Do a certain action depending on which window you are in - Arduino Leonardo

Projects Programming
1

Hello, everyone!
I have an Arduino Leonardo that interfaces with a rotary encoder that when pressed changes modes. Is there a way for the Arduino to know what window it is in and execute a given command based on that?

This is my code:

#include <HID-Project.h>

// Rotary Encoder Inputs
#define inputCLK 1
#define inputDT 2
#define inputSW 3

int currentStateCLK;
int previousStateCLK;
int mode = 1;
int maxModes = 3;

void setup() { 
  // Set encoder pins as inputs  
  pinMode (inputCLK,INPUT);
  pinMode (inputDT,INPUT);
  pinMode(inputSW, INPUT_PULLUP);

  // Setup Serial Monitor
  Serial.begin (9600);
  Consumer.begin();
  Keyboard.begin();

  // Read the initial state of inputCLK
  // Assign to previousStateCLK variable
  previousStateCLK = digitalRead(inputCLK);
} 

void loop() { 
  // Read the current state of inputCLK
  currentStateCLK = digitalRead(inputCLK);

  // If the previous and the current state of the inputCLK are different then a pulse has occured
  if (currentStateCLK != previousStateCLK){ 
    // If the inputDT state is different than the inputCLK state then 
    // the encoder is rotating counterclockwise
    if (digitalRead(inputDT) != currentStateCLK) { 
      rotateRight();
    } else {
      rotateLeft();
    }
  } 
  // Update previousStateCLK with the current state
  previousStateCLK = currentStateCLK;
  
  if(!digitalRead(inputSW)){
    changeMode();
    delay(300);
    }
}

void changeMode(){
  mode = (mode % maxModes)+ 1;
  }


void rotateRight() {
  switch(mode){
    case 1:
    //Ctrl + Tab
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_CTRL);
    Keyboard.press(KEY_TAB);
    Keyboard.releaseAll();
    break;
    case 2:
    //Desplazarse entre pestañas de IntelliJ/Webstorm
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_ALT);
    Keyboard.press(KEY_RIGHT_ARROW);
    Keyboard.releaseAll();
    break;
    case 3:
    //Desplazarse en YT
    Keyboard.write(KEY_RIGHT_ARROW);
    break;
    } 
}

void rotateLeft() {
  switch(mode){
    case 1:
    //Ctrl + SHIFT + Tab
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_CTRL);
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_SHIFT);
    Keyboard.press(KEY_TAB);
    Keyboard.releaseAll();
    break;
    case 2:
    //Desplazarse entre pestañas de IntelliJ/Webstorm
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_ALT);
    Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_ARROW);
    Keyboard.releaseAll();
    break;
    case 3:
    //Desplazarse en YT
    Keyboard.write(KEY_LEFT_ARROW);
    break;
    }
}
2

No.

3

Only if the device that controls the changing of the window can signal to the Arduino what window is currently active.

@missdrew had a more concise answer.

5

The device is a PC and I don't know if that can be indicated. I was thinking maybe you can use C++'s getWindow() function or something similar.

6

Maybe I wasn't so clear. For example, if you are in Chrome, which I sent the key combination Ctrl + Tab to the right, to go navigating between tabs.

7

So you want the "if you are in Chrome" part. I think you will need a program on the PC that will send a message to the Arduino's serial port each time the input focus is moved to a different window. You need to learn PC programming or find someone who knows how to do it already.

8

No you were perfectly clear.

9

It might be simpler to pass the encoder data to the program on the PC over serial and let it figure out what keystrokes to send.

10

I understand. Is there any program to do this?

11

Is there a way to do it by code?