Valeria Maria Tafel 

Valeria Maria Tafel said:

I'm in trouble again with the F&R window that remains stuck on top of any page in my PC. Could be after the last Trados update?

From my point of view, this is the desired behaviour…

I’ve checked it works like that in the following versions:

Trados Studio 2022 SR2, 17.2.11.19134
Trados Studio 2024, 18.0.2.3255

Valeria Maria Tafel said:

my antivirus is telling me that the script has a virus.

If you downloaded AutoHotkey from the real AutoHotkey page, you can add AutoHotkey to the white list of your antivirus software.

I don't know which AutoHotkey code you tried. I’ve tried mine, and it works, but yours may be different. Could you please ensure that script is running in your PC and if so, post it here?

Hi Jesus, I doubt that having Trados' Find & Replace window on top of Google or any other program that is not Trados could be considered a "desired behavior" by any translator. What would the purpose be? If I want to exit the Trados view for any reason, I will not need to have the Trados F&R window as top view in the other pages (any Google tab, Word, Acrobat...), am I wrong?
Anyway, I re-copied and re-pasted the last script Paul Filkin gave me months ago, which mostly (but not 100% of times) solved the problem, but the egocentric F&R window is always there!

I think at this point I should restart from scratch because I am not finding it anymore...

Valeria Maria Tafel 

Valeria Maria Tafel said:

I think at this point I should restart from scratch because I am not finding it anymore...

If I recall we put that in your windows start up folder so it's always available.  It's probably accessible through your task bar as well.

Following this:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

I arrive at Programs and then there is no folder called Startup or Avvio... ???

And if you mean that I should see the green H icon in the bottom of my screen, no - I can't.

Also, since my antivirus said that the script contained a virus, I quarantined it, as required. So now I am totally lost :-(((

Valeria Maria Tafel 

Valeria Maria Tafel said:

Following this:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

I arrive at Programs and then there is no folder called Startup or Avvio... ???

I guess it might be here:

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Menu Avvio\Programmi\Esecuzione automatica

But if you really cannot find this folder then try to use shell:startup which you do like this:

• Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter.
• This should open the correct Startup folder, regardless of language settings.

Valeria Maria Tafel said:

Also, since my antivirus said that the script contained a virus, I quarantined it, as required.

I can understand why you might do that, but it's highly unlikely that the AHK script you have contains a virus.  I reckon it's more a problem related to your Antivirus software getting a bit excited, and in this case it was probably best ignored!

If you can't find the scrip then simply open your text editor, copy the script into it and save it as find_replace.ahk into your startup folder.  Double click it to get in running now and see if this solves your problem?  If you get an Antivirus warning then you know that this is probably a false positive.  You might be able to resolve that by white listing the script in your Antivirus software.

Thank you for your clear instructions, Paul. However, I had reached the "Esecuzione automatica" folder, but it was empty.
Now I recovered the script file from the antivirus, but I cannot put it back (as a .txt file) in that folder or in AutoHotkey either... I created the file anew with the script inside, but it cannbot be saved anywhere! When I try to save, the command is simply not executed. That is quite strange, isn't it? How can this be solved?

Valeria Maria Tafel 

Try saving the file to your desktop first so you have the file... and save it with the .ahk extension, not as a .txt file.  Once you've done that try to simply copy the file into your startup location.  If you cannot do that then it could be due to at least these reasons:

1. The Startup folder is a protected system directory, and writing to it might require admin privileges.  So make sure you are running with admin rights.
2. Windows Ransomware Protection (under Windows Security) includes Controlled Folder Access, which may block unauthorised programs from making changes to system folders like Startup.  Check in Windows Security -> Virus & threat protection -> Ransomware protection if this feature is enabled.
3. Some third-party antivirus programs block unauthorised modifications to startup folders to prevent malware persistence.  Your antivirus software may need to be configured to allow changes to the Startup folder.

Based on what you've said so far my money would be on what seems rather aggressive Antivirus settings.

Thanks, Paul. Resolved!!

Paul Filkin 
Hi Paul, I am really sorry to bother you again, but I am just realizing that, while the F&R window does no longer stay on top when I exit Trados, it's having the other problem I had months ago, namely that the Ctrl+H control does not open the Replace window directly, but only the Find window first and then I have to click again on the Replace tab to get that other option.
I am afraid that I copied an older version of the script, as I remember you gave me 2 or 3 options along our discussions months ago. 
So my question is: do you happen to have the full version (that resolves both problems) at hand?
The one I have entered now is below. Can you check if it's the correct one?

;------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Ensure "Find and Replace" window is always on top when Trados Studio is active
; and not always on top when Trados Studio is not active
;------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

#HotIf WinActive("ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")

$^f:: triggerFindAndReplace()
$^h:: triggerFindAndReplace()

triggerFindAndReplace() {
    find := "Find and Replace" ; Window title of the Find and Replace window
    Send '^f'
    If WinWaitActive(find, "", 2) {
        WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, find) ; Use 1 for On
;        SoundBeep(1500)
    }
}

; Check the active window every 100 milliseconds
SetTimer CheckActiveWindow, 100

CheckActiveWindow() {
    find := "Find and Replace"
    activeWin := WinExist("A")

    if activeWin and WinActive("ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
        if WinExist(find) {
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, find) ; Turn on always on top if Trados Studio is active
        }
    } else {
        if WinExist(find) {
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(0, find) ; Turn off always on top if Trados Studio is not active
        }
    }
}

#HotIf

Valeria Maria Tafel 

To be honest I didn't keep track of this.  So here's the one I have running in my own AHK... perhaps this is what you need?

;------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Ensure "Find and Replace" window is always on top when Trados Studio is active
; and not always on top when Trados Studio is not active
;------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

global isOnTop := false

$^f:: triggerFindOrReplace("Find")
$^h:: triggerFindOrReplace("Replace")

triggerFindOrReplace(action) {
    global isOnTop
    findTitle := "Find and Replace"

    if (action = "Find") {
        Send '^f'
    } else if (action = "Replace") {
        Send '^h'
    }

    If WinWaitActive(findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe", "", 2) {
        ; Ensure Always on Top when the window is active in Studio
        if !isOnTop {
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")
            isOnTop := true
        }
    }
}

; Check the active window every 100 milliseconds
SetTimer(CheckActiveWindow, 100)

CheckActiveWindow() {
    global isOnTop
    findTitle := "Find and Replace"

    if WinActive("ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
        if WinExist(findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
            if !isOnTop {
                WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")
                isOnTop := true
            }
        }
    } else {
        ; If Trados Studio is not active, remove the Always on Top status
        if isOnTop and WinExist(findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(0, findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")
            isOnTop := false
        }
    }
}

Valeria Maria Tafel 

To be honest I didn't keep track of this.  So here's the one I have running in my own AHK... perhaps this is what you need?

;------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Ensure "Find and Replace" window is always on top when Trados Studio is active
; and not always on top when Trados Studio is not active
;------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

global isOnTop := false

$^f:: triggerFindOrReplace("Find")
$^h:: triggerFindOrReplace("Replace")

triggerFindOrReplace(action) {
    global isOnTop
    findTitle := "Find and Replace"

    if (action = "Find") {
        Send '^f'
    } else if (action = "Replace") {
        Send '^h'
    }

    If WinWaitActive(findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe", "", 2) {
        ; Ensure Always on Top when the window is active in Studio
        if !isOnTop {
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")
            isOnTop := true
        }
    }
}

; Check the active window every 100 milliseconds
SetTimer(CheckActiveWindow, 100)

CheckActiveWindow() {
    global isOnTop
    findTitle := "Find and Replace"

    if WinActive("ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
        if WinExist(findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
            if !isOnTop {
                WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")
                isOnTop := true
            }
        }
    } else {
        ; If Trados Studio is not active, remove the Always on Top status
        if isOnTop and WinExist(findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe") {
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(0, findTitle " ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe")
            isOnTop := false
        }
    }
}

ahah Paul Filkin, you are asking ME? I don't know what "I need" - I am not the technician! I will try it... the Find & Replace window occasionally still remains on top when I open pages outside Trados even with the last script... it's an endless story. I wonder why - I had never had this issue before, in decades of Trados use... :-(((

Paul I tried this one too, but the problems remain:
1- When I press Ctrl+H, the window that opens up is the Find window, not the Replace one:

2. If I click on the symbol on the right of the "Find what:" line to get previous insertions, the command does not work (it flips away without staying, thus preventing me to fix it or write in it)

3. Strangely enough, the F&R window still remains on top of Google or Word NOW AND THEN. This is really weird, isn't it? If the script is activated upon starting the PC, why should this change during the same work session?

I keep wondering what has gone wrong with the programming of version 2022/24, as I never had these problems with ALL the previous Trados versions, since the dongle times! Can some programmer resolve this once and for all, with a patch maybe?

And, for the moment, can you create another script that solves all these problems?

Thank you in advance!

Paul Filkin  Hi Paul, did you have a chance to see my message?

Valeria Maria Tafel 

Yes... I have seen your message.  I just tested on my own machine and this same script is still working as well as it can.  So, I had a play using a new AI tool I'm finding to be pretty good at AHK scripting and this one also works for me, but perhaps will be better in your circumstances:

;------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Ensure "Find and Replace" window is always on top when Trados Studio is active
; and not always on top when Trados Studio is not active. New Version 2.0
;------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

; Global variable to track the "Always on Top" state
global isOnTop := false
global findTitle := "Find and Replace"

; Hotkeys for triggering Find or Replace
$^f:: TriggerFindOrReplace("Find")
$^h:: TriggerFindOrReplace("Replace")

TriggerFindOrReplace(action) {
    global isOnTop, findTitle
    static studioExe := "ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe"

    ; Send the appropriate hotkey
    Send (action = "Find") ? "^f" : "^h"

    ; Wait for the Find and Replace window to appear, with error handling
    try {
        if WinWaitActive(findTitle " " studioExe, "", 2) {
            if !isOnTop {
                WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, "A")  ; Use "A" for active window
                isOnTop := true
            }
        }
    } catch {
        ; Optionally log failure or silently fail
        return
    }
}

; Timer to monitor active window state
SetTimer(CheckActiveWindow, 100)

CheckActiveWindow() {
    global isOnTop, findTitle
    static studioExe := "ahk_exe SDLTradosStudio.exe"

    try {
        ; Check if Trados Studio is the active application
        if WinActive(studioExe) {
            if WinExist(findTitle " " studioExe) && !isOnTop {
                WinSetAlwaysOnTop(1, findTitle " " studioExe)
                isOnTop := true
            }
        } else if isOnTop && WinExist(findTitle " " studioExe) {
            ; Remove Always on Top when Trados Studio is not active
            WinSetAlwaysOnTop(0, findTitle " " studioExe)
            isOnTop := false
        }
    } catch as e {
        ; Handle potential errors gracefully (e.g., window not found)
        isOnTop := false  ; Reset state to avoid stale flags
    }
}

; Graceful exit handler
#SingleInstance Force
OnExit((*) => (SetTimer(CheckActiveWindow, 0)))  ; Stop timer on exit

Give that a try and see if it works better for you?

Hi Paul, I replaced the old script with this last one you sent me, but the problem is not solved. Not the "on top" issue - that one is ok -

but the other issue: when I click Ctrl+H I should obtain the REPLACE window (not the Find, which is Ctrl+F) 

AND
in any of the two (Find or Replace) I cannot view the list of the previous entries by clicking with the mouse on the right end of the writing line.

The line just flips away and the former entry does not stay, obliging me to retype them each time! 

That is a great nuisance, because I use the Find and Replace functions a lot while working.

And the thing that disturbs me most is that I had never had this problem before - before the 2022/24 version, I mean.

Can this be resolved once and for all? It is important for me. Thank you.

Paul Filkin 
And another strange thing that happens is that each time I start my PC, the script page is automatically opened in the Notepad with the booting process and I have to close it down each time. This also did not happen before... is there a possibility to exit from this tunnel?

 Valeria Maria Tafel 

It sounds to me as though you saved the file in your startup folder with a txt extension… something like that but not .ahk

I entered this file name:
Paul Filkin script dated 6 March 25.ahk

 Valeria Maria Tafel 

in that case check that you didn’t associate the ahk extension with notepad.  I can’t recall the exact way to check that but hit the windows key and type “file association” and then make sure that ahk is associated with AutoHotKey.

I re-saved it and now the Replace window issue seems to be solved - if I select Ctrl+F, the Replace window is opened.

But the other problem remains (if I click to select previous entries, the dropdown manu does not stay, it "flips away" quickly

preventing me from writing in it.