Opening a Program from a minimized state then closing active program

Using the following code below I am attempting to close the current program and re-open a minimized program. If the initial program was closed by accident or on purpose, it will reopen it upon closing the current program.

FACTS:
There are multiple .exe files within the compiled program. There is a menu program that opens at start up and the user starts their chosen sub program from that menu.

EXAMPLE:

• Program 'A' is opened (This is a menu program).
• Once a selection is made, Program 'A' should minimize and open Program 'B'.
• Once Program 'B' is closed Program 'A' should come out of the minimized state ready for another user input.

GOAL:

1. Before fully closing Program 'B' check 1st to see if Program 'A' is open and in a minimized state, if true then bring Program 'A' back to the forefront and open in it's normal open state.
2. Before fully closing Program 'B' check to ensure Program 'A' was not fully closed for any reason and if it was then re-start Program 'A'.
3. Whichever is true of the first 2 statements, once Program 'A' opens from a minimized state or is re-opened then close or kill Program 'B'.

SUCCESS:
When choosing a sub program from the menu (Program 'A') Program 'B' opens and Program 'A' minimizes.
When closing Program 'B' it fully closes.

FAILURES:
After electing to close Program 'B', Program 'B' is always opening a second incident of Program 'A' in a minimized state resulting in multiple program 'A's running in a minimized state. Program 'B' does fully close leaving me with multiple and minimized Program 'A's.

What I have tried:

Code:

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Option Strict On
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

Public Class DataEntry
    Private Const WM_SYSCOMMAND As Integer = &H112
    Private Const SC_MINIMIZE As Integer = &HF020
    Private Const SC_MAXIMIZE As Integer = &HF030
    Private Const SC_CLOSE As Integer = &HF060
    Private Const SC_RESTORE As Integer = &HF120

    <DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="SendMessageW")>
    Private Shared Function SendMessageW(hWnd As IntPtr, Msg As UInteger, wParam As UInteger, lParam As Integer) As Integer
    End Function

    <DllImport("user32.dll")> Private Shared Function IsIconic(hWnd As IntPtr) As <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)> Boolean
    End Function

    Private Sub BtnExit_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnExit.Click
        btnExit.BackgroundImage = My.Resources.ButtonClk_Red_Trans

        Dim Console As Process = Process.GetProcessesByName("PETS Console").FirstOrDefault
        If Console IsNot Nothing Then
            If IsIconic(Console.MainWindowHandle) Then 'check if the window is minimized. If it is not, then you don't want to restore it, you only need to activate it.
                SendMessageW(Console.MainWindowHandle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_RESTORE, 0) 'restore the window from it's minimized state
            Else
                AppActivate(Console.Id) 'activate it to bring it to the front of all other windows
            End If
        Else
            'If Console is not open due to accidental closing, start the program on close.
            Process.Start("C:\MyProgramPath\PETS Console.exe")
        End If
        Close()
    End Sub
End Class

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Hi K3JAE,

First thing I'd do is: Program 'A' Form1.vb > Tab 'Project' > '(Program 'A') Properties' > Application

Scroll down and put a tick in the box 'Make single instance application'.

You will obviously need to run your application, and re-publish it.


Poppa

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Poppa Mintin

Hi K3JAE,

First thing I'd do is: Program 'A' Form1.vb > Tab 'Project' > '(Program 'A') Properties' > Application

Scroll down and put a tick in the box 'Make single instance application'.

You will obviously need to run your application, and re-publish it.


Poppa

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Not a possibility due to the stand-alone programs are not distributed throughout... thus why they are in multiple pieces... the request is for those with all pieces of the 'puzzle' so to speak.

I don't understand why that should stop you making your Program a single instance application.
This just means that you can't start a new instance of an app. which is running, in other words... you can't have more than one Program A running on the same machine at the same time. (Which I understood you to say, is your problem)


Poppa

Quote:

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Originally Posted by K3JAE

FAILURES:
After electing to close Program 'B', Program 'B' is always opening a second incident of Program 'A' in a minimized state resulting in multiple program 'A's running in a minimized state. Program 'B' does fully close leaving me with multiple and minimized Program 'A's.

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Isn't this your problem ?
Have you solved it yet ?

Maybe, instead of minimising Program 'A', close it altogether, then open it maximised (or normal) with Program 'B'.


Poppa

Here's something I found, it uses a button, but you can see how it (supposedly) works. Obviously I've not actually tried it.

It uses MS Word as an example, you'll have to substitute the name of your program, I suggest that you consider it to be case conscious. Oh... Do not include any extension... just the name of the program.

Code:

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    Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal nCmdShow As Integer) As Boolean
   
    Private Sub button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
        Dim p = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessesByName("WINWORD").FirstOrDefault
        If (Not (p) Is Nothing) Then
            ShowWindow(p.MainWindowHandle, SW_MAXIMIZE)
        End If
       
    End Sub

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Poppa