I have a simple little app that runs in the background, and runs a timer to set the Address Bar of internet explorer to a certian url, then it sends the messages WM_KEYDOWN and WM_KEYUP for VK_RETURN.

The only problem is that when it sends the enter key, IE gets focus, and must be minimized. So I added a little bit of code, right before it sends the enter key, it gets the foregroundwindow, then sets that window to the foreground after it sends the enter key.

That didn't solve the problem entirely, because now the window 'flashes' over the current window, and is annoying if typing, since 1 or 2 characters get intercepted when IE is the foreground window.

Is there a simpler way to navigate the page of a current IE window (without opening new windows) so that IE does not get focus?

Sorry for my ignorance, I am still new to C++ :-/
Thanks for any help!