Just wondering if anyone knows of a way to do this?

Here’s my use case in more detail

I have a laptop and a PC, with the laptop connecting to one of my 2 monitors via an HDMI splitter. This allows me to use my PC on both screens most of the time, but then quickly switch one monitor to show the laptop, when required.

Only thing is that doing that causes all PC windows* on Screen 2 to jump to Screen 1, while Screen 2 now shows the laptop’s windows. That’s fine, and I get why it does that (effectively the PC thinks I’ve disconnected Screen 2).

* (usually it’s a bunch of Chrome windows, 5-7 of them - for work/multi-client reasons this works best for me and my PC handles it fine)

When I switch the HDMI splitter back, all PC windows remain on Screen 1, while Screen 2 is once again showing my PC desktop, but with no windows. Ideally all windows would flip back to where they were before, but I don’t think there’s a way to do this, and again, that’s fine.

My next preferred option is to be able to able to move all Chrome windows over from Screen 1 to Screen 2 quickly - and this is what I’m looking for advice on. I can’t seem to find a way to “select” all/multiple Chrome windows and shift them to Screen 2, but it feels like there must be a way?

Any help greatly appreciated :-)

    • spacemoss@lemmy.world
      3·
      3 months ago

      I too will have to checkout TAN.

      I can say from experience that power toys fancy zones is really cool and I recommend it but it doesn’t move the windows back. Some programs also refuse to snap to them (voicemeter) or completly disregards the zones on startup(Spotify).

    • Mbourgon everywhere@lemmy.world
      3·
      3 months ago

      I’ve been using persistent windows for the same reason, and it does t seem to play well with multiple browser windows on multiple screens. Just FYI

    • SanguinePar@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      3 months ago

      Cool, thanks. I already use Power Toys, and had hoped it might have something, but sadly not.

      Will check out those other two though, thanks a lot 👍

  • spacemoss@lemmy.world
    1·
    3 months ago

    This is all based on a vague memory of a fever dream from years ago but…

    *In windows you have two options for window placment: keep windows on active screens or don’t do anything. *You can move windows around with shift+win+arrow keys. *AutoIT and Auto Hotkey programs can identify individual windows. I would bet that they can also read if a monitor is on or off.

    Write a script that check whether a monitor is on or off then move the identified windows. There are tons of tutorials for both AutoIT and Auto Hotkey out there and I’m sure someone has already implemented exactly what you are looking for.

    • SanguinePar@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      3 months ago

      Thanks for the advice - writing scripts is a bit outside my wheelhouse, but hell, maybe I’ve just never had a reason to learn, if someone hasn’t already. Much appreciated, cheers 👍