C# General : How do I activate an external Window?

Q: How do I get access to the window I'd like to activate?

A: You can use the FindWindow API, or you can use the System.Diagnostics.Process object.

Q: Can I have an example of using the FindWindow API?

A: Yes, here is an example of using the FindWindow API to find the Notepad window :

Import the System.Runtime.InterOpServices namespace :

Code:

---

using System.Runtime.InteropServices; //required for APIs

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Declare the FindWindow API :

Code:

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        //Import the FindWindow API to find our window
        [DllImportAttribute("User32.dll")]
        private static extern int FindWindow(String ClassName, String WindowName);

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Get the Notepad window using FindWindow :

Code:

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        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            //Find the window, using the CORRECT Window Title, for example, Notepad
            int hWnd = FindWindow(null, "Untitled - Notepad");
            if (hWnd > 0) //If found
            {
                //Do Something
            }
            else //Not Found
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Window Not Found!");
            }
     

        }

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Q: can I have an example of using the Process object to obtain a "handle" to the Notepad window?

A: Yes, here is an example :

Code:

---

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            System.Diagnostics.Process[] p = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessesByName("notepad");
            if (p.Length > 0)
            {
                //Do Something
            }
            else //Not Found
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Window Not Found!");
            }
        }

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Q: OK, I've got the handle to the window I want to activate, how to I bring that window to the front?

A: Use the SetForegroundWindow API

Q: Can I have a full example of getting a window handle, and activating it, With FindWindow and SetForegroundWindow?

A: Here is the FindWindow & SetForegroundWindow example :

Code:

---

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices; //required for APIs
namespace Find
{

    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        //Import the FindWindow API to find our window
        [DllImportAttribute("User32.dll")]
        private static extern int FindWindow(String ClassName, String WindowName);

        //Import the SetForeground API to activate it
        [DllImportAttribute("User32.dll")]
        private static extern IntPtr SetForegroundWindow(int hWnd);

       
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            //Find the window, using the CORRECT Window Title, for example, Notepad
            int hWnd = FindWindow(null, "Untitled - Notepad");
            if (hWnd > 0) //If found
            {
                SetForegroundWindow(hWnd); //Activate it
            }
            else
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Window Not Found!");
            }
     

        }
    }
}

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Q: Can I have a complete example, using SetForegroundWindow with Processes?

A: Here is the Process & SetForegroundWindow example :

Code:

---

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace ProcessWindows
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
        static extern bool SetForegroundWindow(IntPtr hWnd);

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            System.Diagnostics.Process[] p = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessesByName("notepad");
            if (p.Length > 0)
            {
                SetForegroundWindow(p[0].MainWindowHandle);
            }
        }
    }
}

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I am attaching examples of both methods described, with this post.