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macOS Control Another App's Windows
- Thread starter Blakeasd
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Hello!
I recently thought of a great idea for window management, but it would require my app to be able to reposition and resize other app's windows. Is this possible and if so what framework could I use to do it.
Thanks!
As far as I know there's no way to control other windows than the ones of your app.
Sorry
This is incorrect - there are many apps already out there that manage and reposition windows belonging to other applications. Take a look at Grid on the Mac App Store, for instance.
One way of controlling other applications' windows is to use the Accessibility APIs.
Another way to move an App's windows is through Applescript.
This little script will move a Firefox window over and down by 10 pixels:
You can save the script as an App, or embed the script as part of your own App. Either way, it'll let you control another App's window.
This little script will move a Firefox window over and down by 10 pixels:
Code:
set appname to "Firefox"
tell application appname to set nam to name of front window
tell application appname to set boundsrect to bounds of window nam
set newbds to {(item 1 of boundsrect) + 10, (item 2 of boundsrect) + 10, (item 3 of boundsrect) + 10, (item 4 of boundsrect) + 10}
tell application appname to set bounds of window nam to newbds
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That's what I meant: Although there are plenty of apps which control windows there's no official API to do this.
Some months ago I looked for even this API as well. But do you know one? I don't do.
And the Accessibility APIs are really limited in their functionality. There aren't a lot of ways to do this you want.
Nevertheless, never stop searching. I hope you'll find what you're looking for.
Linus
Incidentally, that bit of AppleScript doesn't need "access for assistive devices" enabled in order to work.
It'll move Pages documents too, and likely the windows of the majority of Mac Applications.
The capability's been part of the OS since the mid nineties. Lion hasn't changed it much, except that you can now use XCode and Obj c to make a wrapper application for your scripts. You can do the same with Python and Ruby Scripts.
It'll move Pages documents too, and likely the windows of the majority of Mac Applications.
The capability's been part of the OS since the mid nineties. Lion hasn't changed it much, except that you can now use XCode and Obj c to make a wrapper application for your scripts. You can do the same with Python and Ruby Scripts.