ampapa
asked on
Using SetWindowsHookEx to notify when Calculator is lauched or closed.
I'm looking for the "calculator" window when it is launched and closed how can I get a msgbox with the HWND when this event takes place using "SetWindowsHookEx"?
FORM
'*************************
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim hInst As Long
Dim Thread As Long
'Set up the CBT hook
hInst = GetWindowLong(Me.hwnd, GWL_HINSTANCE)
Thread = GetCurrentThreadId()
hHook = SetWindowsHookEx(WH_CBT, AddressOf WinProc1, hInst, _
Thread)
'Display the message box
MsgBox "This message box has been positioned at (0,0)."
End Sub
MODULE
'*************************
Public Declare Function UnhookWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" ( _
ByVal hHook As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function GetWindowLong Lib "user32" Alias _
"GetWindowLongA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long) _
As Long
Public Declare Function GetCurrentThreadId Lib "kernel32" () As Long
Public Declare Function SetWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" Alias _
"SetWindowsHookExA" (ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal lpfn As Long, _
ByVal hmod As Long, ByVal dwThreadId As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" ( _
ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, _
ByVal x As Long, ByVal y As Long, ByVal cx As Long, _
ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function GetWindowRect Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd _
As Long, lpRect As RECT) As Long
Public Const GWL_HINSTANCE = (-6)
Public Const SWP_NOSIZE = &H1
Public Const SWP_NOZORDER = &H4
Public Const SWP_NOACTIVATE = &H10
Public Const HCBT_ACTIVATE = 5
Public Const WH_CBT = 5
Public hHook As Long
Function WinProc1(ByVal lMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, _
ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
If lMsg = HCBT_ACTIVATE Then
'Show the MsgBox at a fixed location (0,0)
SetWindowPos wParam, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, _
SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOZORDER Or SWP_NOACTIVATE
'Release the CBT hook
UnhookWindowsHookEx hHook
End If
WinProc1 = False
End Function
FORM
'*************************
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim hInst As Long
Dim Thread As Long
'Set up the CBT hook
hInst = GetWindowLong(Me.hwnd, GWL_HINSTANCE)
Thread = GetCurrentThreadId()
hHook = SetWindowsHookEx(WH_CBT, AddressOf WinProc1, hInst, _
Thread)
'Display the message box
MsgBox "This message box has been positioned at (0,0)."
End Sub
MODULE
'*************************
Public Declare Function UnhookWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" ( _
ByVal hHook As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function GetWindowLong Lib "user32" Alias _
"GetWindowLongA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long) _
As Long
Public Declare Function GetCurrentThreadId Lib "kernel32" () As Long
Public Declare Function SetWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" Alias _
"SetWindowsHookExA" (ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal lpfn As Long, _
ByVal hmod As Long, ByVal dwThreadId As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" ( _
ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, _
ByVal x As Long, ByVal y As Long, ByVal cx As Long, _
ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function GetWindowRect Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd _
As Long, lpRect As RECT) As Long
Public Const GWL_HINSTANCE = (-6)
Public Const SWP_NOSIZE = &H1
Public Const SWP_NOZORDER = &H4
Public Const SWP_NOACTIVATE = &H10
Public Const HCBT_ACTIVATE = 5
Public Const WH_CBT = 5
Public hHook As Long
Function WinProc1(ByVal lMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, _
ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
If lMsg = HCBT_ACTIVATE Then
'Show the MsgBox at a fixed location (0,0)
SetWindowPos wParam, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, _
SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOZORDER Or SWP_NOACTIVATE
'Release the CBT hook
UnhookWindowsHookEx hHook
End If
WinProc1 = False
End Function
ASKER
I need to find the window before it is created by hooking into the windows messaging system - "SetWindowsHookEx". I want to change the caption on the window as an example.
I am not sure that you can find window before it is created. Here is the code that will set window caption. You can chekc if winddow exists on timer and then change it's caption
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long
Private Declare Function GetClassName Lib "user32" Alias "GetClassNameA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal nMaxCount As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowTextA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpString As String) As Long
Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
Const WM_CLOSE = &H10
Const gcClassnameMSWord = "OpusApp"
Const gcClassnameMSExcel = "XLMAIN"
Const gcClassnameMSIExplorer = "IEFrame"
Const gcClassnameMSVBasic = "wndclass_desked_gsk"
Const gcClassnameNotePad = "Notepad"
Const gcClassnameMyVBApp = "ThunderForm"
Private Sub Form_Load()
'KPD-Team 1998
'URL: http://www.allapi.net/
'E-Mail: KPDTeam@Allapi.net
Dim WinWnd As Long, Ret As String, RetVal As Long
'Ask for a Window title
Ret = InputBox("Enter the exact window title:" + Chr$(13) + Chr$(10) + "Note: must be an exact match")
'Search the window
WinWnd = FindWindow(vbNullString, Ret)
If WinWnd = 0 Then MsgBox "Couldn't find the window ...": Exit Sub
'Show the window
ShowWindow WinWnd, SW_SHOWNORMAL
SetWindowText WinWnd, "My Caption"
End Sub
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long
Private Declare Function GetClassName Lib "user32" Alias "GetClassNameA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal nMaxCount As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowTextA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpString As String) As Long
Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
Const WM_CLOSE = &H10
Const gcClassnameMSWord = "OpusApp"
Const gcClassnameMSExcel = "XLMAIN"
Const gcClassnameMSIExplorer = "IEFrame"
Const gcClassnameMSVBasic = "wndclass_desked_gsk"
Const gcClassnameNotePad = "Notepad"
Const gcClassnameMyVBApp = "ThunderForm"
Private Sub Form_Load()
'KPD-Team 1998
'URL: http://www.allapi.net/
'E-Mail: KPDTeam@Allapi.net
Dim WinWnd As Long, Ret As String, RetVal As Long
'Ask for a Window title
Ret = InputBox("Enter the exact window title:" + Chr$(13) + Chr$(10) + "Note: must be an exact match")
'Search the window
WinWnd = FindWindow(vbNullString, Ret)
If WinWnd = 0 Then MsgBox "Couldn't find the window ...": Exit Sub
'Show the window
ShowWindow WinWnd, SW_SHOWNORMAL
SetWindowText WinWnd, "My Caption"
End Sub
ASKER
My problem is that I need to get the HWND of a(any) window when it is created on the desktop. The source code at the top is from microsoft (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q180936) recieving notification when windows are created and destroyed. It's exactly what I'm looking for except I am confused about how to modify it, as usual. I've modified the source a bit mostly removed the second example.
I also have another question open "https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21132319/Is-button-visible-ona-form-API.html" which is where we were heading but I'm running out of time, but it might give some insight.
My API programming is extremely week but I'm learning. From what I can understand by creating this CBT hook it will be able to recieive windows messages and can Identify the activate message to a window by using"HCBT_ACTIVATE". This then allows you to modify that window or at the very least get the HWND to it, that's what I need.
FindWindow won't work in this instance because the window(s) I am trying to get the HWND have the same 'Caption' and therefore even though it gets the window it get's the wrong one.
So, it's got to be set to listen for all windows being created, identify the caption and the HWND if the caption of the window matches a text string "calculator" then I'm golden....
I also have another question open "https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21132319/Is-button-visible-ona-form-API.html" which is where we were heading but I'm running out of time, but it might give some insight.
My API programming is extremely week but I'm learning. From what I can understand by creating this CBT hook it will be able to recieive windows messages and can Identify the activate message to a window by using"HCBT_ACTIVATE". This then allows you to modify that window or at the very least get the HWND to it, that's what I need.
FindWindow won't work in this instance because the window(s) I am trying to get the HWND have the same 'Caption' and therefore even though it gets the window it get's the wrong one.
So, it's got to be set to listen for all windows being created, identify the caption and the HWND if the caption of the window matches a text string "calculator" then I'm golden....
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
I think my bubble just burst... I believe you are correct from what I just read, in order to do a system wide hook I'll need some type of DLL and that the process can't be done from within VB.
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function PostMessage Lib "user32" Alias "PostMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long
Private Declare Function GetClassName Lib "user32" Alias "GetClassNameA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal nMaxCount As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
Const WM_CLOSE = &H10
Const gcClassnameMSWord = "OpusApp"
Const gcClassnameMSExcel = "XLMAIN"
Const gcClassnameMSIExplorer = "IEFrame"
Const gcClassnameMSVBasic = "wndclass_desked_gsk"
Const gcClassnameNotePad = "Notepad"
Const gcClassnameMyVBApp = "ThunderForm"
Private Sub Form_Load()
'KPD-Team 1998
'URL: http://www.allapi.net/
'E-Mail: KPDTeam@Allapi.net
Dim WinWnd As Long, Ret As String, RetVal As Long, lpClassName As String
'Ask for a Window title
Ret = InputBox("Enter the exact window title:" + Chr$(13) + Chr$(10) + "Note: must be an exact match")
'Search the window
WinWnd = FindWindow(vbNullString, Ret)
If WinWnd = 0 Then MsgBox "Couldn't find the window ...": Exit Sub
'Show the window
ShowWindow WinWnd, SW_SHOWNORMAL
'Create a buffer
lpClassName = Space(256)
'retrieve the class name
RetVal = GetClassName(WinWnd, lpClassName, 256)
'Show the classname
MsgBox "Classname: " + Left$(lpClassName, RetVal)
'Post a message to the window to close itself
PostMessage WinWnd, WM_CLOSE, 0&, 0&
End Sub