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All Forums >> [Scripting] >> WSH & Client Side VBScript >> Bring a window to front?
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Bring a window to front? - 7/11/2006 9:15:27 AM

coyotewrw

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Joined: 7/11/2006
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Hi all,

There is a desktop calendar program called Rainlendar, that I would occasionally like to bring to the front of other windows, to view my appointments, todo, etc. I'm looking for a vbscript to do this, that I could run via a shortcut in my taskbar's quicklaunch.

Rainlendar resides on the desktop and does not display a button on the taskbar, as would a normal window. However, there is a config setting (ini) called UseWindowName that, according to the manual, "If set to 1 the window will have a name "Rainlendar". Useful feature e.g. with some virtual windows managers." The process in taskmanager is "rainlendar.exe".

Rainlendar currently has a toggle command, but it will only show/hide the program entirely from the screen. I also don't want to set it always-on-top cuz it will get in the way.

Is there a vbscript I can use to "pull" a particular program/window/process to the front, without changing its z-order? It would then hide naturally as other windows are activated.

Thanks for any help! :)

< Message edited by coyotewrw -- 7/11/2006 9:19:10 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/11/2006 2:08:14 PM

dm_4ever

Posts: 2640
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Joined: 6/29/2006
From: Orange County, California
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Is the application visible in the "Applications" tab of the task manager? How do you normally bring it to the front? Is it an icon on the lower right hand corner?

(in reply to coyotewrw)

Post #: 2

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/11/2006 3:25:03 PM

coyotewrw

Posts: 5
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Joined: 7/11/2006
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Hi dm_4ever, thanks or responding :)

"Is the application visible in the "Applications" tab of the task manager?"

No, it only shows as a process (rainlendar.exe). Not even after setting the UseWindowName option and restarting the program, so I'm not sure if that will help.

"How do you normally bring it to the front?"

You can toggle it on/off the screen via commandline or dbl-clicking the tray icon, but it will still be hidden by overlapping windows if its always-on-top setting isn't on.

"Is it an icon on the lower right hand corner?"

Yes, there is a tray icon. Rainlendar is basically a widget-type program, that displays on the desktop. It can work as a standalone calendar or reflect events, etc. from Outlook. Very cool app, btw, except that it's hard to get to if I have a bunch of windows running.

Thanks again.

< Message edited by coyotewrw -- 7/11/2006 3:29:04 PM >

(in reply to dm_4ever)

Post #: 3

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/11/2006 4:59:47 PM

dm_4ever

Posts: 2640
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Joined: 6/29/2006
From: Orange County, California
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if it can be started via the command line then you can do something like

set objShell = createobject("wscript.shell")
objShell.Run "your command"

if you can have the window up you could bring it to the front by using
objShell.AppActivate("TitleofApp")

I'm not familiar with the app you're using so i'm not sure what method would work best for you.

(in reply to coyotewrw)

Post #: 4

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/12/2006 12:24:22 AM

coyotewrw

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Sorry for my noobness, but I can't get that script to work with any running apps.

Dim objShell
set objShell = createobject("wscript.shell")
objShell.AppActivate("Rainlendar") (I also tried referencing the process "rainlendar.exe")

Is this the right syntax?

(in reply to dm_4ever)

Post #: 5

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/12/2006 1:30:35 AM

dm_4ever

Posts: 2640
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Joined: 6/29/2006
From: Orange County, California
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in order for appactivate to work your apps windows should be visible. all appactivate does is give focus to it. try it with another program like notepad so you can see how it works.

(in reply to coyotewrw)

Post #: 6

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/12/2006 10:54:07 AM

coyotewrw

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okay, thanks dm_4ever :)

(in reply to dm_4ever)

Post #: 7

RE: Bring a window to front? - 7/19/2006 7:55:05 AM

dm_4ever

Posts: 2640
Score: 46
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: Orange County, California
Status: offline

If you have Office 2k3 you can try what's described in this article to activate and maximize any window running in your processes.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/office/tasks.mspx

(in reply to coyotewrw)