Minimize the userform and give focus to the immediate next window, when button is clicked

[CaptainCool]

I currently have a small userform placed at the bottom right of the screen (with a command button on it) and this opens up on top of excel instances and other applications/windows and it is set so that you can't interact with anything except the userform.

I wanted to minimize the userform and give focus to immediate next window (can be excel or non excel applications) for 10 seconds and then activate/show the userform back again, when the "Button 1" on the userform is clicked.

I tried hiding the userform, but this doesn't give focus to the immediate next window. Below is the code

Private Sub Button_Click()
    
    Me.Hide
    PauseApp (10)    
    Me.Show
    
End Sub

Can someone help me out with the code which does the below steps?? I googled for this, I could only find answers for adding minimize and maximize buttons to userform.

When the button is clicked, it should perform

Step a - Minimize the userform
Step b - Give focus to the next immediate window behind the userform
Step c - Wait for 10 seconds
Step d - Bring back the userform its to state.

- Captain Cool

[playaller]

You can name the windows or ap windows if you know them.

AppActivate "Microsoft Word"

AppActivate "New Tab - Google Chrome"

Example

Private Sub Button_Click()
    
    Me.Hide
    AppActivate "Calculator"  Gives focus t the calculator if open
    PauseApp (10)    
    Me.Show
    
End Sub

[CaptainCool]

Thanks Playaller, But the applications or App windows keeps on changing.

Is there any other way so that we can give focus to the immediate next window?

- Captain Cool

[playaller]

Thats a hard one. I'll search for a workaround.


Not what you need but may help:
Alternatively you can try this:

When the button is pressed the first time it will close the form and open a new one in vbmodeless mode and hide it so focus can be brought on the named window or you have time to select it yourself. Then it will pause for 10 second for interaction. After 10 seconds it will close the modeless and open the original form. You can capture data in between the switches.

Sub Button_Click()

unload Me

UserForm1.Show vbModeless
Me.Hide
AppActivate "New Tab - Google Chrome"
PauseApp (10)
'do something
Unload Me
UserForm1.Show

End Sub

[CaptainCool]

Hi Playaller,

Reason for looking for the code that gives the focus to the immediate next window is to take the alt print screen of the activte window. Currently as my userform has the focus, when I click on the capture button, it takes the print screen of my userform alone. But I wanted to give the focus to the immediate next window and then take the print screen of it.

I've attached the code that I'm currently working on. Please have a look.

Do you think of any other alternate where I could get the print screen of the active window?

Also, for the post that you replied - http://www.excelforum.com/excel-prog...-word-doc.html

I tried applying your suggested code, but it does seems to be working. Can you please help me out even here!

Thanks a lot for your help so far!


- Captain Cool

[Norie]

* Deleted *

[CaptainCool]

* deleted *

[CaptainCool]

Is it possible to invoke ALT + TAB keys within VBA. I think it should be possible as can invoke 'Prt Scr' key. I'm not that great at code, can any one help me here!

I wanted the below to happen when I click the capture button on my userframe.

Step a - Minimize the userform >>> userframe.hide
Step b - Give focus to the next immediate window behind the userform by invoking ALT + TAB keys here. Need help here!
Step c - Wait for 10 seconds >>> pauseapp(10)
Step d - Bring back the userform its to state >>> userframe.show

- Captain Cool

[Leith Ross]

Hello CaptainCool,

I have code that will add the minimize, restore, and close X button to a userform so it behaves like a normal window. Would you be interested in this option?

[CaptainCool]

Though currently I'm trying to add keybd_event alt tab simulation to my code. I'm happy to take/go with any other option that works!

- Caption Cool

[Leith Ross]

Hello CaptainCool,

Step 1 of 2
Add a new VBA Module to your workbook and paste this macro into it.

' Written: October 07, 2007
' Author:  Leith Ross
' Summary: Add Minimize, and Maximize/Restore buttons to a VBA UserForm

Private Const GWL_STYLE As Long = -16
Public Const MIN_BOX    As Long = &H20000
Public Const MAX_BOX    As Long = &H10000

Const SC_CLOSE      As Long = &HF060
Const SC_MAXIMIZE   As Long = &HF030
Const SC_MINIMIZE   As Long = &HF020
Const SC_RESTORE    As Long = &HF120

Private Declare Function SetWindowPos _
    Lib "user32.dll" _
        (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
         ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, _
         ByVal X As Long, _
         ByVal Y As Long, _
         ByVal cx As Long, _
         ByVal cy As Long, _
         ByVal wFlags As Long) _
    As Long

Private Declare Function GetWindowLong _
    Lib "user32.dll" Alias "GetWindowLongA" _
        (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
         ByVal nIndex As Long) _
    As Long
               
 Private Declare Function SetWindowLong _
    Lib "user32.dll" Alias "SetWindowLongA" _
        (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
         ByVal nIndex As Long, _
         ByVal dwNewLong As Long) _
    As Long
     
'Redraw the Icons on the Window's Title Bar
 Private Declare Function DrawMenuBar _
    Lib "user32.dll" _
        (ByVal hWnd As Long) _
    As Long

'Returns the Window Handle of the Window accepting input
 Private Declare Function GetForegroundWindow Lib "user32.dll" () As Long

Public Sub AddToForm(ByVal Box_Type As Long)

    Dim BitMask As Long
    Dim Window_Handle As Long
    Dim WindowStyle As Long
    Dim Ret As Long

        If Box_Type = MIN_BOX Or Box_Type = MAX_BOX Then
            Window_Handle = GetForegroundWindow()
  
            WindowStyle = GetWindowLong(Window_Handle, GWL_STYLE)
            BitMask = WindowStyle Or Box_Type
  
            Ret = SetWindowLong(Window_Handle, GWL_STYLE, BitMask)
            Ret = DrawMenuBar(Window_Handle)
        End If

End Sub

Step 2 of 2
Add this code to your UserForm[/b]

Private Sub UserForm_Activate()
    AddToForm MIN_BOX
   AddToForm MAX_BOX
End Sub

[CaptainCool]

Hi Leith Ross,

Your code is absolutely perfect! I could add minimize and restore button to my userform. Thanks for the code

But my issue/question remains still open => give focus to the immediate next window, when button is clicked.

I think I need to compromise on my question. :'(


- Captain Cool

[Leith Ross]

Hello CaptainCool,

Are you saying you have a command button on the UserForm when it is clicked should activate the next Window in the Z-Order? Or do you want the user to be able to select which application should be activated? Both cases are possible.

[CaptainCool]

Hi Leith Ross,

Attached is the Excel that I'm working on.. Main intention of the Userform's in this workbook is to capture the screen shot of the active window (which I'm not able to do)!

Let me explain you the steps that I wanted to do...

a. Open the workbook, Userform FrameOne pops up and ask for a Start. Once the user clicks Start, FrameOne will be hidden and FrameTwo will be shown.
b. FrameTwo has two button - Capture and Stop. FrameTwo is designed in such a way that it sits on top of all the windows (as it is/should a Modeless frame).
c. Lets assume that I'm working some multiple applications, not sure which one are those - May be Office application or Non Office applications. And I wanted to capture the ALT Print Screen of a particular window/app. As my userform is not top of it, I'll click the 'Capture' button which should capture the screenshot after giving the focus to other window that I'm working on.

Here's the problem! I'm not able to capture screen shot of the active window. Below is my code and as in the attached workbook.

Sub screen_Capture()
 
  Call ClearClipboard
 
 'Capture Alt Print Screen == THIS IS NOT WORKING

     'Wanted to insert some code that gives focus to the immediate next window
     'Either ALT + TAB or some other logic  

     keybd_event VK_MENU, 0, 0, 0
     keybd_event VK_SNAPSHOT, 0, 0, 0
     keybd_event VK_SNAPSHOT, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0
     keybd_event VK_MENU, 0, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0
 
     WordObj.Selection.Paste ' RunTime Error 4605 is thrown pointing at this line
     WordObj.Selection.TypeText Chr(12)
     PauseApp (1)
 
 'Capture Full screen = THIS WORKS
    'keybd_event VK_SNAPSHOT, 0, 0, 0
    'WordObj.Selection.Paste
    'WordObj.Selection.TypeText Chr(12)
    'PauseApp (1)
  
End Sub

Kindly help me out as you said you can give the focus to window into both A Order and Z order.


- Captain Cool