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Chiranjeev34789563zw0r
Participating Frequently
August 25, 2025
Answered

How to check if the timeline window is active?

  • August 25, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 1133 views

I'm working on a Premiere Pro extension,
I want the extension to check if the timeline panel is active, then execute a code.
Is there a way to achieve this?

    Correct answer Tom_edit

    @Tom_edit You're right, I'm looking for a way to determine when the timeline panel is in focus. 

    @bbb_999 Using the Window Spy tool in AHK, I can see that it can detect Focus within Premiere Pro panels. Different panels have different ClassNN ID, and for my timeline it says Droverlord - Window Class 15.


    Is there a way to check the ClassNN ID of the current panel?
    Are there any other methods in the QE API for achieving what I want? 



    the classNN value will change constantly; whether that be just randomly one day on reboot, anytime you adjust your layout slightly, etc. It's not really a reliable value when it comes to scripting premiere unfortunately.

    I haven't found any simple way to determine timeline focus myself - personally I use the UIA.ahk library to determine the coordinates of the timeline once (as it's more reliable when it comes to determining them than using classNN values for whatever reason) and store that in a class, then check the timeline coordinates for the blue focus outline anytime I need to. It's the only reliable way I've found, but even then it falls victim to needing a reload anytime you adjust your layout (but idk I don't move my timeline all that often anyway personally but I know some might) and also requires you to pre-set your hotkey to focus the window to get the coordinates to start with.

    By all means not a clean method but the cleanest I've found so far in the last couple of years

    1 reply

    bbb_999
    Community Manager
    bbb_999Community Manager
    Community Manager
    August 25, 2025

    You'll want to check for an active sequence; PProPanel shows how.

     

    T
    Tom_edit
    Inspiring
    August 25, 2025

    This doesn't determine if the timeline window is active or not at all though? it determines if any sequence is simply open. This returns true regardless of what panel is currently in focus.

     

    Maybe I misinterpret OP, but to me it reads that they want to determine when the timeline panel has active focus as a lot of things in premiere require it

      bbb_999
      Community Manager
      bbb_999Community Manager
      Community Manager
      August 25, 2025

      >it determines if any sequence is simply open.


      Not so! It's possible to have several sequences (timeline panels) open, and even to have empty timeline panels; it is not possible for more than one sequence to be active. 

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