Select track of current focused FX window even if does not already have a fx insert!

[Cloudswim]

Hi, so I set some vst fx to shortcut actions in Reaper so I can insert more quickly without going through the fx browser.

I would like to insert FX directly to the track when its FX window is open. I might have two FX windows open and it would be convenient to just add FX to the FX WINDOW. that is currently in focus.

[foxAsteria]

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. You can't have a floating fx window for an fx that doesn't exist yet. Why even click the fx button if you have shortcuts set? Just select the track and use the shortcut.

If you want clicking buttons on the TCP to select the track, that's in prefs/editing behavior/mouse/mouse click...changes track selection but it's all or nothing. I don't like this behavior because I never want to change track selection when I'm clicking the mute button, for example.

[Cloudswim]

Originally Posted by foxAsteria

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. You can't have a floating fx window for an fx that doesn't exist yet. Why even click the fx button if you have shortcuts set? Just select the track and use the shortcut.

If you want clicking buttons on the TCP to select the track, that's in prefs/editing behavior/mouse/mouse click...changes track selection but it's all or nothing. I don't like this behavior because I never want to change track selection when I'm clicking the mute button, for example.

Thanks buddy! That is what I was looking for!

You are also correct that I should click the track and insert, but if I already have a bunch of floating windows on screen its easier for me to just click on the fx button which will be the same gesture to just look for the fx button for all tracks, easier for my brain.

I just find I keep placing plugins on the wrong track for some reason.

Anyways thanks a lot!

[Dex]

Rather than clicking on fx and then your hotkey, why not just click on the track and then your hotkey?

[Cloudswim]

Originally Posted by Dex

Rather than clicking on fx and then your hotkey, why not just click on the track and then your hotkey?

Actually what I would like the track to be selected when the FX window is in focus.

For instance, if I'm working on few tracks and trying out different plugins their FX Window would already be open and it would be convenient to be able to add fx to the FX Window that is in focus. But that is not the case as REAPER will only add fx to the selected track.

I don't really want to go back and forth selecting the track.

[foxAsteria]

Originally Posted by Cloudswim

Actually what I would like the track to be selected when the FX window is in focus.

I had a similar wish and Edgemeal wrote me these scripts. This one has to run in the background to check which track belongs to floating fx, so I add it to my global startup actions.

-- Save track for focused floating FX(Background).lua

local prev, fgw = nil, nil

function Focused()
  fgw = reaper.JS_Window_GetForeground()
  if fgw then
    if prev ~= fgw then
      prev = fgw
      local track_count = reaper.CountTracks(0)-1 
      for i = 0, track_count do
        local track = reaper.GetTrack(0, i)
        local track_fx_count = reaper.TrackFX_GetCount(track)-1
        for j = 0, track_fx_count do
          if fgw == reaper.TrackFX_GetFloatingWindow(track, j) then
            reaper.SetExtState("Edgemeal", "tr_guid", reaper.GetTrackGUID(track), false) 
            goto fini
          end
        end
      end
    end
  end
  ::fini::
  reaper.defer(Focused)
end

Focused()

Then this one can be run to select the track and scroll it into view. Not automatic, but you can assign a shortcut to select the track of the focused fx. I suppose you could combine it with your add fx shortcuts to make it more seamless. If you don't want the view to scroll, you can just take out those two lines.

-- Scroll track into view for last focused floating fx

function Restore(guid)
  local track = reaper.BR_GetMediaTrackByGUID(0, guid)
  if track ~= nil then
    reaper.SetOnlyTrackSelected(track)
    reaper.Main_OnCommand(40913, 0) -- Track: Vertical scroll selected tracks into view
    reaper.SetMixerScroll(track) -- scroll mixer
    return true
  end
end

local guid = reaper.GetExtState("Edgemeal", "tr_guid")
if guid ~= "" then
  if not Restore(guid) then reaper.SetExtState("Edgemeal", "tr_guid", "", false) end
end

[Cloudswim]

Originally Posted by foxAsteria

I had a similar wish and Edgemeal wrote me these scripts. This one has to run in the background to check which track belongs to floating fx, so I add it to my global startup actions.

-- Save track for focused floating FX(Background).lua

local prev, fgw = nil, nil

function Focused()
  fgw = reaper.JS_Window_GetForeground()
  if fgw then
    if prev ~= fgw then
      prev = fgw
      local track_count = reaper.CountTracks(0)-1 
      for i = 0, track_count do
        local track = reaper.GetTrack(0, i)
        local track_fx_count = reaper.TrackFX_GetCount(track)-1
        for j = 0, track_fx_count do
          if fgw == reaper.TrackFX_GetFloatingWindow(track, j) then
            reaper.SetExtState("Edgemeal", "tr_guid", reaper.GetTrackGUID(track), false) 
            goto fini
          end
        end
      end
    end
  end
  ::fini::
  reaper.defer(Focused)
end

Focused()

Then this one can be run to select the track and scroll it into view. Not automatic, but you can assign a shortcut to select the track of the focused fx. I suppose you could combine it with your add fx shortcuts to make it more seamless. If you don't want the view to scroll, you can just take out those two lines.

-- Scroll track into view for last focused floating fx

function Restore(guid)
  local track = reaper.BR_GetMediaTrackByGUID(0, guid)
  if track ~= nil then
    reaper.SetOnlyTrackSelected(track)
    reaper.Main_OnCommand(40913, 0) -- Track: Vertical scroll selected tracks into view
    reaper.SetMixerScroll(track) -- scroll mixer
    return true
  end
end

local guid = reaper.GetExtState("Edgemeal", "tr_guid")
if guid ~= "" then
  if not Restore(guid) then reaper.SetExtState("Edgemeal", "tr_guid", "", false) end
end

Hi thanks!

The first one is greyed out when I try to import into REAPER actions, says cant import for some reason when I tty to drag the LUA file in directly


Second one nothing happens when the action is triggered....

hmm could you help me? thank!

[foxAsteria]

Open actions list, click new action, name the action, paste the code text from here into the black window that appears and hit ctrl+s to save it. Easy peasy.

The second script depends on the first one to be running in the background.

[Cloudswim]

Originally Posted by foxAsteria

Open actions list, click new action, name the action, paste the code text from here into the black window that appears and hit ctrl+s to save it. Easy peasy.

The second script depends on the first one to be running in the background.

hmm its not working for me..

the first one is on in the background and nothing happens when I trigger the 2nd action :-(

[Cloudswim]

https://forums.cockos.com/showthread.php?p=1830901

Found this one , its working for me!

Incase any one needs it in the future!