Click here to Skip to main content
Click here to Skip to main content

AppBar using C#

By , 18 Apr 2004
 

Using the Code

First we must declare the needed structures and constants.
(I combine constants in enums).

We declare the RECT WINAPI structure as follows:

[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct RECT
{
    public int left;
    public int top;
    public int right;
    public int bottom;
}

We declare the APPBARDATA SHELLAPI structure as follows:

[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
struct APPBARDATA
{
    public int cbSize;
    public IntPtr hWnd;
    public int uCallbackMessage;
    public int uEdge;
    public RECT rc;
    public IntPtr lParam;
}

Then, we declare the AppBar related constants enums as follows:

enum ABMsg : int
{
    ABM_NEW=0,
    ABM_REMOVE,
    ABM_QUERYPOS,
    ABM_SETPOS,
    ABM_GETSTATE,
    ABM_GETTASKBARPOS,
    ABM_ACTIVATE,
    ABM_GETAUTOHIDEBAR,
    ABM_SETAUTOHIDEBAR,
    ABM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED,
    ABM_SETSTATE
}
enum ABNotify : int
{
    ABN_STATECHANGE=0,
    ABN_POSCHANGED,
    ABN_FULLSCREENAPP,
    ABN_WINDOWARRANGE
}
enum ABEdge : int
{
    ABE_LEFT=0,
    ABE_TOP,
    ABE_RIGHT,
    ABE_BOTTOM
}

Next we declare the needed WIN32 and SHELL API functions import:

[DllImport("SHELL32", CallingConvention=CallingConvention.StdCall)]
static extern uint SHAppBarMessage(int dwMessage, ref APPBARDATA pData);
[DllImport("USER32")]
static extern int GetSystemMetrics(int Index);
[DllImport("User32.dll", ExactSpelling=true, 
    CharSet=System.Runtime.InteropServices.CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern bool MoveWindow
    (IntPtr hWnd, int x, int y, int cx, int cy, bool repaint);
[DllImport("User32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern int RegisterWindowMessage(string msg);

The next step is creating a function to register AppBar:

private void RegisterBar()
{
    APPBARDATA abd = new APPBARDATA();
    abd.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(abd);
    abd.hWnd = this.Handle;
    if (!fBarRegistered)
    {
        uCallBack = RegisterWindowMessage("AppBarMessage");
        abd.uCallbackMessage = uCallBack;

        uint ret = SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_NEW, ref abd);
    fBarRegistered = true;

    ABSetPos();
    }
    else
    {
    SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_REMOVE, ref abd);
    fBarRegistered = false;
    }
}

The last step is to create a function to position AppBar:

private void ABSetPos()
{
    APPBARDATA abd = new APPBARDATA();
    abd.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(abd);
    abd.hWnd = this.Handle;
    abd.uEdge = (int)ABEdge.ABE_TOP;

    if (abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_LEFT || abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_RIGHT) 
    {
    abd.rc.top = 0;
    abd.rc.bottom = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Height;
    if (abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_LEFT) 
    {
        abd.rc.left = 0;
        abd.rc.right = Size.Width;
    }
    else 
    {
        abd.rc.right = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width;
        abd.rc.left = abd.rc.right - Size.Width;
    }

    }
    else 
    {
    abd.rc.left = 0;
    abd.rc.right = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width;
    if (abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_TOP) 
    {
        abd.rc.top = 0;
        abd.rc.bottom = Size.Height;
    }
    else 
    {
        abd.rc.bottom = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Height;
        abd.rc.top = abd.rc.bottom - Size.Height;
    }
    }

    SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_QUERYPOS, ref abd); 

    switch (abd.uEdge) 
    { 
    case (int)ABEdge.ABE_LEFT: 
        abd.rc.right = abd.rc.left + Size.Width;
        break; 
    case (int)ABEdge.ABE_RIGHT: 
        abd.rc.left= abd.rc.right - Size.Width;
        break; 
    case (int)ABEdge.ABE_TOP: 
        abd.rc.bottom = abd.rc.top + Size.Height;
        break; 
    case (int)ABEdge.ABE_BOTTOM: 
        abd.rc.top = abd.rc.bottom - Size.Height;
        break; 
    }

    SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_SETPOS, ref abd); 
    MoveWindow(abd.hWnd, abd.rc.left, abd.rc.top, 
            abd.rc.right - abd.rc.left, abd.rc.bottom - abd.rc.top, true); 
}

This is a full listing of a sample AppBar form class:

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace Sample.AppBar
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Summary description for Form1.
    /// </summary>
    public class MainForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
        private System.ComponentModel.Container components = null;

        public MainForm()
        {
            //
            // Required for Windows Form Designer support
            //
            InitializeComponent();

            //
            // TODO: Add any constructor code after InitializeComponent call
            //
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )
        {
            if( disposing )
            {
                if (components != null) 
                {
                    components.Dispose();
                }
            }
            base.Dispose( disposing );
        }

        #region Windows Form Designer generated code
        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            // 
            // MainForm
            // 
            this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(960, 50);
            this.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedToolWindow;
            this.Name = "MainForm";
            this.Text = "AppBar";
            this.Closing += new System.ComponentModel.CancelEventHandler(this.OnClosing);
            this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.OnLoad);
        }
        #endregion

        #region APPBAR

        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
        struct RECT
        {
            public int left;
            public int top;
            public int right;
            public int bottom;
        }

        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
        struct APPBARDATA
        {
            public int cbSize;
            public IntPtr hWnd;
            public int uCallbackMessage;
            public int uEdge;
            public RECT rc;
            public IntPtr lParam;
        }

        enum ABMsg : int
        {
            ABM_NEW=0,
            ABM_REMOVE=1,
            ABM_QUERYPOS=2,
            ABM_SETPOS=3,
            ABM_GETSTATE=4,
            ABM_GETTASKBARPOS=5,
            ABM_ACTIVATE=6,
            ABM_GETAUTOHIDEBAR=7,
            ABM_SETAUTOHIDEBAR=8,
            ABM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED=9,
            ABM_SETSTATE=10
        }

        enum ABNotify : int
        {
            ABN_STATECHANGE=0,
            ABN_POSCHANGED,
            ABN_FULLSCREENAPP,
            ABN_WINDOWARRANGE
        }

        enum ABEdge : int
        {
            ABE_LEFT=0,
            ABE_TOP,
            ABE_RIGHT,
            ABE_BOTTOM
        }

        private bool fBarRegistered = false;

        [DllImport("SHELL32", CallingConvention=CallingConvention.StdCall)]
        static extern uint SHAppBarMessage(int dwMessage, ref APPBARDATA pData);
        [DllImport("USER32")]
        static extern int GetSystemMetrics(int Index);
        [DllImport("User32.dll", ExactSpelling=true, 
            CharSet=System.Runtime.InteropServices.CharSet.Auto)]
        private static extern bool MoveWindow
            (IntPtr hWnd, int x, int y, int cx, int cy, bool repaint);
        [DllImport("User32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
        private static extern int RegisterWindowMessage(string msg);
        private int uCallBack;

        private void RegisterBar()
        {
            APPBARDATA abd = new APPBARDATA();
            abd.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(abd);
            abd.hWnd = this.Handle;
            if (!fBarRegistered)
            {
                uCallBack = RegisterWindowMessage("AppBarMessage");
                abd.uCallbackMessage = uCallBack;

                uint ret = SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_NEW, ref abd);
                fBarRegistered = true;

                ABSetPos();
            }
            else
            {
                SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_REMOVE, ref abd);
                fBarRegistered = false;
            }
        }

        private void ABSetPos()
        {
            APPBARDATA abd = new APPBARDATA();
            abd.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(abd);
            abd.hWnd = this.Handle;
            abd.uEdge = (int)ABEdge.ABE_TOP;

            if (abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_LEFT || abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_RIGHT) 
            {
                abd.rc.top = 0;
                abd.rc.bottom = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Height;
                if (abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_LEFT) 
                {
                    abd.rc.left = 0;
                    abd.rc.right = Size.Width;
                }
                else 
                {
                    abd.rc.right = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width;
                    abd.rc.left = abd.rc.right - Size.Width;
                }

            }
            else 
            {
                abd.rc.left = 0;
                abd.rc.right = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Width;
                if (abd.uEdge == (int)ABEdge.ABE_TOP) 
                {
                    abd.rc.top = 0;
                    abd.rc.bottom = Size.Height;
                }
                else 
                {
                    abd.rc.bottom = SystemInformation.PrimaryMonitorSize.Height;
                    abd.rc.top = abd.rc.bottom - Size.Height;
                }
            }

            // Query the system for an approved size and position. 
            SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_QUERYPOS, ref abd); 

            // Adjust the rectangle, depending on the edge to which the 
            // appbar is anchored. 
            switch (abd.uEdge) 
            { 
                case (int)ABEdge.ABE_LEFT: 
                    abd.rc.right = abd.rc.left + Size.Width;
                    break; 
                case (int)ABEdge.ABE_RIGHT: 
                    abd.rc.left= abd.rc.right - Size.Width;
                    break; 
                case (int)ABEdge.ABE_TOP: 
                    abd.rc.bottom = abd.rc.top + Size.Height;
                    break; 
                case (int)ABEdge.ABE_BOTTOM: 
                    abd.rc.top = abd.rc.bottom - Size.Height;
                    break; 
            }

            // Pass the final bounding rectangle to the system. 
            SHAppBarMessage((int)ABMsg.ABM_SETPOS, ref abd); 

            // Move and size the appbar so that it conforms to the 
            // bounding rectangle passed to the system. 
            MoveWindow(abd.hWnd, abd.rc.left, abd.rc.top, 
                abd.rc.right - abd.rc.left, abd.rc.bottom - abd.rc.top, true); 
        }

        protected override void WndProc(ref System.Windows.Forms.Message m)
        {
            if (m.Msg == uCallBack)
            {
                switch(m.WParam.ToInt32())
                {
                    case (int)ABNotify.ABN_POSCHANGED:
                        ABSetPos();
                        break;
                }
            }

            base.WndProc(ref m);
        }

        protected override System.Windows.Forms.CreateParams CreateParams
        {
            get
            {
                CreateParams cp = base.CreateParams;
                cp.Style &= (~0x00C00000); // WS_CAPTION
                cp.Style &= (~0x00800000); // WS_BORDER
                cp.ExStyle = 0x00000080 | 0x00000008; // WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW | WS_EX_TOPMOST
                return cp;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main() 
        {
            Application.Run(new MainForm());
        }

        private void OnLoad(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            RegisterBar();
        }

        private void OnClosing(object sender, System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs e)
        {
            RegisterBar();
        }
    }
}

For more information about creating AppBars, refer to the MSDN.

P.S.

Post in comments and questions about code parts. I plan to update the article descriptions based on your questions.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

About the Author

Mad__
Web Developer
Ukraine Ukraine
Member
Developing software for Civilian aviation and Meteorogical offices.

Sign Up to vote   Poor Excellent
Add a reason or comment to your vote: x
Votes of 3 or less require a comment

Comments and Discussions

 
Hint: For improved responsiveness ensure Javascript is enabled and choose 'Normal' from the Layout dropdown and hit 'Update'.
You must Sign In to use this message board.
Search this forum  
    Spacing  Noise  Layout  Per page   
QuestionWhat is tha Best way to store data in mobile application.In Windows phone,android and nokia Mobilesgroupaamitsengar25 Apr '13 - 22:00 
QuestionHow to make it Autohide?memberkilkenny9920 Dec '12 - 4:22 
GeneralWill this work without having explorer shelled?memberq2418130103p2 May '11 - 8:21 
GeneralRe: Will this work without having explorer shelled?memberVeldrik2 May '12 - 18:04 
GeneralThanks...memberpuneetdhawan200019 Nov '10 - 23:28 
GeneralThanks, Exactly what I was looking for!memberjg00714 Jun '09 - 9:49 
Questionshould not be able to minimise AppBar when docked!memberWebermania8 Sep '08 - 3:01 
AnswerRe: should not be able to minimise AppBar when docked!memberRelair16 Feb '10 - 23:52 
GeneralExceptions encountered with .Net 2.0!memberirrdev23 Oct '07 - 0:55 
GeneralRe: Exceptions encountered with .Net 2.0!memberYaroslav Trofimov22 Apr '08 - 3:03 
When got this problem, I made new project of Windows.Form and copy functional source code part. All work ideally.
GeneralThanks for the articlememberrayazax25 Apr '07 - 0:31 
QuestionNot working with .NET Frame 2.0 ?memberHaggy21 Mar '06 - 0:56 
AnswerRe: Not working with .NET Frame 2.0 ?memberNeno123413 Jan '07 - 22:27 
QuestionWindows bug?membergrowse31 Oct '05 - 4:32 
Generalgrumpfmembermofin16 Sep '05 - 3:27 
GeneralGreatsusschristos st.19 Oct '04 - 23:25 
GeneralRe: GreatmemberMarcio Castilho25 Jan '05 - 18:52 
GeneralRe: GreatmemberKeith Farmer27 Nov '05 - 10:47 
GeneralHmm....membermirano19 Apr '04 - 4:37 
GeneralRe: Hmm....sussAnonymous19 Apr '04 - 7:32 
GeneralRe: Hmm....memberEllery19 Apr '04 - 17:58 
GeneralRe: Hmm....memberMad__19 Apr '04 - 21:12 
GeneralRe: Hmm....memberSirLestat20 Apr '04 - 10:39 
GeneralRe: Hmm....memberRusskie22 Apr '04 - 16:06 
GeneralRe: Hmm....memberSylfaen31 Jul '06 - 19:02 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Permalink | Advertise | Privacy | Mobile
Web04 | 2.6.130516.1 | Last Updated 19 Apr 2004
Article Copyright 2004 by Mad__
Everything else Copyright © CodeProject, 1999-2013
Terms of Use
Layout: fixed | fluid