[RESOLVED] Attaching to a Program

I don't know if I am asking the question correctly, but I want to keep a program I use all the time in memory (running).

So instead of closing the program (main form), I would like to simply set it's visible =false. This is easily done and works.

Then on restart (I already know how to check to see if it is running) I would like to attach to it and make that running version's main form be visible again.

Since this happens on many programs it's probably easy, and I am using the wrong wording when I search for "How to attach..."

Thanks for your help.

Why do you need to keep the program in memory? That would clog up the bloat-ware of an operating system we call Windows even more.

Thread moved from the 'CodeBank VB.Net' forum (which is for you to post working code examples, not questions) to the 'VB.Net' forum

Look up on how to create a system tray notification icon, that is, you essentially minimize the app down to an icon in the taskbar, and you can click it again to bring it back.

Responding to Nightwalker: I have plenty of memory. I want this program available instantaneously. I use it for so many of the things I do all the time that It is like a desktop for me, yet I like to have my desktop with nothing but the pictures I have chosen which creates windows to the world for me.

I have no problem with the complaint of Windows bloatware which you referenced. I remove everything I don't want.

Note to si_the_geek: Sorry, it still is not apparent to me where to do what. I will work on that.

Responding to GrimFort, Thank you, system Tray notification makes sense. Don't know why I did not think of it.

For Everyone else, my workaround was to e.cancel in the formclosing event. While not as elegant as the system tray icon, it did the job. I put in a separate path to Quit the Program entirely. It just checked for the condition and skipped the e.cancel if executed.

One final thing. I also set my program to be a "Single Instance Application" in the Application tab of "My Project". I also set it up so it will terminate if I right click on tool bar icon and "Close window" it.

Now it functions like my personal "Metro" desktop with everything I want organized the way I want, available immediately when I want. And to top it off, I like it.

Thank you for the clue GrimSoft, while I am not going to use the system tray notification icon, it led me to the single instance concept and ability to control what happens when you hit the X that normally would terminate the program.