I have an application which runs its process when a certain other application is the top application as reported by GetForegroundWindow(). However, sometimes the report of this is inaccurate. The only example I have is Yahoo Messenger. If the application is running, and a message is received on Yahoo Messenger, this program pops up above the application. However, the application remains the foreground window. Even such actions as clicking in the window does not lower the Yahoo message.
So I have a couple questions about this:
First - How does Yahoo do this? I know a window can be set to stay on top, but the odd thing is, the Yahoo message only remains on top until another application is brought above it. For example, if an application is newly opened, it will stop the Yahoo message from being the top. Or, if the existing application that was placed under it has its title bar clicked, or window moved, it becomes the top. But simply clicking in the application does not allow it to regain the focus. How is this done?
Second - How can I check if the application is covered by another? I want to make sure that if it is ever covered that it brings itself back forward. However, I can't blindly tell it to come to the front, because if it is not the foreground window, I do NOT want it brought to the front.
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In addtion to the foreground property, there is a second property called topmost (WS_EX_TOPMOST). The topmost property trumps the foreground property. The purpose of the topmost property is to display a critical warning message that must be visible.
However, some programmers started to abuse the topmost property. So starting (with XP I believe) Microsoft modified Windows to not honor it in some circumstances, such as the one you describe above.
If I understand your question, how does a window make its self the top most window.
There are several ways programmatically to do this.
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by: itsmeandnobodyelsePosted on 2009-06-07 at 04:39:17ID: 24566088
>>>> First - How does Yahoo do this?
There are a few ways to achieve that, e. g. if the popup is modal it *automatically* would be top to the parent window (normally the application frame window) where it is child window of.
Other ways were to write handlers for activating windows or gaining and looosing focus and then actively force the windows to the wished behavior. But that is the more stony way and actually fights against windows standard behavior with disadvantages like flickering or hidden windows or both.
>>>> For example, if an application is newly opened, it will stop the Yahoo message from being the top.
Yes, that is the minimum what each multi-tasking windowing system must guarantee. If you overrule the defaults in that point (e. g. by adding global message hooks into the OS) you probably make a big mistake as you were levering out the fundamentals.