Using the Window Finder Tool

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With the Window Finder Tool you can find the properties of a selected window. The Finder Tool can find disabled child windows and discern which window to highlight if disabled child windows overlap.

To find a window to spy on

  1. Arrange your windows so that Spy++ and the subject window are visible.

  2. From the Spy menu, choose Find Window to open the Find Window dialog box.

  3. Drag the Finder Tool to the window that you want. As you drag the tool, window details appear in the dialog box.

    – or –

    If you know the handle of the window you want (for example, from the debugger), type it in the Handle box.

  4. Under Show, choose Properties or Messages to select what kind of information to display.

  5. Click OK.

Tip   To reduce screen clutter, select the Hide Spy option in the Find Window dialog box. This removes the main Spy++ window and leaves the Find Window dialog box visible on top of your other applications. The Spy++ main window will be restored when you choose the OK or Cancel button, or when you clear the Hide Spy option.

In the figure below, the Finder Tool was dragged over the “Exploring” window.

Showing Properties with the Find Window