Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

[Peter Larsen]

Hi,
I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from it -
so sorry that i am asking again !!

How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the ALT+TAB
menu.

As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window visible in
the running application. I only want one icon.

And please - i'm not talking about the taskbar and/or property
ShowInTaskbar. I already know this and it does not solve my
problem/question.

Thank you in advance.
Peter

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

Peter,

Are you saying you want more than one application instance to run, but
just one icon in the alt-tab list?


--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mvp@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m

"Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:%23YtgcbEG GHA.1088@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..[color=blue]
> Hi,
> I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from
> it - so sorry that i am asking again !!
>
> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the ALT+TAB
> menu.
>
> As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window visible
> in
> the running application. I only want one icon.
>
> And please - i'm not talking about the taskbar and/or property
> ShowInTaskbar. I already know this and it does not solve my
> problem/question.
>
> Thank you in advance.
> Peter
>
>
>[/color]

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

Hi,

"Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:%23YtgcbEG GHA.1088@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..[color=blue]
> Hi,
> I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from
> it - so sorry that i am asking again !![/color]

This is the first time I see it in this NG !
[color=blue]
> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the ALT+TAB
> menu.
>
> As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window visible
> in
> the running application. I only want one icon.
>[/color]

This is what I would do:
1- Detect if another instance of my app is running ( posted many times
here )
2- If an instance is running hide the new instance from the ALT+TAB ( code
posted below).

The problem may be in hiding it, the code use Set/GetWindowLong which IIRC
will affect ALL the instances of that particular window , please somebody
correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, you could just try it


Now, I do hope you have a strong reason for doing this, I would be very
surprise knowing I have 10 instances open of IE and seeing only one in the
list.


--
Ignacio Machin,
ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department Of Transportation










[DllImport("user 32.dll")]
public static extern int SetWindowLong( IntPtr window, int index, int
value);
[DllImport("user 32.dll")]
public static extern int GetWindowLong( IntPtr window, int index);


const int GWL_EXSTYLE = -20;
const int WS_EX_TOOLWINDO W = 0x00000080;
const int WS_EX_APPWINDOW = 0x00040000;

private System.Windows. Forms.NotifyIco n notifyIcon1;


// I use two icons depending of the status of the app
normalIcon = new Icon(this.GetTy pe(),"Normal.ic o");
alertIcon = new Icon(this.GetTy pe(),"Alert.ico ");
notifyIcon1.Ico n = normalIcon;

this.WindowStat e = System.Windows. Forms.FormWindo wState.Minimize d;
this.Visible = false;
this.ShowInTask bar = false;
iconTimer.Start ();

//Make it gone frmo the ALT+TAB
int windowStyle = GetWindowLong(H andle, GWL_EXSTYLE);
SetWindowLong(H andle, GWL_EXSTYLE, windowStyle | WS_EX_TOOLWINDO W);

[Brett Wickard]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

I think he's saying that he has one application running only once with
numerous windows open (that are visible in the taskbar) --- so when the user
hits alt-tab, the application shows up a bunch of times - once for each
window open that is visible in the task bar. This is the default behavior
of other windows apps, so I think he wants to know if there is a way to
override that default behavior.

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mvp@spam.guard .caspershouse.c om> wrote in
message news:%23W%23I6e EGGHA.1032@TK2M SFTNGP11.phx.gb l...[color=blue]
> Peter,
>
> Are you saying you want more than one application instance to run, but
> just one icon in the alt-tab list?
>
>
> --
> - Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
> - mvp@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
>
> "Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
> news:%23YtgcbEG GHA.1088@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..[color=green]
>> Hi,
>> I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from
>> it - so sorry that i am asking again !!
>>
>> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the
>> ALT+TAB
>> menu.
>>
>> As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window visible
>> in
>> the running application. I only want one icon.
>>
>> And please - i'm not talking about the taskbar and/or property
>> ShowInTaskbar. I already know this and it does not solve my
>> problem/question.
>>
>> Thank you in advance.
>> Peter
>>
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

[Peter Larsen]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

No - one application with multiple visible forms - but only apearing once in
the ALT+TAB menu !

Did i really say so ??

/Peter :-)

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mvp@spam.guard .caspershouse.c om> wrote in
message news:%23W%23I6e EGGHA.1032@TK2M SFTNGP11.phx.gb l...[color=blue]
> Peter,
>
> Are you saying you want more than one application instance to run, but
> just one icon in the alt-tab list?
>
>
> --[/color]

[Peter Larsen]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

You are talking about one application started more than once - this is not
my question.
I'm talking about ONE application with more than one window visible.

/Peter :-)

"Ignacio Machin ( .NET/ C# MVP )" <ignacio.mach in AT dot.state.fl.us > wrote
in message news:OpzYilEGGH A.1396@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Hi,
>
> "Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
> news:%23YtgcbEG GHA.1088@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..[color=green]
>> Hi,
>> I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from
>> it - so sorry that i am asking again !![/color]
>
> This is the first time I see it in this NG !
>[color=green]
>> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the
>> ALT+TAB
>> menu.
>>
>> As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window visible
>> in
>> the running application. I only want one icon.
>>[/color]
>
> This is what I would do:
> 1- Detect if another instance of my app is running ( posted many times
> here )
> 2- If an instance is running hide the new instance from the ALT+TAB ( code
> posted below).
>
> The problem may be in hiding it, the code use Set/GetWindowLong which IIRC
> will affect ALL the instances of that particular window , please somebody
> correct me if I'm wrong.
>
> Anyway, you could just try it
>
>
> Now, I do hope you have a strong reason for doing this, I would be very
> surprise knowing I have 10 instances open of IE and seeing only one in the
> list.
>
>
> --
> Ignacio Machin,
> ignacio.machin AT dot.state.fl.us
> Florida Department Of Transportation
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [DllImport("user 32.dll")]
> public static extern int SetWindowLong( IntPtr window, int index, int
> value);
> [DllImport("user 32.dll")]
> public static extern int GetWindowLong( IntPtr window, int index);
>
>
> const int GWL_EXSTYLE = -20;
> const int WS_EX_TOOLWINDO W = 0x00000080;
> const int WS_EX_APPWINDOW = 0x00040000;
>
> private System.Windows. Forms.NotifyIco n notifyIcon1;
>
>
> // I use two icons depending of the status of the app
> normalIcon = new Icon(this.GetTy pe(),"Normal.ic o");
> alertIcon = new Icon(this.GetTy pe(),"Alert.ico ");
> notifyIcon1.Ico n = normalIcon;
>
> this.WindowStat e = System.Windows. Forms.FormWindo wState.Minimize d;
> this.Visible = false;
> this.ShowInTask bar = false;
> iconTimer.Start ();
>
> //Make it gone frmo the ALT+TAB
> int windowStyle = GetWindowLong(H andle, GWL_EXSTYLE);
> SetWindowLong(H andle, GWL_EXSTYLE, windowStyle | WS_EX_TOOLWINDO W);
>[/color]

[Peter Larsen]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

Thats right !!

"Brett Wickard" <brettwickard@n ospam.nospam> wrote in message
news:OrHwKmEGGH A.1424@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
>I think he's saying that he has one application running only once with
>numerous windows open (that are visible in the taskbar) --- so when the
>user hits alt-tab, the application shows up a bunch of times - once for
>each window open that is visible in the task bar. This is the default
>behavior of other windows apps, so I think he wants to know if there is a
>way to override that default behavior.
>
> "Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mvp@spam.guard .caspershouse.c om> wrote
> in message news:%23W%23I6e EGGHA.1032@TK2M SFTNGP11.phx.gb l...[color=green]
>> Peter,
>>
>> Are you saying you want more than one application instance to run, but
>> just one icon in the alt-tab list?
>>
>>
>> --
>> - Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
>> - mvp@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
>>
>> "Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
>> news:%23YtgcbEG GHA.1088@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..[color=darkred]
>>> Hi,
>>> I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from
>>> it - so sorry that i am asking again !!
>>>
>>> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the
>>> ALT+TAB
>>> menu.
>>>
>>> As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window visible
>>> in
>>> the running application. I only want one icon.
>>>
>>> And please - i'm not talking about the taskbar and/or property
>>> ShowInTaskbar. I already know this and it does not solve my
>>> problem/question.
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance.
>>> Peter
>>>
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

[Michael Bray]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

"Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in
news:#YtgcbEGGH A.1088@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl:
[color=blue]
> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the
> ALT+TAB menu.
>
>[/color]

I presume you are opening the windows with Show(). When you call Show,
pass the owning form as a parameter:

public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeCompo nent();
}

private void button1_Click(o bject sender, EventArgs e)
{
// Form2 defined elsewhere
Form2 f = new Form2();
f.Show(this);
}
}

This works, but I don't know what other side effects it might have.

-mdb

[Stoitcho Goutsev \(100\)]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

Peter,
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>>> And please - i'm not talking about the taskbar and/or property
>>>> ShowInTaskbar. I already know this and it does not solve my
>>>> problem/question.[/color][/color][/color]

I don't know what other suggestion can be made. The ALT+TAB list shows
windows that appear in the task bar. I don't know how you can solve the
problem if you don't want to hide your windows from the task bar.



--

Stoitcho Goutsev (100)




"Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:eRVUw8EGGH A.2608@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Thats right !!
>
> "Brett Wickard" <brettwickard@n ospam.nospam> wrote in message
> news:OrHwKmEGGH A.1424@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>>I think he's saying that he has one application running only once with
>>numerous windows open (that are visible in the taskbar) --- so when the
>>user hits alt-tab, the application shows up a bunch of times - once for
>>each window open that is visible in the task bar. This is the default
>>behavior of other windows apps, so I think he wants to know if there is a
>>way to override that default behavior.
>>
>> "Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mvp@spam.guard .caspershouse.c om> wrote
>> in message news:%23W%23I6e EGGHA.1032@TK2M SFTNGP11.phx.gb l...[color=darkred]
>>> Peter,
>>>
>>> Are you saying you want more than one application instance to run,
>>> but just one icon in the alt-tab list?
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> - Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
>>> - mvp@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
>>>
>>> "Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in message
>>> news:%23YtgcbEG GHA.1088@tk2msf tngp13.phx.gbl. ..
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I have asked this question before, but did not get anything useful from
>>>> it - so sorry that i am asking again !!
>>>>
>>>> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the
>>>> ALT+TAB
>>>> menu.
>>>>
>>>> As it is today, my application will show an icon for each window
>>>> visible in
>>>> the running application. I only want one icon.
>>>>
>>>> And please - i'm not talking about the taskbar and/or property
>>>> ShowInTaskbar. I already know this and it does not solve my
>>>> problem/question.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you in advance.
>>>> Peter
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

[Peter Larsen]

Re: Program icons in the ALT+TAB menu

Great this works :-)
Thanks for your time, Michael, and thanks to you all for participating.

/Peter :-)

"Michael Bray" <mbray@makeDInt oDot_ctiusaDcom > wrote in message
news:Xns974A67C F7967Ambrayctiu sacom@207.46.24 8.16...[color=blue]
> "Peter Larsen" <tjanne39@gmail .com> wrote in
> news:#YtgcbEGGH A.1088@tk2msftn gp13.phx.gbl:
>[color=green]
>> How do i prevent an application from appears more than once in the
>> ALT+TAB menu.
>>
>>[/color]
>
> I presume you are opening the windows with Show(). When you call Show,
> pass the owning form as a parameter:
>
> public partial class Form1 : Form
> {
> public Form1()
> {
> InitializeCompo nent();
> }
>
> private void button1_Click(o bject sender, EventArgs e)
> {
> // Form2 defined elsewhere
> Form2 f = new Form2();
> f.Show(this);
> }
> }
>
> This works, but I don't know what other side effects it might have.
>
> -mdb[/color]