Close Application

[benchin]

I called other application from my program, say Notepad, using ShellExecute function (winapi). I got the window (Notepad) handle from FindWindow function(winapi). But after that, I don't know how to close it. I couldn't use DestroyWindow because the application (Notepad) doesn't belong to my program. Can anyone suggest a way to close this application (Notepad)? Thanks a lot!!!

[Matthew Gates]

Try this:

Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" _
Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal _
lpWindowName As String) As Long
 
Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" _
Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, _
ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
 
Const WM_CLOSE = &H10
Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
 
    hWin = FindWindow("notepad", vbNullString)
    If hWin <> 0 Then
        PostMessage hWin, WM_CLOSE, 0, 0
        PostMessage hWin, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0
    End If
    
End Sub

[Megatron]

You should also post the WM_QUIT message as well.

[filburt1]

Originally posted by benchin
I called other application from my program, say Notepad, using ShellExecute function (winapi). I got the window (Notepad) handle from FindWindow function(winapi). But after that, I don't know how to close it. I couldn't use DestroyWindow because the application (Notepad) doesn't belong to my program. Can anyone suggest a way to close this application (Notepad)? Thanks a lot!!!

If you don't need to exit cleanly, you can kill the process using TerminateProcess.

[Megatron]

TerminateProcess should usually be used as a last resort. You should call ExitProcess first, and if that doesn't work, then use TerminateProcess.

[Tygur]

Originally posted by Megatron
TerminateProcess should usually be used as a last resort. You should call ExitProcess first, and if that doesn't work, then use TerminateProcess.

ExitProcess can only be used to close your own program, not another program. People should really start testing out their own suggestions..