Start Win8 Metro (start screen) on 2nd monitor

[Gambler71]

Firstly, I am not a programmer, but my code works, however, it visually appears messy as the metro app that I call will start on monitor 1, then move to monitor 2.

Also, depending upon the speed of the machine (I tested my script on another computer that was slower) I have to adjust the second sleep parameter.

#NotrayIcon

Local $_MyName = "Facebook"

Send("{RWIN} " & $_MyName)
Sleep(1)
Send("{ENTER}")
Sleep(1000)
Send('{SHIFTDOWN}{LWINDOWN}{RIGHT}{LWINUP}{SHIFTUP}')

What I am trying to achieve:

1. start apps from the desktop

2. make them display on a specific monitor without starting on the primary monitor first

I think it must be able to be done, as when I start metro from the charms menu of a specific monitor, it always displays metro on that monitor straight away.

NOTE: you can change $_MyName = "Facebook" to any app name, eg $_MyName = "Store" or $_MyName = "Digital Table Clock"

NOTE2: if you remove the bottom 2 lines of code you can start any app from the desktop onto the primary monitor

[Gambler71]

I am so stupid, it is still a simulate button trick, but I figured it out. Anyway, here is my final code:

expandcollapse popup

#NotrayIcon

Local $_MyName

If ($CmdLine[0]=1) Then
        ;for making a desktop shortcut to a compiled version of this script
    $_MyName = $CmdLine[1]
Else
        ;incase no command line parameter use file name
    $_MyName = @ScriptName
    If (StringCompare(StringRight($_MyName, 4), '.au3')=0) Then
        $_MyName = StringReplace($_MyName, '.au3', '', -1)
    ElseIf (StringCompare(StringRight($_MyName, 4), '.exe')=0) Then
        $_MyName = StringReplace($_MyName, '.exe', '', -1)
    EndIf
EndIf

Send("{RWIN}")
Sleep(0)
Send('{SHIFTDOWN}{LWINDOWN}{RIGHT}{LWINUP}{SHIFTUP}')
Sleep(0)
Send($_MyName)
Sleep(1)
Send("{ENTER}")


#cs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 AutoIt Version: 3.3.10.2
#ce ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Region AutoIt3Wrapper directives section
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Icon=Mordern UI Apps 2 Desktop mon2.ico
#AutoIt3Wrapper_UseX64=n
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_Comment=Mordern UI Apps 2 Desktop mon2
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_Description=Mordern UI Apps 2 Desktop mon2
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_Fileversion=1.0.0.0
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_ProductVersion=1.0.0.0
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_LegalCopyright=Gambler71
#EndRegion

You will notice that this version is slightly different from the first script. Here, I have tried to make a script that I can make a shortcut to, instead of having a whole heap of scripts. You may compile it or just rename the .au3 file (to the "app name.au3").

E.g. assuming you put the .exe file in the following directory "C:Modern UI Apps" then the following would be an example desktop shortcut:

‪‪‪"C:Modern UI AppsMordern UI Apps 2 Desktop mon2.exe" "Skype"

include quotes. Change Skype to the full name of any app as it appears in metro.

All you need is some icons which are easy to get a hold of or make, and you are in business.

I do not mind if people wish to copy this code, but please credit me inside your script.

NOTE: I have the UAC turned down to the lowest part of the slide bar, but I did not do the registry trick to turn it off.

NOTE2: My au3 file was called "Mordern UI Apps 2 Desktop mon2.au3" with my icon being called "Mordern UI Apps 2 Desktop mon2.ico"

NOTE3: My computer is pretty fast so if you have a slowish machine and have some problems, try changing the sleep times to 10 or more.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Gambler71

[FireFox]

FYI, Sleep cannot take a value under 10 ms.

[BrewManNH]

Sleep(0) is a special case. Also, it's not good practice to use it unless you don't mind having your CPU cooked.

Also, you can set sleep to under 10, it just won't make any difference if you do.

[FireFox]

Good catch, and any negative number is treated as 0 in autoit.

Edited March 8, 2014 by FireFox