Trouble sending Ctrl+key via ControlSend to an inactive Chrome window

[BakedCakes]

I'm trying to send Ctrl+PgUp to an inactive Chrome window (this key combination switches to a previous tab), but it works only if the window is active, it doesn't work with an inactive window:

ControlSend("New Tab - Google Chrome", "", "[CLASS:Chrome_RenderWidgetHostHWND]", "^{PGUP}")

 

[BakedCakes]

Anyone able to send Ctrl+PgUp to an inactive Chrome window?

Some observations as I played around with Notepad to see if it's perhaps something Chrome-specific:

• ControlSend ^{PGUP} works only on an active Chrome window
• ControlSend ^v (the paste shortcut) works only on an active Notepad window
• ControlSend {DEL} works on both active and inactive Notepad window
• ControlSend "foobar" works on both active and inactive Notepad window

So it would seem like it's not Chrome-specific and that ControlSend can't send Ctrl sequences to inactive windows?

For the reference, I'm running up to date Windows 10 21H2 19044.1889 and using the latest AutoIt v3.3.16.0.

[BakedCakes]

Bump. Still need help with this.

[genius257]

Hi @BakedCakes.

A quick google search led me to AHK forum where another person had same troubles.

It seems it's a limitation with chrome, that it does not accept keys sent while inactive, explained here.

So you would need to use a WebDriver based solution or Temporarily activate the window while interacting with the window.

[BakedCakes]

Thanks. I was hoping that I'm missing something obvious or making a mistake, instead of Chrome outright not accepting input when inactive, but the lack of replies in this thread and then your post do seem to hint on the latter being the case. Auto-focusing it is then.

Edited September 16, 2022 by BakedCakes