Window handle for a process?

[Danmilkman]

Hello,

 

I'm trying to access a hidden window which a process started but then minimized to tray. The mainwindowhandle of the process in vb.net becomes 0 so I can't access it anymore by using the API functions. Or am I doing something wrong? Can anybody help me?

 

I'll give an example of what I mean by these questions. When u start MSN Messenger by example it shows the main window. This window can be altered by using the windows API functions like SHOWWINDOW, SETWINDOWPOS and so on. However when you click the close button (X) the window disappears and MSN Messenger stays active in the system tray. How can I access the MSN Messenger window again by using API calls. The mainwindowhandle from de msnmsgr.exe process is 0?

 

Anyone?

 

Thnx.

[VBUser]

Microsoft have stopped the MSN messenger SDK now

 

For the process, you can use GetProcessByName. One you have the process you can then continue

 

Hello,

 

I'm trying to access a hidden window which a process started but then minimized to tray. The mainwindowhandle of the process in vb.net becomes 0 so I can't access it anymore by using the API functions. Or am I doing something wrong? Can anybody help me?

 

I'll give an example of what I mean by these questions. When u start MSN Messenger by example it shows the main window. This window can be altered by using the windows API functions like SHOWWINDOW, SETWINDOWPOS and so on. However when you click the close button (X) the window disappears and MSN Messenger stays active in the system tray. How can I access the MSN Messenger window again by using API calls. The mainwindowhandle from de msnmsgr.exe process is 0?

 

Anyone?

 

Thnx.

[decrypt]

If your saying that when they click the x button your program goes to the system tray this is easy. Do the following code:

 

Setup:

 

First put a NotifyIcon (found in the windows forms menu on the side) and a context menu onto your form.

 

 'now do the following code:
   Private Sub frmMain_Closing(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs) Handles MyBase.Closing
               ' Hide the main form, as a program running as a tray icon doesn't typically 
       ' have a visible form.
       Me.Hide()
       ntfSystemInfo.Visible = True
       ntfSystemInfo.Text = "Chat"
   End Sub
'then
   Private Sub frmMain_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
       ntfSystemInfo.Visible = True
   End Sub
'then when they exit the application using exit on the context menu do this:
       ntfSystemInfo.Visible = False
       'this is so that the thing doesn't stay visible until they have restarted...
'then
   Private Sub ntfSystemInfo_DoubleClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ntfSystemInfo.DoubleClick
       ' When the user double-clicks the tray icon, display the main form again.
       Me.Show()
   End Sub

'set the context menu as the menu on the system tray
'ntfsysteminfo is what the microsoft example used as the notify icon...

I'm not so sure if the form1_closing will work though :/ maybe you can try this:

Dim whentoexit as string
Private Sub ContextMenu_ExitButton(blahblah)
whentoexit = "0"
Me.Close
End Sub

Private Sub Form1_Closing(blah blah,blah)
If whentoexit = "0" Then
Me.Close
Else
Me.Hide()
       ntfSystemInfo.Visible = True
       ntfSystemInfo.Text = "Chat"
End If
End Sub

[VBUser]

My form icon is my NotifyIcon too.

 

This is what I done & it works perfectly!!

 

Create a module & make it the startup

 

Module modStart

 

Public Sub main()

Dim frm As New Form1

frm.ShowInTaskbar = False

frm.Opacity = 0

Application.Run(frm)

frm.Dispose()

End Sub

 

End Module

 

--------------

 

Sub New (form):

 

' Give the form a title

Me.Text = "Your Title"

' Set the icon of the tray control

Tray.Icon = Me.Icon

' Set the text of the tray control to the form's text

Tray.Text = Me.Text

 

 

Form Closing Event():

' Cancel closing the program

e.Cancel = True

' Show the NotifyIcon icon

Tray.Visible = True

' Hide your form

Me.Hide()

 

 

-------------------------------

 

Use this code to show the form:

 

Private Sub ShowForm()

' Check to see if the form is visible

If Not Me.Opacity = 100 Then

' If not, show it in the taskbar

Me.ShowInTaskbar = True

' Make the form visible

Me.Opacity = 100

End If

' Show the form

Me.Visible = True

' Activate it so, its on top of other forms

Me.Activate()

' Remove the NotifyIcon icon

Tray.Visible = False

End Sub

 

---------------------------------------------

 

On double click (Icon (System Tray)):

 

Just call the above sub

 

----------------------------------------------

 

I hope this helps