how to hide application icon from windows Task bar

I am opening another application (e.g Notepad) from my VB program. I need to hide the TaskBar icon. I dont want it it the system Tray. I was checking the ShowWindow and SetWindowPos API funtions but both of them hide the icon as well as the actual application from screen. I only want to hide the icon from task bar. Below is the code that i used for testing:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Explicit
Private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
Private 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
Private Const SWP_SHOWWINDOW = &H40
Private Const SWP_HIDEWINDOW = &H80
Private Const SWP_NOMOVE = &H2
Private Const SWP_NOSIZE = &H1
Private Const SWP_NOACTIVATE = &H10
Private Const SW_HIDE = 0
Private Const SW_SHOW = 5

Sub HideMyApp()
Dim hwd As Long

hwd = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Untitled - Notepad")
If hwd > 0 Then
'ShowWindow hwd, SW_HIDE
SetWindowPos hwd, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_HIDEWINDOW Or SWP_NOMOVE Or SWP_NOSIZE
End If
End Sub

Sub ShowMyApp()
Dim hwd As Long
hwd = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Untitled - Notepad")
If hwd > 0 Then
'ShowWindow hwd, SW_SHOW
SetWindowPos hwd, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_SHOWWINDOW Or SWP_NOMOVE Or SWP_NOSIZE
End If
End Sub

Sure you mean NOTEPAD? :(

Why try to hide from the taskbar, when C-A-D brings it up? And, before you ask the next question...

Please explain your actions a little better.

NOTEPAD was just an example.

I just need to remove the icon of the application from task bar. C-A-D is not a problem here.
I am NOT trying to hide the application permenantly. The application will be running on the screen but only no icon in the taskbar. I also dont want to hide/remove taskbar as i need to access other applications.

So does anyone know how to remove the application icon from Taskbar without hiding the application itself?

Just making sure. Here's some code that I had:

Code:

---

Option Explicit

' Add: 1 imagelist, 1 picturebox, 1 command button
' JCIS

Private Type NotifyIconData
    Size              As Long
    Handle            As Long
    ID                As Long
    Flags            As Long
    CallBackMessage  As Long
    Icon              As Long
    Tip              As String * 64
End Type

Private Declare Function Shell_NotifyIcon _
    Lib "shell32" Alias "Shell_NotifyIconA" ( _
    ByVal Message As Long, Data As NotifyIconData) As Boolean

Private Const AddIcon = &H0
Private Const ModifyIcon = &H1
Private Const DeleteIcon = &H2
Private Const WM_MOUSEMOVE = &H200
Private Const WM_LBUTTONDBLCLK = &H203
Private Const MessageFlag = &H1
Private Const IconFlag = &H2
Private Const TipFlag = &H4

Private Data      As NotifyIconData
Private mNumTray  As Long 'Just to add a number

Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Randomize
    Picture1.Cls
    Picture1.BackColor = vbBlue * Rnd(10000)
    Picture1.ForeColor = vbWhite * Rnd(10000)
    mNumTray = mNumTray + 1
    Picture1.Print CStr(mNumTray)
    ImageList1.ListImages.Remove 1
    ImageList1.ListImages.Add 1, , Picture1.Image
    AddIconToTray (ModifyIcon)
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
    mNumTray = 0
    Picture1.ScaleMode = vbPixels
    Picture1.AutoRedraw = True
    Picture1.Width = 1200
    Picture1.Height = 1200
    Picture1.BackColor = vbBlue
    Picture1.ForeColor = vbWhite
    Picture1.Font.Size = 52
    Picture1.CurrentX = 10
    Picture1.CurrentY = 1
    Picture1.Print CStr(mNumTray)
    ImageList1.ListImages.Add 1, , Picture1.Image
    AddIconToTray (AddIcon)
    Visible = False
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Terminate()
    DeleteIconFromTray
End Sub

Private Sub AddIconToTray(pEvent As Long)
    Data.Size = Len(Data)
    Data.Handle = hWnd
    Data.ID = vbNull
    Data.Flags = IconFlag Or TipFlag Or MessageFlag
    Data.CallBackMessage = WM_MOUSEMOVE
    Data.Icon = ImageList1.ListImages(1).ExtractIcon
    Data.Tip = "Dynamic Systray Icon" & vbNullChar
    Call Shell_NotifyIcon(pEvent, Data)
End Sub

Private Sub DeleteIconFromTray()
    Call Shell_NotifyIcon(DeleteIcon, Data)
End Sub

Private Sub Form_MouseMove(Button As Integer, _
        Shift As Integer, X As Single, Y As Single)
   
    Dim Message As Long
    Message = X / Screen.TwipsPerPixelX
   
    Picture1.BackColor = ImageList1.MaskColor
    Select Case Message
        Case WM_LBUTTONDBLCLK
            Visible = Not Visible
            WindowState = Abs(Not Visible)
    End Select
End Sub

---

Thanks for your code but this does not solve my problem. The example moves the icon from task bar to system tray. My requirement is to show no icon anywhere on screen.

You didn't see HOW it worked...

http://allapi.mentalis.org/apilist/S...tifyIcon.shtml

I did test the code before replying. The code you sent moves the Program icon from TASKBAR to SYSTEM TRAY (task bar status area)....

The Shell_NotifyIcon API does this and beow is the definintion from the link:
"Sends a message to the system to add, modify, or delete an icon from the taskbar status area"

My requirement again is NOT to move the program icon from TASKBAR to SYSTEM TRAY (task bar status area) but show NO ICON in any area of screen while keep the application interface available for user interation...

Create a SERVICE and deploy that?

Thanks for the suggestion but I can make my VB program as service but this wont help since i need to call other 3rd party exe file which cant be changed to a service.

For example if iam calling a notepad.exe from my VB program then i can not change the Notepad.exe to a service.

Well, I'm glad you can't install (and then HIDE) a program on MY pc...

I failed to understand this comment "Well, I'm glad you can't install (and then HIDE) a program on MY pc... " and how it relates to my question........ I CAN install any program on my computer and i DONT WANT TO HIDE the program itself...I just need to get rid of program icon of the target exe file from task bar...

I think there is no solution for this...