How to end a program and bring another one in front

Question

How to end a program and bring another one in front

BNE Sys 61

The below code queries the SQL server and fetches the data successfully (thanks very much to JiachenLiMFST-9349 for amazing help). I need this program to kill the notepad and bring the excel in front if the program query returns with any result (in this case, the word is "CardAccess").

Public Class Inventory  
    Public SQL As New SQLControl()  
    Public Sub LoadGrid(Optional Query As String = "")  
        If Query = "" Then  
            SQL.ExecQuery("SELECT TOP 100 * FROM VReview WHERE Text LIKE '%CardAccess%' Order By [UTCTimeInserted] Desc;")  
        Else  
            SQL.ExecQuery(Query)  
        End If  
        ' ERROR HANDLING  
        If SQL.HasException(True) Then  
            Timer1.Stop()  
            KillHungProcess("Notepad.exe")  
            StartOrShowProcess("Excel.exe")  
        End If  
  
        dgvData.DataSource = SQL.DBDT  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Inventory_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load  
        MdiParent = Form1  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click  
        Timer1.Interval = 500  
        Timer1.Start()  
    End Sub  
  
  
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Public Sub KillHungProcess(processName As String)  
        Dim psi As ProcessStartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo  
        psi.Arguments = "/im " & processName & " /f"  
        psi.FileName = "taskkill"  
        psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden  
        Dim p As Process = New Process()  
        p.StartInfo = psi  
        p.Start()  
    End Sub  
#Region "DLL Imports"  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function SetForegroundWindow(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function ShowWindow(handle As IntPtr, nCmdShow As Integer) As Boolean  
    End Function  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function IsIconic(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
#End Region  
    Private Sub StartOrShowProcess(ByVal strProcessName As String)  
        Try  
            Dim handle As IntPtr  
            Dim proc As Process() = Process.GetProcessesByName(strProcessName)  
            If proc.Count > 0 Then  
                For Each procP As Process In proc  
                    handle = procP.MainWindowHandle  
                    If handle <> 0 AndAlso IsIconic(handle) Then 'Do we have a handle and is it minimized?  
                        ShowWindow(handle, 9)  
                        SetForegroundWindow(handle)  
                    End If  
                Next  
            Else 'Not running or started...  
                Process.Start(strProcessName)  
            End If  
  
        Catch ex As Exception  
            'Handle your error...  
        End Try  
    End Sub  
  
End Class

RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-06T09:32:13.17+00:00

Programmatically forcing a window to the foreground has been contentious for a long time. It is generally considered to be indicative of a badly behaved program and over the years Microsoft has created rules and made changes to Windows to prevent this practice. For more details about these rules refer to the documentation for the SetForegroundWindow function. Even so, workarounds have been created to circumvent these rules. Some are effective but can cause problems for the unwary. So the general advice is to find some other way to inform the user that your application needs immediate attention.

Similarly, forcibly closing a process by directly or indirectly calling the TerminateProcess function can also cause problems unless you are the author of the targeted program and know that it is safe to do so. The targeted process is terminated immediately. Any open files or other resources in use at the time of termination can be left in an undetermined state. Generally, the Task Manager attempts to end a process by causing its windows to receive a WM_CLOSE message. This allows the targeted process to terminate gracefully. Otherwise, it uses TerminateProcess. The taskkill command with the /f (force) parameter uses TerminateProcess.
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-06T19:47:54.107+00:00

Thanks, sir, I did mention it in the previous topic but forgot to put it here. We have presentation software running at normal times on a large TV. The same PC has an emergency live map of the school. in case of an alert, we want to bring the emergency information screen to the front. So we have a legit reason to achieve this.
RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-07T07:59:36.21+00:00

Is the system in question used for anything other than the presentation software, the emergency map and your SQL application?

Is the presentation software always running in the foreground?

How are the presentation software, emergency map and SQL application started? Scheduled task? Startup folder? Registry key?

In your example you want to "kill notepad and bring excel in front...". Is notepad supposed to represent the presentation software and excel represents the emergency map? Why do you need to "kill notepad"?

If you "kill notepad" is it restarted? If yes, how?
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-07T20:24:01.607+00:00

Hi sir,

Is the system in question used for anything other than the presentation software, the emergency map and your SQL application?
Both applications have their server and SQL. The system in question is a Windows 10 PC attached to the large TV running the presentation software all the time. Both software connects the servers via local network only.

Is the presentation software always running in the foreground?
Yes, it runs automatically at windows start.

How are the presentation software, emergency map and SQL application started? Scheduled task? Startup folder? Registry key?
Both software runs automatically at windows start, but presentation software remains foreground as expected.

In your example you want to "kill notepad and bring excel in front...". Is notepad supposed to represent the presentation software and excel represents the emergency map? Why do you need to "kill notepad"?
You are 100% right. notepad represents the presentation software.exe, and excel represents the emergency map software.exe

If you "kill notepad" is it restarted? If yes, how?
After the case of an emergency, we will restart the entire PC

Thank you
RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-08T08:22:50.403+00:00

From what you have said so far it seems that the emergency map window is beneath the presentation software window in the z-order. It may even be at the bottom of the z-order and is underneath all other windows on the desktop.

However, if the presentation software can tolerate forceful termination and the system will be restarted after an emergency then it seems to me you don't need to steal the foreground. You only need to bring your emergency map window to the top of the z-order above all other windows and you can do that by using the SetWindowPos function to make the emergency map window a TopMost window.
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-08T09:11:36.743+00:00

You are right, sir. Where to embed the code I presented above?

Answer accepted by question author

4 additional answers

Your answer

RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-06T09:32:13.17+00:00

Programmatically forcing a window to the foreground has been contentious for a long time. It is generally considered to be indicative of a badly behaved program and over the years Microsoft has created rules and made changes to Windows to prevent this practice. For more details about these rules refer to the documentation for the SetForegroundWindow function. Even so, workarounds have been created to circumvent these rules. Some are effective but can cause problems for the unwary. So the general advice is to find some other way to inform the user that your application needs immediate attention.

Similarly, forcibly closing a process by directly or indirectly calling the TerminateProcess function can also cause problems unless you are the author of the targeted program and know that it is safe to do so. The targeted process is terminated immediately. Any open files or other resources in use at the time of termination can be left in an undetermined state. Generally, the Task Manager attempts to end a process by causing its windows to receive a WM_CLOSE message. This allows the targeted process to terminate gracefully. Otherwise, it uses TerminateProcess. The taskkill command with the /f (force) parameter uses TerminateProcess.
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-06T19:47:54.107+00:00

Thanks, sir, I did mention it in the previous topic but forgot to put it here. We have presentation software running at normal times on a large TV. The same PC has an emergency live map of the school. in case of an alert, we want to bring the emergency information screen to the front. So we have a legit reason to achieve this.
RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-07T07:59:36.21+00:00

Is the system in question used for anything other than the presentation software, the emergency map and your SQL application?

Is the presentation software always running in the foreground?

How are the presentation software, emergency map and SQL application started? Scheduled task? Startup folder? Registry key?

In your example you want to "kill notepad and bring excel in front...". Is notepad supposed to represent the presentation software and excel represents the emergency map? Why do you need to "kill notepad"?

If you "kill notepad" is it restarted? If yes, how?
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-07T20:24:01.607+00:00

Hi sir,

Is the system in question used for anything other than the presentation software, the emergency map and your SQL application?
Both applications have their server and SQL. The system in question is a Windows 10 PC attached to the large TV running the presentation software all the time. Both software connects the servers via local network only.

Is the presentation software always running in the foreground?
Yes, it runs automatically at windows start.

How are the presentation software, emergency map and SQL application started? Scheduled task? Startup folder? Registry key?
Both software runs automatically at windows start, but presentation software remains foreground as expected.

In your example you want to "kill notepad and bring excel in front...". Is notepad supposed to represent the presentation software and excel represents the emergency map? Why do you need to "kill notepad"?
You are 100% right. notepad represents the presentation software.exe, and excel represents the emergency map software.exe

If you "kill notepad" is it restarted? If yes, how?
After the case of an emergency, we will restart the entire PC

Thank you
RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-08T08:22:50.403+00:00

From what you have said so far it seems that the emergency map window is beneath the presentation software window in the z-order. It may even be at the bottom of the z-order and is underneath all other windows on the desktop.

However, if the presentation software can tolerate forceful termination and the system will be restarted after an emergency then it seems to me you don't need to steal the foreground. You only need to bring your emergency map window to the top of the z-order above all other windows and you can do that by using the SetWindowPos function to make the emergency map window a TopMost window.
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-08T09:11:36.743+00:00

You are right, sir. Where to embed the code I presented above?

Answer 1

Replace StartorShowProcesses with the following -

Private Sub BringToTop(name As String)  
    Try  
        Dim procs() As Process = Process.GetProcessesByName(name)  
        Dim thisproc As Process = Process.GetCurrentProcess()  
        Dim sess = thisproc.SessionId  
        For Each proc In procs  
            If proc.SessionId = sess Then  
                Dim handle As IntPtr = proc.MainWindowHandle  
                If handle <> IntPtr.Zero Then  
                    If SetWindowPos(handle, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOMOVE) = False Then  
                        Throw New Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error())  
                    End If  
                End If  
            End If  
        Next  
    Catch ex As Exception  
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)  
    End Try  

End Sub

You'll also need to include this -

    <DllImport("User32.dll", ExactSpelling:=True, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError:=True)>  
    Private Shared Function SetWindowPos(hwnd As IntPtr,  
                                         hwndAfter As IntPtr,  
                                         X As Integer,  
                                         Y As Integer,  
                                         cx As Integer,  
                                         cy As Integer,  
                                         flags As UInteger) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    Dim SWP_NOSIZE As UInteger = &H1  
    Dim SWP_NOMOVE As UInteger = &H2  
    Dim SWP_NOZORDER As UInteger = &H4  
    Dim SWP_NOREDRAW As UInteger = &H8  
    Dim SWP_NOACTIVATE As UInteger = &H10  
    Dim SWP_FRAMECHANGED As UInteger = &H20 'The frame changed: send WM_NCCALCSIZE  
    Dim SWP_SHOWWINDOW As UInteger = &H40  
    Dim SWP_HIDEWINDOW As UInteger = &H80  
    Dim SWP_NOCOPYBITS As UInteger = &H100  
    Dim SWP_NOOWNERZORDER As UInteger = &H200 'Don't do owner Z ordering  
    Dim SWP_NOSENDCHANGING As UInteger = &H400 '/Don't send WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING  
  
    Dim SWP_DRAWFRAME As UInteger = SWP_FRAMECHANGED  
    Dim SWP_NOREPOSITION As UInteger = SWP_NOOWNERZORDER  
  
    Dim SWP_DEFERERASE As UInteger = &H2000  
    Dim SWP_ASYNCWINDOWPOS As UInteger = &H4000  
  
  
    Dim HWND_TOP As IntPtr = 0  
    Dim HWND_BOTTOM As IntPtr = 1  
    Dim HWND_TOPMOST As IntPtr = -1  
    Dim HWND_NOTOPMOST As IntPtr = -2

and

   Imports System.ComponentModel

Answer 2

Not sure if I placed your codes to the correct spots but I received the below screenshot, sir.

Imports System.ComponentModel  
Public Class Inventory  
    Public SQL As New SQLControl()  
    Public Sub LoadGrid(Optional Query As String = "")  
        If Query = "" Then  
            SQL.ExecQuery("SELECT TOP 100 * FROM VReview WHERE Text LIKE '%Access%' Order By [UTCTimeInserted] Desc;")  
        Else  
            SQL.ExecQuery(Query)  
        End If  
        ' ERROR HANDLING  
        If SQL.HasException(True) Then  
            Timer1.Stop()  
            KillHungProcess("Notepad.exe")  
            StartOrShowProcess("Excel.exe")  
        End If  
  
        dgvData.DataSource = SQL.DBDT  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Inventory_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load  
        MdiParent = Form1  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click  
        Timer1.Interval = 500  
        Timer1.Start()  
    End Sub  
  
  
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Public Sub KillHungProcess(processName As String)  
        Dim psi As ProcessStartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo  
        psi.Arguments = "/im " & processName & " /f"  
        psi.FileName = "taskkill"  
        psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden  
        Dim p As Process = New Process()  
        p.StartInfo = psi  
        p.Start()  
    End Sub  
#Region "DLL Imports"  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function SetForegroundWindow(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function ShowWindow(handle As IntPtr, nCmdShow As Integer) As Boolean  
    End Function  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function IsIconic(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
#End Region  
    Private Sub BringToTop(name As String)  
        Try  
            Dim procs() As Process = Process.GetProcessesByName(name)  
            Dim thisproc As Process = Process.GetCurrentProcess()  
            Dim sess = thisproc.SessionId  
            For Each proc In procs  
                If proc.SessionId = sess Then  
                    Dim handle As IntPtr = proc.MainWindowHandle  
                    If handle <> IntPtr.Zero Then  
                        If SetWindowPos(handle, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOMOVE) = False Then  
                            Throw New Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error())  
                        End If  
                    End If  
                End If  
            Next  
        Catch ex As Exception  
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)  
        End Try  
    End Sub  
  
    <DllImport("User32.dll", ExactSpelling:=True, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError:=True)>  
    Private Shared Function SetWindowPos(hwnd As IntPtr,  
                                     hwndAfter As IntPtr,  
                                     X As Integer,  
                                     Y As Integer,  
                                     cx As Integer,  
                                     cy As Integer,  
                                     flags As UInteger) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    Dim SWP_NOSIZE As UInteger = &H1  
    Dim SWP_NOMOVE As UInteger = &H2  
    Dim SWP_NOZORDER As UInteger = &H4  
    Dim SWP_NOREDRAW As UInteger = &H8  
    Dim SWP_NOACTIVATE As UInteger = &H10  
    Dim SWP_FRAMECHANGED As UInteger = &H20 'The frame changed: send WM_NCCALCSIZE  
    Dim SWP_SHOWWINDOW As UInteger = &H40  
    Dim SWP_HIDEWINDOW As UInteger = &H80  
    Dim SWP_NOCOPYBITS As UInteger = &H100  
    Dim SWP_NOOWNERZORDER As UInteger = &H200 'Don't do owner Z ordering  
    Dim SWP_NOSENDCHANGING As UInteger = &H400 '/Don't send WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING  
  
    Dim SWP_DRAWFRAME As UInteger = SWP_FRAMECHANGED  
    Dim SWP_NOREPOSITION As UInteger = SWP_NOOWNERZORDER  
  
    Dim SWP_DEFERERASE As UInteger = &H2000  
    Dim SWP_ASYNCWINDOWPOS As UInteger = &H4000  
  
  
    Dim HWND_TOP As IntPtr = 0  
    Dim HWND_BOTTOM As IntPtr = 1  
    Dim HWND_TOPMOST As IntPtr = -1  
    Dim HWND_NOTOPMOST As IntPtr = -2  
  
End Class

RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-08T20:45:27.44+00:00

Also insert -

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

Line 14 in your post should be changed to call BringToTop("excel").

Answer 3

Thank you, sir. No error this time but also no action. I was able to see the log entries but the program did not bring the excel in front nor close the notepad.

Imports System.ComponentModel  
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices  
Public Class Inventory  
    Public SQL As New SQLControl()  
    Public Sub LoadGrid(Optional Query As String = "")  
        If Query = "" Then  
            SQL.ExecQuery("SELECT TOP 100 * FROM VReview WHERE Text LIKE '%Access%' Order By [UTCTimeInserted] Desc;")  
        Else  
            SQL.ExecQuery(Query)  
        End If  
        ' ERROR HANDLING  
        If SQL.HasException(True) Then  
            Timer1.Stop()  
            KillHungProcess("Notepad.exe")  
            BringToTop("Excel.exe")  
        End If  
  
        dgvData.DataSource = SQL.DBDT  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Inventory_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load  
        MdiParent = Form1  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click  
        Timer1.Interval = 500  
        Timer1.Start()  
    End Sub  
  
  
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Public Sub KillHungProcess(processName As String)  
        Dim psi As ProcessStartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo  
        psi.Arguments = "/im " & processName & " /f"  
        psi.FileName = "taskkill"  
        psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden  
        Dim p As Process = New Process()  
        p.StartInfo = psi  
        p.Start()  
    End Sub  
#Region "DLL Imports"  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function SetForegroundWindow(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function ShowWindow(handle As IntPtr, nCmdShow As Integer) As Boolean  
    End Function  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function IsIconic(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
#End Region  
    Private Sub BringToTop(name As String)  
        Try  
            Dim procs() As Process = Process.GetProcessesByName(name)  
            Dim thisproc As Process = Process.GetCurrentProcess()  
            Dim sess = thisproc.SessionId  
            For Each proc In procs  
                If proc.SessionId = sess Then  
                    Dim handle As IntPtr = proc.MainWindowHandle  
                    If handle <> IntPtr.Zero Then  
                        If SetWindowPos(handle, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOMOVE) = False Then  
                            Throw New Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error())  
                        End If  
                    End If  
                End If  
            Next  
        Catch ex As Exception  
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)  
        End Try  
    End Sub  
  
    <DllImport("User32.dll", ExactSpelling:=True, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError:=True)>  
    Private Shared Function SetWindowPos(hwnd As IntPtr,  
                                     hwndAfter As IntPtr,  
                                     X As Integer,  
                                     Y As Integer,  
                                     cx As Integer,  
                                     cy As Integer,  
                                     flags As UInteger) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    Dim SWP_NOSIZE As UInteger = &H1  
    Dim SWP_NOMOVE As UInteger = &H2  
    Dim SWP_NOZORDER As UInteger = &H4  
    Dim SWP_NOREDRAW As UInteger = &H8  
    Dim SWP_NOACTIVATE As UInteger = &H10  
    Dim SWP_FRAMECHANGED As UInteger = &H20 'The frame changed: send WM_NCCALCSIZE  
    Dim SWP_SHOWWINDOW As UInteger = &H40  
    Dim SWP_HIDEWINDOW As UInteger = &H80  
    Dim SWP_NOCOPYBITS As UInteger = &H100  
    Dim SWP_NOOWNERZORDER As UInteger = &H200 'Don't do owner Z ordering  
    Dim SWP_NOSENDCHANGING As UInteger = &H400 '/Don't send WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING  
  
    Dim SWP_DRAWFRAME As UInteger = SWP_FRAMECHANGED  
    Dim SWP_NOREPOSITION As UInteger = SWP_NOOWNERZORDER  
  
    Dim SWP_DEFERERASE As UInteger = &H2000  
    Dim SWP_ASYNCWINDOWPOS As UInteger = &H4000  
  
  
    Dim HWND_TOP As IntPtr = 0  
    Dim HWND_BOTTOM As IntPtr = 1  
    Dim HWND_TOPMOST As IntPtr = -1  
    Dim HWND_NOTOPMOST As IntPtr = -2  
  
End Class

RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-08T23:30:53.09+00:00

but the program did not bring the excel in front nor close the notepad.

I tested the KillHungProcess method on my system and it worked properly.

The reason that excel was not brought to the top of the z-order is because you did not follow the instructions you were given. Again, the line of code to call the BringToTop method should be

BringToTop("excel")

Answer 4

Sorry sir, I thought I followed the instructions but I realised instead of making BringToTop("excel") I made BringToTop("Excel.exe") ; however still not working. What am I missing here?

Imports System.ComponentModel  
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices  
Public Class Inventory  
    Public SQL As New SQLControl()  
    Public Sub LoadGrid(Optional Query As String = "")  
        If Query = "" Then  
            SQL.ExecQuery("SELECT TOP 100 * FROM VReview WHERE Text LIKE '%Access%' Order By [UTCTimeInserted] Desc;")  
        Else  
            SQL.ExecQuery(Query)  
        End If  
        ' ERROR HANDLING  
        If SQL.HasException(True) Then  
            Timer1.Stop()  
            KillHungProcess("Notepad.exe")  
            BringToTop("excel")  
        End If  
  
        dgvData.DataSource = SQL.DBDT  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Inventory_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load  
        MdiParent = Form1  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click  
        Timer1.Interval = 500  
        Timer1.Start()  
    End Sub  
  
  
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick  
        LoadGrid()  
    End Sub  
  
    Public Sub KillHungProcess(processName As String)  
        Dim psi As ProcessStartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo  
        psi.Arguments = "/im " & processName & " /f"  
        psi.FileName = "taskkill"  
        psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden  
        Dim p As Process = New Process()  
        p.StartInfo = psi  
        p.Start()  
    End Sub  
#Region "DLL Imports"  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function SetForegroundWindow(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function ShowWindow(handle As IntPtr, nCmdShow As Integer) As Boolean  
    End Function  
    <System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("User32.dll")>  
    Private Shared Function IsIconic(handle As IntPtr) As Boolean  
    End Function  
#End Region  
    Private Sub BringToTop(name As String)  
        Try  
            Dim procs() As Process = Process.GetProcessesByName(name)  
            Dim thisproc As Process = Process.GetCurrentProcess()  
            Dim sess = thisproc.SessionId  
            For Each proc In procs  
                If proc.SessionId = sess Then  
                    Dim handle As IntPtr = proc.MainWindowHandle  
                    If handle <> IntPtr.Zero Then  
                        If SetWindowPos(handle, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOMOVE) = False Then  
                            Throw New Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error())  
                        End If  
                    End If  
                End If  
            Next  
        Catch ex As Exception  
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)  
        End Try  
    End Sub  
  
    <DllImport("User32.dll", ExactSpelling:=True, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError:=True)>  
    Private Shared Function SetWindowPos(hwnd As IntPtr,  
                                     hwndAfter As IntPtr,  
                                     X As Integer,  
                                     Y As Integer,  
                                     cx As Integer,  
                                     cy As Integer,  
                                     flags As UInteger) As Boolean  
    End Function  
  
    Dim SWP_NOSIZE As UInteger = &H1  
    Dim SWP_NOMOVE As UInteger = &H2  
    Dim SWP_NOZORDER As UInteger = &H4  
    Dim SWP_NOREDRAW As UInteger = &H8  
    Dim SWP_NOACTIVATE As UInteger = &H10  
    Dim SWP_FRAMECHANGED As UInteger = &H20 'The frame changed: send WM_NCCALCSIZE  
    Dim SWP_SHOWWINDOW As UInteger = &H40  
    Dim SWP_HIDEWINDOW As UInteger = &H80  
    Dim SWP_NOCOPYBITS As UInteger = &H100  
    Dim SWP_NOOWNERZORDER As UInteger = &H200 'Don't do owner Z ordering  
    Dim SWP_NOSENDCHANGING As UInteger = &H400 '/Don't send WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING  
  
    Dim SWP_DRAWFRAME As UInteger = SWP_FRAMECHANGED  
    Dim SWP_NOREPOSITION As UInteger = SWP_NOOWNERZORDER  
  
    Dim SWP_DEFERERASE As UInteger = &H2000  
    Dim SWP_ASYNCWINDOWPOS As UInteger = &H4000  
  
  
    Dim HWND_TOP As IntPtr = 0  
    Dim HWND_BOTTOM As IntPtr = 1  
    Dim HWND_TOPMOST As IntPtr = -1  
    Dim HWND_NOTOPMOST As IntPtr = -2  
  
End Class

RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-09T07:36:39.56+00:00

It's time you learn how to use the debugger. People provide you with code and you respond with "it doesn't work" and then expect others to solve your problems.

The code that I have provided to you works just fine when I tested on my own systems. Perhaps you have improperly implemented it or there is some undisclosed characteristic of your environment or circumstance that we should know.
BNE Sys 61 Reputation points

2022-08-09T21:41:34.857+00:00

Thanks. Would the below help sir?

Answer 5

'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: DefaultDomain): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Private.CoreLib.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Users\catone\source\repos\SQLQuerier\bin\Debug\net6.0-windows\SQLQuerier.dll'. Symbols loaded.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App\6.0.7\Microsoft.VisualBasic.Forms.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Runtime.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App\6.0.7\System.Windows.Forms.Primitives.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'c:\program files\microsoft visual studio\2022\enterprise\common7\ide\commonextensions\microsoft\hotreload\Microsoft.Extensions.DotNetDeltaApplier.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.IO.Pipes.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Linq.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Collections.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Console.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Threading.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Threading.Overlapped.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Security.AccessControl.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Security.Principal.Windows.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Runtime.InteropServices.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Security.Claims.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\Microsoft.Win32.Primitives.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Runtime.Loader.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App\6.0.7\System.Windows.Forms.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Collections.Concurrent.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Diagnostics.TraceSource.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.ComponentModel.Primitives.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Drawing.Primitives.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Collections.Specialized.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Threading.Thread.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.ComponentModel.EventBasedAsync.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.ComponentModel.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App\6.0.7\System.Drawing.Common.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App\6.0.7\Accessibility.dll'. Module was built without symbols.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\Microsoft.VisualBasic.Core.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App\6.0.7\Microsoft.Win32.SystemEvents.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Numerics.Vectors.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Memory.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Collections.NonGeneric.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Users\catone\source\repos\SQLQuerier\bin\Debug\net6.0-windows\runtimes\win\lib\netcoreapp2.1\System.Data.SqlClient.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Data.Common.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Transactions.Local.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Threading.Tasks.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Diagnostics.DiagnosticSource.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Diagnostics.Tracing.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies\Runtime\Microsoft.VisualStudio.Debugger.Runtime.NetCoreApp.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\netstandard.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\IntelliTrace\Microsoft.IntelliTrace.TelemetryObserver.Common.dll'. Skipped loading 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\IntelliTrace\Microsoft.IntelliTrace.TelemetryObserver.CoreClr.dll'. Skipped loading 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Reflection.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Reflection.Extensions.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Threading.Timer.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Xml.ReaderWriter.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Private.Xml.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Runtime.Extensions.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Threading.ThreadPool.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Text.Encoding.CodePages.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Resources.ResourceManager.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Buffers.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Diagnostics.Process.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Runtime.Numerics.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.Private.Uri.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. 'SQLQuerier.exe' (CoreCLR: clrhost): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App\6.0.7\System.ObjectModel.dll'. Skipped loading symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled. The program '[10128] SQLQuerier.exe: Program Trace' has exited with code 0 (0x0).
The program '[10128] SQLQuerier.exe' has exited with code 4294967295 (0xffffffff).

is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.

option 'Just My Code' is enabled.

is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.
symbols. Module is optimized and the debugger option 'Just My Code' is enabled.

RLWA32 51,366 Reputation points

2022-08-10T09:52:16.337+00:00

Now I know that SQLQuerier is a .Net 6 application.

Lets simplify things.

Create a new Winform application that only has a single button. When the button is clicked it starts a timer. Lets say the time interval will be 5 seconds. When the timer fires, use the two methods to terminate one process and bring another process' window to the top of the z-order.

For example, start notepad and excel. Start the application and click the button. Now switch away to bring some other application to the foreground. You should see that the taskbar button for notepad disappears when it is terminated and excel should be brought to the top of the z-order.

If you don't get the expected results then use the debugger to step through the code line by line to ensure that it is functioning properly.

Example of sample code working -

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How to end a program and bring another one in front

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