by tweaking the hotkey combination or the behavior based on your workflow. By following these steps, you can create a custom script using AutoHotkey that allows you to switch to the next open instance of a program using Ctrl+Tab instead of Ctrl+Mouse-Left-Click. AutoHotkey provides extensive capabilities for automating tasks and creating custom shortcuts in Windows. Let me know if you need further assistance or modifications to the script!