Maximize another application window from access form

[mbar]

Hi- I have tried a long time to research this and properly execute correct code but can't get close.

I have another program that is running (and minimized) while a user uses access. I want the last command that the user clicks to maximize the other program. I've tried findwindow() but I can't either get the syntax correct or something else that is way beyond my scope of knowledge. Getobject works with office applications but this program is not MSOffice. I would have thought this would be so straight-forward but can't even get close. Most information online is to maximize other office apps which is not the case here. Please HELP!!!

[Xipooo]

You will have to use the Windows API to perform functions on another window. VBA only directly controls the windows inside of it, that's why "findwindow" wont' work.

VB6 forums are usually the goto for trying to find Windows API function calls. I found this one. You may have to modify it a bit to suit your needs, and sometimes you have to add CONSTANTS to your VBA code to get things to work since not all of them exist in VBA natively.

Private Declare Function MoveWindow Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal x As Long, ByVal y As Long, ByVal nWidth As Long, ByVal nHeight As Long, ByVal bRepaint As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindowThreadProcessId Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByRef lpdwProcessId As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32.dll" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As Long, ByVal hWnd2 As Long, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As Long


Private Function ShellIt(Path As String, WindowStyle As VbAppWinStyle, Left As Long, Top As Long, Width As Long, Height As Long)
Dim pId As Long
pId = Shell(Path, WindowStyle)

Dim Wnd As Long, pMatchID As Long
Wnd = FindWindowEx(0, 0, vbNullString, vbNullString)
Do While Wnd
    GetWindowThreadProcessId Wnd, pMatchID
    If pMatchID = pId Then
        ShellIt = Wnd
        MoveWindow Wnd, Left, Top, Width, Height, True
        Exit Function
    End If
    Wnd = FindWindowEx(0, Wnd, vbNullString, vbNullString)
Loop
End Function

[ItsMe]

Did Access create/launch the app? Maybe you can preserve the object by using it globally, maximizing it when needed.

[mbar]

Access does not create the application. I have the window title of the program. Where would I include this in the code above? Or, to be more clear, what exactly do I have to modify from the code above? Also, doesn't shell start the other application? If so, the application is already running- just need to maximize it. Thank you

[Xipooo]

Honestly it's not my area of expertise. It's just a good starting point. I'd look at the MSDN articles and VB6 forums for more information about the user32.dll library.

[ItsMe]

I played around with the code and it seems to be used to create an object and then do something with it. I was able to look at some of the code and get it to iterate something. Not sure what it is loping through but getting plenty of handles returned. Maybe I can take another look at it later. Need to find the correct header to interact with the dll and debug a string (something useful), like an app name, path etc. Currently, miles away.

Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32.dll" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As Long, ByVal hWnd2 As Long, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As Long

Private Function ShellIt()
Dim Wnd As Long
Wnd = FindWindowEx(0, 0, vbNullString, vbNullString)
Do While Wnd > 0
    Wnd = FindWindowEx(0, Wnd, vbNullString, vbNullString)
Debug.Print "Wnd = " & Wnd
    
Loop
End Function

[ItsMe]

Perhaps there is a way to iterate all open windows and retrieve a name or window title. I have done it with Windows Explorer windows but third party app windows are alluding me right now. Anyway, the following will work. The only thing is you will need to know the name of the app or the "Class", as Windows understands it. For instance, Outlook 2003 is "rctrl_renwnd32"

Instead of FindWindowExA, which goes after child windows, the following uses FindWindowA as an entry point to the DLL. This will be the parent window. Place these functions in your module.

Private Declare Function fFindWindow Lib "user32.dll" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal strWIndowClass As String, ByVal strWIndowClass2 As String) As Long
Private Declare Function fShowWindow Lib "user32.dll" Alias "ShowWindow" (ByVal lngHWND As Long, ByVal lngCommand As Long) As Long

The following will find the open Notepad window and then maximize it. Nothing fancy as far as looping, etc. just an illustration. This code can go in a click event.

Dim lngHandle As Long
Dim lngTemp As Long
lngHandle = fFindWindow("Notepad", vbNullString)
MsgBox lngHandle
lngTemp = fShowWindow(lngHandle, 3)