Google Sidebar Hotkey Activation

Thu, Aug 25, 2005 I like the new Google Desktop with the sidebar. It shares similarities with Konfabulator, recently bought by yahoo. They both allow easy access to some custom little widgets that I would call "active". They are active because they are refreshed periodically with new information (processor usage, news, scratch pad, emails, etc). But while Konfabulator choose to emphasize on visual effects, Google prefers a more standard information presentation. This shows as well in their choice of technologies:

• Google Sidebar plug-ins are just Windows appz that can take advantage of Google Interfaces. That makes them quite powerful in theory, but programming them is less accessible.
  
• Konfabulator plug-ins are Javascript+XML, the Javascript is not just regular client-side javascript, it can use Konfabulator API (containing many effect and rudimentary network access), and COM objects . That makes them very focused on presentation, and the Internet.

In the long run, Google choice makes sense, the forthcoming Avalon will make visual effects very accessible to windows developers.

Now back to the subject, I missed the 'activation on hotkey' feature from Konfabulator for the Google Sidebar. Fortunately, I a have found a powerful little open-source program, Autohotkey, that allowed me to do that very quickly. Here is the script I use (it's a hack since it relies on toolbar size (but not position), but I like the default position and it works (only using floating deskbar, i let you figure out for the non floating version)):
F12::
MouseGetPos, X, Y
if WinExist("ahk_class _GD_Sidebar")
{
WinActivate
BlockInput,On
MouseClick, left, 160, 16
MouseMove, X,Y
BlockInput,Off
return
}
else if WinExist("ahk_class ATL:0044A4C8")
{
WinActivate
BlockInput,On
MouseClick, left, 158, 16
MouseMove, X,Y
BlockInput,Off
return
}