Tips & Tricks: One button Alt+Tab chord config

[kaliapaimen]

I've learned so much about inuitive configs and little tricks by reading this and other SC related forums so I've decided to bring something to the community in return. I'm one of those guys who loves to fiddle with configs and I can admit, it gives me some level of satisfaction when I come up with a nice idea for config and being able to make it work perfectly. Now let's get to the point:

Valve has it's own idea of alt+tabbing in default chord config: "Steam button + Start" toggles Alt and Tab and grips are used to scroll between windows. Releasing Steam button or pressing Start again selects highlighted window.

While this is easy to use and absolutely working method, it takes 3 buttons from the chord config to be able to use alt+tab effectively. I've tried to achieve this same effect with only one button and after the "Always On Binding" update in beta client I was finally able to do this.

In this example I use "Steam button + Y" to open the app selector, "Y" again to scroll windows, release Steam button to select. Kinda like "Steam button" would be Alt and "Y" would be Tab so holding the Steam button keeps the app selector open.

1. Open chord config in configurator. Create layer "AltTab".
2. In default layer, bind "Add layer: AltTab" to Y-button.
3. In AltTab layer, create these activators for Always On binding:
- Start press: "Remove layer: AltTab"
- Regular press: "LAlt" start delay 2 ticks to the right.
4. In AltTab layer, bind "Tab" to Y-button, start delay 2 ticks.
5. Enjoy!

Note that there's a very rare case (a bug?) where turning the controller off by chord sometimes leaves the AltTab layer active so Steam is holding Alt even the controller is turned off. I don't really why and how this is happening but I just wanted to make sure you're aware of that if you wanna try this config. Like I said, it's very rare and turning the controller on and off again releases the stuck layer.

[cammelspit]

Can I make a suggestion? Try switching ALT to the Super key, or WIN key. Allows me to handle the W10 multiple desktops of which I almost always have three. One desktop for my main game, one with a Virtual Machine running Linux under a VPN for stuff, and one with my security cameras. It usually works great. :P

[kaliapaimen]

Originally posted by cammelspit:

Can I make a suggestion? Try switching ALT to the Super key, or WIN key. Allows me to handle the W10 multiple desktops of which I almost always have three. One desktop for my main game, one with a Virtual Machine running Linux under a VPN for stuff, and one with my security cameras. It usually works great. :P

Good one too, I have Win+Tab bound in desktop config and all the other important multiple desktops management shortcuts too. Win+Tab combo doesn't change active window when you spam Tab so I prefer Alt+Tab for this one, after all, my goal was to make alt+tabbing as simple but also practical as possible.

[Aeroxima]

I've been messing with this thing for hours, I didn't think I'd get alt tabbing to work. This worked but it's hurting my head understanding what's actually happening here. Maybe I've just been staring at this too long...

[K4Z1]

what is a layer...

[Grief]

Thanks for this instruction, tookue, it works like a charm. However while I am a programmer by a profession, I cannot understand how does it work. First of all, what's the purpose of the delays? It works fine without them as far as I can see. Secondly, what makes it to behave like 'alt' is holding? AltTab layer is automatically removed as soon as it added, so why does it keep alt holding?

[Corgana]

Thanks, this technically works but when I do this my overlay no longer works when pressing guide button. Any tips?