minimize non- vbapp

What's the best way to minimize a non-vb application?

You have to use APIs to get the other apps window handle and then send to
message to minimize. Lookup FindWindow and SemdMessage APIs.

When working with APIs its best to download the API Guide and API Viewer from allapi.net.

How about doing this?

VB Code:

Option Explicit
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" ( _
    ByVal hwnd As Long, _
    ByVal nCmdShow As Long _
) As Long
 
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" ( _
    ByVal lpClassName As String, _
    ByVal lpWindowName As String _
) As Long
 
Private Const SW_HIDE = 0
Private Const SW_MINIMIZE = 6
 
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim hWndApp As Long
Dim strCaption As String
Dim strProgram As String
 
strProgram = "notepad.exe"
strCaption = "Untitled - Notepad"
 
'see if program is already running
hWndApp = FindWindow(vbNullString, strCaption)
 
'if not then start it
If hWndApp = 0 Then
    Shell strProgram, vbNormalFocus
    While hWndApp = 0
        hWndApp = FindWindow(vbNullString, strCaption)
        DoEvents
    Wend
End If
 
'mimimize it
MsgBox "Press OK to minimize"
ShowWindow hWndApp, SW_MINIMIZE
 
End Sub

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