MyWindow plugin for Take Command / TCC / TCC/LE

beta version 0.99.2 2025-06-26

Charles Dye

Purpose:

This plugin reimplements the ACTIVATE and WINDOW commands to better support Windows Terminal, Console2, and ConEmu; and to add a few new features.

There is also one new function, @MYWINDOW, which returns information about TCC’s window; and some new utility variables and functions to enumerate Windows 10 virtual desktops.

Installation:

To use this plugin, copy MyWindow.dll and CDTrayMgr.exe to some known location on your hard drive. (If you are still using the 32-bit version of Take Command, take MyWindow-x86.dll instead of MyWindow.dll.) Load the .DLL file with a PLUGIN /L command, for example:

plugin /l c:\bin\tcmd\test\mywindow.dll

If you copy these files to a subdirectory named PlugIns within your Take Command program directory, the plugin will be loaded automatically when TCC starts.

Plugin Features:

New Commands:
`ACTIVATE`	`WINDOW`
New Functions:
`@MYWINDOW`	`@VDESK`
New Variables:
`_VDESK`	`_VDESKS`	`_WINTERMEXE`	`_WINTERMVER`

Syntax Note:

The syntax definitions in the following text use these conventions for clarity:

`BOLD CODE`	indicates text which must be typed exactly as shown.
`CODE`	indicates optional text, which may be typed as shown or omitted.
Bold italic	names a required argument; a value must be supplied.
Regular italic	names an optional argument.
ellipsis…	after an argument means that more than one may be given.

Examples are shown in a gray box:

rem This is an example: window center

Some command options take an argument. These are shown with a colon between the option and its argument: /A:arg

If you like, you may substitute an equals sign for the colon: /A=arg This is handy if the arg is a filename, and you want to use tab completion to enter the filename.

Or you can omit the colon: /Aarg

New Commands:

ACTIVATE — Activate a window, and optionally make changes to it.

Syntax:
ACTIVATE /P /R "title" verb "newtitle"

`/P`	match the `"`title`"` against program names
`/R`	return focus to the original foreground window when done
`"`title`"`	the window to activate; required
verb	an action to alter the selected window; you may only give one
`"`newtitle`"`	a new title to rename the window

You must specify a title. You can use wildcards; the first window found with a matching name will be activated. Alternatively, you may use =pid to search for a window belonging to the specified program id. The pid may be in decimal, or hexadecimal with a leading 0x.

If you know the window’s handle, you can also specify that with the syntax HWND==hwnd. Note that there are two equals signs after the HWND. The hwnd may be in decimal, or hexadecimal with a leading 0x. This syntax is not supported by TCC’s ACTIVATE.

The following verbs are supported; you may only use one at a time:

`MIN`		minimize the window (use `RESTORE` bring it back)
`MAX`		maximize the window (use `RESTORE` to return it to its previous size)
`HIDE`		hide the window (use `RESTORE` to make it visible again)
`RESTORE`		restore the window to its normal size and make it visible
`CLOSE`		close the window
`DISABLE`		disable mouse and keyboard input to the window (use `ENABLE` to fix it)
`ENABLE`		re-enable mouse and keyboard input to a window crippled by `DISABLE`
`TOPMOST`		display the window above all non-topmost windows (use `NOTOPMOST` to fix it)
`NOTOPMOST`		make a `TOPMOST` window display normally again
`TOP`		move the window to the front
`BOTTOM`		move the window behind all other windows
`POS=`x`,`y`,`w`,`h		move and resize the window
`POS=`x`,`y	†	move the window to the specified coordinates
`SIZE=`w`,`h	†	resize the window without moving it
`ICON=`file		attempt to extract an icon from file and apply it to the window
`TRANS=`n		set the window transparency; n is 0 (invisible) to 255 (opaque)
`FLASH=`type`,`count		flash the window; args as per FLASHWINFO
`TRAY`		hide the window, and show its icon in the system tray (use `RESTORE` to undo)
`CENTER`		center the window in its current monitor
`ALIGN=`n`,`M	†	align the window relative to a monitor’s edges
`PARK=`vhw`,`M	†	move and resize the window to a monitor’s corner or edge
`INFO`	†	do not activate the window, but display a bunch of information about it

You can use "newtitle" to rename the window. The new title must be quoted; otherwise it will be interpreted as a verb.

In the POS and SIZE verbs, the x and y arguments are signed integers; w and h are unsigned. Any of these may be replaced with an asterisk to keep the current value. For example, POS=*,*,400,150 will resize the window to 400×150 pixels without changing its position.

TRAY mode will only work if (a) TCC is running elevated, and (b) CDTrayMgr.exe is available. You can put CDTrayMgr.exe in the plugin’s directory, in Take Command’s install directory, or in any directory in the search path.

ALIGN=n,M moves the window relative to a monitor. n is required; possible values are:

7: top left	8: top center	9: top right
4: left center	5: center	6: right center
1: bottom left	2: bottom center	3: bottom right

The monitor number M is optional. If is zero or greater than the number of monitors, it defaults to the primary monitor. If you do not specify a monitor number, the window will be aligned on whichever monitor it currently occupies.

PARK=vhw,M moves and resizes the window to a corner or edge of a monitor. The vhw argument has three parts to specify the vertical and horizontal position, and the window’s new width:

v is the vertical position: T for the top half of the monitor, B for the bottom half, or nothing to fill the full height of the monitor.
h is the horizontal position: L for the left side, R for the right side, or M for the middle. This part is required.
w is the width: 1/2 or just /2 for half the width of the monitor; 1/3 or just /3 for one-third; 2/3 for two-thirds; or 1/4 or just /4 for one-fourth of the monitor’s width. If you do not give a width, the default is one-half the monitor’s width.

The monitor number M is optional. If is zero or greater than the number of monitors, it defaults to the primary monitor. If you do not specify a monitor number, the window will be parked on whichever monitor it currently occupies.

• Note: This command has been completely reimplemented to better support Windows Terminal, Console2, and ConEmu.

• Note: The SIZE verb, the POS verb with only two arguments, and the ALIGN, PARK, and INFO verbs, are all incompatible with TCC’s internal ACTIVATE command. To be compatible, use POS with all four arguments, using * for any values you don’t want to change.

The HWND==hwnd syntax is also new, and is not compatible with TCC.

The /P option also is not supported by TCC.

WINDOW — Control TCC’s display window.

Syntax:
WINDOW verb "newtitle"

verb	an action to alter the window; you may only give one
`"`newtitle`"`	a new title to rename the window

`MIN`		minimize the window (use `RESTORE` bring it back)
`MAX`		maximize the window (use `RESTORE` to return it to its previous size)
`HIDE`		hide the window (use `RESTORE` to make it visible again)
`RESTORE`		restore the window to its normal size and make it visible
`TOPMOST`		display the window above all non-topmost windows (use `NOTOPMOST` to fix it)
`NOTOPMOST`		make a `TOPMOST` window display normally again
`TOP`		move the window to the front
`BOTTOM`		move the window behind all other windows
`POS=`x`,`y`,`w`,`h		move and resize the window
`POS=`x`,`y	†	move the window to the specified coordinates
`SIZE=`r`,`c		resize the console screen buffer
`ICON=`file		attempt to extract an icon from file and apply it to the window
`TRANS=`n		set the window transparency; n is 0 (invisible) to 255 (opaque)
`FLASH=`type`,`count		flash the window; args as per FLASHWINFO
`TRAY`		hide the window, and show its icon in the system tray (use `RESTORE` to undo)
`CENTER`		center the window in its current monitor
`ALIGN=`n`,`M	†	align the window relative to a monitor’s edges
`PARK=`vhw`,`M	†	move and resize the window to a monitor’s corner or edge
`DETACH`		detach a Take Command tab to a standalone console window
`VDESKTOP=`id		move TCC’s console window to a different virtual desktop
`INFO`	†	do not activate the window, but display a bunch of information about it
`VDESKLIST`	†	list virtual desktops; does not affect TCC’s window
`TRAYLIST`	†	list windows in the tray, i.e. windows managed by CDTrayMgr.exe.

You can use "newtitle" to rename the window. The new title must be quoted; otherwise it will be interpreted as a verb.

In the POS verb, the x and y arguments are signed integers; w and h are unsigned. Any of these may be replaced with an asterisk to keep the current value. For example, POS=*,*,400,150 will resize the window to 400×150 pixels without changing its position.

In the SIZE verb, r and c are the number of rows and columns for the console screen buffer — both unsigned integers. You cannot make the buffer smaller than the visible viewport. r must also be between 5 and 9999 rows; c must be between 20 and 512 columns.

ALIGN=n,M moves the window relative to a monitor. n is required; possible values are:

7: top left	8: top center	9: top right
4: left center	5: center	6: right center
1: bottom left	2: bottom center	3: bottom right

PARK=vhw,M moves and resizes the window to a corner or edge of a monitor. The vhw argument has three parts to specify the vertical and horizontal position, and the window’s new width:

v is the vertical position: T for the top half of the monitor, B for the bottom half, or nothing to fill the full height of the monitor.
h is the horizontal position: L for the left side, R for the right side, or M for the middle. This part is required.
w is the width: 1/2 or just /2 for half the width of the monitor; 1/3 or just /3 for one-third; 2/3 for two-thirds; or 1/4 or just /4 for one-fourth of the monitor’s width. If you do not give a width, the default is one-half the monitor’s width.

VDESKTOP=id has a very limited usefulness: it can only move TCC’s own console window. It cannot move Take Command’s window, or Windows Terminal’s window, or Console2’s window. It cannot move another program’s console window, e.g. when TCC is a child process of the console window’s owner. It can only move its own window. Sorry. Microsoft’s documented IVirtualDesktopManager API is lame.

The desktop id can be either a number 1 to n for the first, second, third, etc. virtual desktop; or else a name, e.g. VDESKTOP="Desktop 2".

Virtual desktops were introduced in Windows 10; this feature will not work in earlier versions of Windows.

The VDESKLIST and TRAYLIST verbs are mostly for my own use in debugging. I am documenting them on the chance that they might be useful to someone else. VDESKLIST lists Windows 10 virtual desktops; TRAYLIST lists windows currently managed by CDTrayMgr.exe. Neither one does anything to TCC’s window. They just dump info to standard output.

• Note: This command has been completely reimplemented to better support Windows Terminal, Console2, and ConEmu.

• Note: The POS verb with only two arguments, and the ALIGN, INFO, PARK, VDESKLIST, and TRAYLIST verbs, are all incompatible with TCC’s internal WINDOW command. To be compatible, use POS with all four arguments, using * for any value you don’t want to change.

New Functions:

@MYWINDOW — Returns information about TCC’s display window.

Syntax:
%@MYWINDOW[n]

n	which information to return:
	`0` - the window’s handle in hex with a leading `0x`
	`1` - the window’s handle in hex, no leading `0x`
	`2` - the window’s handle in decimal
	`3` - the display window type as an integer
	`4` - the display window type as a string
	`8` - the window’s current title
	`9` - the window’s class name
	`10` - the window’s position, as per `@WINPOS`: top`,`left`,`bottom`,`right
	`11` - the window’s size, as per `@WINSIZE`: height`,`width
	`12` - the window’s size and position, in `POS=` args order: left`,`top`,`width`,`height
	`13` - the window’s current state, as per `@WINSTATE`
	`14` - the window’s state, as a string
	`15` - nonzero if the window is currently in the tray, zero if not
	`16` - the monitor on which the window appears
	`17` - the process ID (PID) of the program that created the window (hex, with a leading `0x`)
	`18` - the thread ID of the thread that created the window (hex, with a leading `0x`)
	`19` - the filename of the program that created the window
	`20` - the name of the window’s virtual desktop
	`21` - the GUID of the window’s virtual desktop
	`22` - the handle of the tray manager’s window, or `0` if it is not loaded

If n is not specified, it defaults to 0.

@VDESK — Returns the name or GUID of a virtual desktop.

Syntax:
%@VDESK[index,info]

index	the number of the virtual desktop; 0-based
info	which info to return:
	`0` - the virtual desktop’s name (default)
	`1` - the virtual desktop’s GUID

This feature requires Windows 10 or later. If virtual desktops are not supported, if index ≥ _VDESKS, or if any error occurs, this function returns an empty string.

If the specified virtual desktop does not have a name, @VDESK returns a default name of “Desktop n”.

for /l %i in ( 0, 1, %@dec[%_vdesks] ) echo %i: %@vdesk[%i] %@vdesk[%i,1]

New Variables:

_VDESK — Returns the name of the current virtual desktop.

Syntax:
%_VDESK

This feature requires Windows 10 or later. If virtual desktops are not supported or any other error occurs, _VDESK returns an empty string.

_VDESKS — Returns the number of virtual desktops found.

Syntax:
%_VDESKS

This feature requires Windows 10 or later. If virtual desktops are not supported or any other error occurs, _VDESKS returns 0.

_WINTERMEXE — Returns the filename used to start Windows Terminal.

Syntax:
%_WINTERMEXE

This feature requires Windows 10 or later. If TCC is not running in Windows Terminal, _WINTERMEXE returns an empty string.

• Note: I may change or remove this variable in a later version.

_WINTERMVER — Returns the version of Windows Terminal.

Syntax:
%_WINTERMVER

The version number will be returned as four values separated by periods.

This feature requires Windows 10 or later. If TCC is not running in Windows Terminal, _WINTERMVER returns 0.

• Note: I may change or remove this variable in a later version.

The Tray Manager:

CDTrayMgr.exe is a separate program which manages icons in the system tray. It’s only needed if you use the TRAY verb in ACTIVATE or WINDOW. The tray manager creates icons in the tray, monitors windows and automatically removes the icons for any which close, and receives messages from its tray icons. When the user double-clicks on one of its tray icons, the tray manager restores the window and removes the icon. CDTrayMgr.exe unloads itself automatically after ten minutes of disuse. A single instance of CDTrayMgr.exe can be shared between multiple shells.

CDTrayMgr.exe needs to run elevated, so TCC must be running elevated for TRAY to work.

You can put CDTrayMgr.exe in the plugin’s directory, in Take Command’s install directory, or in any directory in the search path.

CDTrayMgr.exe’s own tray icon is by popo2021. I found it at https://flaticon.com.

Startup Message:

This plugin displays an informational line when it initializes. The message will be suppressed in transient or pipe shells. You can disable it for all shells by defining an environment variable named NOLOADMSG, for example:

set /e /u noloadmsg=1

Changes:

Version:	Date:	Changes:
0.99.2	2025-06-26	Adds a new `PARK` verb to move and resize a window to a monitor’s corner or edge, all in one swell foop. Changed _wcsupr_s() to CharUpperW() throughout.
0.99.1	2025-04-10	Calls _wintermver() directly, not via ExpandVariables().
0.99.0	2025-04-09	Added `TRAYLIST` to dump windows managed by CDTrayMgr.exe. Documented `VDESKLIST`, which has been there for a while now but never made it into the docs. Added `@MYWINDOW[22]` to return CDTrayMgr.exe’s window, or 0 if it isn’t found. `WINDOW INFO`: Also show version information for the program file, if available.
0.98.9	2024-12-06	Adds `/M`, which attempts to center the mouse on the window (undocumented, and may go bye-bye). Adds `ACTIVATE /P`, which tries to match the “title” against program names.
0.98.8.3	2024-12-03	AW_FindWindowByTitleOrPid(): save the console window’s title before a title search, and restore it afterwards.
0.98.8.2	2024-12-02	`WINDOW TRANS=`n: do not screw up color-key transparency.
0.98.8.1	2024-11-27	Changes to `_WINTERMVER`.
0.98.8	2024-11-26	Bug fixes; minor code and feature improvements.
0.98.7.5	2024-11-25	Added support for window on all vdesktops.
0.98.7.4	2024-11-19	Adds `_WINTERMEXE` and `_WINTERMVER`, on a trial basis. I may change or remove these in a later version. `_WINTERMVER` in particular is a vile, steaming crock of shit.
0.98.7.3	2024-11-13	Adds `WS_EX_NOACTIVATE` to the Horrible window styles. No changes to the code.
0.98.7.2	2024-11-08	Corrrected the value for `PLUGIN_BUFFER_MAX` (it’s really 32K bytes, not 32K characters.) As this define is not currently used anywhere in this plugin, the change does not fix any actual bug.
0.98.7.1	2024-11-01	Added a perfectly Horrible workaround to get the current VDesk guid on Windows 10 systems, where is it not available via the registry. Added `@MYWINDOW[21]` to return the GUID of the window’s current virtual desktop.
0.98.7	2024-10-22	Added `_VDESK`, `_VDESKS`, and `@VDESK`.
0.98.6.1	2024-10-02	ParseInt() now supports octal with a leading `0o`.
0.98.6	2024-09-18	Added `WINDOW VDESKTOP`, only for the very limited case of TCC’s own console window. This will not work for Take Command, Windows Terminal, Console2, etc. windows, or in cases where TCC does not own the console window, e.g. when TCC is a child process of the console window’s owner.
0.98.5.1	2024-09-17	`WINDOW INFO` / `ACTIVATE INFO` now quotes the virtual desktop name. `ALIGN` with no monitor specified now aligns the window on whichever monitor it currently occupies.
0.98.5	2024-09-16	`CENTER` now centers the window on its current monitor (for compatibility with TCC v33). `WINDOW INFO` attempts to display the name of the window’s current virtual desktop, and `@MYWINDOW[20]` tries to return it.
0.98.4.3	2024-08-01	Added an error message for the `VDESKTOP` option. I don’t believe it is possible to make this option work reliably as documented; TCC’s does not work for me. Microsoft’s documented IVirtualDesktopManager is flaccid by design, and the undocumented API seems to change with each new release of Windows.
0.98.4.1	2024-06-07	Added info on the parent/owner window’s position and size to `WINDOW INFO`.
0.98.4	2024-06-07	Bug fix for AW_GetProcessFilename() : compare Windows major version against 10, not zero. Added `@MYWINDOW` modes 17, 18, 19 to return the window’s Process ID, thread ID, and process filename.

Status and Licensing:

Consider this beta software. It may well have issues. Try it at your own risk. If you find a problem, you can report it in the JP Software support forum.

MyWindow is currently licensed only for testing purposes. I may make binaries and source code available under some free license once I consider it ready for use.

Download:

You can download the current version of this plugin from https://charlesdye.net/dl/mywindow.zip.

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