API Minimize through Code?

[mikeyc1204]

I have an altered Userform that can be minimized and maximized through the API similar to code used in this thread:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=243829

Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" _
    (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
 
Private Declare Function SetWindowLong Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowLongA" _
    (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long, ByVal dwNewLong As Long) As Long
 
Private Declare Function GetWindowLong Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowLongA" _
    (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long
 
Private Const WS_MINIMIZEBOX = &H20000
Private Const GWL_STYLE = (-16)
 
Private Sub AddMinBox()
 
    ' Add minimize button to UserForm.
 
    Dim hWnd As Long
 
    Select Case Int(Val(Application.Version))
        Case 8      ' Office 97.
            hWnd = FindWindow("ThunderXFrame", vbNullString)
        Case 9, 10  ' Office 2000, XP
            hWnd = FindWindow("ThunderDFrame", vbNullString)
    End Select
    
    SetWindowLong hWnd, GWL_STYLE, GetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL_STYLE) Or WS_MINIMIZEBOX
    
End Sub
 
Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
    AddMinBox
End Sub

What I need to be able to do is flip back and forth between the open form and the spreadsheet. I can't close the form and save variable info to globals, because the form only has one control: an ActiveX Reflections Console control that needs to stay open.

The form is modeless but is still "always on top" so that even though I can interact with the spreadsheet, the form is in the way. This is why I made the form minimizable so to speak.

Problem is, I have no idea how to minimze the form with code. It will not be obvious enough to the user to minimize the window themselves when needed, and I want the program to do it. Please let there be some genius here that can help me. I'll even take alternate solutions.

Thanks,

[Ecniv]

Not too sure, but can you not just hide the form (me.visible=false) until the user selects an icon on the tray or something? Or if it is excel, perhaps a menu button or a button on the spreadsheet to hide/show the form??

[mikeyc1204]

That was my first thought too. Who knew you can't change a userform's 'visible' property?

Compile error:

Function or interface marked as restricted, or the function uses and Automation type not supported in Visual Basic