Solve : Minimizing to task bar?

1.	Solve : Minimizing to task bar?
Answer» Is there a way a batch file can minimize any program to the task bar? Like keep it running in the background but not like keeping a bookmark. This will be extremely helpful because i hate over crowded windows O.o Please and thank you P.S. I have no clue how do this and can't find anything on the internet so i don't think it possible but it's worth a TRY If you don't know what i'm talking about, refer to the picture... Quote from: shanked on November 26, 2010, 11:38:12 PM Is there a way a batch file can minimize any program to the task bar? I doubt it. Batch language is a command language not a programming language. If it could do everything people seem to think it can do it would be truly amazing. There are tools on most Windows machines that can do this. If you want to try VBScript, I probably have something in the snippet closet. Let us know. Quote from: shanked on November 26, 2010, 11:38:12 PM Is there a way a batch file can minimize any program to the task bar? Like keep it running in the background but not like keeping a bookmark. This will be extremely helpful because i hate over crowded windows O.o Here's the thing. there is no such term or component of the Windows taskbar that contains a "bookmark". those are called task buttons (or something to that effect). Not bookmarks. A button appears on the taskbar for every top-level window that has the appropriate style set; the Notification Area is a completely separate location; programs do not minimize to the notification area. Those programs which claim to are not minimizing at all; they are merely making their window invisible and displaying a new icon in the notification area. Now, the problem with any "batch" solution is that the Shell_NotifyIcon() Function (the one responsible for adding new ICONS to the notification area) takes as a parameter a window handle; you could pass any valid handle in, but the function will SEND messages to that window when you mess with the notification icon; so really, what you would need to do in any such solution is: -Create a dummy window, or otherwise manage to get a window handle whose Window Procedure you can get a hold of (or that handles the appropriate messages) -Create the icon in the notification area; hide the displayed program window. -wait for messages to be received in the dummy window. react appropriately to "restore" the previously made invisible windows. I BELIEVE there are a number of off-the-shelf programs that can be used to "iconize" (as in, place in the system notification area) applications. Quote from: Sidewinder on November 27, 2010, 06:48:54 AM I doubt it. Batch language is a command language not a programming language. If it could do everything people seem to think it can do it would be truly amazing. There are tools on most Windows machines that can do this. If you want to try VBScript, I probably have something in the snippet closet. Let us know. Sure Could someone please tell me how to do this via VBscript? Thanks (Kinda off-section )I may have mis-read your post. VBScript can minimize a window to the task bar but the system tray/notification area is more problematic. BC mentioned that there are 3rd party programs you can try here. Good luck.

Answer»

Is there a way a batch file can minimize any program to the task bar? Like keep it running in the background but not like keeping a bookmark. This will be extremely helpful because i hate over crowded windows O.o

Please and thank you

P.S. I have no clue how do this and can't find anything on the internet so i don't think it possible but it's worth a TRY

If you don't know what i'm talking about, refer to the picture...

Quote from: shanked on November 26, 2010, 11:38:12 PM

Is there a way a batch file can minimize any program to the task bar?

I doubt it. Batch language is a command language not a programming language. If it could do everything people seem to think it can do it would be truly amazing.

There are tools on most Windows machines that can do this. If you want to try VBScript, I probably have something in the snippet closet.

Let us know. Quote from: shanked on November 26, 2010, 11:38:12 PM

Is there a way a batch file can minimize any program to the task bar? Like keep it running in the background but not like keeping a bookmark. This will be extremely helpful because i hate over crowded windows O.o

Here's the thing. there is no such term or component of the Windows taskbar that contains a "bookmark". those are called task buttons (or something to that effect). Not bookmarks.

A button appears on the taskbar for every top-level window that has the appropriate style set; the Notification Area is a completely separate location; programs do not minimize to the notification area. Those programs which claim to are not minimizing at all; they are merely making their window invisible and displaying a new icon in the notification area.

Now, the problem with any "batch" solution is that the Shell_NotifyIcon() Function (the one responsible for adding new ICONS to the notification area) takes as a parameter a window handle; you could pass any valid handle in, but the function will SEND messages to that window when you mess with the notification icon; so really, what you would need to do in any such solution is:

-Create a dummy window, or otherwise manage to get a window handle whose Window Procedure you can get a hold of (or that handles the appropriate messages)

-Create the icon in the notification area; hide the displayed program window.

-wait for messages to be received in the dummy window. react appropriately to "restore" the previously made invisible windows.

I BELIEVE there are a number of off-the-shelf programs that can be used to "iconize" (as in, place in the system notification area) applications. Quote from: Sidewinder on November 27, 2010, 06:48:54 AM

I doubt it. Batch language is a command language not a programming language. If it could do everything people seem to think it can do it would be truly amazing.

There are tools on most Windows machines that can do this. If you want to try VBScript, I probably have something in the snippet closet.

Let us know.

Sure Could someone please tell me how to do this via VBscript? Thanks (Kinda off-section )I may have mis-read your post. VBScript can minimize a window to the task bar but the system tray/notification area is more problematic.

BC mentioned that there are 3rd party programs you can try here.

Good luck.

Solve : Minimizing to task bar?

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