I like many, find myself alt tabbing out of game a lot for very simple things. I only have 1 Ultrawide monitor attached to my PC currently. No aux monitor to throw things up on and leave up and work off of.
For instance I want to do an explorer run for HMC/TWW/ELW. (Road to Riches) I accomplish this with little work via Voice Attack commands, but found myself constantly alt-tabbing to get the next hop and trying to see how many ls away the next planet was I needed to scan in that system.
These tools are not specific to Elite and not limited to web browsers, but I figured I would share my use case and allow anyone else to make best use of a single monitor if they don't enjoy alt tabbing out constantly.
Tools:
Google Chrome with Desktop Applet: saved for no browser bars and minimal view. (This was perfect for the route plotter since its the only site I am going to use for my exploring.
Turbo Top - Will keep the windows you select always on top.
See Through Windows - Enables opacity on any window (transparency)
I am using road to riches from http://edtools.ddns.net
I did not want to have to edit my own chrome settings(remove bookmarks bar and address bar) each time I wanted to run this in order to create a minimalist approach. Google made it simple you can save any page as a desktop app and load it up every time it will just give you a window with the webpage displayed.
Please Note: I am not 100% sure if this works in full screen mode (Elite Client) as I run in windowed mode for the purpose of jumping into other PCs on my network as well as to be able to interact with other windows on my screen.
Google Desktop App instructions:
1. Navigate to your destination page: http://edtools.ddns.net/expl.php (Road to riches)
2. Click on the Triple dot menu icon on the far right of chrome broswer
3. Click More Tools...
4. Add to Desktop...
5. Name accordingly and ensure the check box is selected for open in window.
You will now have a direct link with a minimal browser pane to load your routes.
6. Open the new desktop icon created by chrome.
Here is what the window looks like after you launch it from the desktop:
► Show Spoiler
Turbo Top - Enables you to keep ANY window in site above Elite
I am still new here and not sure on the rules for external links, so I will be cautious and just say that you can google Turbo Top and grab that down. The website where it is from is very old looking, but I vouch for this program as I have been using it for years in multiple places. Especially for Kodi to keep it in foreground on my HTPC. (Other apps periodically attempt to jump in front and that really kills me, then I have to get up and fix it)
1. Install Turbo Top.
2. Run it and go down to the system tray, right click the icon and choose which apps you want to stay always on top.
Note: when I got this up and running on my new windows install I had already opened the route window before installing. The product did not seem to be able to engage always on top. I closed the google chrome desktop pane and then re-opened it and then Turbo Top was able to engage always on top on that window.
If you GET STUCK! For instance you cannot get out of an app. Hit Windows key + D (This will bring you to Desktop so you can go and toggle off the turbo top window)
See Through Windows - Enables transparency on windows
1. Install See Through Windows.
2. Open the menu from the system tray.
3. Select your hotkey (I use Ctrl+Shift-Z) This will engage the transparency on the current active window.
4. Choose transparency window setting to your liking. (I have mine around 50%)
5. Select the Chrome desktop applet you have open and activate the transparency on that active window.
Move the window where you want it to enable you to still play.
Note: If you want to click into the web browser page be sure to UNCHECK the Make window 'Click-Through' option in See Through Windows.
Here is an example of how it looks on my system:
► Show Spoiler
I hope this has been helpful to someone,
-Wooleyx64