Help on creating a non minimizable GUI in background

[wolk_tambowskij]

Hello friends.

I'm trying to create a gui that remains visible in the background and is not minimizeable/ hideable, but also restorable at all besides of the specified hotkeys.

What I have:

#NoTrayIcon

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>

$hParent = GUICreate('', 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, $WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
$TestGUI = GUICreate("GUI", @DesktopWidth+10, @DesktopHeight+10, -5, -5, BitOr($WS_SYSMENU, $WS_POPUPWINDOW, $WS_BORDER), $WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME, $hParent)
GUISetState()

GUISetBkColor(0xABCDEF)

HotKeySet("^+{F4}", "Terminate")
HotKeySet("^+{F5}", "Restore")

While 1
    _WinAPI_SetWindowPos($TestGUI, $HWND_BOTTOM, Default, Default, Default, Default, BitOR($SWP_SHOWWINDOW, $SWP_NOMOVE, $SWP_NOSIZE, $SWP_NOSENDCHANGING))
WEnd

Func Terminate()
    GUISetState(@SW_HIDE, $TestGUI)
EndFunc

Func Restore()
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $TestGUI)
EndFunc

But if I press "Win+D" or the "Show Desktop" button, the GUI disappears until I perform some action - for ex. start an app or open a file...

Thank you in advance!

[Jfish]

How about this?  The GUI is always on top and cannot be minimized.  Hotkeys hide and show it (h for hide and s for show)

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>

$TestGUI = GUICreate("TestGui", 405, 293, 302, 218, BitOR($WS_SYSMENU,$WS_CAPTION), BitOR($WS_EX_TOPMOST,$WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE))
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

HotKeySet("h", "_Hide")
HotKeySet("s", "_Show")

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit

    EndSwitch
WEnd


Func _Hide()
    
    GUISetState(@SW_HIDE, $TestGUI)
EndFunc

Func _show()
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $TestGUI)
EndFunc

 

[wolk_tambowskij]

That is the clue: the has to be always on bottom and not on top, but should not be minimized either...

[Jfish]

I am not 100% following this last part - if you "show" it but it is at the "bottom" then would you want to be able to interact with it?  Perhaps you can explain what you are using this for so I can get a better understanding of what you need.

 

[wolk_tambowskij]

The gui should akt as a kiosk like desktop frontend with some buttons: so the gui has to stay always behind all other applications, but it shoud be not minimizable by the user and remain in front of the main desktop, ideally also in front of the status bar...

[Jfish]

You want it to be on the desktop, but not minimized, but behind all other applications and have buttons?  How would you click the buttons?  

Can you please explain what the code is supposed to do like what is it for?  That may help me better understand.

[wolk_tambowskij]

What's the Problem?

You start an app by pressing a button, to start the next app you have to quit or minimize the previously started app...

Here is the code:

expandcollapse popup

#NoTrayIcon

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>
#include <GuiButton.au3>

$hParent = GUICreate('', 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, $WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
$TestGUI = GUICreate("GUI", @DesktopWidth+10, @DesktopHeight+10, -5, -5, BitOr($WS_SYSMENU, $WS_POPUPWINDOW, $WS_BORDER), $WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME, $hParent)
GUISetState()

GUISetBkColor(0xABCDEF)

HotKeySet("^+{F4}", "Terminate")
HotKeySet("^+{F5}", "Restore")

$TestBtn = GUICtrlCreateButton("Test",900,500,100,30,-1,-1)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1,"Test")

While 1
    _WinAPI_SetWindowPos($TestGUI, $HWND_BOTTOM, Default, Default, Default, Default, BitOR($SWP_SHOWWINDOW, $SWP_NOMOVE, $SWP_NOSIZE, $SWP_NOSENDCHANGING))

    Switch GUIGetMsg()
        Case $TestBtn
            Test()
    EndSwitch
WEnd

Func Terminate()
    GUISetState(@SW_HIDE, $TestGUI)
EndFunc

Func Restore()
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $TestGUI)
EndFunc

Func Test()
    Run("notepad")
EndFunc

 

[Jfish]

The problem is I was not understanding your description of what you are trying to do.  I wanted more information about what you meant by placing the window beneath all other windows.  But since you are starting to get a bit cagey about what it is or is meant to do I will leave it to others to decide if they want to help out.  

[wolk_tambowskij]

As I said it should be a kiosk like desktop replacement - I don't know how to explain it better...

It's simply a frontend for starting apps like Internet Explorer, Notepad or what ever you want...

[Jfish]

Now I got it.  I was confused by 

Quote

 has to be always on bottom and not on top,

And by this:

Quote

so the gui has to stay always behind all other applications

Edit: have a look at - it might help (not sure if they work on current versions of windows), maybe to disable the windows key: 

 

And this:

 

 

Edited February 12, 2018 by Jfish

[wolk_tambowskij]

Not exactly what I wanted, but I'll give BlockInputEx a try...

Thanks!

But it still doesn't help with the Status bar and the "minimize all" button on it...

[wolk_tambowskij]

Finally I ended up with dynamically killing explorer.exe...