[RESOLVED] VB6: Make program cover the taskbar

[metalmidget]

I'm making a game and running out of room at the bottom of my first form. How do I make the form go full screen and cover the taskbar at the bottom of the screen?
I have one solution: right-click taskbar, properties, then uncheck "Keep the taskbar on top of other windows." The problem with that is that I don't want to have to keep turning that setting off and on when the game is or isn't running. Plus I don't want my users to have to do it either, especially if it's at school where you can't get into those sorts of menus.

[Hack]

Try this

Private Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, _
ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, ByVal x As Long, ByVal y As Long, _
ByVal cx As Long, ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function GetSystemMetrics Lib "user32" (ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long
   
Private Const SM_CXSCREEN = 0
Private Const SM_CYSCREEN = 1
Private Const HWND_TOP = 0
Private Const SWP_SHOWWINDOW = &H40

Private Sub Form_Load()
'This code will maximize the window covering the task bar
Dim ll_Width As Long
    Dim ll_Height As Long
    
    If Me.WindowState = vbMaximized Then
        WindowState = vbNormal
    End If
   
    'work out full screen dimensions
    ll_Width = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN)
    ll_Height = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN)
   
    'use SetWindowPos to resize window
    Call SetWindowPos(Me.hwnd, HWND_TOP, 0, 0, ll_Width, _
        ll_Height, SWP_SHOWWINDOW)
End Sub

[Paul M]

You cna also use the SystemParametersInfo API

[metalmidget]

1- That didn't work, the only difference is that the form is no longer maximised.
2- Is there a reason for using the Constants at the top, then using their names as the parameters? Why not just use 0, 1 and &H40 for the parameters?
3- How does this mysterious "SystemParametersInfo" of which you speak work?

[Steve Grant]

I always use a form whose Borderstyle is set to 1 - Fixed Single.

Then in the Form_Load Event put;

Me.Move 0, 0, Screen.Width, Screen.Height

This always sizes to the exact dimensions of the screen and overlays the TaskBar. No need to set the forms windowstate to maximum.

[Ellis Dee]

Try this:

Private Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, ByVal x As Long, ByVal y As Long, ByVal cx As Long, ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long

' Set/unset a form as AlwaysOnTop
Public Sub SetAlwaysOnTop(ByVal hwnd As Long, Optional ByVal AlwaysOnTop As Boolean = True)
    Const SWP_NOSIZE = &H1
    Const SWP_NOMOVE = &H2
    Const SWP_SHOWWINDOW = &H40
    Const HWND_NOTOPMOST = -2
    Const HWND_TOPMOST = -1
    
    If AlwaysOnTop Then
        SetWindowPos hwnd, HWND_TOPMOST, 0&, 0&, 0&, 0&, SWP_NOMOVE Or SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_SHOWWINDOW
    Else
        SetWindowPos hwnd, HWND_NOTOPMOST, 0&, 0&, 0&, 0&, SWP_NOMOVE Or SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_SHOWWINDOW
    End If
End Sub

Usage:

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Me.Move 0, 0, Screen.Width, Screen.Height
    SetAlwaysOnTop Me.hwnd
End Sub

[metalmidget]

I just stumbled across a much easier solution. make the border fixed single and the windowstate maximised. yay