Minimize all Active Windows

Question

5.00/5 (1 vote)

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How can i minimize all other application windows when my application run.
i want only my application window on the screen.all othes applications should be minimized.

Posted 2-May-11 0:34am

RAJI @Codeproject

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Sandeep Mewara · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-02T00:44:00

Solution 1

As a user, I would never like such thing. I would not like any application minimizing my other windows without my consent.

Posted 2-May-11 0:44am

Sandeep Mewara

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-May-11 6:51am

I agree with you and criticize the idea in my answer. Voted 5 for yours.

However, I decided to present the solution as it can show generally helpful technique, please see. How do you like it?
--SA

Tarun.K.S 2-May-11 7:02am

Agreed. 5+

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-02T00:49:00

Solution 3

Not a very good idea (why just sending your application on top is not enough?), but…

You need to be able to minimize a window by its HWND. To do this, use P/Invoke and Windows API SetWindowPlacement, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms633544(v=vs.85).aspx[^]. Let's assume you did it and wrapped it in a method MinimizeWindow(System.IntPtr hwnd).

Now, where to get all windows?

I would prefer using pure .NET library, not more P/Invoke:

C#

static void MinimizeAll() {
   System.Diagnostics.Process thisProcess =
      System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess();
   System.Diagnostics.Process[] processes =
      System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcesses();
   foreach (System.Diagnostics.Process process in processes) {
      if (process == thisProcess) continue;
      System.IntPtr handle = process.MainWindowHandle;
      if (handle == System.IntPtr.Zero) continue;
      MinimizeWindow(handle);
   } //loop
} //MinimizeAll

That's it. Pretty simple, isn't it?

—SA

Posted 2-May-11 0:49am

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Updated 2-May-11 0:52am

v3

Comments

Sandeep Mewara 2-May-11 6:54am

5+ for it. Agreed yet would not use an application doing this.

:)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-May-11 7:32am

Thank you, Sandeep.
Do you think I'll do it? Answering is one thing, doing it right is... :-)
--SA

Sandeep Mewara 2-May-11 9:17am

Yep, I think you won't.
But for a change, you gave a solution for what you also find should not be done. :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-May-11 13:51pm

Exactly. I agree with you when it's some real-life project of my own, as to the OP's request -- why not having some fun? I honestly posted my "not a good idea" working, so...

By the way, I cannot remember, do I tell me about my "[Completely Useless Challenge]" initiative? I thought I told you. This is in my only CodeProject Question (see from my profile). You see, from time to time I do something useless...

--SA

Sandeep Mewara 3-May-11 0:49am

Yes you told me. :)

I would not say that "useless" or your time spent on 'useless' something. :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 4-May-11 1:57am

Well, yes, this is "useless" only in a narrow sense of this word -- useless for immediate application, but exercise and fun and pleasure of the discussions around it could be quite useful.
Thank you.
--SA

Sandeep Mewara 4-May-11 2:00am

I have seen it and yep I know you used a 'misnomer' here! :)

Your question would take good time and discussion... surely useful but... we need to get some time for that fun!

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 4-May-11 2:09am

Understood. My business was just to ask the question :-) I have couple more ideas.
--SA

Sandeep Mewara 4-May-11 2:18am

:)

Tarun.K.S 2-May-11 7:03am

Good answer SA. 5+ and bookmarked for future reference. :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-May-11 7:19am

Thank you, Tarun.
You bookmark a lot. Collecting proof links so no one could fool you... :-)
--SA

Tarun.K.S 2-May-11 7:25am

Hahaha! :D

yesotaso 2-May-11 7:45am

There is an application named "WatchCat" which can hide all windows even from taskbar except 1 of your choosing. I was using it for situations like:
"Boss is coming-I am playing solitaire-press CTRL+ALT+some key"
Boss:"Great performance!!"
Me:"Thats how dedicated I am"...

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-May-11 7:56am

:-)
Last time you explained it by should it on the clear desktop environment, now "boss"... :-)
I don't care though -- you got the solution.

At this moment, don't you think to formally accept this answer (green button)?
This is the solution you wanted.
--SA

Thanooja_Nandan · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-02T00:59:00

Solution 4

Hi Raj try this!!!! A simple Way

Shell32.ShellClass objShel = new Shell32.ShellClass();
            ((Shell32.IShellDispatch4)objShel).ToggleDesktop();

Posted 2-May-11 0:59am

Thanooja_Nandan

Updated 2-May-11 1:03am

v2

Comments

Tarun.K.S 2-May-11 7:03am

Wrap your code with <pre> tags.

RAJI @Codeproject 2-May-11 7:20am

I want this..thank you all for helping me!!

Member 10459063 17-Jul-14 1:29am

Error: The type or namespace name 'Shell32' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)