[RESOLVED] Allow a form to be minimized, but not closed

[BrianPaul]

I am working on a program that will allow the user to disconnect from a VPN session. I don't want the users to close the form because then they wouldn't be able to disconnect (well wouldn't be able to do it easily).

In other words, I want users to be able to minimize the form, but not be able to close it. If I use a BorderStyle of "none", can I still minimize it to the taskbar? I will have a button on the form that says "minimize" so I don't care about having the little minimize dash in the upper right of the form. If I can't have a borderless form that minimizes to the taskbar, does anyone know how I can accomplish it in another way?

[Hack]

This will minimize if you try to close

Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)
Cancel = -1
Me.WindowState = vbMinimized
End Sub

Of course, now, the only way to close this window is to log completely off the machine or shut the machine down or use the Task Manager to close it. Is that what you want?

[isnoend07]

I have a form like that that must stay open for the life my app and cannot be closed unless the main form is closing. So i put a public module level flag on the form that cannot be closed. eg; mAllowFormToClose set the flag to true when unloading the main form. Then

Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)
if not mAllowFormToClose
Cancel = -1 'stop form closing
else
cancel = 0 'allow the form to close
end if
End Sub

[BrianPaul]

It's not that I want them to log off or use task manager to close it... if they click the 'disconnect' button that I have on the form, it will disconnect them vpn connection and end the program.

Thanks for the help! I'm assuming that I can't use the "BorderStyle = None" and still be able to minimize it to the taskbar, right?

[MartinLiss]

You might also want to take a look at this VB FAQ.

[BrianPaul]

Ok, very good information, but I'm wondering about the BorderStyle. I would prefer to use either None, or Fixed ToolWindow. The only problem is, these styles don't show up on the taskbar. Can I still somehow minimize them to the taskbar? The form will have a Minimize command button, but I'm thinking since it doesn't show in the taskbar when it's up on the screen, there's probably no way to minimize it to the taskbar, right?

[MartinLiss]

Set the form's ShowInTaskbar property to True.

[Zach_VB6]

Alternatively:

Private Sub Form_QueryUnload(Cancel As Integer, UnloadMode As Integer)
Cancel = Not mAllowFormToClose
End Sub

[BrianPaul]

Thanks everyone! I'd be lost without help from the experts!