Q186431: HOWTO: Bring an Application Window to the Top with Focus

Article: Q186431
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbGrpDSVB
Last Modified: 11-JAN-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to use the BringToTop and FindWindow API functions to
bring another window to the foreground with the focus.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Step-by-Step Example
--------------------

1. Start a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by
  default.

2. Add three CommandButtons to Form1. You might want to increase the size of
  Command2 and Command3 to allow you to read the caption.

3. Copy the following code to the General Declarations section of Form1:

        Option Explicit
        Dim THandle As Long

        Private Declare Function BringWindowToTop Lib "user32" (ByVal _
           hwnd As Long) As Long

        Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias _
           "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As Any, ByVal lpWindowName _
           As Any) As Long

        Private Sub Form_Load()
           Command1.Caption = "Run the Calculator"
           Command2.Caption = "Find Calculator's Handle"
           Command3.Caption = "Bring Calculator To The Top"
           Command2.Enabled = False
           Command3.Enabled = False
        End Sub

        Private Sub Command1_Click()
           Dim X As Long
           X = Shell("Calc.exe", 1)
           If X <> 0 Then
              Command2.Enabled = True
           End If
        End Sub

        Private Sub Command2_click()
           THandle = FindWindow(vbEmpty, "Calculator")
           If THandle = 0 Then
              Command3.Enabled = False
              MsgBox "Sorry, the calculator is running"
              Exit Sub
           End If
           Command3.Enabled = True
        End Sub

        Private Sub Command3_click()
           Dim iret As Long
           iret = BringWindowToTop(THandle)
        End Sub

4. Run the Program. When you click Command1, the calculator will appear and
  Command2 will be enabled. Enlarge the size of this program to maximize screen
  usage and then click Command2. If it finds the window handle for Calculator,
  it will enable Command3.

5. Click Command3, and note that the Calculator window will be brought to the
  front so that it has the focus.

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about API calls and API functions, search using the
keywords "API" or "Declare" in the Visual Basic On-line Help.

For information about creating a form that always stays on top, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q184297 : HOWTO: Create a Form That Always Stays on Top

(c) Microsoft Corporation 1998, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Richard T.
Edwards, Microsoft Corporation


Additional query words: SetTopMostWindow topmost kbDSupport kbDSD kbVBp500 kbSDKWin32 kbAPI 
kbVBp400 kbVBp600 kbVBp

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbGrpDSVB 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600 kbVB400Search kbVB400
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.