Easily Change Monitors and Audio Setup?

[bubsy54]

Aside from my cabinet, I want to enjoy HyperSpin on my living room TV by connecting it to my PC

I am running Windows 7 with a dual monitor setup. My graphics card has two DVI ports and an HDMI port. The card also allows audio to be sent through the HDMI.

Even with the three ports, my PC can only extend my desktop onto 2 monitors, which it currently is (using both DVI ports). I intend on connecting my PC to my TV through the HDMI port in order to transfer both video and sound.

While this all works, the problem I am having is that I am wanting my setup to be much less of a hassle (not that it is a big hassle, but enough that it is annoying to do it every single time).

Whenever I want to use HyperSpin on my TV, I am forced to go into Screen Resolution and change my second display to the TV, wait for the image to load up correctly, and quit out of it. I then go to Sound Settings and switch from my PC speakers to HDMI speakers. Finally I am able to startup HyperSpin.

To minimize what I have to do, I created a shortcut on my desktop for the Sound Settings so that I don't have to go through Control Panel. I even downloaded a program called AudioSwitcher which sits in the tray so that I can toggle between the audio settings.

But I wanted to know, if anyone knew of a way to alter the settings that I have said without having to go through all of those steps...I assume autohotkey would be able to do something to the effect that I want, but I am not sure, if so, I am willing to look into creating a script that performs these functions, i just don't know of the limitations of autohotkey.

As I have said, this isn't a major problem but I though I would ask to see if anyone had any insight.

Thanks though for any help.

[BoOgieman]

Aside from my cabinet, I want to enjoy HyperSpin on my living room TV by connecting it to my PC

I am running Windows 7 with a dual monitor setup. My graphics card has two DVI ports and an HDMI port. The card also allows audio to be sent through the HDMI.

Even with the three ports, my PC can only extend my desktop onto 2 monitors, which it currently is (using both DVI ports). I intend on connecting my PC to my TV through the HDMI port in order to transfer both video and sound.

While this all works, the problem I am having is that I am wanting my setup to be much less of a hassle (not that it is a big hassle, but enough that it is annoying to do it every single time).

Whenever I want to use HyperSpin on my TV, I am forced to go into Screen Resolution and change my second display to the TV, wait for the image to load up correctly, and quit out of it. I then go to Sound Settings and switch from my PC speakers to HDMI speakers. Finally I am able to startup HyperSpin.

To minimize what I have to do, I created a shortcut on my desktop for the Sound Settings so that I don't have to go through Control Panel. I even downloaded a program called AudioSwitcher which sits in the tray so that I can toggle between the audio settings.

But I wanted to know, if anyone knew of a way to alter the settings that I have said without having to go through all of those steps...I assume autohotkey would be able to do something to the effect that I want, but I am not sure, if so, I am willing to look into creating a script that performs these functions, i just don't know of the limitations of autohotkey.

As I have said, this isn't a major problem but I though I would ask to see if anyone had any insight.

Thanks though for any help.

Interesting...

Windows 7 has an option to select you video output with the Windows+P key combination.

Would it be an idea to script the windows-P key combination with autohotkey to select the video output?

e.g:

Windows+P,right, right, right, enter

[bubsy54]

Interesting...

Windows 7 has an option to select you video output with the Windows+P key combination.

Would it be an idea to script the windows-P key combination with autohotkey to select the video output?

e.g:

Windows+P,right, right, right, enter

With Windows+P command allows me to select among the two monitors I have, but it will not allow me to deselect monitor 2 and select the TV as the second monitor. But you got me thinking with "Windows+P,right,right,right, enter"

I believe that what I have to do is create a script which opens up the screen resolution settings on Windows 7. The script would then have to navigate through the settings and change the monitors for me.

I'm not too skilled with AHK so I have tried a few things with some results, but not what I am looking for.

I created a God Mode control panel for Windows 7 which allowed me to make a shortcut that takes me directly to the screen resolution settings. Using the properties of the shortcut, I was able to create a quick hotkey (Ctl+Alt+D) which opens this up directly.

Taking it one step further, I tried to do some AHK scripting. I was able to create a hotkey which opens up the screen resolution settings shortcut...which is obviously a very easy thing to do. After that is where I started having problems.

In order to correctly select the monitor, I need to input a numerical value since each monitor is assigned a number. Then I need to send Tabs to automatically move the cursor down to highlight the specific options I need. Once highlighted, I need to input arrow keys which makes the alterations to the options, and finally more tabs to highlight 'OK' and an enter.

As I said, I am not familiar with AHK and am looking into how to auto send keystrokes to perform the necessary steps.

But before I go any further, I would like to know, is what I am doing possible? or am I just wasting my time?

Thanks

[connorsdad]

Hopefully I will be able to help you with this, I have scripts firing off for different emulators to enable both or 1 of my 2 monitors. It should be easy enough to change my script for use with a 3rd monitor. Am I right in thinking you want to click an exe that will switch off your primary + secondary monitors, then output the display to a 3rd monitor ?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[bubsy54]

Hopefully I will be able to help you with this, I have scripts firing off for different emulators to enable both or 1 of my 2 monitors. It should be easy enough to change my script for use with a 3rd monitor. Am I right in thinking you want to click an exe that will switch off your primary + secondary monitors, then output the display to a 3rd monitor ?

Yes, that is exactly what I am looking for.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[connorsdad]

Sorry dude but I've just spent a hour trying to find something for you and didn't find anything.There are loads of ways to switch between monitors in a 2 monitor setup but nothing for 3 monitors. As for the WIN+P thing, that is simple to do in ahk, eg "run C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /internal" switches off the external monitor. You could use "run C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /clone" but this would display it across all 3 monitors. There are ways to suspend the monitors but as soon as you press a key they wake again.

[bubsy54]

Thanks so much for the information. You were actually a huge help in solving my problem. I was able to take what you provided and turned it into something very usable.

I created a very simple script:

NumpadEnter & Numpad1::run C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /extend

NumpadEnter & Numpad0::run C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /internal

NumpadEnter & NumpadAdd::run C:\Arcade\HyperSpin HL 3.0\HyperSpin.exe

NumpadEnter & Numpad3:: run C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Shortcuts\Connect to an external display - Shortcut.lnk

This script makes it much easier to do what I need, it isn't perfect, but at least it simplifies a few steps.

Even though I have three ports on my graphics card, I can only have two monitors active at a given time. I thought this would give me trouble but fortunately Windows/my graphics card works as I need it.

Turning HyperSpin on:

My HDTV is listed as Monitor 1. The two PC monitors are listed as 2 and 3. Under normal use, the HDTV (1) is disabled while the two monitors (2 and 3) are active. With my script, if I press Enter+0 on the Numpad, the monitors are supposed to switch to computer only. Even though the HDTV is disabled (and obviously not the main monitor), the PC sees the HDTV as the main PC monitor since it is monitor 1. Therefore, by pressing Enter+0, my two current monitors turn off and the third monitor turns on and is active.

Once that monitor is active, all I have to do is press Enter and +, and HyperSpin launches.

Going back to PC settings

When I quit HyperSpin, I press Enter + 1 which now extends my display to monitors 1 & 2 (HDTV and PC monitor) and it even sets monitor 2 as the main monitor.

Then I can press Enter + 3 which opens up my External Display settings in which I can then extend to monitor 3 to revert back to my PC setup without Hyperspin. This is the only real problem with my setup since I have to manually select the 3rd monitor rather than have a hotkey that selects it for me.

So starting up HyperSpin is pretty easy since I just have to hit a couple of button combinations to switch monitors and start the application. Getting back to my PC setup is fairly easy with a few button strokes, but requires me to actually select the 3rd monitor in order for my PC to function the way I want it.

Thanks again for all of your help...I think I have solved my problem for now, but will be looking into how to automate the 3rd monitor selection rather than manually selecting it.

*Update*

After tinkering around with the scripts, I realized that I could utilize these lines in a more efficient way

I created a script that I compiled and placed in the Exit Program option of HyperHQ so that it runs as soon as HS closes

This script closes out JoyToKey and runs the 1st and 4th script lines from above. So when I quit HS, the going back to PC settings as I stated before is automated (other than actually selecting the 3rd monitor and extending to it)

I also combined the 2nd and 3rd script lines from above so that when I press Enter + 0, my HDTV kick in and HyperSpin starts after a 3 second delay

I am more than sure that there is a way to incorporate everything I want into a single script, but for now this will do. Now I am on to figuring out how to automate the monitor selection at the end...if that is at all possible.