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Windows Desktop API - windows shortcuts on the correct Desktop ?

Hello,
I am writing a small application in C++ based on the Desktop API (CreateDesktop / OpenDesktop / SwitchDesktop)
I create a secondary desktop and i spawn explorer.exe into it.

Each time I use a windows shortcut from this secondary desktop (like WIN + E / CTRL + ALT + SUPP)
it creates the associated window into the first / primary default desktop.

How to make the windows shortcuts works correctly ?
What are the differents solutions to solve this problem ?

I don't like catching all keyboard combinaisons myself.

Deepu Abraham

Do you want to disable windows hot keys while you are on your 'private desktop'/ new desktop created by CreateDesktop() API?
Best Regards,
DeepuAbrahamK

nrigaud

ASKER

No, i want to make them work on any Desktop.
thx

jkr

Check out the article at http://www.codeguru.com/Cpp/W-P/system/misc/article.php/c5695 ("Creating and Switching to Different Desktops") - the scoop is to specify the desktop name in the STARTUP_INFO struct when launching a process, e.g.

                  SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES saDesktop = { sizeof(saDesktop), NULL, TRUE };
                  hDesk =
                  CreateDesktop(szDesktop,
                        NULL,
                        NULL,
                        NULL,
                        DESKTOP_ALL_ACCESS,
                        &saDesktop);

                  STARTUPINFO startInfo1 = { 0 };
                  startInfo1.cb = sizeof(startInfo1);
                  startInfo1.lpDesktop = szDesktop;
                  PROCESS_INFORMATION psInfo1 = { NULL };

                  bRet =
                  CreateProcess(NULL,
                        szCommandLine,
                        NULL, //process security descriptor
                        NULL, //thread security descriptor
                        TRUE, //inherit handles
                        NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, //creation flags
                        NULL, //environment block - use current
                        (LPCTSTR)szStartDir, //startup directory
                        &startInfo1,
                        &psInfo1);

                  if(bRet==FALSE)
                  {
                        Error();
                  }

                  if(hDesk!=NULL)
                  {
                        if(FALSE == CloseDesktop(hDesk))
                        {
                              Error();
                        }
                  }
                  return bRet;
            }

Also of interest: http://www.codeproject.com/system/RunUser.asp ("GUI-Based RunAsEx") which takes the whole thing one step further.

nrigaud

ASKER

I know how to do that.

Am not creating these processes, the system is (in response to windows default hotkeys).
So i can' t apply this method.

jkr

Hmmm, rethinking that: When you launch a shell link, the shell calls 'ShellExecute()' or it's 'Ex' successor. Both do not support any parameters to specify a desktop, so when finally 'CreateProcess()' is called it uses a NULL parameter for 'lpDesktop', which in turn makes the process show up un the default desktop...

Deepu Abraham

Don't think whether you can do this unless you create a different hotkeys to hanlde this inside your private desktop ! Is that a valid option to you?
Best Regards,
DeepuAbrahamK

nrigaud

ASKER

I don't want different hotkeys.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

pjasnos

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