API for windows handles (HWNDs)

[JoyHak]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Proposal

Hello. I am a developer of a utility that collects the paths of active file managers and displays them as Menu. It can be used to send paths between different file managers, to switch the path in the active file dialog.

Does Whim have an API to get the windows from specific workspace? Or their hwnds at least (if it's possible)? Preferably a COM object or legacy messages (WM_COPYDATA, WM_USER etc).

[AutoHotkey Script] 
       |
       | ComObjActive("Whim.WorkspaceManager")
       v
+---------------------------+
| Whim.WorkspaceManager     |
| ProgID: Whim.WorkspaceMgr |
+---------------------------+
         |                  \
         | ActiveWorkspace   | Workspaces.Count
         v                   \
+---------------------------+ 
| IWorkspace (active)     |
| ├── Name: "Workspace 1"   |
| ├── Index: 2              | 
| └── Windows → Collection  |
+---------------------------+
         |
         | Windows.Item(n)
         v
    +------------+    +------------+
    | IWindow #1 |    | IWindow #2 |
    | Title:"A"  |    | Title:"B"  |
    | HWND:0x123 |    | HWND:0x456 |
    | PID:1234   |    | PID:5678   |
    +------------+    +------------+
           |                 |
           +--------+--------+
                    |
                    v
              [ListView GUI]
              Chrome | 0x123 | 1234
              Notes  | 0x456 | 5678

Alternatives

Another quick and most versatile way of communication is to copy all handles into a clipboard. I use this idea extensively in the whole project (and I keep in mind that it may be closed for reading occasionally). Multiple read/copy requests usually take up to 30-50ms which is faster than SendMessage sometimes.

Additional context

• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/902967/what-is-a-windows-handle
• https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/v2/lib/ComObject.htm
• https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/v2/lib/ComObjQuery.htm
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dataxchg/wm-copydata