Feature request: Spacebar to select/activate window in pinned mode

from Stardock Forums

Really enjoying AltTabby so far—great work on the beta.

One small quality-of-life suggestion: when running in "Always pinned" mode, once you finish cycling to the window you want, you currently have to either reach over to hit Enter or grab the mouse to click it.

Could we get an option to allow the Spacebar to confirm and switch to the highlighted window? That would allow full one-handed operation—cycling with Alt+Tab and instantly tapping Spacebar with your thumb without having to leave the home position or reach across the keyboard.

Thanks!

Stardock Software AltTabby Type: Question
651 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your request to the Stardock Support Team for their review and recommendations. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We really do appreciate your feedback, Thanks

Basj,

Stardock Community  Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

You are probably a build or two behind, which matters here: AltTabby went to 0.8 on 09/02 and 0.81 on 09/03.

0.8 added an option worth testing before the Spacebar request gets weighed. From the changelog: "New option to make sticky semi sticky so it only makes the switcher stay open after the hotkey is held for a certain amount of time."

Sticky is the setting that decides whether the switcher pins itself open, so semi sticky ties pinning to how long you hold the hotkey rather than leaving it on permanently. A quick tap does not keep it open.

The same release also made sticky status save per hotkey instead of applying globally, so you can set it on the one hotkey you cycle with and leave the others alone. Both settings are on the Hotkeys tab.

That is not the Spacebar binding you asked for, and neither 0.8 nor 0.81 adds a configurable confirm key. It may still take the reach out of your case, so it is worth trying before you settle on the request.

Full list of what changed: https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/3890184205

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting EdwinPWeston,

Really enjoying AltTabby so far—great work on the beta.

One small quality-of-life suggestion: when running in "Always pinned" mode, once you finish cycling to the window you want, you currently have to either reach over to hit Enter or grab the mouse to click it.

Could we get an option to allow the Spacebar to confirm and switch to the highlighted window? That would allow full one-handed operation—cycling with Alt+Tab and instantly tapping Spacebar with your thumb without having to leave the home position or reach across the keyboard.

Thanks!

End of EdwinPWeston's quote

All you have to do is hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard and the highlighted window is focused and AltTabby closes.

EDIT: I was actually able to create a shortcut using PowerToys mapping "Alt + Space" to "Enter," specific to AltTabby64.exe and it works great.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the suggestion! I learned something new about PowerToys today—I hadn't realized you could target specific executables like that.

Having to use a modifier key like Alt+Space rather than just tapping a single key is a bit of a deal-breaker for pure one-handed flow for me, but it's a great workaround to have in the toolkit. Appreciate the tip!

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

We should have support for using space like this in the next update.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting Neil, reply 4146283

We should have support for using space like this in the next update.

End of Neil's quote

That would be awesome! Such a great idea from EdwinPWeston. I changed my PowerToys mapping to Alt + Q, which made it much easier, but the Space key is way better.
:thumbsup: :grin: