How to Show a wpf window from another process
0
I have created 3 different application
Application 1:
It is a WPF application it has 1 Window(MainWindow) which display "Hello Word".
Application 2:
It is a WPF Application
This application will create an instance of MainWindow of Application 1.
like below
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
Application 3:
This is again an WPF application which has 2 buttons
"Show Application 1" and "Hide Application 1"
private void show_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 5);
}
private void hide_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 0);
}
private int GetWindowHandle()
{
string handle = File.ReadAllText(@"C:windowHandle.txt");
return Convert.ToInt32(handle);
}
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern int ShowWindow(int hwnd, int nCmdShow);
Now I will launch Application 2 and Application 3.
Once I click on "Show Application 1" button from Application 3,
The window(Application 1) is coming with the black background. it is not showing "Hello world".
It shows the window title but rest of the window is black.
If anyone has any idea how to fix it? Please let me know.
Please let me know if you have any query regarding my query :).
c# wpf interopservices
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
add a comment |
0
I have created 3 different application
Application 1:
It is a WPF application it has 1 Window(MainWindow) which display "Hello Word".
Application 2:
It is a WPF Application
This application will create an instance of MainWindow of Application 1.
like below
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
Application 3:
This is again an WPF application which has 2 buttons
"Show Application 1" and "Hide Application 1"
private void show_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 5);
}
private void hide_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 0);
}
private int GetWindowHandle()
{
string handle = File.ReadAllText(@"C:windowHandle.txt");
return Convert.ToInt32(handle);
}
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern int ShowWindow(int hwnd, int nCmdShow);
Now I will launch Application 2 and Application 3.
Once I click on "Show Application 1" button from Application 3,
The window(Application 1) is coming with the black background. it is not showing "Hello world".
It shows the window title but rest of the window is black.
If anyone has any idea how to fix it? Please let me know.
Please let me know if you have any query regarding my query :).
c# wpf interopservices
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
Just a quick guess... you havent initialized the controls on the Window..just try to show the window and hide it again from application 2 if I'm right, that should do the trick
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:06
okay, got it working.. kind of... it works only if you shwo the window in app2 and hide it from app3 ... after that, the show from app3 works... if you hide from app2 id doesnt... seems like the hide() from wpf does more than just a simple hide
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:29
so workaround would be: Show() from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 0) from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 5) from app3
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:30
Thanks @FastJack3. I also observed this that if we call show in app2 then it will work. I was thinking that is this the only way. Can't we do it without showing in app2.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 2 at 17:44
As WPF seems to do a lot of initializing stuff in its own Show() function, no. As this code is not executed if you just do a simple WinAPI Show call
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 7:00
add a comment |
0
0
0
I have created 3 different application
Application 1:
It is a WPF application it has 1 Window(MainWindow) which display "Hello Word".
Application 2:
It is a WPF Application
This application will create an instance of MainWindow of Application 1.
like below
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
Application 3:
This is again an WPF application which has 2 buttons
"Show Application 1" and "Hide Application 1"
private void show_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 5);
}
private void hide_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 0);
}
private int GetWindowHandle()
{
string handle = File.ReadAllText(@"C:windowHandle.txt");
return Convert.ToInt32(handle);
}
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern int ShowWindow(int hwnd, int nCmdShow);
Now I will launch Application 2 and Application 3.
Once I click on "Show Application 1" button from Application 3,
The window(Application 1) is coming with the black background. it is not showing "Hello world".
It shows the window title but rest of the window is black.
If anyone has any idea how to fix it? Please let me know.
Please let me know if you have any query regarding my query :).
c# wpf interopservices
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
I have created 3 different application
Application 1:
It is a WPF application it has 1 Window(MainWindow) which display "Hello Word".
Application 2:
It is a WPF Application
This application will create an instance of MainWindow of Application 1.
like below
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
Application 3:
This is again an WPF application which has 2 buttons
"Show Application 1" and "Hide Application 1"
private void show_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 5);
}
private void hide_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
ShowWindow(GetWindowHandle(), 0);
}
private int GetWindowHandle()
{
string handle = File.ReadAllText(@"C:windowHandle.txt");
return Convert.ToInt32(handle);
}
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern int ShowWindow(int hwnd, int nCmdShow);
Now I will launch Application 2 and Application 3.
Once I click on "Show Application 1" button from Application 3,
The window(Application 1) is coming with the black background. it is not showing "Hello world".
It shows the window title but rest of the window is black.
If anyone has any idea how to fix it? Please let me know.
Please let me know if you have any query regarding my query :).
c# wpf interopservices
c# wpf interopservices
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
asked Jan 2 at 13:23
Ashish AgrawalAshish Agrawal
88
88
Just a quick guess... you havent initialized the controls on the Window..just try to show the window and hide it again from application 2 if I'm right, that should do the trick
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:06
okay, got it working.. kind of... it works only if you shwo the window in app2 and hide it from app3 ... after that, the show from app3 works... if you hide from app2 id doesnt... seems like the hide() from wpf does more than just a simple hide
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:29
so workaround would be: Show() from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 0) from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 5) from app3
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:30
Thanks @FastJack3. I also observed this that if we call show in app2 then it will work. I was thinking that is this the only way. Can't we do it without showing in app2.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 2 at 17:44
As WPF seems to do a lot of initializing stuff in its own Show() function, no. As this code is not executed if you just do a simple WinAPI Show call
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 7:00
add a comment |
Just a quick guess... you havent initialized the controls on the Window..just try to show the window and hide it again from application 2 if I'm right, that should do the trick
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:06
okay, got it working.. kind of... it works only if you shwo the window in app2 and hide it from app3 ... after that, the show from app3 works... if you hide from app2 id doesnt... seems like the hide() from wpf does more than just a simple hide
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:29
so workaround would be: Show() from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 0) from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 5) from app3
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:30
Thanks @FastJack3. I also observed this that if we call show in app2 then it will work. I was thinking that is this the only way. Can't we do it without showing in app2.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 2 at 17:44
As WPF seems to do a lot of initializing stuff in its own Show() function, no. As this code is not executed if you just do a simple WinAPI Show call
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 7:00
Just a quick guess... you havent initialized the controls on the Window..just try to show the window and hide it again from application 2 if I'm right, that should do the trick
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:06
Just a quick guess... you havent initialized the controls on the Window..just try to show the window and hide it again from application 2 if I'm right, that should do the trick
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:06
okay, got it working.. kind of... it works only if you shwo the window in app2 and hide it from app3 ... after that, the show from app3 works... if you hide from app2 id doesnt... seems like the hide() from wpf does more than just a simple hide
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:29
okay, got it working.. kind of... it works only if you shwo the window in app2 and hide it from app3 ... after that, the show from app3 works... if you hide from app2 id doesnt... seems like the hide() from wpf does more than just a simple hide
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:29
so workaround would be: Show() from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 0) from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 5) from app3
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:30
so workaround would be: Show() from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 0) from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 5) from app3
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:30
Thanks @FastJack3. I also observed this that if we call show in app2 then it will work. I was thinking that is this the only way. Can't we do it without showing in app2.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 2 at 17:44
Thanks @FastJack3. I also observed this that if we call show in app2 then it will work. I was thinking that is this the only way. Can't we do it without showing in app2.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 2 at 17:44
As WPF seems to do a lot of initializing stuff in its own Show() function, no. As this code is not executed if you just do a simple WinAPI Show call
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 7:00
As WPF seems to do a lot of initializing stuff in its own Show() function, no. As this code is not executed if you just do a simple WinAPI Show call
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 7:00
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
0
confirmed working
App2:
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
window.Show();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
ShowWindow(windowInteropHelper.Handle.ToInt32(), 0);
App3 as-is
EDIT:
from .net ReferenceSource:
// RootVisual is not set until Show.
// Only set RootVisual when we are going to show the window.
if (!HwndCreatedButNotShown)
{
SetRootVisualAndUpdateSTC();
}
the comment says it all.. ;)
if you just use winapi, no RootVisual is set...
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
0
confirmed working
App2:
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
window.Show();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
ShowWindow(windowInteropHelper.Handle.ToInt32(), 0);
App3 as-is
EDIT:
from .net ReferenceSource:
// RootVisual is not set until Show.
// Only set RootVisual when we are going to show the window.
if (!HwndCreatedButNotShown)
{
SetRootVisualAndUpdateSTC();
}
the comment says it all.. ;)
if you just use winapi, no RootVisual is set...
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
add a comment |
0
confirmed working
App2:
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
window.Show();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
ShowWindow(windowInteropHelper.Handle.ToInt32(), 0);
App3 as-is
EDIT:
from .net ReferenceSource:
// RootVisual is not set until Show.
// Only set RootVisual when we are going to show the window.
if (!HwndCreatedButNotShown)
{
SetRootVisualAndUpdateSTC();
}
the comment says it all.. ;)
if you just use winapi, no RootVisual is set...
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
add a comment |
0
0
0
confirmed working
App2:
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
window.Show();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
ShowWindow(windowInteropHelper.Handle.ToInt32(), 0);
App3 as-is
EDIT:
from .net ReferenceSource:
// RootVisual is not set until Show.
// Only set RootVisual when we are going to show the window.
if (!HwndCreatedButNotShown)
{
SetRootVisualAndUpdateSTC();
}
the comment says it all.. ;)
if you just use winapi, no RootVisual is set...
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
confirmed working
App2:
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
window.Show();
//And it will store it's window handle to some file
string filePath = @"c:windowHandle.txt";
var windowInteropHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(window);
File.WriteAllText(filePath, windowInteropHelper.EnsureHandle().ToString());
ShowWindow(windowInteropHelper.Handle.ToInt32(), 0);
App3 as-is
EDIT:
from .net ReferenceSource:
// RootVisual is not set until Show.
// Only set RootVisual when we are going to show the window.
if (!HwndCreatedButNotShown)
{
SetRootVisualAndUpdateSTC();
}
the comment says it all.. ;)
if you just use winapi, no RootVisual is set...
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
edited Jan 3 at 7:06
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
answered Jan 2 at 14:40
FastJackFastJack
33828
33828
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
add a comment |
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
Yes, it works. but this one looks like a workaround. Is this the only way do?
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 5:00
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
if you want to show the window with ShowWindow, yes. It seems that WPF is doing more than just a simple hide on Hide(). This looks like some controls are destroyed or at least the Renderer for these Controls. The only other way that comes to my mind is to develop some kind of API that communicates with app2 and lets app2 show the window.
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 6:56
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
Can you please add the link for the .net reference you added.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:23
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
I got the link - referencesource.microsoft.com/#PresentationFramework/src/…
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 3 at 9:34
add a comment |
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Just a quick guess... you havent initialized the controls on the Window..just try to show the window and hide it again from application 2 if I'm right, that should do the trick
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:06
okay, got it working.. kind of... it works only if you shwo the window in app2 and hide it from app3 ... after that, the show from app3 works... if you hide from app2 id doesnt... seems like the hide() from wpf does more than just a simple hide
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:29
so workaround would be: Show() from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 0) from app2 > ShowWindow(wnd, 5) from app3
– FastJack
Jan 2 at 14:30
Thanks @FastJack3. I also observed this that if we call show in app2 then it will work. I was thinking that is this the only way. Can't we do it without showing in app2.
– Ashish Agrawal
Jan 2 at 17:44
As WPF seems to do a lot of initializing stuff in its own Show() function, no. As this code is not executed if you just do a simple WinAPI Show call
– FastJack
Jan 3 at 7:00