How it works
- Pick the app or game; it is true while any of its processes is running, in front or in the background.
- For games it also recognizes the real game process behind a launcher, using the game's files and install folder.
- In a Wait until it reacts to the app starting or exiting rather than checking over and over.
- The process it found, and how many there are, are available to later steps; the reason says plainly whether the app is running.
Routines that use it
Only open what's missing
An If checks whether OBS is running before Open app, so a stream setup routine can run twice without surprises.
Wait for a game to close
Wait until the game is no longer running, then Set power plan switches back to Balanced and Restore layout puts your windows back.
Smart shutdown
Before Shut down, an If on a download tool running asks with Ask Yes or No instead of cutting it off.
Good to know
- Links and web addresses can't be checked this way, because they aren't a program KeyRoutines can identify.
Questions
- How do I check if a program is running before doing something?
- Put an If with App is running at the start of the steps that depend on it. The If's "else" branch can open the app first.
- Does it count apps minimized to the tray?
- Yes. It looks at the app's processes, so an app sitting in the tray still counts as running.