Knowing what applications are running

Is there a way for your program to know what other applications are running and what application has the focus at a given time? Perhaps getting the current form name of the application that has the focus.

Welcome to the forums. :wave:

Are you talking about a Task Manager type application that can list all open applications?

Not really a task manager. I want my program to be able to tell what program has focus. What the program name is. Im guessing it can get that from a API? Once it does to store it in a variable and desplay it in a text box or something. I dont want it to be able to see any other programs at the time. Just the one that is currently being used.

GetForegroundWindow()

Sample usage:

VB Code:

Declare Function GetForegroundWindow Lib "user32" () As Long
 
Declare Function GetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowTextW" ( _
    ByVal hWnd As Long, _
    ByVal lpString As Long, _
    ByVal nMaxCount As Long _
) As Long
 
Function GetActiveWindowName() As String
    GetActiveWindowName = String$(255)
    GetWindowText GetForegroundWindow(), StrPtr(GetActiveWindowName), 255
    GetActiveWindowName = Trim$(GetActiveWindowName)
End Function

How would I display the information in a label or list?

That's the trivial part...

VB Code:

Label1.Caption = GetActiveWindowName()

Can you send me a zip of this working? I just want to see if it all really does work. It didnt for me.